Pg. 4 Pg. 7 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 09 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 VOL 17 NO 35 Ar Pg 4g. 4 Pg ?g. ? CRIME CRIME •OYES, Amotekun May Follow After Teachers Enrolment •PDP Kicks, Vow To Revisit Oyetola’s Action After July 16 Poll •Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (right) and the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) at the Federal Executive Council Meeting, on Wednesday. •Police Constabularies during a peaceful protest over non payment of 18-month salaries on Wednesday in Osogbo. More CivilComingRecruitmentIntoOsunService T HERE are indicaons that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola will embark on more recruitment into the State Civil Service before his administra on winds down on November 26, 2022. OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that the Oyetola’s administra on has concluded plan to recruit more youths into the Osun Youth ownedworkerspointmentalsothatnamedworkOsunmoreSchemeEmpowerment(OYES)andpersonnelintoSecurityNet-Agency,code-Amotekun.FindingsrevealedOyetolamightconfirmtheap-ofsomeinthestate-teraryinstu on ahead of November 26. It would be recalled that the Oyetola’s administra on had on May 6, 2022 announced recruitment process for the Batch 5 of OYES, a development considered to be a poli cal move for elec on Commissionerpurpose. for Kazeem Badmus •Continued on page 2 Pg. 4 My Life In Danger, Osun Indigene In Lagos Prison Cries Out •Accuses DCP Of Demanding N50,000 Accommodation Fee Police Have Forgotten Us - Family Of Slain Politician Alleges Police Parade Yahoo Boys Who Killed Friend Out Of Jealousy In Modakeke Ooni Of Ife Gets New Wife OsunToRenewStakeholdersCommitmentSavePollutedRiver NEWS NEWS
The OYES applicants were asked to come for screening at their various local governments some days to the July 16 governorship elec on. However, the government has remained silent on the OYES recruitment after Oyetola was defeated at the poll. When contacted yesterday, Lawal, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, said there was no update on the OYES recruitment.Lawal said: “There is no update on the OYES recruitment for now. If the government is going to do anything on it, the general public will know; for now, there is noButupdate.”
•Mufutau
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 09 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 2 News •An overloaded vehicle spotted in Osogbo. More Recruitment Coming Into Osun Civil Service •Continued on page 1
OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that the OYES recruitment would come any moment from now. Besides, the Oyetola administra on has also concluded plan to recruit more opera ves into Osun Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun, according to sources. The FunkeCivicforbytheteacher/pupil“toaddirecruitmentdaymentthatservice.the1500menttomentsAmotekuninsecurity.”courageousaremoretheernorclosedstrengthenwouldsaidongeriaNewsanAdewimbidierCommander,AmotekunBriga-GeneralBashir(rtd.),ininterviewwithAgencyofNi-(NAN),inEde,August27,2022,moreoperavesberecruitedtosecurity.Adewimbidis-thatthe“gov-hasapprovedrecruitmentofoperaveswhocompetentandtofightTheOYESandrecruit-areexpectedfollowtheemploy-ofaddionalteachersintostateteachingItwouldberecalledthestategovern-hadonMon-announcedtheof1500onalteachersfurtherbridgetheraoinstate”,asstatedtheCommissionerInformaonandOrientaon,Mrs.Egbemode.
Police Have Forgotten Us - Family Of Slain Politician Alleges
Youth and Sports, Yemi Lawal, who made the announcement stated that the Oyetola administra on would recruit 30,000 people into the OYES.
Governor-Elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, condemned the exercise on the ground that it was done in bad faith by the outgoingReacGovernor.ngtothe recruitment, the PDP said it would revisit all the ac ons taken by Oyetola a er his defeat at the governorship poll, saying it would not stamp any act of Theillegality.party’s Director of Media, Mr Oladele Bamiji, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, said recruitment into the public service should not be for satisfying poli cal ego. According to him, the PDP would look into the process that led to the recruitment of the teachers with a view to bring out any irregularity when it takes over the government of the state in November.Hesaid: “It is a straigh orward thing. There are laid down rules and regula ons that guide such appointment or recruitment into the public workforce like teaching and other categories of the State Civil Service. “Our government will definitely not reinforce illegality. We cannot say because someone wants to hide under the emoonal need of the people, the person should now begin to do things without following the laid down rules governing such exercise. “We are going to look into the process that leads to those recruitment and whichever that is against the rules of engagement, we will not stamp it. It is as simple as that. “We know that the teaching service especially needs more hands to enhance and improve dying fortune of our educa on, but we can also not afford to pack the teaching service with some untruthful average hands that are likely to be among those who are being recruited. “If we want to do something, it should not be to sa sfy our poli cal ego but to improve the system. Whatever the current government does that is not in tandem with the vision of the incoming administra on in the bid to improve the fortune of this State generally, such things will not stand. “We are going to look into it and other steps they have taken a er the July 16 governorship elec on that might not align with the vision of the incoming administraon.
The government had last year December announced recruitment of 1000 teachers. We’ll Revisit All Ac on Taken By Oyetola A er July 16 - PDP The Monday teachers’ (PDP)Democrasiesgeneratedrecruitmentcontrover-asthePeoplescPartyandtheTransi-onCommieeofthe
Adeyemi Raheem Olamide Adeboyejo R ELATIVES of the late Mu u Mufutau, a polician who was murdered in May this year during a poli cal crisis in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, has alleged that the Police have abandoned them to theirAccordingfate. to the family, the police were yet to arrest any suspect in connec on to theThekilling.family said they are s ll in search for jus ce, four months a er the police had promised to arrest and prosecute everybody involved in Mufutau’s death.Mufutau who un l his death was the closest aide and cousin of Mr. Mufutau Alamu, a prominent member of People’s Democra c Party (PDP) in Ibadan was reportedly killed on May 29, 2022 by some suspected poli cal thugs who ransacked his residence around Olomi area of Ibadan in search of his principal (Mr Mufutau Alamu and his immediateCallingfamily).on security opera ves to fulfill their promise, the vicm’s younger brother, Kehinde Mufutau, in an Open Le er, said it baffled the deceased’s family that no suspect has been arrested in connec on with the killing of his brother. Part of the le er reads: “We are s ll saddened as if my brother was just killed yesterday; especially when we think about the fact that the killers of our brother are s ll walking around the town“Whilefreely.there are indica ons that Mu u was killed by polical thugs who aimed his boss (Mufutau Alamu), we are of the opinion that the Police should live up to their promise and bring the killers to “Beyondbook.the fact presented above, we are equally scared for our lives because we did not know why our brother deserved to be killed in such manner. Who knows maybe we are their next target?” Credible source revealed that the deceased’s principal, Mr. Mufutau Alamu and his immediate family had in 2017 escaped being murdered in a similar manner a er his residence around the University of Ibadan area was invaded by suspected assassins.Mufutau Alamu and his immediate family had to seek refuge in a nearby mosque for some me a er which they fled the country for safety, according to some sources. The Oyo State Police Command had earlier promised to arrest and prosecute those behind the ugly incident and other criminali es in the state.
“The ongoing charade is not in the interest of the people of the state and they must demand that it should be halted”
ABIODUNAOPINIONBYBYBIODUNAKANJIAKANJI Backward
(II)
THE MISGUIDED UTTERANCES From their mischievous opinions, the underdogs went to town and polluted the peaceful atmosphere in Osun APC with different lies and misguided u erances. One of the notable faces in the IleriOluwa apex is Remi Omowaiye. Gov. Oyetola made him the Supervisor in charge of the Ministry of Works and Transports before he was later appointed as Commissioner for the ministry. On one occasion, when he was asked about the situa on of works done on the road rehabilita on projects, he said: “We are not making serious progress o, you know the last administra on (referring to Aregbesola) has created some problems for us”. Li le did people understand that the opportunist was echoing Oyetola’s thoughts then. They later started to separate Oyetola from certain decisions taken during the same past administra on where he served as the Chief of Staff One later started to hear things like “Aye Afusa lo” (the era of half salary has gone), “Aregbesola should give us a space”, “Rauf ba nkan je gan, gbese oo” (Aregbesola has spoilt lots of things) and “Nothing like Rauf boys again” from the now established IleriOluwa camp, party members started to wonder what brought these things they were saying and pleaded not to allow such situa on in the interest of the party. Such misguided u erances, among others signals, the beginning of the problem that later snowballed into crisis.
OVER TO THE UNDERDOGS Entered the IleriOluwa caucus in the State of Osun APC, whose APEX leader and known poli cal bu erflies but calling themselves eagles. They took over the en re affairs around •To be continued.
•Continued from Aug. 26 edition. March To Opposition
U NKNOWN to many party faithful, Gov. Oyetola harboured different inten ons since his emergence as the candidate of the party. He was no longer comfortable with the party stalwarts that put resources together for his victory. He started to make moves to convert the whole party structure to his own group as the Governor and the leader of the party in the state but he lacks the capacity. Immediately he was declared winner, his body language started to say something else, contrary to expecta ons of the majority. He began to avoid any serious issue to discuss with the party stalwarts about the coming government of the However,APC.the pretence didn’t last; as the issue later became a public knowledge. At a parcular public func on, a journalist asked him about the rumoured ri between him and Ogbeni which he denied. In February/March 2019, Aregbesola le Lagos to Osun in prepara on for the 2019 general elec on duty for the party. Nobody in his right senses would ever assume that Oyetola wouldn’t be comfortable with this poli cal decision of Ogbeni as the immediate past Governor of the state. But Oyetola’s displeasure through his body language was not hidden which made some party men to suspect that he was not comfortable with his predecessor around for the elec on. To him, his erstwhile boss was not giving him a space to shine. For the 16 days that Ogbeni spent at the presiden al lodge in the Government House compound, he was treated like nobody by his successor. Immediately a er the elec on, he le back to Lagos. A er Ogbeni le , Gov. Oyetola felt relieved and comfortable. The atmosphere around him created and gave room for a lot of unfounded insinua ons. His hangers around started to tell whosoever that listen to them that Aregbesola has done his own and le , it is now the turn of Oyetola to be in charge and Aregbesola should keep off the new government.
Afew weeks ago, this newspaper in an editorial, farsightedly advocated the ins tu onalisa on of transi on laws in Nigeria, as is the case in the United States, Mexico, Ghana, Republic of South Africa and a host of other countries. Transi on laws as we pointed, are a needed brake on fiscal irresponsibility as one administra on hands over the baton to another. It gives us no great pleasure to say that we have been vindicated. The consequences of the current lack of fiscal restraint by the outgoing government of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola will leave deep scars for a long me to come.Our lead story on the cover page has shown in detail the reckless employment drive of the outgoing administra on. None of the recruitment binge was budgeted and is clearly not located in any recognised medium term economic framework. It is pure vende a. Having been repudiated by the electorate, the Oyetola administra on now in a show of vende a against the right of the electorate to express their democra c right, is on a fiscal recklessness of irresponsible magnitude. The electorate have certainly been proved right for denying a mandate. This binge affronts any known framework of manpower planning, recruitment or a ra onal budget process. There is no evidence of any projec on just a childlike self-serving a empt to ensure that any succeeding government fails from day one. The a tude based on narcissism confirms a fundamental character defect.The ongoing charade is not in the interest of the people of the state and they must demand that it should be halted. It also portrays the state legislature as nothing more than a rubber stamp. The verdict of history on this ineffec ve apology for a legislature will be harsh. The electorate should have this in mind in making a choice in the next legisla ve elec on. In view of the ongoing show of shame, we again restate our case for the passage of transi on laws. The impera ve for so doing is now beyond even unreasonable doubt.
All correspondence to the above email addresses. Gov. Oyetola, including his next poli cal moves. They manipulated everything around him. Their style was to come up with a certain false narra ve at a par cular me against Ogbeni. The worst lie they fed the public with was their claim that Aregbesola didn’t want Oyetola to become the Governor and with that impression, Gov. Oyetola and his underdogs launched an onslaught against Ogbeni and this was the issue that started to cause cracks in the party ll today. They came up with the decision that if they were to upstage Ogbeni, the best is for them to startUnderearly. the guise of a pardon and false impression of a genuine inten on to bring people back to the party, Gov. Oyetola reached out secretly to most of the characters that fiercely stood against him and the party during the 2018 governorship elec on. He asked them to go and join his group, the IleriOluwa under the leadership of Hon. Ajibola Famurewa, the DirectorGeneral of IleriOluwa Campaign Organiza on. This was how the likes of Sunday Akere and others found their ways back to the party. Some elements in the IleriOluwa apex have cons tuted themselves to a cabal. Their sole agenda was to emerge as the new power block in both the government and party affairs; a mission that could not be easily achieved unless they disorganise the status quo. With this in mind, they started to say different things against Ogbeni and anybody they considered a core Aregbesola loyalist. Some poli cal idiots were recruited for that purpose.
D EAR Editor, Permit me to express myself through this le er on issue of public importance in Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun.Through the column of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the a en on of the concerned authori es towards the bad condi on of IlesaGarage-Tes ng Ground axis of Oba Adesoji Aderemi East Bypass road, known as Onababaona
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 : 0809-301-9152 Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.comosundefenderbank@gmail.com
Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd. Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa Reporter – Yusuf Oketola Reporter – Kazeem Badmus Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere
3 FIRSTPEOPLE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 09 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
LetterEditorToThe in Osogbo.Theroad has not been fully constructed: one side of the road has only been completed while the other side has been abandoned for the past few years. The condi on of the untarred road is deplorable, making the purpose of the road defeated. The traffic on the road is heavy which calls for urgent construc on of the second lane of the road. The residents are facing a lot of inconvenience due to the abandonment of the second lane of the road condion.On behalf of the residents of the area, I humbly pleaded with state government to see to the construc on of the second lane.
How To Derail A Process
AyomideOsogbo.Kareem,
Poor Condition Of Onababaona Road
OSUN DEFENDER
My Life Is In Danger, Osun Indigene In Lagos Prison Cries Out Yusuf Oketola
•Accuses DCP Of Demanding N50,000 Accommodation Fee
•A scene of an accident at Owóde-Ede market, on Tuesday.
According to her, Olowookere returned to Kirikiri custodial centre in May this year. She alleged that Okorie demanded a sum of N50,000 as accommodaon charges from Olowooke or he will be transferred to an unknown custodial centre. The disturbed girlfriend claimed that Olowookere’s family and fellow inmates raised a sum of N30,000 which was paid to Okorie in July this year. According to Okewande, Okorie was demanding for the payment of N20,000 balance for him.Olowookere, while conversing with OSUN been threatening me because of the remaining N20,000 balance. He said he would report me to the commissioner. People are advising me to look for the money because he can do and“Whenundo. I could no longer bear his threat, I started asking some officers to beg him on my behalf. I am the only child of my dad and mom, I don’t have any siblings. Did he want to kill me before government hangs me to death?“Itgot to a state that I packed all my belongings to the entrance of the prison gate, telling him to transfer me to wherever he wants. I’m fed up. He should stop disturbing me and pestering my life. “He collected N700,000 from one inmate on death roll and put only him in a room with Air Condi on, which supposed not to be.”Reac ng to the allegaons, the Public Rela ons Officer, Kirikiri Maximum Custodial Centre, Mr. Ro mi Oladokun, said Olowookere’s claims were malicious and far from the truth.Oladokun said: “This allega on had earlier been inves gated and found to be baseless, malicious and without merit. The concerned inmate even denied/disowned such claims/allega on. “Transfer of inmates is within the preroga ve of the Nigerian Correc onal Service and such transfer are usually done on security or humanitarian grounds.“Also, the NCoS is statutory responsible for providing secure custody of inmates in its custodial centers and ensuring that their(inmates) welfare is adequately catered to.” When asked the period or year Olowookere’s allega on was inves gated as reported, Oladokun said: “Due to confiden al and privy concern, I am not in a posi on to comment on the Theperiod.”PROwas also asked why the inmate would make the same allega on against the same person when he had earlier ‘denied/disowned’ as stated, and Oladokun responded that: “The said inmate will be in a posi on to know, as I stated earlier, the allega on is malicious.”
•Oba Ogunwusi blessing his new wife.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 09 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 4 NewsNews
Kazeem Badmus T HE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on Tuesday, formally received his new wife, Olori Mariam Ajibola Ogunwusi at his palace in Ile-Ife, State of Osun.The new queen, according to a release by the Director, Media & Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, was ushered into the Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife at about 8pm on Tuesday by her mother and other members of her family from Kogi and Kwara states.Olafare said the new queen was first received by members of Ife Tradi onal Council led by the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura and Lowa Adimula of Ife, HighChief Adekola Adeyeye who a er necessary tradi onal and spiritual rites performed by the Isoros (Chief priests), presented her to the Ogunwusi family. She was thereafter led into the inner court of the palace to meet her husband and other guests wai ng to receive her. Olori Ogunwusi is a mixed blood as her late father hailed from Ebira ethnic part of Kogi State while her mother hails from Erin-Ile, an ancient Yoruba town in Kwara State.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Olowookere’s sentence had been appeal by his family. The appeal is pending at the Court of Appeal, Akure.
DEFENDER on telephone through Okewande, said: “Mike Okorie resumed at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in 2020 as the Deputy Controller of the prison. When he got here, he started some bad policies that were not exis ng“Hebefore.started by saying that anybody that wanted to go to church have to pay certain amount of money.“We told him that this was not the way things were before his arrival. He usually brought inmate that does not have money to offer him to our own cell where we have condemned prisoners. “In 2021, I was chosen as the spokesperson among all other inmates here. One par cular day, I was among some people who were chosen to go and speak to the DCP. I made him to realise he was not behaving well to the “Iinmates.toldhim we were not happy on his policy of collec ng N3000 from our (prisoners’) rela ves who came to visit us. If our rela ves do not have money, the inmates will be forced to pay the N3000. That is the minimum amount; some pay N10,000. “I told him that I have related with 13 different DCPs in the custodial centre, none of them treated us like“Fromthis. that me, he has been harsh on me. He even locked me up. He ques oned my audacity to challenge him. He sees me as an obstacle to make money since that me. “The next thing he did was to transferr me out of this Maximum Prison to Ibara Prison at Abeokuta. He stopped my educaon and all other ac vies I was doing inside the prison.“A er a year at Ibara Prison, they brought me back to Kirikiri so that I can con nue my educaon. When I reached there, the DCP (Okorie) was shocked; he told me that if I wanted to go back to the cell, I have to pay N50,000.“Itold him I did not have the money and he should let me be and serve my jail term. I told him to remember that I am a condemned inmate; how do you expect me to have access to money? “Later, I arranged N30,000 from my family and some other inmates here and I gave it to him, and he collected it. “Since then, he has
Ooni Of Ife Gets New Wife
A27-year-old indigene of Oyan, OdoO n local government of the State of Osun, Segun Olowookere, who is on death sentence at Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Lagos State, has called on authority of the Nigeria Correc onal Service and well-meaning Nigerians to come to his Olowookereaid. claimed that his life was in danger at the custodial centre. The inmate accused a Deputy Controller of Correc ons of the Custodial Centre, Mr. Mike Okorie, of threatening his life due to his inability to fulfill some financial obliga ons he demanded from him. According to Olowookere, Okorie demanded a sum of N50,000 from him in May this year after he returned to the Kirikiri custodial centre from Ibara maximum custodial centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.He further alleged that since Okorie was transferred to Kirikiri Custodial Centre in 2020, he has been frustra ng him because of his agita on for the welfare of fellow inmates.Olowookere was arrested when he was 16year-old alongside one other convict, Sunday Morakinyo, in Oyan for robbing a policeman a ached to Divisional Police Headquarters, Okuku, Mr. Tope Balogun, in April, 2010, of two fowls and eggs. Both Olowookere and Morakinyo were convicted and sentenced to death in December 2014 by Jus ce Jide Falola of the State of Osun High Court, si ng in Okuku then. But in his judgment, Falola recommended that the Governor of the state could decide to commute the death sentence to 10 years imprisonment, considering the age of the convicts then. The second convict, Morakinyo who is also on death row at Ibara Maximum Prison, Abeokuta, is said to be ba ling with mental challenges and have been abandoned by his family.Olowookere spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on telephone through his girlfriend, Bukola Okewande, who paid him a visit at the prison few weeks ago in Lagos.The case was also reported to an Osun based nongovernmental organisa on, Monsurat Ajoke Founda on by Okewande. Speaking further on the allega on, Okewande said Olowookere is the spokesperson of inmates at the Kirikiri custodial centre, and has been agita ng for welfare of the fellow inmates, a development that did not go down well with OkewandeOkorie. alleged that Okorie maliciously transferred Olowookere to Ibara Maximum Prison, Abeokuta in 2021 because of his ac vism.
Firstly, they are not just ordinary gunboats, they are armoured gunboats. They are gun boats that no assault weapon can penetrate, and that clarifica on need to be made to know that those gunboats can face any challenge of pirates and such other hoodlums that might want to use the creeks and waterways to distabilise the na on either through vandalism or oil pipeline or outright stealing of the crude oil.
There cannot be enough people to manage security, and not just that alone, all other security agencies s ll need to be doubled. We need more of them.
InterviewInterview
The eight boats might not be sufficient for our needs; but don’t forget we are not the only one protecting cri cal infrastructure and ensuring peace in the creeks. The military is there, the custom is there, the immigra ons are there and there is marine police. All of us are pu ng in our bits to for fy that region and prevent the free reign of those that want to affect our oil produc on, either through the vandalism of pipelines or the stealing of our oil. I’m confident that what we have given the Civil Defense will enhance their capacity to protect cri cal infrastructure and curb the menace of crude oil thieves and those who equally refine it illegally.
What are you pu ng together to ensure that there will be sustainability of this laudable ideas? It is an interna onal programme; this is not a Nigeria programme. United Na ons, the World Populaon Commission, United Na on High Commissioner for Refugee, the ECOWAS subregion authority and all the interna onal bodies are involved. The implicaons of not wan ng to end nopersondeclaredyoumanyouHowsecurity.ahuge;lessnessstate-isitisthreattowouldgetawhohaveaofidenty, nonpersonaegranta in your territory, to support you in the maintenance of law and order or in s ffing off security threats? It is obvious that because of the consequences of con nuing lack of iden ty for some individuals to security; development, general wellbeing, no na on will want to s ll hold on to the old, uncivilized, backward and demeaning a tude of classifying some human beings as stateless. However, the approach we have adopted is such that I don’t see how any government will come and want to reverse it.
•Aregbesola.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, appeared on an interview programme of Voice of Nigeria Radio, Abuja, on Tuesday. OSUN DEFENDER presents the responses of the former governor of the State of Osun to the questioned asked. Excerpts:
I wouldn’t know how they came about it. I’m happy that we are able to do certain things that Nigerians are proud of. We have reinvigorated the ministry itself. Par ally, all the key opera ons of the ministry are technology driven; that is, they are digi sed and our agencies too – those with huge patronage of the people have all their programs digi sed. We are reducing person-to-person contact as much as possible. When you put innova on with technology, that will facilitate efficiency delivery of services that are required or needed by the people. Such innovaon, generally, gives people cause to be happy. To me those are the things we have been able to do. Talking of innova on; your ministry just recently launched the Na onal Acon Plan on Statelessness Persons in Nigeria, what is this all about?
It is about making it impossible, or reducing the possibility of any person not being a na onal, even when all the factor or fact of their existence proves otherwise. I will elucidate further; abandoned children, who are helpless cannot be accused of causing any problem about their existence, but with statelessness campaign that we have started and the inaugura on of the commi ee that will study and come up with the recommenda ons on how to quickly put it to an end, par cularly with the deadline of 2024 set and Na onal Ac on Plan that we have launched, it will be impossible for children born by unknown parents to be stateless. And refugees whether because of circumstances beyond their control; it could be conflict or natural disasters, they have no iden ty, no travel document, once they are in any state, we can have proof about their movement. They should be iden fied with a par cular country, not necessarily ours. The idea is that; it is inhumane not to idenfy individuals with a par cular na on. That is the essence of it.
OU were recently awarded Best Minister of the year 2022; how did that happen, what do you think is responsible for your award?
Civil Defence corps is given addi onal responsibility; are you comfortable with the numerical strength of the corps or there should be increase in the number of NSCDC personnel?
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 09 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 5
Firstly, my advice is that when you are inpu ng your details, either with Na onal Iden ty Management Commission (NIMC) or your applica on for interna onal passport, make sure that you harmonise it. If you do not put different informa on on what you have on your NIN and what you are filling for your passport, you will not need to request for any correc on. As to the ques on, you have to ask the NIMC, not the Nigerian Immigra on Service whatever payment you will make for change of informa on. It is NIMC challenge, not our own challenge. Our own is to be sure that we have a single iden ty; that what you are filling on your applicaon form is the same with what you have on your database. But it is because it is at our centre that we know that you have put in different iden es, it appears as if we are the one that is reques ng you to come to Abuja. The database of NIMC is in Abuja.
“when you are inputting your details, either with National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) or your application for international passport, make sure that you harmonise it. If you do not put different information on what you have on your NIN and what you are filling for your passport, you will not need to request for any correction”
I’m Happy Nigerians Are Proud Of Our Reforms In Ministry Of Interior – Aregbesola Y
“It is obvious that because of the consequences of continuing lack of identity for some individuals to security; development, general wellbeing, no nation will want to still hold on to the old, uncivilized, backward and demeaning attitude of classifying some human beings as stateless. However, the approach we have adopted is such that I don’t see how any government will come and want to reverse it.”
The most significant is the reforms in passport administra on. Hitherto, it is who you know that will make you have the passport. Yes, there are official fees but those in charge had developed big industry around it. That is being reduced now to a very large extent. The efficiency in the passport applica on or administra on process and level of passport issuance has been achieved. What we have produced within the last one year is by far more than that service or ministry has produced within long period of term. That is an innova on and reforms. We are reforming the Correc onal Service and with the new law which have changed the en re concept of peniten ary of puni ve to correc ve. We are rejiggering the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corpse, we are making it people friendly, more disciplined and more focus on its primary responsibility –both the maintenance and preven on of damage to cri cal na onal infrastructure, registra on of private guards companies and suppor ng the police in maintenance of law and order. And we are restructuring the corps to be more alert to its duty, to be more discipline and harken to the desire and needs of the Nigerian people. Fire service is to me the service with the greatest support from the administra on of President Muhammadu Buhari. As of the last count, we have acquired for that service 106 state-of-the-art water fire engines and trucks. And instead of it just being in Lagos and Abuja, they are present in all the states now. We have zonal training schools in which we train fire officers from the states free of charge. They are more present to manage any fire emergency in Nigeria. That is one service in which the administraon of President Muhammadu Buhari invested quite a number of resources and reforms there is huge. You commissioned gunboats acquired by the NSCDC in figh ng oil the mostly in the Niger Delta. How will this be effecve for comba ng crime in that region or mostly in our waterways?
What are the major reforms that have really transformed your ministry?
Ques on from social media: Why should we pay N150,000 for adding or subtrac ng names on our Interna onal Passport? Why is it that only Abuja, Nigeria can do correc on on passport?
of stealing iPhone 12 with 128gb valued sum of N500,000 from one Awogboro Tolulope Taiwo. According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the accused person commi ed the offence on August 20, 2022 at about 12:00pm, at Igbonna area, Osogbo.The alleged offence contravened Sec on 383 and punishable under Secon 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34,Vol.Il, Laws of Osun State, 2002. But the defendant pleaded not guilty to a count charge of stealing leveled against him. Defence counsel, T.B Ayodele, prayed the court to admit the accused person to bail on a liberal and lenient term, no ng that a reliable surety would stand for him throughout the Policetrial. prosecutor, ASP John Idoko, objected the oral bail applica on by the defence counsel, sta ng that the accused person has recently jumped an administra ve bail granted to him by the police. In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, O.A Daramola, admi ed the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureThees. case was adjourned ll October 6, 2022 for hearing. the complainant a er failing to deliver the goods.According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, the accused person committed the offence on May 17, 2022 at Kobongbogoe area, Osogbo. The alleged offence contravened Sec ons 422, 516, 419, 390(9) and 86 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II Laws of Osun State, 2002.However, the accused person pleaded not guilty to the fivecount charge of conspiracy, stealing, fraud and threat to life levelled against him. Applying for the bail of the accused person, defence counsels, Sulaiman Akano and T.B Ayodele, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on a liberal term, promising that he would provide reliable sure es. In his ruling, the Presiding Magistrate, O.A Daramola admi ed the accused person to bail in a sum of N1m two sureThees.case was adjourned ll October 11, 2022 for hearing.
OSUN DEFENDER had earlier reported that Oguntade was macheted to death by his friends before his decomposing body was found four days a er in an uncompleted building.The deceased, according to the rela ve, was lured out of his house by his friends who called him for a land business around 4pm on August 7, 2022. A26-year-old man, Timilehin Adebayo, has been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing iPhone 12 in Osogbo.Adebayo was accused Anuoluwapo Owolabi Remilekun Okejimi
News
Clearing Agent Arraigned Over Alleged N9million Fraud
AAhmedClearing28-year-oldAgent,Adisa, has been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly duping a client of a sum of N9m in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun.Adisa was accused of obtaining the money from one Ademola Borode under the pretence of shipping and clearing eight Lenovo laptops to Nigeria for him.He was also accused of threatening to kill
T WO internet fraudsters known as Yahoo boys, Wahab Hammed (28) and Ayobami Adegoke, were on Tuesday, paraded by State of Osun Police Command for allegedly killing their friend, Wasiu Oguntade in Modakeke, Ife North Local Council Development Area of theThestate.suspects were said to have killed Oguntade on the ground that he was making more money than them from the illicit business. Public Rela ons Officer of the Command, SP Yemisi Opalola, while speaking with newsmen during the parade at the police headquarters in Osogbo, stated that the suspects were arrested on August 12 at Alaro Area, withandaDivisionformaarrestedthatOpalolaModakeke.explainedthesuspectswerefollowingthein-onreceivedat‘B’ModakekethatpersonwasmissingwasinconneconWahabHammed.
“The worst part is, ASUU strike started a er we had already paid our rents, so the landlords don’t have any excuse. They have the money to do this “They’rething. just disinterested because it’s a female hostel and we are known to always be the silent ones. Right? Lol. I’m sure if they have loved ones here, the story might be different. “I’m sure if school was in session, they would have done something about it. Now we know that these people don’t even care about us, and they never have. “They are hypocrites! The sad part of this thing is, when any one of us defaults on paying our rent (even just by a week), they’re quick to pounce on us and send us packing. Now it’s me for them to do their jobs and they’ve done nothing for FIVE WHOLE MONTHS.“How do these people sleep at night? Please and please, whoever is reading is, help retweet to pass awareness about this situa on. Many of us are red and we do not know what to do anymore. It’s been too long.”Reac ng to the development, the Public Rela ons Officer of the University, Abiodun Olanrewaju, in a telephone conversa on with OSUN DEFENDER told the medium that the school is not on session now and he wonder why a student will be in school at this dentsthatsponsibilityschoolents.custodyallthatOlanrewajuperiod.stressedtheschoolexpectstudentstobeintheoftheirpar-Headdedthatthewillnottakere-foranythinghappenedtostu-atthisperiod.
Police Parade Yahoo Boys Who Killed Friend Out Of Jealousy In Modakeke
OAU Student Accuses Hostel Owner Of Poor Service 26-year-old Man Arraigned For Stealing iPhone In Osogbo FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 09 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 6 Faith Ugwu Tolulope Babatunde Abisola Zainab Kareem Ayomide Zainab Abisola Crime
Astudent of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe who simply iden fied herself as Aisha, has gone on twi er to express the alleged poor service she and other students living at the OAU Maintenance Hostel were receiving from the owner. Aisha lamented that the hostel has not had electricity supply since the second week of April, 2022, saying that students in the hostel had to carry heavy buckets around in search of water, despite the huge amount paid for accommoda on. She said each of the students paid between N250,000 and N700,000 for a room at the hostel. Aisha wrote: “Hello everyone. My name is Aisha and I’m a red student of Obafemi Awolowo University. I’m here to talk about the injus ce that is going on in my hostel, Maintenance. “It seems to me like everyone has embraced this wickedness and forgo en what it means to speak up. I don’t really use Twi er, but I am red, that’s why I’m here.“We haven’t had electricity since second week in April. This is a hostel where the least amount paid per room is 250k. The prices range from 250 thousand to 700 thousand and more! So how is it that our transformer spoilt five months ago and nothing has been done about it. “How? It’s so unfair. Many people ask me why I’m s ll around and if it’s so hard why don’t I just go home, and that is the wrong ques on to ask.“Some of us have to be in Ife for many reasons. I’m here because of work. I have a friend who literally has a business in her room, how can she leave? I know someone who had to move out of her room, even a er she had just renewed her rent because she couldn’t cope.
According to her: “Inves ga on revealed that the suspects and the vicm were friends and internet fraudsters popularly called ‘yahoo boy’ and having discovered the deceased always made money more than them, the duo conspired and lured their friend (the deceased) to an uncompleted building in a remote part of Alaro area, Modakeke in a bid to collect money from him and in the course of struggle he was killed. “The suspects made away with the vic m’s motorcycle which was recovered from the second suspect’s house. The suspects will be charged to court as soon as the inves ga on is concluded.”Confessing to the crime, the suspects said they killed Oguntade because he was making more money than them in the internet fraud business.
“It’s pure wickedness on the part of landlords of this overtly expensive hostel. We’ve had to fetch water and carry heavy buckets every single day. We’ve had to look for places to charge every single day, in the process discomfor ng other innocent people. “I am a remote worker who always needs electricity, that’s why I se led for maintenance in the first place.
Stakeholders Renew Commitment
The Ministry of Environment, State of Osun, confirmed that the state government has renewed its commitment towards protec ng water bodies and the environment, a development that led to the passage of the Environmental Protecon Bill a few weeks ago. It is believed that the Environmental Protec on Bill will further empower the state to ensure sanity and regulate environmental acvi es.
“I would also like to place my sincere thanks to Brighton & Hove Albion for allowing me this opportunity and in par cular Tony Bloom and all the players, staff and supporters for their con nued support during my me at the club.” The new coach said.Po er’s first game in charge will be a west London derby at Fulham on Saturday, kick-off 12.30pm.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 09 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 7News
Wright: Arsenal Needs Someone Like Iwobi S
TOP Hits Babayemi, Says He’s An Opportunist, Frustrated Politician
Ismaeel Uthman Zainab Abisola Faith Ugwu Ismaeel Uthman Sports
TAKEHOLDERS in State of Osun have renewed their commitment to saving the contaminated OsunTheRiver.stakeholders, among who are tradi onalists and government officials, at a mee ng held in Osogbo recently expressed their readiness to form a synergy towards ensuring responsible mining in Osun. The mee ng was conveyed by a nongovernmental organisa on, Urban Alert, in collabora on with Conflict Free Na on to host relevant stakeholders on the Osun River contamina on. According the team lead of the organisa on, Mr Anthony Adejuwon, the stakeholders submi ed that both state and federal government must also take responsibility by protec ng the lives of theAdejuwonpeople. said officials of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development at the mee ng expressed disappointment on what they described as worrisome nature of the contamina on of Osun river which is caused by indiscriminate gold mining in the state. He said they iden fied the challenges in pu ng an
the way it is going for him,” Wright told Sport Journalists.“I remember Arsenal fans, it’s the same thing they did with [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain, they ridiculed him. I remember watching him play in midfield early days for Arsenal at West Ham, and you’re seeing manyhasplayed.thetoahaveIwobi.”wayhimhistonthere,ognised[Lampard]and“Hissomething.ballprogressionworkrate,whatFrankhasnowrec-himandputhimlistentotheEver-fanswhenhe’sdoingwork,theyareadoringnow.I’mlovingtheit’sworkingoutforThisseason,Arsenalstartedtheseasononhighandhavemanagedcollect15pointsfromsixmatchestheyhaveTheirpressingstylecaughttheaenonofandWrightbelieves Iwobi can easily fit into that“Isystem.amjust talking about somebody who’s making a massive difference to what Everton needs – the work rate, his ball progression, his passing, everything,” the now 58-year-old connued.“He is the pass before the assist, people don’t realise it. Everton fans are now star ng to realise that if they get the right players in and around him, he’s going to be a force for them. “You look at his work rate, it’s unbelievable. It’s the kind of intensity that Mikel wants and needs now, we need that, we need somebody who can press like that.” On Sunday, Arsenal will be hos ng Everton at Emirates Stadium aiming at bouncing back from last weekend’s 3-1 loss against Manchester United.
“TOP leaders and members are not selfish lucre influenced poli cians. We are strong willed, focused, patrio c and true to the reorganisa on of APC which contradicts the lie in Babayemi’ submissions. “We challenge him to come up with evidences to proof his spurious allegaons that we are working with PDP at the detriment of his selfish request. He will save his doub ul integrity if he is able to name one candidate of PDP who belongs to our tendency - TOP. He should tell the world the day, me and venue where TOP held mee ng or meetings with PDP, either that he a ended or have representa ve.” to have, in the figment of his imagina on, claimed that we (TOP) are in alliance with PDP and indeed the Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke.“The ra led PDP governorship aspirant, Dotun Babayemi made some more odious allega on against us and our Patron, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola which we consider a way to jus fy the poli cal master stroke expulsion he was served by his party.“Babayemi may be a “wanna be” poli cian, an opportunist kind of who wanted the highest office at his first poli cal a empt in his new party. But he is not foolish not to know that his expulsion may have brought an abrupt end to his polical career which have not even“Maystarted.we at The Osun Progressives note that only a poli cal neophyte will not know why Babayemi chose to play the spoiler’s role in PDP ll he was kicked out, so he might not wreck the ship which has taken them 12 years to build. “The ‘guy man’ had intended to play games with Governor-elect Ademola Adeleke’s mandate so that he may inherit the “West Lokan” struggle as an addion to the lucre that Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s camp has allegedly offered him. “While we acknowledge that Babayemi is en tled to his scheme to highjack power at the risk of other hardworking poli cians and or his integrity, even as a Prince, we urge him not to managerial appointment of the Todd Boehly era following his summerReactakeover.ngtothe appointment, Boehly said: ‘We are thrilled to bring Graham to Chelsea. “He is a proven coach and an A RSENAL legend Ian Wright has lauded the impact Nigeria star Alex Iwobi is having at Everton sugges ng he could easily fit into Mikel Arteta’s side. The Super Eagles interna onal has been starring for the Toffees with his style of play. The Gunners sold the Super Eagles a acker to the Toffees in 2019 a er being deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates. However, the midfielder has turned out to be a key player for the Frank Lampard-led Toffees. The ex-forward could not hide his delight regarding the 26-year-old’s development at Goodison Park.“I am so pleased with innovator in the Premier League who fits our vision for the club. Not only is he extremely talented on the pitch, he has skills and capabili es that extend beyond the pitch which will make Chelsea a more successful club.
C HELSEA have announced Graham Po er as their head coach on a five-year contract.Poer becomes the first T HE Osun Progressives (TOP), a caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, has dismissed the allega on made by a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP), Omooba Dotun Babayemi, that it is in alliance with the party and Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke.TOP, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Rev’d Lowo Adebiyi, described Babayemi’s claim as a figment of his imaginaon, saying that the caucus at no me worked for or with the PDP and Adeleke during the July 16 governorship elec Accordingon. to Adebiyi in the statement obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, Babayemi’s allega on against TOP and its patron, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was borne out of frustraon as his poli cal career is under threat. A part of the statement reads: “It has been brought to the no ce of The Osun Progressives (TOP), some irra onal talks by emba led Dotun Babayemi, who has just been expelled by the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP). Babayemi was said end to the contamina on and sought for collabora on among all stakeholders. “The Na onal Environmental Standards & Regulaons Enforcement Agency (NESREA) also provided details on the steps taken before the contamina on and the alarm raised to relevant agencies before the polluon became glaring. “NESREA further made known the steps taken to address the situa on by the State Office and the Headquarters” he added. It would be recalled that the Director General of NESREA, Aliyu Jauro, at a press briefing in Abuja, made it known that the agency is currently inves ga ng the Osun River contamina on and is commi ed to prosecu ng the offenders.
To Save Polluted Osun River Chelsea Hires Potter As Head Coach
“He has had a major impact at his previous clubs and we look forward to his posi ve impact at Chelsea. We look forward to suppor ng him, his coaching team and the squad in realising their full poten al in the coming months and years.” The 47-year-old will be followed from Brighton to Chelsea by Kyle MacAulay, the recruitment expert that’s been with him since his Ostersunds days, assistant head coach Billy Reid, goalkeeper coach Ben Roberts and first-team coach Bjorn Hamberg.“I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Chelsea FC, this fantas c football club. “I am very excited to partner with Chelsea’s new ownership group and look forward to mee ng and working with the exci ng group of players and to develop a team and culture that our amazing fans can be proud of.
drag The Osun Progressives (TOP) into the self-inflicted disaster which has befallen him. We are not poli cal bandits who will undermine their party for their personal gains.“While we are focused on the redemp on of our party, APC, which has been on consistent degenera on and we were meted with the worst forms of inhuman treatments by his selfish types in APC who have had vice grip of the soul of our party in the last few years, yet, we remain commi ed to our party’s ideals.
•Media Assistant to the Governor State of Osun, Alhaji Taofeek Adejare in picture with his two children, Ibrahim and Muhammed, and their mother, Mrs. Morufat Adejare during the 7th Walimat Qur’an Graduation by Modrasat Al-Haq Arabic Al-Islamic Centre, Osogbo, State of Osun, recently..
S INCE this is the season of unending pilgrimages to London by Nigeria’s poli cal establishment it behooves us to learn some things of benefits from ongoing events there. It is an indica on of the strength of a democracy in contradis nc on to a “semi-democracy” (in the churlish descrip on by The Economist of Nigeria’s post -1999 ‘nascent’ democracy) that a si ng prime minister was forced out of office and replaced in the tes mony of inter-party democracy without blood on the streets and all hell let loose. Those for whom London has become a second home will do well to look at the opera ons of a real poli cal party as opposed to our booty-sharing special purpose vehiclesThe difference is clear. The Conservave party anchored on a philosophical base had ins tu ons to use as shock absorbers to steady the party a er the sudden stepping down of a prime minister who is also the leader of their party. In the subsequent leadership contest to replace prime minister Boris Johnson the candidates ran on clear ideological lines. The programs they offered provided choices as to the interpreta on of the future for both the party and the country. It was a celebra on of the plurality necessary in a democracy.Thepublic was presented with a choice and not an echo chamber of vacous postula on centered on the banal such as “emilokan” and secondary school student war songs such as “when he sweet us he de pain them”.A er a bruising contest the public had a good idea of what is to come and the party as a poli cal forma on remained intact. The stark difference cannot be glossed over. Both the United Kingdom and Nigeria are facing severe economic upending. In the case of Nigeria it is a dire situa on. The responses are however different indica ng the strengths and weaknesses of the polical par es. In the United Kingdom the pares are responding with detailed diverging costed alterna ves. In spite of the differences in opinion the conven onal wisdom converges on the realisa on that “ it’s going to beNigeria’shard”. booty-sharing special purpose vehicles are not preparing the minds of the electorate for a very difficult transi on period ahead. This is not surprising; they can hardly ask the electors to make the sacrifices they are not prepared to make. The absence of policy op ons-based discourses and “alterna ve perspec ves “ with months to go to a presiden al is profoundly disturbing. It bodes ill for the future. Worthy of note is the commendable speed with which the new prime minister Liz Truss has put together a new cabinet and ministerial team. It is to be hoped that whoever wins the presiden al elec on in February 2023 will similarly reflect “the fierce urgency of now”. Otherwise, we are toast. Se ng aside ideological differences the new ministerial team in the UK at least on paper presents the best and the brightest of a genera on. It is to be hoped that we learn from this and stop glorifying mediocrity. The team also reflects the diversity and is younger. The team is clearly in tune with the present fourth industrial revolu on and the need to prepare for the future. The future is all important. Unfortunately for Nigeria this is precisely where the crisis lies. The poli cal economy is based on the collec on of rents, on consump on as opposed to produc on. To nail the coffin the poli cal forma ons are fixated on the distribu on of spoils and have neither ideological leanings not philosophical base. It makes one in despondency to recall the eternal admoni on of the sadly departed erudite analyst and public intellectual intellectual Pini Jason that “ we have set the ceiling of our standards so low in this country (Nigeria) that you have to crawl to get out of the room”. Wri en over two decades ago the observa on of Pini Jason s ll rings true. It is to be hoped that in their frequent junke ng to London the establishment might pause and think about recent events in that country. Don’t go holding your breath though it will be rash to place a bet on it.
a •Kemination.Badenoch Kwarteng•Kwasi Truss•Lizz
“Setting
ADEMILUYIKANMIBY PERSPECTIVE
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Pg. 6FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 09 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 35 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
Education And Democracy
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, ISMAEEL UTHMAN, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefemder@yahoo.com
•Prime
•Processes
majority.” No poverty and no adversity can blind a truly educated man to making the right choices that will most likely change his fortune for the better. Educa on arms a person with the confidence and courage to make such informed and right choices. Whenever the processes of democracy are so rigged to bastardise his or her choices, he or she knows that the first duty then is to combine in an organisa on with others such as to right the wrongs of the processes. Now that Nigeria finds itself with a system and a government that neither knows the meaning and purpose of educa on nor hold it in any esteem, and with majority lacking in right sense of value a er decades of assaults from poverty, mis-educa on, ethnicity, religious bigotry, intolerance and extremism, where do THE MAJORITY begin their atonement for the a ainment of a just, free and prosperous na on, which democracy should deliver? The first port of call in the democra c process is elec on of officials to run the government. There is s ll a choice to be made, however rigged, unfavourable and choice-less the choices may be! Short on educa on and character as Nigeria and Nigerians seem, there is s ll hope that hard mes could force suffering people into a right sense of value. Five months down delicate and seemingly choiceless Nigerian line, the hope and prayers is that the choices made from local to na onal will s ll be for the be er.
80500794ISSN Crime
key goals of educa on is character - the capability to be well-behaved and make right choices at all mes, whatever the dictate of the circumstances, be it poverty or any forms of trials and tribula ons. Not even the acclaimed religious fervour (nay, hypocrisy) of the majority of Nigerians has been able to mi gate the universal display of lack of proper educa on by Nigerians in that key respect. How does that impact democracy? Democracy cannot be faulted in its beau ful inten ons and goals that the wishes of the majority must always carry the day. When it is an educated majority, democracy becomes the most beau ful form of government on earth. However, when it is a majority of poverty ridden, uneducated and mis-educated ci zenry, democracy tends to become a disaster. Choices are s ll free, which is fair enough, but the consequences of woeful choices may be horrifying; and the weakness of majority government cast a dark shadow over its beauty. Facundo Cabral, Argen nean Singer and Author, is widely quoted to have said, “my grandfather was a brave man, he was only afraid of idiots. I asked him why, and he answered: because there are too many of them, and by being a majority, they could even elect a President.” And it starts from even the poli cal par es like Franz Ka a said, “One idiot is one idiot. Two idiots are two idiots. Ten thousand idiots are a poli cal party.” Unwi ngly, the weakness of democracy is “the
Recruitment, Selection, And Institutions Lessons from the UK aside ideological differences the new ministerial team in the UK at least on paper presents the best and the brightest of a generation. It is to be hoped that we learn from this and stop glorifying mediocrity” Are Interwoven With Institutions In A Democracy Minister, Finance Minister and our own Kemi reflecting the diversity of
Clearing Agent Arraigned Over Alleged N9million Fraud
LET us quickly get the meaning of Educaon right. Schooling (going to school) does not guarantee ge ng educated; it only creates the condi on that makes ge ng educated possible. Today, as in the past, there is so much schooling and so li le educa on. One of the greatest problems of Nigerian educa on is that it never, from the onset, defined its func on - why should a person be educated; for what purpose, and how should it be done? Having inherited a lingua franca (common language – English) from our colonial masters, and never rethinking how its restric ng impacts could be minimised while the benefits of indigenous languages are boosted equally compounded the woes of an educa on that is, ab ini o, neither problem conscious not solu ons Today,oriented.likeNaiwu Osahon said, “there more ‘educated illiterates’ than ‘illiterates’ with a wrong sense of value.” Marcus Garvey said to be truly educated “is to be learned in all that is worthwhile knowing... to store away in your heads all that is needed to be a be er person, relate properly with your fellow human beings and creator... be useful to yourself and the society.” If we align this with the popular concept of a sound mind in a sound body, and the principled educa on goal of knowledge, skills and character, we will find out how far those who went to school are from the goals, much else the many more who didn’t! One of the STRIKER Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above
