Osun Defender Online Version of October 8th, 2021

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 08 - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 VOL 16 NO 39

Police Investigate Alleged Sexual Harassment Of Inmates By Officers Page 4

Knocks As Osun Lawmaker Violates Signage Law Page 7

Cracks In IleriOluwa Camp Over APC State Congress •Oyetola, Supporters Divided On Famodun’s Choice Our Reporter

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HERE appears to be division in Governor Adegboyega Oyetolaled IleriOluwa camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, on the State Congress of the party coming up on October 16, 2021.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the division is on the choice of chairmanship candidate to be presented for the congress.

According to sources in the Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, some kitchen cabinet members of Governor Oyetola were opposed to the return of Prince Adegboyega Famodun as the Chairman of the APC in Osun, while a few others want him to remain.

Famodun is currently the Caretaker Chairman in the state. The argument from the opposing camp is that it is poli cally safe for the Governor if Famodun did not return be•Continued on Page 2

•Governor Gboyega Oyetola discussing with the state party chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun.

Why Aregbesola Cannot Visit Tinubu In London Ismaeel Uthman

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HE Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will not be able to visit the Naonal Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in London, where he is taking medical treatment.

Besides, every other person who has personal rela onship with Tinubu but serving under President Muhammadu Buhari, will not also visit the former governor of Lagos State un l he returns to Nigeria.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the presiden al pro-

tocol forbids any of the cabinet members to pay Tinubu a visit since President Buhari has gone to visit him.

President Buhari visited Tinubu on August 12, 2021.

It was gathered that Buhari’s •Continued on Page 2

Education, Infrastructure, Health Lead As Oyetola Presents 2022 Budget

Page 7

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News

Cracks In IleriOluwa Camp Over APC State Congress •Continued from Page 1 cause of the fact that they are from the same State Cons tuency.

They also reportedly argued that if Famodun is not returned, it will calm the nerves of chieftains and members of the party, majority of who pitched their tent with The Osun Progressives (TOP).

It was gathered that the opposing camp have been moun ng pressure on Oyetola to dissuade Famodun from contes ng for the chairmanship of the party as a leverage for his second term cket.

The medium authorita vely gathered that the opposing camp was scheming for Osun West to produce the APC Chairman, while the deputy governorship candidate in 2022 be zoned to Ile-Ife to honour Senator Iyiola Omisore and because of the bloc vote in the ancient city.

According to the sources, the opposing camp had been making case for Prof. Mojeed Alabi, a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, to succeed Famodun.

The ‘Plan B’, according to the sources, is for the APC chairmanship to be zoned to Ile-Ife, if the Governor wants to run again with his deputy, Mr. Benedict Alabi.

To succeed Famodun in Ile-Ife, according to the calcula on of the opposing camp, is Mr Tajudeen Lawal, the current Commissioner for Homes Affairs.

One of the sources who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday said: “The house (IleriOluwa camp) is not se led currently. My brother, poli cs is deeper than we thought.

•State of Osun Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, presenting the year 2022 Appropriation Bill at the floor of the House of Assembly, Osogbo on Tuesday 05-10-2021. Insert- Governor and the Speaker, Hon. Timothy Owoeye.

Everything is about interests, interests and interests. I don’t believe that some people within the same group are working against Famodun’s return as the

APC chairman.

“These people want the APC chairman to come from Osun West or Osun East. Their argument is that TOP will no longer have anything

to complain about if Famodun is not returned.

They said Prof. Mojeed Alabi from Ejigbo in Osun West or Hon. Tajudeen Lawal be made chairman. This

life is funny.”

It was gathered that a commissioner from the same state cons tuency with Famodun and another powerful commissioner from

Why Aregbesola Cannot Visit Tinubu In London •Continued from Page 1 earlier visita on, prevented the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Minister

of Works, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) and Aregbesola from going to London to visit the APC leader.

This is contrary to

insinua ons that Aregbesola refused to visit Tinubu because of reported disagreement between them.

Speaking with OSUN

Symbol’s Quote

“Our communities now should stand up and own the firefighting equipment procured and deployed for their use at a huge cost. They should be the first line of defence for them in the face of attacks from vandals and unruly elements”.

DEFENDER on the matter, Mr. Sola Fasure, the Media Adviser to Aregbesola, said the minister is unable to visit Tinubu in London for protocol reason.

Fasure said: “If the President has gone, no Minister, not even the Vice President, can go. Aregbesola’s relaonship with Tinubu is mutually beneficial and reinforcing.

“Tinubu and Aregbesola are in constant talk. The last me they talked, it lasted for more than one hour.

There is no other reason for him (Aregbesola) not to visit Tinubu than just protocol.

“Anybody or group of persons who wants to make case out of the visita on issue is either ignorant or mischievous. Anyway, I can see ignorance and mischief from some of the posts I read online concerning the visita on.”

Ilesa who enjoys the Governor’s listening ears were leading the scheme against Famodun.

However, some other notable members of the IleriOluwa camp have insisted that there is no jus fica on not to return Famodun as the APC Chairman.

The argument of the suppor ng camp is that there is precedence for a governor and a party chairman to come from the same area, ci ng the period when Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi from Atakunmosa West Local Government was the APC Chairman while Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, from Ilesa East Local Government was the governor of the state.

They argued that any altera on to the current poli cal posi ons in the IleriOluwa camp would be counterproduc ve and will definitely backfire.

One of Famodun’s supporters who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under condi on of anonymity said: “We thought TOP people are the only one that do not want the Chairman (Famodun) to return. It is now open that some people among us are also working against him.

“But for us, there is no reason for Prince Famodun not to return as Chairman of Osun APC. Nobody should scheme against him for fairness.

We will let him down big me if we support another person. We are in this struggle together.

“Those scheming against him have ulterior mo ve. They want to take away the party structure from everybody totally. They want a new deputy governor too. That is not fair and it can’t fly.”

However, OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Governor Oyetola insisted that Famodun would be the APC Chairman, saying that it would amount to ‘use and dump’ if he did not support him.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 08 - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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Review & Outlook BY DR. WALE BOLORUNDURO The Budget Season

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IKE Christmas, it Is that me of the year again. At every level of government, annual budgets are on presenta on for approval before the legislatures.

It is commendable that a budget cycle star ng from the January has been reinstated, for this, kudos has to be given to the present Federal Government led by Muhammadu Buhari. A predictable budget cycle is vitally needed to ensure fiscal stability and to allow for planning as well as investor confidence.

For a medium predicated on “pu ng the people first”, we believe that a budget should be more than a statutory func on or a statement of intent; it should be a pathway to defending and then eleva ng living standards thereby in par cular protec ng the most vulnerable sectors.

Our advocacy is that the development of human capital should be at the center of the developmental thrust, otherwise we will be stuck in ephemeral “growth” as opposed to real sustainable development. The legislators must ensure that the human capital eleva ng frameworks such as health, educa on as well as the digital economy must be accorded the highest priority. Frankly, if we are building a compe ve economy there is no alterna ve.

It is rather unfortunate though that, decades a er the reinstatement of democracy the ins tu onal frameworks to scru nise and evaluate budgets are s ll inadequate.

The technical capacity to do so is clearly not there. The legislatures simply have to set up Congressional Budget Offices as quickly as possible to rec fy this glaring defect.

In a fiscally punishing situa on, we hope that great imagina on will be used in the budget process. This will be essen al in naviga ng a very turbulent sea while at the same me pu ng the people first.

OSUN DEFENDER Publisher

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Moremi Publishing House Ltd. Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman (0805-121-2204) Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa Reporter – Yusuf Oketola Reporter – Kazeem Badmus Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, State of Osun ISSN : 0794-8050 Telephone : 0805-121-2204 Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com All correspondence to the above email addresses.

The Debt Debacle In The State of Osun

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OBODY can contradict the fact that Aregbesola set the tone for the renewal of Osun’s infrastructures with the glaring projects and the logic in developmental economics, that economic activities such as movement of goods and services, capital appreciation of assets and investments, etc, can now be ring-fenced into the treasury of the state to increase the IGR. Not admitting these facts and not attributing the increase in the annual IGR to the prior infrastructural developments, implemented by the revenues and debt financing of the state, under Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is a deliberate attempt to undermine and to obliterate his records. The IGR of the state has increased significantly from less than N4billion in 2009 to N13bn in 2018 and now, to N19bn in 2020. The recently published audited accounts of the state confirmed this. Therefore, reference to the debt repayment without reporting the increase in economic activities, the refunds from Federal Government, realisation of the appreciated assets and activities brought about by those investments, is an attempt to stain Aregbesola and hang the burden of debt on his neck perpetually, even as the debt repayment figures taper out and the IGR increases to the level sufficient to service the loan.

I was not only the Commissioner of Finance during Aregbesola’s era, I was also the man in charge of the fiscal policies in his first term. I got the governor’s approval in place to submit all files for vetting to the then Chief of Staff, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola and to route all memos through him. It was designed to streamline expenditure, to control cost and to prevent multiplicity of cost as well as to give him vantage position of knowing all things. Aregbesola severally called him “Prime Minister” openly in the presence of other cabinet members and outsiders. Although, I was the paymaster, the salaries’ files passed through him also. Only the Deputy Governor and the SSG reported directly to the Governor. When the first tenure of Aregbesola ended and there was no commissioner for over two years, Oyetola was the same Chief of staff that I handed over the bank confirmation to, so when any approval of Aregbesola to release fund was obtained and Accountant General sent instructions to pay to the bank, he was the final authority confirming to the banks’ for final payments on all duly processed expenditures of government.

This continued until mid 2017, when new set of commissioners were appointed. Someone so vital then cannot now distance himself from the responsibility that he held severally and jointly.

With Oyetola’s position as Chief of Staff and early entry, I have no doubt that he knew about the Debt Programme of the government. Barely a month after our resumption as commissioners, the governor granted an interview marshaling his plan to develop Osun through leverage and he mentioned the huge sum needed and that he already had N29bn. When I checked bank balances, it was only N4bn, a saving from FGN refunds on London Club. Surprisingly, Aregbesola had added the FBN’s N25bn pipeline of funding. The media aides were reporting to the Chief of Staff, so there was no way such a big media event could have taken place without all insiders (including, the then Chief of Staff) in the loop.

Obviously, the IGR then in 2011 could not carry the infrastructural developments, so the plan was to refinance the inherited Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s N18.38bn loan and to restructure the N8.6 bn already spent. If Aregbesola had decided to run with the inherited liability and stay with the 6 stadia projects of Oyinlola, he would have still made a loan repayment of N23bn in his first term on inherited loan, without his flagship urban renewals project, Osogbo and Ilesa township roads. Osogbo would have remained the rustiest state capital in Nigeria. There wouldn’t have been fund to mobilize contractors to start GbonganAkoda-Osogbo and Osogbo-Ikirun-Ila-Odo-Kwara

“The current administration of Oyetola has more revenue funds at his disposal than that of Aregbesola who had put forward the development plan of Osun and said the state would need huge funds for a 10 year developmental period” State boundary roads. For this latter choice, he took N30bn conventional bond in 2012 and in 2013.

For the High Schools (including equipment and furnishings), he took N11.4 bn Sukuk bond from Capital Market in a transparent and open manner, regulated

by Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). The capital market bonds were used to bench mark the other construction finance necessary to augment with an intention to refinance them to long term.

Therefore, in his first term, Aregbesola made N21bn loan repayment without abstaining from his social contracts with the people of Osun. He employed over 5,000 teachers and civil servants, he engaged two streams of youths under his OYES programme, each stream had 20,000 youths. There were stakeholders’ participation at the governing board level of state corporations and agencies of government. While the OYES gulped N200m monthly, the board participation of stakeholders took about N150m. The civil servants insisted on minimum wage and consequential adjustments annually for the first three years to catch up with other South-West states.

The N25bn facility of First Bank came “handy”, when the payroll cost increased significantly in mid 2013 and the theft of crude oil began to affect revenue takings from federation accounts (at the centre) in 2014 and early 2015.

This payroll deficit was financed, principally by the First Bank facility. Unfortunately, the state couldn’t go back to the Capital market to refinance the FBN facility and other construction finance facilities used to augment the shortfall in its infrastructural developments. The total of the construction finance facilities was N65bn. The state continued to service this, until the balance was N50bn, which was converted along with the FBN facility (salary deficit) to FGN bond during the second term.

In the second term, the repayments of the bonds had kicked in heavily and honestly; this was the optimal loan repayment period and there was no way any other subsequent administration would have to do the same heavy lifting on loan repayment as carried out by Aregbesola. On the two state bonds alone, Aregbesola made a loan repayment of N46bn. Similar loan repayments were made on the construction facilities.

The total loan repayment in the second term of Aregbesola was N102bn despite the huge drop in the price of crude oil with resultant impacts on the revenue accruing to the state. Yet, the infrastructure deployments were not “clawed back” and the social contracts on socio-economic developments, youth empowerment and stakeholders’ participation continued. The average price of crude oil was 43US Dollars in 2016 and it didn’t start to climb up until mid 2018. Luckily, the average became 64.30US dollars per barrel in 2019 and post COVID-19, it had averaged 66.86 US Dollars per barrel (based on the eight month prices). Therefore, the current administration of Oyetola has more revenue funds at his disposal than that of Aregbesola who had put forward the development plan of Osun and said the state would need huge funds for a 10 year developmental period; that was long before his commissioners joined the administration. A leader should think and be courageous to do the needful without removing people from its plan.

• Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, a banker, was the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning in the immediate past administration in the State of Osun.

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Police Investigate Alleged Sexual Harassment Of Inmates By Officers Ismaeel Uthman

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HE State of Osun Command of the Nigeria Police Force has begun inves ga ons into the alleged sexual exploita on and harassment of two female suspects by policemen while in deten on.

The Police Public Rela ons Officer (PPRO), Osun Command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Wale Olokode ordered invesga ons into the allega ons immediately he read the report of the allega on.

Olokode, who was said to be furious on the allega on, promised to pin down any Police officer, who at one me or the other, took advantage of suspects in any case, according to Opalola.

It would be recalled that two accused persons, Joy Esu Ogunmba and Olawoyin Aina accused some policemen a ached to the An -Kidnapping Unit and Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force,

Osun Command, of commi ng sexual assault against them.

Ogunmba, who was arrested for alleged kid-

napping, said she was sexually exploited while in custody of the Police by an officer simply known as Taofeek, be-

fore she was arraigned in court and remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre.

According to Ogunmba, Taofeek slept with

her twice in an office at the State Criminal Invesga ons Department, Osogbo, on the promise that he would assist in

•Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo in discussion with Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola during the Youth Conference organised by Senator Babafemi Ojudu recently.

Sen. Ogunwale Calls For Swift Investigation On Iragbiji Bank Robbery Yusuf Oketola

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HE Asiwaju of Iragbiji, Senator Felix Ogunwale has condemned the armed robbery a ack on Wema Bank, Iragbiji, headquarters of Boripe Local Government of the State of Osun.

Ogunwale, in a press statement personally signed by him and made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, said the perpetrators of the heinous crime, which occurred on September 29, 2021, should be speedily fished out by security agents.

He sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives in the bank raid, just as he commiserated with the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi, on the incident.

Ogunwale appealed to the State Government of Osun to provide more security for the people of the state.

He also called on all residents of the state to be vigilant and report suspicious people to the security agents.

It would be recalled that on Tuesday, September 28, daredevil armed robbers besieged Wema Bank, Iragbiji, the hometown of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

The armed robbers,

according to the Police, started their opera on at about 2:55pm.

The men of the underworld, who were about 20 in number, came with four vehicles and simultaneously attacked Iragbiji Divisional Police Headquarters

and Wema Bank.

According to eye witnesses, the armed robbers threw explosive devices at the Police Sta on and bank to destabilise the policemen and gain entry into the banking hall.

The Automated

Teller Machine (ATM) of the bank was also destroyed, but an attempt to break into the bank strong room was foiled.

During the operaons, two Police inspectors, Ahmed Ogunbiyi and Ayinla Odeyemi,

were shot dead. Also, two other civilians suspected to have come to the bank for financial transac ons were also killed by the armed robbers.

The armed robbers reportedly escaped through the Ada-Igbajo road.

Motorists Calls For Fixing of ‘Ona Baba Ona’ Street Lights Yusuf Oketola

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OTORISTS plying the Oba Adesoji Aderemi East Bye Pass, otherwise known as ‘Ona Baba Ona’ in Osogbo, State of Osun, have called on the State Government to fix the streetlights on the road.

The motorists noted that the road had perpetually been in blackout at night because the streetlights were yet to be ac vated.

Inves ga ons by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the streetlights on the road were vandalised about three mes in 2018 by some unknown people.

The armoured and upraiser cables of the streetlights spanning a total length of 11km (275 poles) were carted away by the people.

According to a motorist, Inioluwa Olaposi, it is a malady that the East Bye

Pass is in perpetual blackout with no move from the government to address the situa on.

Olaposi said: “The road is always in blackout at night. You will be scared to pass it. The road should not be in blackout securitywise. The evil men could take advantage of that.

The government should try to fix the streetlights. We are enjoying the road; as a ma er of fact, it is a saving grace for us.”

Another motorist, Mr. Ademola Ajayi, said it speaks volume that the State Government could be lackadaisical in fixing the streetlights on the roads in Osogbo, the state capital.

Ajayi said: “Streetlight should be the least to be begging government for.

But it is unfortunate where we find ourselves. ‘Ona Baba Ona’ is an important road for both the residents of Osogbo and transporters

passing through the state capital.

“It is uncalled-for that the streetlights on the road are not func oning. It is a simple sign of irresponsiveness of the government.”

The former Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Kazim Salami, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, said the streetlights were ac vated a er the comple on of the Dele Yes Sir-Ilesa Garage stretch of the road.

According to Salami, the streetlights were vandalised more than three mes in 2018, saying that the contractor handling the road had to be replacing the cables and other materials to get the light func oning.

He stated that the State Government got the service of some security opera ves to be patrolling the road to secure the streetlights before the administra on of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

came to an end in November, 2018.

However, OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the administra on of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, during a program tagged ‘Light up Osun’, did not give a en on to the road as streetlights were restored back from Oke-Fia to Dele YesSir and other part of the state capital.

In a le er dated April 6, 2021, the Mechanical and Electrical Department, Ministry of Works and Transport, State of Osun, said that the streetlights on the ‘Ona Baba Ona’ would be restored within the shortest me, but nothing has been done ll date.

All effort to reach the State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engineer Remi Omowaye, proved abor ve as he refused to answer his phone calls and did not reply messages sent to him.

securing her release.

Making similar allegaon, a 25-year-old armed robbery suspect, Mrs. Olawoyin Aina, said she was sexually harassed by a policeman during her deten on period at the SCID, Osogbo.

According to her, a Police officer simply known as Dare, who was part of the team that arrested her demanded for sex as condi on to help her out of the case.

She said: “On August 8, 2018, the Police raided our house in Ede and arrested my husband, two kids and I. We were detained at the State CID in Osogbo. Later, the two kids and my husband were admi ed to bail with the aid of my mother in-law, having paid a sum of N200,000. I was le behind in the cell.

“One the night of our arrest, one tall and fair Police officer, named Dare, from the Intelligence Department came to my cell around 12am.

He was part of the officers that came to arrest me. He brought me out to take my statement, which they had done earlier. He said he was willing and ready to secure my bail on the condi on that I should agree to have sex with him. I told him I could not, because my husband was also in the cell.

“There was another Police officer called Babalawo; he usually came into the cell through the window. He would demand from all female suspects in the cell that we should play with him.

He would fondle our breast and also finger our private parts, or take us out one a er the other to perpetrate the evil act.

We were about five females in the cell then.

However, Opalola in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said: “Inves ga ons have begun into the ma er. The Commissioner, Mr. Wale Olokode, ordered invesga ons into the ma er immediately he read the report. He wants to get to the root of the ma er.

“Our Commissioner is a no-nonsense man.

He respects the rights of everybody, including those of the suspects because they are yet to be pronounced guilty by the court. So, inves gaons are ongoing on the ma er and you can rest assured of our sincerity.

We will pin down any Police officer, who at one me or the other, took advantage of suspects in any case.”

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For The Record

Ilesa Water Supply Distribution: Restoration Of Healthy Living Flag-off speech delivered by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola on Ilesa Water Supply Distribution Network Project, Ilesa on December 18, 2017.

Protocol: T is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this epoch-making flag – off event in respect of Ilesa Water Supply Distribu on Network Project.

I want to thank Almighty God for making this project a reality in the tenure of this administra on. It aims at consolidating the achievement of one of our cardinal programme i.e. Restora on of Healthy Living through the provision of potable water and breaking the jinx surrounding Ilesa Water Supply.

Brief History on Ilesa Water Supply The old Ilesa Water Supply Scheme, commissioned in 1952 in the old Western Region, supplying 2,700m3/day went into a state of disrepair in the mid-eigh es as the Efon-Alaye Intake Structure (now in Eki State) was frequently filled with silts; efforts to de-silt became unproduc ve and raw water abstrac on impossible.

The 22km Efon-Alaye/Ilesa raw water Asbestos Cement Transmission mains became deplorable and unserviceable because of frequent damage due to old age and road expansion works on Efon-Alaye roads created a worst scenario when several kilometres of the Transmission Mains was damaged during construc on. These and others led to abandonment and complete shutdown of the treatment facili es and hence led to Ilesa inability to access public water supply and total dependence on water from doub ul sources.

The new Ilesa Water Supply Scheme was conceived during the administra on of Uncle Bola Ige, the Execu ve Governor of old Oyo State when it became clear that old Ilesa Scheme would not be able to serve Ilesa with potable water because the town was increasing in popula on yearly. The contract for the new scheme was awarded to Messrs. Johnson Brothers Interna onal (Nig.) Ltd at a contract price of $65M. The Eximbank (USA) loan of US70m had been secured for Oyo State Government for the procurement of essen al Mechanical and Electrical equipment and services to be rendered by the Technical Partners, Johnson Brothers Interna onal (Nig.) Ltd, i.e. Johnson Brothers Corpora on of Minnesota, USA. The loan agreement which was signed in 1983 by old Oyo State Government was guaranteed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Out of the external loan, some equipment and materials such as pump-sets, generators, electrical items and large diameter pipes were purchased and stored at Asejire Waterworks, Oyo State.

Messrs. Johnson Brother Interna onal mobilized to site in 1983 but not much work could be done when the military took over power in Nigeria on 31st December, 1983.

Prior to the sudden change of Government (around July/August, 1983) a sum of N7.2m and $11.6M was paid to JBI Ltd.; these payments were made in accordance to the contract agreement signed by the then Oyo State Government. The manner in which the said amount was managed by the contractors and their overseas partners, Messrs. Johnson Brothers Int’l Ltd created a lot of problem, so the project could not make much progress and became stalled and all project ac vies stopped. The USA Technical Partners of JBI Ltd moved out of the sites. The Eximbank Foreign loan for the project was lost. The contract with JBI (Nig.) Ltd was terminated by the old Oyo State in July 1985.

In 1985, Oyo State Military Govern-

I

ment commenced nego a ons with Nigerian Water Resources and Development Ltd & Messrs. Taylor Woodrow, United Kingdom (UK), the nego aons did not succeed.

In 1987, General Staff Headquarters, Dodan Barracks, Lagos via Le er No. GHQ/ CGS/322 of February, 1987 directed Oyo State Government to allow Messrs. Johnson Brothers Interna onal Ltd. to con nue with the jobs in view of the huge sum of money already commi ed into the project.

Consequent upon the above, the contract of New Ilesa Water Supply Scheme was reawarded in conjunc on with that of Ejigbo on 29th April, 1987, however, the efforts of the contractor to resusci- tate Eximbank loan to execute the project failed because the Federal Gov- ernment could not guarantee the loan and the Technical Partners JBC of USA withdrew in 1992.

The project was transferred to Osun State on its crea on in August, 1991. Osun State Government decided to re-award the project to Messrs. Johnson Brothers Interna onal Ltd in 1992 but no new Contract Agreement was signed. JBI (Nig.) Ltd relied on the 1987 Contract Agreement signed with the then Oyo State Government which could not hold water.

All these were the efforts of the previous administra ons on the New Ilesa Water Scheme since 1983; and from all the efforts narrated above, the State Government inherited two (2) large generators, some electrical equipment and about 18km of duc le iron pipes, out of which the government of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola laid over 9km from Osu to College of Educa on, Ilesa in an a empt to get water to Ilesa, but a drop of water has not flowed through these pipes since then. A empts were made by our Administra on to u lized the generators inherited, but all efforts failed as the manufacturer informed that the model is outdated. The remaining Duc le Iron Pipes are kept at the Centre for Black Art Culture’s compound, Abere with majority of them stacked at a school premises in Igala, on the way to Ilesa.

In the year 2006, the Federal Government of Nigeria awarded a contract for the construc on of a dam at Kajola to Messrs.

RCC, for the purpose of raw water source for Ilesa Water Supply Scheme. By 2009, the project was abandoned because of the varia on needs on the contract. Due to economic devasta on that was envisaged and a lot of compensa ons that would be paid to land owners should their land be submerged by the dam; the scope of works was reduced to construc on of a weir on Osun River and an intake structure.

At the incep on of this administra on in 2010, I wrote to the Federal Government on the need to complete the project as our priority. The contract was re-awarded in 2012, completed in 2014 and handed over to the Water Corpora on on 11th March, 2016.

In the interim, I took my technical team to the World Bank, Country Office, Abuja to source for funds for the project,

•Aregbesola inaugurating $48m Ilesa water project. but by the me the World Bank gave Nigeria $400M, Osun state has been taken out of the beneficiary list on the premise that there was no Water Policy for the Water Corpora on to operate with. I did not rest on my oars and went to the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to source for $100M for the comple on of Ilesa project. Fortunately, the IsDB included Osun in their list. The Senate moved to inves gate all intending loans and considered whether it is healthy for Nigeria to take loans when the Government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had just liquidated all Nigeria’s external loans. That assignment took two years during which Osun proposed loan was cut to $50M as against $100M. The Senate Commi ee was busy looking into the loan issues, the IDB advised us to engage an in-house consultant to carry out the feasibility study and conceptual design of the project, while awai ng the Federal Government approval of the loan.

At the comple on of feasibility study and conceptual design, the project package came up as follows.

-Component 1- 60,000m3/day Water Treatment plant at Kajola; (IsDB funding) -Component 2- 22km Transmission mains and Booster Pump Sta on; “ “ -Component 3- 3No. 10,000m3 Concrete Circular Tanks in Ilesa; “ “ -Component 4- 530km Water Distribuon Network within Ilesa; (State Govt. funding) -Component 5- Provision for Sanita on Facili es “ “ In 2014, the IDB team came for project appraisal and approved the components for funding. It was the IDB that got the FMF approval to increase the loan from $50M to $65M in order to be able to finish their own components. The request to make use of the pipes le behind by the former Oyo State was discussed with the Bank in other to save money for the distribu on network but the Bank declined and would not want anything to do with the le over pipes. With this, the State

Government of Osun and the six (6) Local Government Areas that would be served by the Water Scheme were saddled with the responsibility of looking for a sum of $41.95M to lay the 530km distribu on network that will bring the water to the doorsteps of the consumers. The Local Government contribu on is $13.3M (about N4B) of which One Billion Naira has been paid while the State Government is s ll looking for funds to fulfill her own obliga on of $28.65M, as I earlier said. For the State contribu on, we applied to two Internaonal Development Partners, USAID and AfDB for both grants and loans respec vely but were to no avail. This made us to look inward and solicit for support from the Federal Government of Nigeria on the 7th February, 2018 and our request for support of $41.94M was granted by President Muhammed Buhari on 30th April, 2018. Based on the approval of Mr. President, the flagoff ceremony of the Ilesa Water Supply Distribu on Project is a reality today.

The Physical Implementa on of the IsDB components of the project which was flagged-off on 18th December, 2018 i.e. the Construc on of 22km Transmission Mains & the Booster Pumping Sta ons and 3Nos. Concrete Reservoirs which were awarded to Messrs. Gamji Nig. Ltd, on 7th June, 2017 is s ll on-going. The work which would exceed 20% comple on was slowpaced as a result of protracted rainy season of this year.

For the construc on of Water Treatment Plant, we received IsDB No – Objecon for the selec on of contractor on 31st October, 2018 and the nego a on with the selected contractor is on-going and very soon the contract will be awarded.

The Consultancy Design Review and Supervision was also awarded to Messrs. Mahab Ghodss Consul ng Engineering, Iran on 16th May, 2017 while Financial Auditing Contract was awarded to Messrs. BDO Professional Services on 16th November, 2016.

The physical construc on for all works will be completed in the year 2020 while the loan will close by the end of 2020.

With successful execu on of this •Continued on page 6

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 08 - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

6

Religion

A

LL praises is due to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon the final Messenger, His pure family, noble companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness un l the Day of Judgment.

One of the greatest a ributes of Allah is wisdom, and one of His greatest names is al-Hakeem (the most Wise). It should be noted that He has not created anyBy thing in vain; exalted be Allah far above such a thing.

Muhammad Rather, He creates things for great and wise reasons, and for sublime purposes. Those who know them know Abdulalimi them and those who do not know them do not know them. Allah has stated that in His Holy Book, the Quran that He has not created mankind in vain, and He has not created the heavens and the earth in vain. He says “Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?” So exalted is Allah, the True Sovereign, there is no god except Him, the Lord of the Noble Throne.” Quran 23:115, 116.

“And We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play. ” Quran 21:16. “We created them not except with truth (i.e. to examine and test those who are obedient and Knowledge and Power and the extent of His Might, and that He Alone those who are disobedient and then reward the obedient ones and pun- is the One to be worshipped, and not those who have not created even an atom in the heavens or on earth. And that they might know that the ish the disobedient ones), but most of them know not”. Quran 44:38.

Just as it is proven that there is wisdom behind the crea on of man Resurrec on is true and that Allah will judge between the people of from the standpoint of sharee’ah (Islamic law), it is also proven from good and evil. The one who is ignorant of the wisdom of Allah should the standpoint of reason. The wise man cannot but accept that things not think that Allah will treat them equally when judging them. Hence have been created for a reason, and the wise man regards himself as Allah says: “Shall We treat those who believe (in the Oneness of Albeing above doing things in his own life for no reason, so how about lah (Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds as Mufsidoon (those who associate partners in worship with Allaah and commit Allaah, the Wisest of the wise?

Hence the wise believers affirm that there is wisdom in Allaah’s crimes) on earth? Or shall We treat the Mu aqoon (the pious) as the crea on, and the disbelievers deny that. Allaah says: “Verily, in the cre- Fujjaar (criminals, disbelievers, the wicked)?” Quran 38:28.

Allaah has not created man to eat, drink and mul ply, in which case a on of the heavens and the earth, and in the alterna on of night and he would be like the animals. Allah has honoured man and favoured day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.” Quran 3:190.

“Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sit- him far above many of those whom He has created. But many people ng, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the crea on insist on disbelief, so they are ignorant of or deny the true wisdom beof the heavens and the earth, (saying): Our Lord! You have not created hind their crea on, and all they care about is enjoying the pleasures (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted are You above all that of this world. The life of such people is like that of animals, and inthey associate with You as partners). Give us salva on from the tor- deed they are even more astray. Allah says: “While those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as ca le eat; and the Fire will be their ment of the Fire.” Quran 3:191.

And Allaah says, describing the a tude of the disbelievers towards abode.”Quran 47:12.“Leave them to eat and enjoy, and let them be the wisdom of His crea on, “And We created not the heaven and the preoccupied with (false) hope. They will come to know!” Quran 15:3.

“And surely, We have created many of the jinn and mankind for earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the considera on of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve (in Hell. They have hearts wherewith they understand not, and they have eyes wherewith they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear Islamic Monotheism) from the Fire!” Quran 38:27.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa’di (may Allaah have mercy on him) not (the truth). They are like ca le, nay even more astray; those! They are the heedless ones” Quran 7:179. said: It is well known to wise people that the one who does a thing Allaah tells us of His perfect wisdom in crea ng the heavens and the earth, and that He has not created them in vain, i.e., in play with no knows more about the wisdom behind it than anyone else and for Allah is the highest descrip on (cf. al-Nahl 16:60); He is the One Who has beneficial purpose.

Allaah created the heavens and earth in truth for truth. He cre- created mankind and He knows best the wisdom behind the crea on of mankind.

No one would dispute this with regard to worldly ma ers. ated them so that His slaves might understand the completeness of His

JUMAT SERMON

The Reason Why Mankind Was Created

Crime

Store Keeper, Manager Remanded For Diverting Company’s Money Stories By Yusuf Oketola

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WO workers of Moradeyo Water and Juice Store, Aregbesola Area, Osogbo, State of Osun, Elisha Ajayi and Itunu Adeyemi have been remanded in Police custody by an Osogbo magistrate’s court for allegedly diver ng a sum of N3 million belonging to the company to their personal use.

Ajayi and Adeyemi, were said to be Manager and Store Keeper respecvely at the company.

They were alleged of conspiring with others at large between May and September 2021 to fraudulently convert the company’s N3 million to their own.

According to a mo on exparte filed at the court by the Police on Wednesday, instead of remi ng the money realized from the sales of products into the official account, the workers were remi ng it into their personal accounts and also altered the account book of the company.

Presen ng the mo on before Magistrate A.A. Adebayo, Police prosecutor, Inspector Adeoye Kayode, said the Police needed more me to conclude inves ga ons on

the ma er.

Kayode prayed the court to remand the two suspects in the Police custody for 10 days pending the conclusion of inves ga on and arraign-

ment.

Magistrate Adebayo granted the applica on and ordered that the two suspects be remanded in Police custody for 10 days.

Supplier Arraigned For Diverting Goods Worth Over N1m The case was adThe alleged offence,

A

27-year-old supplier, Samuel Oyinloye, has been arraigned before an Osogbo magistrate’s court for allegedly diver ng goods worth N1,025,500.

Oyinloye was said to have defrauded one Mufutau Wasiu by obtaining goods valued N1,025,500 under pretence of assisting him to supply them to his customers but converted the proceeds to his own instead.

According to the charge sheet obtained

by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the defendant commi ed the alleged offence some mes in the month of August, 2021 in Osogbo.

according to the Police, contravened Sec ons 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol.II, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

But the accused person pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of fraud and stealing levelled against him.

Defence counsel, Mr. Oladipupo Olatunbosun, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on a liberal term, noting that he was ready to stand trial and provide a reliable surety.

Magistrate A.A. Adebayo of the court admi ed the accused person to bail in a sum of N1,000,000 with a surety.

journed ll November 15, 2021 for men on.

CHANGE OF NAME OLADIPO MICHAEL AYOMIDE That I was formerly known and addressed as FATUROTI AYODEJI. Now wish to be known and addressed as OLADIPO MICHAEL AYOMIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

HASSAN LATEEF KAYODE That HASSAN LATEEF SUNMONU and HAZZAN LATEEF KAYODE are the same person. But now wish to be known and addressed as HASSAN LATEEF KAYODE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

All people are certain that their physical facul es have been created for a reason. The eye is for seeing; the ear is for hearing, and so on. Does it make sense for his physical facul es to have been created for a reason but for himself to have been created in vain? Or does he not agree to respond to the One Who created him when He tells him of the reason behind his crea on?

Allah has told us that the crea on of the heavens and the earth, and of life and death, is for the purpose of tes ng, so as to test man. Whoever obeys Him, He will reward him, and whoever disobeys Him, He will punish him. Allah says: “And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds. But if you were to say to them: “You shall indeed be raised up a er death,” those who disbelieve would be sure to say, “This is nothing but obvious magic.” Quran 11:7.

“Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving.” Quran 67:2.

From this test results a manifesta on of the names and a ributes of Allaah, such as Allaah’s names al-Rahmaan (the Most Gracious), alGhafoor (the All-Forgiving), al-Hakeem (the Most Wise), al-Tawwaab (the Accepter of Repentance), al-Raheem (the Most Merciful), and other names of Allaah.

One of the greatest reasons for which Allah has created mankind – which is one of the greatest tests – is the command to affirm His Oneness (Tawheed) and to worship Him alone with no partner or associate.

Allah has stated this reason for the crea on of mankind. He says: “And I (Alaah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)” Quran 51:56 Allah, may He be exalted, created mankind to worship Him and to know Him by His names and a ributes, and to enjoin that upon them.

Whoever submits to Him and does what is enjoined upon him will be one of those who are successful, but whoever turns away from that, they are the losers. He will inevitably gather them together in the Herea er where He will reward or punish them for what He commanded and forbade them to do. Hence Allah men ons how the mushrikeen (polytheists) denied the reward or punishment, as He says (interpretaon of the meaning): “But if you were to say to them: ‘You shall indeed be raised up a er death,’ those who disbelieve would be sure to say, ‘This is nothing but obvious magic.” Quran 11:7. “If you were to speak to these people and tell them about the Resurrec on a er death, they would not believe you, rather they would reject your words vehemently and deny the message you brought, and they would say, ‘This is nothing but obvious magic,’ but in fact it is obvious truth.” Tafseer al-Sa’di, p. 333 And Allaah knows best.

May Allah make this sermon a beneficial one for me, the writer, the readers and the en re Muslims.

And our last prayer, is praise be to Allah Almighty , Lord of the worlds.

•Sheik Muhammad Abdulalimi, is the Mudiru Ad-Da’wah Wal-Irshad, Obaagun, State of Osun.

Ilesa Water Supply Distribution...

•Continued from Page 5 project, we aimed to achieve the following objec ves, which are: (i) Improved access to safe, adequate and sustainable water supply to Ilesa and environs. (ii) Improved health through provision of potable water supply and thereby reduce adult and infant mortality rates in Ilesa and its environs. (iii) Improved socio – economic condi ons of Ilesa and environs. (iv) Improved Sanitaon and hygiene of Ilesa With all these, I want to confidently say that our administra on had put the project on course and will be completed on me by the incoming administra on of Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola.

I want to thank Federal Government of Nigeria, Islamic Development Bank (our financier) for their unalloyed supports so far, as well as appreciate the support of Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Ministry of Finance, the Execu ng Agency (Osun State Water Corpora on), the contractor and con-

sultants on the project for the job well done, God will con nue to strengthen you all.

I want to thank our Royal Father, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, the Owa – Obokun of Ijesaland who is represented by Arojo of Irojo for his understanding, pa ence and a en on, the community leaders, poli cians and other people here in a endance.

Above it all, I want to show my appreciaon to the good people of the State of Osun for their supports for our administra on and I am imploring you all to cooperate with incoming administra on for successful execu on of this project and others across the State so that they will not become moribund as many projects we met at the incep on of this Administra on so that the dividend of democracy could be enjoyed by all and sundries.

I thank you all for your kind a en on.

Osun To Tin Dara, Konibaje!

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 08 - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

7

News

Knocks As Osun Lawmaker Violates Signage Law Kazeem Badmus

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HE lawmaker representing Egbedore State Cons tuency in the State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Ibirogba, has come under heavy cri cism for erec ng a signboard without following due process.

The signpost, which is in support of the second term ambi on of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola with Ibirogba’s picture, was erected at the popular ‘Dele Yes Sir’

roundabout, Osogbo.

However, the State of Osun Signage, Hoarding and Adver sement Agency, last week, ordered the removal of the signpost with the placement of a ‘removal emblem’.

According to the agency, the removal no ce placed on signages was to ins ll sanity, compel registra on and make defaulters to se le approved bills to the coffers of the government.

Reac ons have been trailing the removal no ce

by the agency and residents of the state who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER berated the lawmaker for not following due process in erec ng the signage.

According to Mrs. Adebowale Tomisin, a resident of Ofatedo area of Osogbo, the unregistered campaign signpost of the lawmaker is a reflec on of the fact that most poli cians see themselves as above the law.

Another commentator,

Mr. Olamilekan Babatunde, on his Facebook page, chided the lawmaker for erec ng a signpost without approval.

Babatunde said it is a slap on the face of the lawmaker to see his signpost condemned due to his inability to follow laid down procedures.

All efforts to reach the law maker proof abor ve as caall to his his line was not answered and text message sent was not replied.

Education, Infrastructure, Health Lead As Oyetola Presents 2022 Budget Kazeem Badmus

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OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday, presented a total sum of N129, 756,450,790.00 to the State Assembly as dra budget of the 2022 fiscal year.

The details of the Appropria on Bill revealed that the larger chunks were earmarked for infrastructure, educa on and health sectors.

The 2022 dra budget was N20bn higher than the 2021 Appropria on Act. Christened “Budget of Sustainable Development”, the budget was anchored on the commitment of the Oyetola’s administra on to providing conducive living and working environment for the people of the state.

According to the dra budget, the total recurrent expenditure was N53,593,627,990.00, represen ng 41.30%, while the total capital expenditure was N76,162,822,800.00, represen ng 58.70% respec vely.

In the 2022 appropria on bill, a total sum of N26,609,441,740.00 was allocated to educa on sector; over N19.9 billion goes to infrastructure sector; N16.2billion to the health sector and N6.7billion to

the agriculture sector.

Oyetola, while presenting the budget, said it was aimed at further cementing and pursuing the policy thrust of his administra on and consolida ng various achievements so far recorded in each sector of the economy of the State.

In view of the prevailing economic reali es, Oyetola said the main focus of the budget would be aggressive improvement of the Internally Generated Revenue drive to ensure op mum performance in the coming years.

He said workable strategies have been put in place to boost the revenue of the State without pu ng unnecessary burden on the residents.

The Governor also disclosed that all the General Hospitals across the State would be rehabilitated, just as he hinted that government would embark on massive construc on of more roads in 2022.

He said: “We have laid important founda ons for the development of our State’s economy over the past three years with various developments in infrastructure, security, environment and major improvements in the Ease of Doing Business and growing our Internally Generated Revenue.

“We must now focus on gearing up the momentum of building on the achievements so far, and by so doing, delivering accelerated economic growth and development for all.

“As a state, our vision of the future is clear. Our goal is to achieve inclusive socioeconomic growth that is rooted in our 10-Year Osun Development Plan (20192028). Our plan rests on four developmental pillars: Economic Development, Infrastructure Development, Human Capital Development and Security, and Environmental Sustainability.

“To achieve this, we commit ourselves to deepening the founda on for revenue diversifica on and economic sustainability by focusing on Agriculture, Mining, ICT and Innova on, Culture and Tourism and Crea ve economy without neglec ng other important sectors like Infrastructure, Water and Sanita on, Commerce and Industry, Educaon and Health.

“In a broader view therefore, the central focus of our administra on is to make Osun a prosperous State in a secure and sustainable environment through pragma c, transparent, accountable and inclusive governance.”

Earlier, the Speaker,

Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye, lauded Oyetola’s administra on for priori sing accountability, probity and prudence in the management of the scarce resources accruable to the State.

He promised that the legislature would display the commitment needed to ensure speedy passage of the budget as it has been doing in the past, saying: “We will con nue to play a suppor ve role to the execu ve arm to con nuously be er the lives of the ci zens.

We Are Working On Restoring Power Supply To Origbo Mejeeje - IBEDC

T

HE Ibadan Electricity Distribu on Company (IBEDC) has said it was working hard to restore power supply to communi es in Ife North Local Government Council, which had been experiencing total blackout for some months.

The affected communi es, known as Origbo Mejeeje are: Moro, Ipetumodu, Asipa, Isope, Edunabon, Akinlalu, Yakoyo.

Leaders of the communi es, under the aegis of Ife North Progressive Presidents, had appealed to the IBEDC to find a las ng solu on to the blackout and restore electricity back to their towns.

According to the community leaders, the blackout had paralysed businesses in the area and put the towns at risk.

However, the IBEDC, in a release by its Regional Communica on Officer, Osun Region, Mrs. Kikelomo Owoeye, assured the communi es of the company’s relentless efforts in restoring power back to the area.

Owoeye appealed to members of the community to con nue exercising pa ence while the company work on ensuring that the faulty transformer is resuscitated and power supply is restored to the affected communi es.

She said: “The Moro 7.5MVA transformer got faulty and IBEDC has been working on it to see that it is resuscitated but to no avail.

“We have not relented since it happened and we have been engaging the representa ves of the affected communi es in the

Origbo Mejejeeje.

“We appreciate the paence of the community members and the youths.

We are not res ng on our oars as we are trying to ensure that the transformer is repaired and power is restored to the communies.

“We want to appeal to our esteemed customers to con nue to exercise pa ence while we work on ensuring the transformer is resuscitated and power supply is restored to the affected communi es.”

Meanwhile, the State of Osun House of Assembly has summoned the Managing Director of the IBEDC, the Nigerian Electricity Regula on Commission (NERC) and the Federal Compe on and Consumer Protec on Commission (FCCPC) over the blackout in the communi es.

A mo on to summon the IBEDC, NERC and FCCPC was moved by Hon. Tunde Olatunji, the lawmaker represen ng Ife North State Cons tuency in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

Moving the mo on during Plenary, Olatunji who doubles as the Chief Whip, stated that it became necessary towards finding a las ng solu on to the total system collapse of the 7.5MVA electricity power substa on in his cons tuency.

The lawmaker said, “I moved a mo on on the power outage in Ife North State Cons tuency and the poor responsiveness of the electricity service provider as a ma er of urgent public importance at the plenary today.

Ilesa Resident Seek Gov’s Intervention On Old Omi-Eran Road Yusuf Oketola

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OME residents of Ilesa, State of Osun, have called the atten on of the State Government to the deplorable condi on of old Omi-Eran road in the town.

According to the residents, the road had become a death trap for close to four years, calling the State Government to see to its rehabilita on.

One of the residents, Oladele Familuyi, said mo-

torists had been witnessing hardship plying the road, adding that accidents were common to it because of its poor condi on.

Familuyi said: “Governance is not rocket science.

It is a pity that we have this deadly bad por on of road (Old Omi-Eran Road) within the centre of the ancient city of Ilesa.

“Many accidents that are brutal have occurred on this road and nobody in the present cabinet in the

state cares about it. I appeal on behalf of all of us living in the city of Ilesa to those concerned to please help us a end to this road.

“The road is nothing but a death trap for the people and it has been like this for over four years.

Another resident, Mr. Wahab Akinrinade, said the old Omi-Eran road is part of the strategic networking road in Ilesa, praying the government to rehabilitate for economic benefit and well-being of the people.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

News Motorists Calls For Fixing of ‘Ona Baba Ona’ Street Lights Page 4

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 08 - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 VOL. 16 NO 39 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

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ALUE Added Tax (VAT) is an indirect tax levied on goods and services for value added at every point of produc on or distribu on cycle; from raw materials to the final retail purchase as consumers ul mately bear the tax. VAT was introduced in Nigeria in December 1993 via Decree 102 but its implementa on began in 1994. In the Decree, VAT is to be administered by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) while import VAT is administered by Customs Services. Since its introduc on, VAT has become consistent but fastest growing revenue in Nigeria.

In the recent me, however, there have been claims and counter claims as to which level of government should be administering the tax. While the Federal Government via the Minister of Jus ce and A orney-General of the Federa on, Abubakar Malami, insists that only Federal Government is cons tu onally empowered to access the tax, some State Governments have said, ‘No’, they are the ones empowered to administer the tax in their respec ve jurisdic ons. Rivers State fired the first shot by heading toJus ce Stephen Pam of Federal High Court in Port Harcourt which gave the State Government, on 9th August, 2021, the right to collect VAT instead of the FIRS and restrained A orney General and FIRS (1st and 2nd defendants) from collec ng VAT in the State. Consequently, the State Assembly had passed a Bill which was accented by Governor Nyesom Wike to become law with inaugura on of relevant agencies for the collec on of VAT in the State.

FIRS quickly ran to the Court of Appeal to halt the judgement of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt. In its ruling, the Appeal Court asked the par es involved to maintain “status quo ante bellum” pending the final determina on of the appellate court. To an ordinary man, it connotes cessa on of controversy and allow what was ini ally opera onal before the conflict which suggests FIRS collec on of VAT pending final determina on. However, notable senior lawyers have knocked the Appeal Court ruling, sta ng that “FIRS cannot collect VAT as it is a judgement debtor and has been restrained by the Court of Appeal from collecting VAT while the appeal is pending.” Somehow, anyway, the Supreme Court will give the final verdict. It’s just a ma er of me.

We must recognise the sen ment of some state governments like Lagos and Rivers who felt that there has always been lack of equity in the sharing formula of VAT. For instance, while Lagos generates about 55 percent total VAT in Nigeria, it is allo ed a meagre 15 percent. Re-

“If States’ Governors have given 10 percent of their dedication, zeal and concern on right to VAT collection to mechanised farming, we would not have remained in this precarious state”

Rescuing The Soul Of Osun APC

Conundrum And Hullabaloo Over VAT search has revealed that most states that contribute lesser VAT percent are mostly allo ed larger percentrela ve to their contribu ons.

Moreover, states are striving inwardly on how they could increase their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to complement theirfinancial challenges and responsibili es. Hence, VAT is one major source. However, genera ng revenue is one thing, what it is used for is another thing en rely.

Eight Oil-producing States – Abia, AkwaIbom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers received N6.589 trillion from the Federaon Account between 2009 and 2019 based on 13percent deriva on principle with li le or no impact on the lives of people in the states, South-South region in par cular. In these states, heath facili es are deplorable, no access to portable drinking water with very limited access to electricity, poor educaon infrastructure among others. Where basic ameni es exist are selected oil communi es

STRIKER

I

provided by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) or Nigeria Na onal Petroleum Corpora on (NNPC) or Oil Companies as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. The point to be drawn here is that development and be er living standard will not come the way of the people through revenue; what is required is produc on and produc vity. We live in a compe ve world where relevance is determined by how fast one can produce and package what humanity needs. We are lagging behind in all areas of life and have become a burden than blessing to the global village. We don’t have technical knowhow on how our crude oil is being exploited and explored; all we do is collec on of rent and royalty which have taken us far behind.

If States’ Governors have given 10 percent of their dedica on, zeal and concern on right to VAT collec on to mechanised farming, we would not have remained in this precarious state. What we require is produc vity in our

areas of choice. Produc vity is the efficiency with which firms, organisa ons, industry and economy as a whole converts input (Labour, Capital and Raw materials) into output. It measures how efficiently we use our resources to produce. It is the genera on and applicaon of technology and knowledge (Innovaon) applied that drive the form and level of produc vity and growth. If we apply this to mechanised farming alone, leaving alone our various endowed natural resources in every state in Nigeria, our vast youth popula on will be produc vely engaged and much more taxable, values will be added, hunger and starvaon will vanish and crimes and criminality will be dras cally reduced with accompanied better life for the mass majority of the people. It’s me we constructed new path to real development instead lagging behind and pretending to be very busy, searching for what is not lost in the first instance.

If I may paraphrase Pat Utomi, Professor of Poli cal Economy, “Central to the problem of Nigeria is a failure to understand between produc on and revenue and what is required for the quality of life that people live.We fight each other over revenue, star ng war, all kinds of things over sharing, structure and restructuring. When I listen to these conversa ons, I am struck by power of ignorance. Ignorance is a very powerful thing. People are rushing to what will make them poor. Go through history.

No na on, no group of people became rich through revenue. You become rich through produc on. It doesn’t ma er how much money you get. Whether they are dona ons; whether it is coming from oil, from diamond or from anything, you’ll be poor!”

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

Anambra And Beyond

T is less than 4 weeks to the Anambra State Governorship elec ons on Saturday, November 6, 2021. That elecon is one of few major elec ons that will lead to the 2023 general elec ons; others closest to the 2023 grand finale are Eki , June 18, 2022 and Osun, July 16, 2022.

Accordingly, we are 4 weeks away from the commencement of the elec on circuit that will engage us all consistently, INEC chiefly, un l February 18, 2023.

When all things are equal, elec ons are grand and happy fes vals of democracy, when the people demonstrate their supremacy as the ul mate repository of power and affirm the basic tenet of democracy; viz, every willing adult has his/ her say, while the majority of such adults have their wayin the choice of who leads and govern.

When all things are far from equal, the freeness, fairness and credibility of elec ons are not only thrown overboard, there might be unleashed grave dangers to lives and proper es, and indeed to society’s survival, in extreme cases.

Every well meaning Nigerian should be asking self the ques on right about now; to what extent are all things equal, proceeding with Anambra and taking stork all around the country? As per Anambra, the chief umpire itself, INEC, has expressed fears with respect to the conduct of the elec on that is less than a month away. INEC facili es have come under repeated and relentless a acks

over the last few months, not only in Anambra but all over the Eastern part of Nigeria. We all know why.

Democracy and elec ons are not ends in themselves. They are expected to deliver dividends that guarantee freedom, equity and jus ce, fairness and inclusiveness, development, peace and prosperity for the widest majority. These dividends are plainly absent in Nigeria today a er 22 uninterrupted years of opera ng “democracy,” a er 6 general elec ons and 4 different Presidents.Assuming and conceding that the next general elec on and next president will be our salva on and raise the Moses that will lead us to the promised land, are we not supposed to take care of all factors milita ng against free, fair, non-violent and credible elecons, rather than coun ng on God, luck, chance as usual in our characteris c “wobble and fumble to the final”?

There are ominous signs and bold handwri ngs on the wall, in clear, simple language that everyone understands.

Whenever there is an ailment due to an infec on, the ra onal thing to do is wide range diagnosis to prescribe suitable remedy for healing. Assump ons, faith, arrogance and playing the ostrich do not cure cancers.

The poli cal par es are far from normal; the electorates are far from normal; the circumstances and environment are far from normal – economy and security fundamentally. How a normal elec on will be conducted as such, without nor-

malising some, if not all the indicators, is indeed a wonder.

The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) that is in control of the government and parliament at the centre and who is a party to all upcoming contests, have a huge historical responsibility, far more than all other stakeholders.

If APC quickly re-founds itself, reclaims its progressive iden ty and party-supremacy, it can control the ac ons of its Buhariled government and majority legislators thereby catalysing poli cal solu ons, however short-term, to most of today’s grave challenges that threaten not only the upcoming elec ons but Nigeria’s very survival. It is no rocket science and it can be done in record me.Basically needed are selflessness, patrio sm and statesmanship concerning best decisions on clear issues. If APC fails to do so, then, we are all under a government and parliament, in an imposed unitary se ng, that lacks master, direc on or opera ng system. Stripped of direc on and ar culatednoble vision, poli cal par es are simply power-mongering, power-grabbing conspiratorial assemblages.

When burdened with a casual, carefree or careless poli cal party or government (much else a reckless one), the mandate is upon the people and their popular organisa ons to demand reasonable ac ons for their own salva on; else they go down the drain with such doomed par es and governments. Time is of essence; just 4 weeks to the GO!

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