Osun Defender Online Version of September 17, 2021

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 VOL 16 NO 35

Fear Grips APC, TOP Members In Ile-Ife

•Over Incessant Attacks •Send SoS To Buhari, IGP •Say Violent Politicians OnThe Prowl Our Reporter

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EMBERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially those that belong to The Osun Progressives (TOP) in IleIfe, State of Osun, are currently living in fear over possible a acks by some people described as ‘violent poli cians’, among who are government officials and ‘Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) elements’.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that some of the APC leaders in Ile-Ife have resorted to taking extra security measures, since the attack on the house of the

former Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, on August 14, 2021.

Some of the APC leaders have abandoned their homes and sought shelter elsewhere at night for fear of being attacked by assailants.

The crisis within the Osun APC has pitched Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s camp, IleriOluwa against TOP members, who are calling for restructuring and reforma on of the party.

In Ile-Ife, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who joined the APC from the Social Democra c Party (SDP) earlier this year, belongs

Aregbesola Charges Acting CG of Immigration On Border Security, Passport Reform Page 2 Ar

to the Oyetola camp.

Expectedly, all the government officials in the ancient town are

•Some APC members who were attacked by thugs at the party’s meeting on Sunday in Ife. - (See Editorial on Page 3)

members of IleriOluwa.

Odunlade, former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Sikiru Ayedun and former Spe-

“The party had received some elements that do not have respect for the party structure where they were coming from. They have brought the ideal that were not part of the progressives into the party now and that is what we are witnessing now.”

I Want To Start A New Life, OsogboBased Pornstar Cries For Help Page 4

cial Adviser to the Governor on Coopera ves, Barr. Gbenga Awosode, among others are leaders of TOP in Ile-Ife. There appears to be mutual suspicion between members of the two groups.

However, Odunlade is the first vic m of the poli cal crisis in Ile-Ife, following the a ack on his house and destruc on of his property on the same day the APC members were a acked at the party State Secretariat, Osogbo, during the si ng of the Ward Congress Appeal Commi ee.

Ever since, OSUN DEFENDER learnt, the TOP leaders had been taking

precau onary measures to prevent being attacked.

But the a ack on members of the APC in Ife East Local Government during their mee ng on Sunday, September 12, 2021 has heightened the fear of TOP members.

The APC members who belong to TOP were a acked around 5pm at St. John’s Grammar School, Oke Atan, Ilode Area, Ile-Ife, the venue of the mee ng.

According to eye witnesses, the thugs, who were about 20, stormed the venue of the meeting with a wine colour

•Continued on Page 2

Only Restructuring Can Guarantee Victory For Osun APC In Coming Elections – Salinsile Page 5

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

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News

Fear Grips APC, TOP Members In IleIfe Over Incessant Attack •Continued from Page 1 space wagon, driven by a former youth leader of the party, while others rode on motorcycles.

Sigh ng the hoodlums, the APC members fled, but some of them were unlucky, as they were beaten blue-black with clubs and canes.

About 15 people sustained injuries in the attack that lasted for about 30 minutes, according to the vic ms.

Some of the vic ms of the a ack are: Alhaji Muritala Lawal, Anthony Adeyemo, Hon. Oyewole Rafiu, Kunle Oguntoke, Iyabo Olufisayo, Ademola Adegoke, Awosemo Kehinde, Ayinla Serifat One of the vic ms, Mr. Sikiru Owojori, said: “We were having APC mee ng at Ife East Local Government on Sunday evening at St John’s Grammar School, Oke Atan, Ile-Ife. “We moved to that loca on a er we had a parallel congress of the party to avoid confronta on. We started our mee ng as usual and around 5:00pm, some members of IleriOluwa group came and before we knew what was happening, some hoodlums arrived and started beating us and in the process, injured many of us.

“Our leaders told us not to confront them and we started running for our dear lives, but as we were trying to get out of the venue, we discovered that the thugs had already locked the gate of the school.

“I and some other people hid at the back of a classroom and these thugs came to meet us there. They a acked us with inten on to kill. The thugs injured me, but thank God that I later escaped and went to the Police sta on to report.

“Only God saved us because they were willing to kill us that day.

Tony Adeyemo, Hon. Wole and an elderly man, Muritala Lawal were seriously injured. Our people are s ll in the hospital receiving treatment as I am talking to you.

“Those who came to a ack us are from Okere

Ward 2; that is Hon. Tajudeen Lawal’s ward.

I recognised them very well. They are Tajudeen Lawal’s boys. I think they a acked us because of the large turnout of the people at the mee ng.”

Reac ng to the attack, Odunlade said it is unfortunate that violence had crept into the progressives’ fold and some PDP elements who joined APC had been attacking the progressives with impunity.

Odunlade said: “The a ack on APC members, par cularly those loyal to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is just a confirma on of the fear expressed by vigilant leaders of the party that the PDP elements joining the party will no doubt bastardise the progressives’ system.

“APC had been a peaceful poli cal party throughout the tenure of Aregbesola, but with the

•HOD, Mass Communication Department of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Mr. Tope Abiola in handshake with Comrade Ismail Kolapo, President, Ejigbo Local Government Students’ Association (ELAGASA) during the 2nd Annual lecture and Award presentation held at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, recently. intrusion of some violent poli cians and some never-do-well opportunists, violence crept into the party and we are now subject of a ack.

“If you recollect, TOP

had raised the alarm that some ‘government and party elements’ have resorted to be a acking leaders of the group. A week a er we made that report, my house was

a acked. The assailants thought I was at home; they might have killed me. The a ack happened same day the IleriOluwa thugs a acked APC members at the party

Aregbesola Charges Acting CG of Immigration On Border Security, Passport Reform Idowu Idris

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IGERIA’S Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has charged the Ac ng Comptroller-General of Immigra on, Idris Isah Jere, to effec vely secure the Nigerian borders and ensure no person slipped in from outside with the inten on to harm the

country in any way.

Aregbesola gave the charge when Federal Commissioners and Board Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correcons, Fire, Immigra on Service Board (CDCFIB), visited his office to present the Ac ng CGI to the Minister.

In his speech tled,

Power is Responsibility; Aregbesola noted that the primary responsibility of the CG is to “lead the NIS to provide security at the Nigerian borders”.

He enjoined the CG that under his superintendence “no person should come in from outside with the inten on to

Symbol’s Quote

“We must support the country to keep our nation secure, our hospitality and sense of compassion, which is the hallmark of Nigeria should not be taken for granted”

harm our country in any way.”

The former governor of the State of Osun said: “It is important also that you ease the passage of persons that will add value to our country. You will maintain the delicate balance of stopping the bad guys and a rac ng the good guys.”

On passport issuance administra on, the Minister noted that Nigerians who are desirous of getng the Nigeria Passport must get it expedi ously and without losing their dignity in the process of doing so.

He said: “You are pre y much aware of the reforms being carried out, foremost of which is in passport administraon. Being a passport officer, you will appreciate this challenge more than most. I have no doubt that you will be able to drive this reform and accelerate its success.

“The passport is the highest affirma on of Nigerian ci zenship. The extent to which we succeed in pu ng it in the hands of any Nigerian desirous of it expedi ously and without losing their dignity is the extent to which we succeed as an agency of government.

There must be zero toler•Continued on page 7

Secretariat in Osogbo.

“The people that attacked my house were with the violent poli cian we have in Ile-Ife at a party on that day. We have facts to that effect and the Police are already inves ga ng that. The same set of people was the one that a acked me in 2011 on the instrucon of the same violent poli cian in Ile-Ife when he was in PDP. “I can say it with all confirma on that we never had that violent experience in our party un l those people came to join us. Some of them believe that they have to use poli cs to survive and in the process, they became desperate.

“Our fear in Ife now is that nest of destroyers and killers have penetrated the APC and they should be held responsible for anything that happens to anyone of us. Members of TOP in Ile-Ife now are sleeping with one eye closed, the other opened.

“These violent people are trailing us everywhere. I am calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, to please come to our aid in Ile-Ife, because these people are ready to kill and destroy.”

In his reac on, the former Commissioner for Home Affairs and Tourism, Alh. Sikiru Ayedun, condemned the attack on the APC and the violent path being towed by the APC government officials in Ile-Ife. •Continued on page 7

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Review/Outlook BY ADEBISI AKANDE

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The Return Of Political OSUN AT 30: Celebrating Milestones, Building A Prosperous Future Violence In Osun “We lived and farmed in thick forests among peo-

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blissful State of Osun had thought that it had le political violence behind it. There had been no such thing in the past decade during which purposeful strides was made.

Alas, there is an up ck in recorded violence now, which calls for sober reflec on on the part of the leadership of the progressive family. Notorious party hoppers with no discernible ideological orienta on have clearly blurred the line between the progressives and conserva ves in the state; this ought to be a source of concern.

Recently, four different a acks have been carried out on APC members and the sponsors of the a acks appear to have come from within.

Examples of such unwarranted a acks are legion. For example, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s aide, Olateju Adunni was a acked on Monday, March 29, 2021 in Osogbo. The house of Mr Biyi Odunlade, a former commissioner in the state, was also a acked in Ife on August 14 in the evening. In the morning and a ernoon of that same day, members of the APC who came to submit pe ons before the Ward Congress Appeal Commi ee panel were a acked by thugs who reportedly put on ‘Oyetola 4+4 face caps”.

Just this past Sunday, September 12, about 20 people were said to be injured in the a ack unleashed on APC members who belong to The Osun Progressives. Aregbesola sensibly did not a end the funeral of Pa G.O Lawal in Ikirun because of the planned a ack on him and his supporters.

This violent development is not healthy for a party going for elecon next year. It is unfortunate that the leadership of the party, as it appears currently, enjoys the in mida on of the party members because of the differences in views and ambi ons.

This nonchalant a tude is not just unfortunate; it comes with dire economic consequences. A state of heightened anxiety acts as a break on the planning for new

“There must be a return to the ideological base of the progressive project which is that the objective of government is to provide for the interests of the overwhelming majority and their families and in the process make “life more abundant”

investments. Already in Ile-Ife, the reemergence of a notorious poli cal carpetbagger whose established mode of engagement is based on the use of violence and in midaon has resulted in a slowing down of forward planning on investments decisions by entrepreneurs who have suffered catastrophic losses due to the ac vi es of his merciless enforcers in the past. In a difficult economic climate, this is to say the least unfortunate.

There must be a pause from the present use of violence to se le differences. There must be a return to the ideological base of the progressive project which is that the objecve of government is to provide for the interests of the overwhelming majority and their families and in the process make “life more abundant”. This will be difficult for the notorious party hoppers and the fair weather conflict entrepreneurs to accept but it is the only basis upon which to refocus on the progressive objec ve.

The progressives wrestled power from an -people forces in a bitter struggle in which some made the ul mate sacrifice. The recent opportunis c temporary sojourners into the progressive camp have no ins tu onal memory of an epic struggle which is why they are behaving with such reckless abandon.

Let peace anchored on the truth and social jus ce reign.

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HE recent history is that, from the beginning, there was an Ife Division made up of Ife, Ilesa and Ila kingdoms (called Na ve Authori es) merged with part of old Oyo Empire to become Oyo Province. And there was an Ibadan Na ve Authority of 1893 created from Oyo kingdom by the Bri sh which was later branded as a Division along side Oyo and Ife Divisions within the same Oyo Province that became Oyo state in 1976.

When the Ibadan Division assumed a Provincial status, an Osun Division within the old Ibadan Na ve Authority also came into being around 1950. It is the Osun Division (minus the old Ogbomosho Na ve Authority) which is now merged with the old Ife, Ilesa and Ila Na ve Authori es by the Military to become Osun state in 1991. That was how Osun state was said to have been carved out of old Oyo state thirty years ago. Today, the same associa on of communi es is being celebrated as another milestone in history.

The Man and His Community The Man together with his family forms a nucleus of a community. Any such community, among whom a primary school can be founded and sustained, should be regarded by any authority as a unit of development.

In my days, we lived and farmed in thick forests among people in cluster of villages not very far apart. Any of these cluster of villages within a walking distance - say within a diameter of three kilometres, that can raise and own a primary school ought, therefore, to be regarded as a rural development unit.

In the township and ci es too, any such street or group of streets within similar distances that can also raise a primary school would similarly be regarded as a unit of urban development.

The ‘Op mum Community’ An op mum community is a definable people’s se lement capable of raising and sustaining a minimum of a standard secondary school. By a standard secondary school, we are talking of a youth educa onal secondary ins tu on with minimum of two arm or maximum of four arm classes from JS 1 to SS 3 where a classroom is cons tuted of about thirty five pupils. In other words, such

ple in cluster of villages not very far apart. Any of these cluster of villages within a walking distance say within a diameter of three kilometres, that can raise and own a primary school ought, therefore, to be regarded as a rural development unit”

secondary ins tu on would accommodate a student popula on of between 420 and 840 youths. In this way, community development architecture should reasonably be designed to target people around every corridor of such standard secondary schools which become the nucleus of an ‘Op mum Community’ and a major development unit.

Building the Prosperous Future What we are trying to say, therefore, is that all rural or urban people oriented development projects must target such centers described above as development units or as ‘Op mum Communi es’. Any development projects that are otherwise cited or directed outside such development centers are deemed to be dubious. And dubious projects had always created and ins gated radicalized society that may become scampering and panicking round our jungles as bandits and kidnappers and round our towns and ci es as urchins, vagabonds and pimps.

In the wisdom of the writers of the Nigerian Cons tu on, primary schools are assigned as part of local government responsibili es. It is therefore recommended that all local government development projects should target the popula on around every primary school loca ons. All roads leading to every primary school must therefore be constructed and maintained by the local government within which the school operates. And the primary school vicinity must also a ract local government clean water supply, electricity and energy, health facili es, housing and sanita on services and Agro-allied ac vi es, etc.

In the same manner, the state that assumed responsibili es for the secondary schools would also be expected to design government budgets to site projects to target the essenPublisher – Moremi Publishing al needs and happiness of House Ltd. the people around the priDeputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman mary and secondary schools (0805-121-2204) in the ‘Op mum communies’ within its boundaries.

Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa And there shall be an all Reporter – Yusuf Oketola round and even rural and urReporter – Kazeem Badmus ban community development Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto within the state.

Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere •The above is an extract OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing from the Keynote Address House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite

by Chief Bisi Akande, the Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, Asiwaju of Ila Orangun and State of Osun a former governor of the ISSN : 0794 – 8050 State of Osun, at a colTelephone : 0805-121-2204 loquium organised by the Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php State Government as part e–mail : osundefender@yahoo.com of the ac vi es to celebrate osundefenderbank@gmail.com the 30th anniversary of the All Correspondence to the above email Addresses. crea on of the State.

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

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I Want To Start A New Life, Osogbo-Based Pornstar Cries For Help Ifon, Ilobu Residents Yusuf Oketola

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N Osogbo-based pornstar, Ladiva Aije, has cried for help from the Nigeria Correc onal Centre in Ilesa, where she was remanded.

Aije, a 19-year-old Cameroonian, was arrested alongside his boss, Tobilola Jolaoso, popularly known as King TblakHoc and four other members of the crew, on September 14, 2020 for shoo ng a porn video at Osun Grove, Osogbo.

They were traced when the a en on of some tradi onalists in Osogbo was called to the porn video, which was shot in July 2020.

Aije and others were arraigned in court before Magistrate Ishola Omisade, who admi ed them to bail in the sum of N200,000 and a surety each, a er spending three days at the Correc onal Centre in Ilesa.

But, Aije was unable

•Aije to perfect her bail condion since, making her to remain in the correc onal centre.

Speaking during a

visita on of a Non-Governmental Organisa on, Monsurat Ajoke Foundaon (MAF) to the centre on Tuesday, Aije said she

Osun Residents Fume Over Bread Price Hike, Call For Decisive Measures •As Master Bakers, Al Badr Trade Words Kazeem Badmus

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ESIDENTS of the State of Osun are currently fuming over the increment in the prices of various sizes of bread across the state by the Master Bakers’ Associa on of Nigeria.

According to the residents who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in different interviews on Wednesday, bread is a major staple food of the common people and increasing the prices would automa cally add to the suffering of the people.

The residents urged Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to take decisive measures in curbing the excesses of the Master Bakers’ Associa on, describing the increment in the bread prices as self-centred and callous.

Some of the residents charged Oyetola to proscribe the associa on, saying it is inflic ng more pains on the masses for desirable profits.

Mr. Ibrahim Olaiya, one of the residents, called on the Governor to borrow a leaf from his counterpart in Ondo and disband all associa ons that are regula ng prices of commodi es in the state.

Olaiya maintained that everybody should have the right to sell goods at whatever prices he or she desires without the interference of another person or associa on.

Another resident, Mrs. Esther Opara, who lives in Ilesa, said it was insensi ve for the Master Bakers’ Associa on to increase the prices of bread in the face of the current hardship confron ng the people.

It amounts to wickedness and insensi vity, she said, calling

on the State Government to proscribe or regulate the ac vi es of the unions and associa on in the state.

She added: “I think the government needs to proscribe all these associa ons or regulate their ac vi es. I am not talking about the master bakers alone.

What is happening with the Master Bakers’ Associa on is applicable to other associa ons also.

They are just exploi ng the people. They will just wake up one morning and decide to increase the prices of goods and services without considering the masses.

“Without government pu ng them in their places, this is going to con nue and the overall effect will be on the masses.”

Meanwhile, there are controversies between the Master Bakers’ Associa on and Al-Badr bakers in Iwo on the implementa on of the new bread prices regime.

The associa on has accused Al-Badr bakers of subsidising the prices of bread and not following government laid-down procedures in producing their bread.

The associa on also called on government to look into Al-Badr bread making process, saying that the bread might be injurious to the health of the consumers.

Alhaji Ganiyu Bakare, the Chairman of the associa on, said the increment in bread price is as a result of the hike in the materials being used to produce the staple food.

He said: “The increment in price of bread is due to the high costs of baking materials.

At the start of this year, a bag of flour was sold at N12,000 but at present, it is sold at N21,000.

Sugar is now N22,000 as against

N15,000 that it was before. Yeast and bu er are also in the high side.”

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the non-implementa on of the new bread prices led to a clash between workers of the two associa ons in Iwo on Sunday.

In its reac on, Al-Badr Bakers, a subsidiary of Al-Badr Company, said it did not join the master bakers in increasing prices of bread because it is sensi ve to the plight of the common people.

Speaking through the Media Director of Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen Society of Nigeria, Mr. Luqman Salawudeen, Al-Badr accused the master bakers of selfishness and greed.

According to Salawudeen, the master bakers are only interested in excessive profit-making without considering the suffering of the masses.

He said: “These are the problems we are having with all these associa ons. They had already increased the prices of bread before and we did not. We are not subsidizing our bread price. We are buying the same baking materials from the same market. The ques on is: why are they inflic ng pains on the masses?

“With the current prices of materials, if they do not increase the price of bread, they will s ll have their gain.”

OLD BREAD PRICE N60 N80 N120 N150 N200 N350

was working in Lagos as a sales girl before mee ng KingTblackHoc through her friend in Oniru Palace Street, Lagos in 2020.

She said: “I met KingTblackHoc in the year 2020 through a friend in Lagos.

She told me everything and I accepted to join the industry. I was living at Oniru Palace Street in Lagos where I worked as sales girl before mee ng KingTblackHoc, who brought me to Osogbo.

“When I got to Osogbo, we were living at Aloha hotel and I was paid my first salary, N400, 000, after we shot our first porn movie. The porn movie was shot at Osun Grove before we were arrested. I never knew that the place is a sacred place because I don’t know anywhere in Osogbo. “ KingTblackHoc owes me N200,000, because he paid me N200,000 out of N400,000 I was supposed to collect for the second porn movie. I don’t really care about the balance.

What I want is just to come out and start a new life.

“Every member of the crew that was arraigned in court was admi ed to bail, but because I refused to go back to the industry, Tblack refused to secure my bail.

They asked if I would prefer going back to the correconal centre and I said yes.

I did not know it is prison they refer to as that.

“I don’t have anyone to perfect my bail. I don’t have any family member here.

My family members are in Cameroon and I have used my first payment to buy phone.”

The Founder and Coordinator of MAF, Ms. Monsurat Ajoke told OSUN DEFENDER that she had on mul ple occasions tried to reach out to KingTblakHoc on phone, but refused to pick his calls.

Ajoke said: “I have on several mes tried to reach out to him, but he wouldn’t pick his calls or reply messages. I am very op mis c that very soon, we are going to track him down because a lot of people know him very well.

NEW BREAD PRICE N80 N120 N150 N200 N250 N500

Seek Govt’s Intervention On Deplorable Roads Yusuf Oketola ESIDENTS of Ifon and Ilobu area of the State of Osun have called on both State and Federal Governments to see to the rehabilita on of deplorable roads in the two towns.

Ilobu road, right from Lameco Junc on in Osogbo, down to Ojutu Bridge is in deplorable state and has been a major concern for residents, commuters and motorists going to Agunbelewo, Okinni, Erin-Osun, Ilobu and Ifon.

The Ilobu road is also a major one for those going to Ogbomoso from Osogbo.

OSUN DEFENDER also noted that some key roads that link Ilobu, Erin-Osun and Ifon together are in bad condi ons over the years.

The old Ojutu Bridge, which structure is a single lane, was said to have been built by the colonial masters 109 years ago.

The new bridge, es mated at N538, 895,868, which was facilitated by a former Deputy Speaker of House of Representaves, Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuf, has been under construc on for over four years.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, a member of Board of Trustees of Ifon Progressive Union, Prince Jide Akinyooye, said leaders from Ilobu, Ifon Orolu and Erin-Osun had for long cried out to government to come to their aid as regards

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the poor condi on of the roads in their communi es.

Akinyooye said: “On the issue of the roads that connect the three towns, it is obvious that the roads are in bad shape and we have been crying out to successive governments in the state to help us address the issue, but nothing has been done on it.

“Recently, the Aare Musulumi of Ifon, Sheik Isiak Olarinde a empted to do some pallia ve by making sure that he gets some granite to fill up the bad potholes from Ojutu Bridge down to Ilobu and Erin-Osun, which is Federal Government road.

“He wrote the Federal Government through the leadership of Ifon Progressive Union to get approval for the project to alleviate the sufferings of our people on the road.

“As at today, the Federal Government did not respond to the le er. What I was told in Abuja was that a contractor is on the road. What we do not understand is that how a contractor can be on a road and the road is in bad shape and nobody is doing anything. It is like we are being abandoned.

“The Ojutu Bridge is near comple on, but it is like the atten on of both federal and state governments is not on it.

The bridge has been under construc on for over five years.

Nobody is having any informa on about the bridge.”

•The condition of Ilobu/Ifon road at the Ojutu bridge.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

News

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Only Restructuring Can Guarantee Victory For Osun APC In Coming Elections – Salinsile Hon. Rasaq Salinsile is the Caretaker Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun. He bares his mind on the just-concluded Local Government Congress of the party in this interview with OSUN DEFENDER. Excerpts:

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HE last Local Government Congress of your party has come and gone, what is your genuine assessment of the exercise?

Before I go to the Local Government Congress, I wish, for the umpteenth me, to inform the public on what led APC in general to the last congress. We should have held our congresses since 2018, but for reasons beyond our control, especially the elec ons that were coming up around that me; we didn’t have the opportunity because of what could be the nega ve aftermaths of having our congresses at that me. They were postponed indefinitely.

Unfortunately, we could not have me to hold them before the General Elec ons again and since then, they have been postponed un l the Na onal Secretariat of the party decided on this me.

In the prepara on for the congresses, I wouldn’t know what happened to the State Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun and Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who happens to be the Leader of the party. They only invited selected stakeholders to mee ngs where they said they wanted consensus for the congresses. And in the Cons tu on of our party, we have three ways through which you can conduct congresses - consensus, direct and indirect. They decided on consensus without consul ng many of the stakeholders who should be at the roundtable to decide whichever one we were adop ng. Too bad to the extent that myself as the State Secretary of the party was not involved and you said you wanted to do consensus. Many people said they were not carried along as well but despite that, they were ready for congresses but elec ve one - direct primary.

Now, they went ahead with their own selected people, majorly consis ng of IleriOluwa group members. Because of the vantage posi on of the Governor as a member of the Caretaker and Extraordinary Conven on Planning Commi ee, the party at the Na onal level relates with him directly. Those who are bringing in the forms for the congresses at the Na onal Secretariat came to the state through him and he bought all the forms and gave them to IleriOluwa people only.

The Congress Commi ee, led by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, came and there was nothing like screening of the candidates.

Major stakeholders were not invited for discussions by the commi ee. The Congress Commi ee and the Governor did what they wanted and they said they did congresses. But the other group, The Osun Progressives (TOP), despite the fact that they tried to deny them of the availability of the nomina on forms, went to the Na onal Secretariat to procure the forms, they came back with them and organised their own congress.

This same process plated out in the

•Salinsile last Local Government congress, but what surprised me the most is that the same commi ee that carried out the Ward Congress was also used, in spite of the huge cri cisms that followed the congress.

They (Governor and the party Chairman) s ll imported the same commi ee to do their bidding again. I call them contractors, because they came to do the Governor’s bidding here. If I were Elegbeleye, I would not come back here, because the previous assignment I did had been condemned! But the man s ll had the guts to come here and do the same thing again; which means that he has neither conscience nor integrity to protect. They did their own congresses in their own way, but we held the congresses in the right way. We followed the cons tu on of the party on how congresses should be done.

Party members elected their leaders, we have the results and we have announced it and very soon, by the grace of God, we will conduct inaugura on for the chairmen and members of the execu ve.

Elegbeleye said he was not aware of a dissen ng voice against consensus; didn’t you communicate your stance on elec ve congress to the commi ee?

What do you expect him to say? He knew it. It was in many of the na onal dailies before the congresses that there was crisis in Osun APC as regards the method of the congress. The dailies also reported that there was parallel congress in Osun a er the local government congress. I said it earlier, he is a contractor who came for an assignment and he had been paid for the services rendered. He cannot condemn his shenanigans called congress.

The IleriOluwa group of the APC has been calling for reconcilia on, are you (TOP) not willing to reconcile?

There is no sincerity in the call for reconcilia on from their end.

Most of these people talking about reconciliaon are not genuine. Do they think we are poli cal

“The collapse of the party is very imminent. We need to restructure the party and reposition it in such a way that comes any election, anytime, we will win”

neophytes? We are the real people who own APC. And it is because of the imminent collapse of the party, which we observed, that led to the crea on of TOP. Go and look at the seven objec ves of TOP, everything was borne out of the love for the party and all efforts to prevent the party from going into ex nc on. So, we are the real ini ators of the thought that this party must not die. If the party will not die, we have to come to the roundtable to discuss.

We had ini ated reconcilia on before but they turned their deaf ears to us. They never thought we are saying anything sensible when it was an in-house ma er. But they are calling for an insincere reconcilia on now that we have exposed them to the whole world. This is the same reconcilia on we started before the emergence of TOP and even at the earlier stage of the forma on of the group. We were not, I repeat, we are talking not only about reconcilia on, but reforma on and restructuring of the party. The collapse of the party is very imminent. We need to restructure the party and reposi on it in such a way that comes any elec on, any me, we will win.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chie aincy Affairs, Mr. Adebayo Adeleke, said on a radio programme that you have abandoned your duty at the party Secretariat. Is that true?

Who is he? He is just a tenant in this party. He is a tenant while I am one of the landlords of the party. He joined the party and before he and some other few elements came; the party was very peaceful. I don’t know how he found his way to be so close to the Governor and be giving him very bad advices. Unfortunately, the Governor has been giving them listening ears.

How do you know that?

The man is close to the Governor. Everybody knows that. From the way he talks outside, you will know that he is not a kind of person that can give the Governor any good advice and I always say it. His likes will come and go back to their par es after destroying our own party and God will

not allow that.

What does he know about party administra on? Where was he when I became the Secretary of the party in the state? It is not his fault. He can say whatever he wants but I want to say he is nobody when it comes to party affairs, wherever I am. I have been doing my job diligently as the Secretary of the party. Osun people could a est to that.

But you were absent in the last two or three programmes held at the party Secretariat?

Well, I was not informed about those programmes. I said it earlier that as far as my posi on is concerned as the party Secretary, I should be at the centre of the planning. Everything going out to people concerning these congresses should emanate from my office, but I was not informed. I didn’t know anything about it. I was not invited. How do I just go to where I don’t know what was happening there? I have said it severally and I stand to be corrected, let the state Chairman of the party come out and tell me where we ever sat down and discussed party affairs. Let the Governor and the party Chairman come out and tell me where we discussed on the issue of congresses.

They have their own plans. They are afraid of elec ons. They know they are not popular. Some of them will claim that they are more than us and we say we are not dispu ng that, but let us go for elecons and test our popularity. But they are scared of elec ons and that is why they are hiding under consensus. If they know that they have the capacity, let them come out and face us in real elec ve congresses.

That will tell them who owns the party.

What should the APC members expect from the State Congress that is coming on October 2?

What are we going to expect other than what we experienced in the Ward and Local Government congresses? We are going to contest the State Congress.

We have candidates for all the party offices. I am contes ng for the State Chairman of the party. The Governor should not come from the same cons tuency where the Chairman of the party comes from. But incidentally, that is what is happening right now in Osun. The Governor is from the Central, I am from the West.

That one will make a balanced arrangement and that is what can give us a good winning, come any elec on. Every par cipant in the party and elec on processes is interested in what will come to his own side. Lopsidedness will never favour any poli cal party.

Some members of the APC believe that your chairmanship ambi on poses threat to the second term of Governor Oyetola. How would you react to that?

We are talking about congresses now.

This is purely party ma er. When we get to the river, we shall know how to cross it and mind you, I am just an individual in the party structure. I cannot decide for the party.

What is your message to the APC members?

I thank them for the massive support we are enjoying from them and I want to assure them that what The Osun Progressives (TOP) is championing is the right cause. I know they have confidence and faith in us. They know we will always walk the talk and this me around, it will not be an exemp on. By the grace of God, we will lead them to the Promised Land.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

6

Religion

I

seek refuge in Allah from the devil the accursed and I start in the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful. I tes fy that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.

I also tes fy that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is His Messenger. May the benBy edic on be upon His soul, members IMAAM RAJI, of His household, His companions and those who follow His ways ll the last MUSA MUSA OLADAPO day.

“Say O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves by commi ng evil deeds and sins. Despair not of Mercy of Allah verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is o Forgiving Most are Al-Mu aqun (the pious)”. Quran 34:33.

Merciful.” Quran 39:53.

Likewise, the Prophet (SAW) enjoins his followTruthfulness, according to the Oxford dic onary, simply means, ‘quality or state of being true’. ers to be truthful thus; on the authority of AbdulThe truth leads one to path of virtue which eventu- lah bn Mas’ud (RAA) who related that the prophet ally leads one to paradise. And the paradise is the (SAW) said; “Be truthful, for a true ac on leads to highest of believers’ desire and highest standard the path of virtue and good deeds, and virtue paves of their wishes. And the opposite of truthfulness is the way of a person to Paradise, and the said perfalsehood which means lie, i.e, untrue statement. son con nues to speak the truth ll in the sight of Lying on the other hand leads one to indecent acts Allah, he is named Siddiq of Truthful. Lying leads to which eventually leads to the hell fire and the hell vice and vice leads to indecent acts and if a person is the most fearfully and detestable abode to all be- goes on lying ll on the sight of Allah, he is named liar. Bukhari& Muslim. lievers.

It was also reported that a man came to the A sincere believer in Allah is expected to be truthful in all his dealings (saying and deeds) overt- Prophet (SAW) and asked him for pieces of advice.

The Prophet (SAW) replied; “Abandon lying and ly and covertly. Being truthful is considered to be a great founda on of all ac vi es in Islam. In fact, equip yourself with truthfulness”. Having listened it is a supplemental to one faith. You would recall to him, the man who was an invariable sinner le that the Prophet (SAW) ever before his mission as the Prophet promising never again commit another a prophet had demonstrated this virtue of being transgression.

That is why Dr. Raymond Peach, while trying to truthful to his people and it had earned him a great fame among them that led them to nickname him describe lying, said; “Lying is the best defensive weapon of the weak and the quickest way to avoid Al-amini (the trust worthy).

Truthfulness should not be perceived as a mere danger. Lying in most cases is a reac on to weakprac ce but as an act enjoined by Allah. He even ness and failure. If you were to ask a child, “Did you showered encomium on whoever prac ces it. Allah touch this candy, or did you break this vase?” If the says: “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and child realizes that admi ng the mistake will result be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” in punishment, his ins nct tells him to deny it. Ma Quran 9:119. The statement of this verse is a com- WaFarzandan e Ma. Advantages of Truthfulness mand from Allah.

Truthfulness has a number of advantages which He said again: “And he (Mohammad SAW) who has brought the truth and believed therein those a truthful person will gain.

JUMAT SERMON

Truthfulness 1

First: A truthful person will have rest of mind and comfort. Because the prophet says: “Truth is comfor ng”. Once he says what he knows, his mind becomes clean.

Second: Truth puts blessing of Allah in one’s business and increases one’s kindness.

The Prophet was reported to have said on the authority of Hakim b. Hizan (RAA), that “A sale agreement is revocable ll the buyer and seller part company. If they tell the truth and disclose everything reward to the transac on, it becomes full of blessings for both of them, but if they speak falsely and conceal that which should be disclosed, the blessing of the transac on is wiped out”. Bukhari& Muslim.

Third: Truth earns one success of being raised to the status of martyr. The Prophet (SAW) confirms this when he says: One who supplicates to Allah sincerely for martyrdom is raised by Him to the status of a martyr although he dies in his bed.Muslim.

Fourth: Truth earns a truthful person deliverance from danger: This was prac cally done as the historians preserved it for us. That a par cular refugee ran to a pious and kind hearted man seeking an asylum with him. And the man asked the refugee to sleep in an open space and then put a package of palm leaves on him. When those who were pursing him eventually got to the pious man, they made an inquiry as to the where about of the refugee. He (pious man) told them point blank that he was under the palm leaves but they thought that he was making jest of them and they le the place. That was how the man was saved because of the truthfulness of the pious man.

My esteemed readers, I believe that if we all culvate this noble virtue of telling the truth always, the society will be be er for us to live in. I therefore, exhort you to say the truth always and let the devil be ashamed, so that our end prayer will be Al hamduliLlahiRabbilaalamiin.

To be con nued next week. Insha’Allah

• Imaam Musa Oladapo Raji The Chief Imaam of Telemu Land Ola Oluwa LGA, Osun State.

Crime

Alleged Murder: Court Remands Esuleke, Son, 2 Others Kazeem Badmus

A

State of Osun High Court, sitng in Osogbo, on Tuesday, remanded Chief Kayode Esuleke, his son, Fashola and two others in Ilesa Correconal Centre for alleged complicity in the a ack on members of Kamorudeen Society of Nigeria in Osogbo, where a worshipper, Moshood Salaudeen, was killed.

Others remanded are Kola Adeosun and Akeem Idowu.

OSUN DEFENDER had reported that on Sunday, June 27, some adherents of Esubiyi masquerade, while passing through Oluode Aranyin area, where the mosque is located, allegedly a acked some Muslims, during which Salaudeen was killed.

Esuleke and other accused persons were said to have shot Mr. Salawudeen with a gun, which resulted to his death.

The alleged offence, according to the State-

ment of Fact, is contrary to Sec on 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State.

Appearing before Jus ce Ayo Oyebiyi, the accused persons, who

were arraigned on 13count charges, bordering on murder, a empted murder, breach of public peace and malicious damage all pleaded not guilty.

Defence counsel, Mr. Bola Ige, told the court that a formal bail appli-

ca on had already been filed for the accused persons.

In his ruling, Jus ce Oyebiyi, remanded all the defendants in Ilesa Correc onal Centre and adjourned the case ll Tuesday, September 21, for considera on of bail.

7 Suspected Cultists Remanded For Alleged Murder Yusuf Oketola

A

N Osogbo magistrate’s court has ordered the remand of seven suspected cul sts in Ilesa Correc onal Centre for allegedly killing two persons.

The suspected cultists are: Saheed Idris (40), Afeez Oyedeji (25), Abeeb Dauda (19), Adam Adebayo (21), Timileyin Kupoluyi (20), Aremu Yemi (22) and Dada Adeyeye (27).

They were arraigned before the court on a three-count charge of

conspiracy, unlawful society and murder.

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, the accused persons commi ed the offence on September 12, 2021 at about 6:30am at Abaku Area, Osogbo.

The charge sheet revealed that the suspected cul sts did manage and assist in the management of ‘Eiye’ Confraternity and killed one Sodiq Adebayo and Olawale Sikiru.

The alleged offence, according to the Police, contravened Sec ons 324, 62(1) 63, and 316, 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34,

Vol.II, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

The plea of the accused persons was not taken due to the fact that the magistrate’s court lacks jurisdicon to entertain murder case.

In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Adekanmi Adeyeba, ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre, pending legal advice from the Departmental of Public Prosecu on (DPP) of the State Ministry of Jusce.

The case was adjourned

ll October 26, 2021 for men on.

Protests As Liquor Seller Kills Customer In Ifon Ismaeel Uthman

S

OME youths in Ifon, Orolu Local Government of the State of Osun, on Monday set up bonfire on the road to protest the killing of an indigene of the town, simply known as Wale.

Wale was killed in a fight that broke out at a liquor shop, located at Janta area of the community, late Sunday.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the fight broke out between the owner of the liquor shop, Mumuni Olanipekun and the deceased.

It was gathered that during the fight, Olanipekun stabbed Wale with broken bottle, which led to his death.

Olanipekun, according to residents of the area, took to his heels when he discovered that Wale had given up

the ghost.

He later reported himself to the Police on Monday morning.

The incident sparked protests among the youths and touts in Ifon, who walked round the town with the corpse of the deceased before laying it on the road.

The Police and opera ves of Amotekun intervened and restored peace in the community.

Confirming the report, Police Public Rela ons Officer, Osun Command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, said peace had been restored to the community.

She said: “The suspect was the seller of the liquor and the man that was allegedly stabbed to death was in the pub to drink. There was a fight and the man was stabbed to death.

The suspect is in custody already. Inves ga on is ongoing.”

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

7

News

Osun Joins Other Southern States To Prohibit Open Grazing

Ismaeel Uthman

T

HE State of Osun has joined some other states in the Southern part of Nigeria to prohibit open grazing in their territories.

The Southern Governors’ Forum had in its mee ng held in Asaba, Delta State in May 2021, banned open grazing in the region.

A follow-up meeting was also held by the Southern Governors in Lagos State on July 5, where they adopted September 1, 2021 as deadline for the promulga on of the an -open grazing law throughout the South.

However, only three states of Bayelsa, Ondo, and Rivers met the September 1 deadline.

Eki State had during the tenure of Ayodele Fayose, enacted a law banning open ca le grazing, while a similar law was enacted in Oyo State shortly a er the emergence of Governor Seyi Makinde.

Ebonyi and Abia states have also enacted the law.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun has also signed the bill banning the prac ce of open grazing in the state into law on Wednesday.

The State House of Assembly had on August 12, 2021 passed the bill to regulate animal grazing and establishments of ca le ranches and other related ma ers.

The law will pre-

vent the destruc on of farms, crops by open rearing and grazing of livestock.

Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye had stated that the bill will also prevent killings, sexual molesta on, protect the environment from degrada on and pollu on caused by open rearing and grazing of livestock.

Owoeye held that as from the commencement of the law, no person or group of persons shall rear, herd, or graze any livestock in any part of the State except within permi ed ranches.

He said any herdsman or group of herdsman who graze, herd or rear ca le or livestock outside permi ed ranches a er the commencement of the law shall be guilty of an offence.

Sec on 3, subsec on 3-4 of the law states: “A minor is prohibited from grazing, rearing or herding of livestock except under the supervision of an adult.

“A minor who contravenes the provision of Sec on 3 (4) of the law commi ed an offence, and the guardian or parent of the minor or owner of the livestock as the case may be, shall be vicariously liable on convic on to a fine of N300,000.00 only.”

In Sec on 4, sub-secon 1, the law states: “Permits shall only be

•Osogbo residents at the INEC office along Ilobu Road, Osogbo for the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise yesterday.

Photo: Olushola Aderinto issued to a Nigerian who is authorized to conduct business under the Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Preference shall be given in issuance of ranching permits to those within or near a district who are landowners interested in livestock business.”

Sec on 16 and 17 of the law states: “Any herdsman or pastoralist who a acks or threatens to attack any farmer, person or commuter whether or not injury is occasioned by the a ack shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon convic on to a term of imprisonment of not less than one year without an

op on of fine.

“Conveyance of livestock on foot from one

He said: “It so disappoin ng that our party members can be a acked at a peaceful mee ng. This is not a good development.

We have never had this kind of experience in the progressives unl recently that some PDP elements joined us. I frown at the attack and I am calling all the security agencies to ensure that all the culprits are brought to book.

“The party had received some elements that do not

have respect for the party structure where they were coming from.

They have brought the ideal that were not part of the progressives into the party and that is what we are witnessing now.”

Another leader of the party who prayed not to be named said: “To say these people are violent is an understatement. We know ourselves in Ife and we know the poli cian that believes the only way he could get what he wants is violence. Go and trace his history, it is violence always. Un-

of us now and some opportunists among us have run to him and they are now speaking violence too.

“We in the TOP are afraid. We are living in fear. We cannot walk freely and we have to be changing house every night. We never know when and who this people will come for. The Police and APC leaders should try to cau on this violent poli cian.”

A community trader at Lagere, Mrs. Omolola Oyeleke, cau oned policians against violence,

by Rail Wagon or Truck or pick-up wagon and is within 7:00am, to 6:00pm”.

Aregbesola Charges Acting CG of Immigration On...

•Continued from page 2 ance for tou ng and any form of corrup on”.

Aregbesola further stated that the Ac ng CG must build on the achievement of his predecessor in office, no ng that his appointment as the Ac ng CG is natural and easy, being the most senior officer on the roll.

The Minister also rallied the NIS to support the Ac ng CG and assured him of the coopera on and assistance of the ministry and the Fed-

Send SoS To Buhari, Buni, IG fortunately, he is part •Continued from page 2

des na on to another in the State is prohibited, except such movement is

saying that traders in the commercial hub of Ife had been enjoying peace for the past 10 years.

Oyeleke said: “I want to appeal to our poli cians to shun violence.

I am not a poli cian, but I appreciate the fact that there has been peace for the past 10 years. We don’t want to go back to those days that we would be hurriedly closing our shops because of poli cal violence.

“We know of the poli cian in this Ife that enjoys violence. My fear

eral Government.

He said: “I enjoin the officers and men of the NIS to cooperate with and assist you in all ramifica ons and I can assure you of the unalloyed support of the ministry and government on your assignment.”

In his response, Acting CG, Idris Isah Jere, affirmed his commitment, with the collabora on of officers and men of the Nigeria Immigra on Service, to delivering on the mandate handed to is that, with the way this poli cian is being hyped by the Governor, he might resort to using violence to prove a point and that will automa cally affect our businesses. We cannot open our shops when there is poli cal violence, because the hoodlums they use have always been looting our shops.

“I want to appeal to the State Government to provide special security for us in this market, so that when the poli cians begin their madness, we will have some people to protect us.”

him.

He said: “Sir, the service is commi ed to our primary mandate, which is securing the Nigeria’s borders and also concluding on the passport reforms ini ated by my predecessor in office. I will also ensure staff welfare is well taken care of, as no reform can be successful outside a well-dedicated and mo vated workforce.”

Ac ng CG Idris Isah Jere joined the service in 1987, pa ently and steadily rose through the ranks to be appointed Deputy ControllerGeneral in 2018.

In between, he has held posi ons as Passport Control Officer and Deputy Controller General in charge of Finance and Accounts.

CHANGE OF NAME ADEWUMI NIKE ESTHER That I was formerly known and addressed as OLAOYE NIKE ESTHER. Now wish to be known and addressed as ADEWUMI NIKE ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 VOL. 16 NO 35 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

D

O you watch reality shows? Do you read Human Angle stories? Do you know that these pla orms allow us to see the basic but raw ins ncts of man, how bru sh, naked and selfish we are as we interact in a community of prac ce? Are you a ‘Boma’ in your office or home?

Do you know we have ‘Boma’ everywhere lurking in the shadow to pollute the rein of peace? Do you know that you can be an object of death threat or provoking your own mother to cry of shame if you engage in ac ng ‘Boma’? Who is ‘Boma’?

Can you recall that last week a lecturer of the Faculty of Arts of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife was handed a red card on the allegaon of ac ng ‘Boma’? Have you imagined how his mother, wife or children would feel as their crown slips into the mud through the primary-processed thinking of their mentor? How far can you go with a cheat? Do you know that a new teacher of Human Tolerance has been born in Nigeria, with award-winning spirit that is recommended for export to fight ‘Boma Syndrome’ a acking homes?

Are you aware that on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, evicted Big Brother Naija housemate, Tega was all emo ons as she sobbed and wept profusely as she reunited with her husband a er her exit from the show? Do you know that the couple was locked in an embrace for close to 3 minutes, possibly blaming the devil again, like mother Eve did?

Do you know that Tega reunited with her husband a er she openly apologised to him and Nigerians in an Instagram video, sta ng that she took responsibility for her ac on? Do you know that the ex-housemate s rred controversies on the show last week as a video of her went viral where she was caught kissing Boma, a fellow housemate while in bed and at the execu ve lounge where he spanked her, leading to rage from the fans protesting the fidelity of her marriage?

Do you know as public officers, we are all cynosure of all eyes in our small rooms called offices? Do you know human satellites are everywhere sniffing for a news? Do you know ac ng Boma is a short race to disgrace? Can you believe that so many empires had risen and fallen for want of control of Freudian Id causing primary processed thinking? Do you know love can overcome tempest of tempta on and can brood forgiveness as in Tega’s case? Do you know Tega’s husband hinted to forgive his wife if she apologised? Their acons triggered a lot of reac ons from viewers who bashed her for disrespec ng her husband, family and portraying married women in a bad light.

Can you believe that a er Tega’s apologies to fans, Boma also apologised to Tega’s husband and family members over the illicit public pornography? Do you know Boma disclosed he re-

“Comrades! Officers!

Where are your guns?

Are they kept with Jennifers? Do you think it is meet and not off-limit to try a ‘quickie’ or a ‘doggy’ in the office allocated to you as public trust? Do you know such a slip smacks of insanity and a dagger to the head of the service rules? ”

News Osun Joins Other Southern States To Prohibit Open Grazing Page 7

Perspective

By

Dr Olowogboyega Oyebade Where Do You Keep Your Service-Pistols?

•Acting Boma Is A Short Race To Disgrace ceived death threats from sympathizers outside the show, adding that his ac ons in the house also made his mother cry?

Are you an officer out there? Do you have a Jennifer? Do you keep your service-pistol in safe custody when you are with any strange daughter of Eve or son of Adam, sa rizing as Jennifer or Boma? Do you know such character can steal away your peace? Who is Jennifer?

Have you heard the news? Do you know a 29year-old woman, Jennifer Madueke, was detained by the Lagos State Police over a missing service pistol belonging to the Denton DPO, CSP Adegoke Akinlade? Do you know that Jennifer and Akinlade once dated and separated a er the Police officer was transferred out of Lagos over seven years ago and that a er the officer was posted back to Lagos, the lovers did not immediately return to the rela onship, having lost each other’s contacts? Do

STRIKER

you know that, some me in 2021, however, they met again and exchanged phone numbers and that was when the DPO, who was married, proposed that they con nue with the rela onship?

Do you know on Friday, 27th August, 2021, he invited the lady to his office and slept with her ll Saturday morning and released her to go around 5 am and even saw her off to the bus stop? Can you believe they did not see each other again unl last Saturday, 4th September, when he invited the girl and told her they should go out? Do you know when she went to see him, he detained her and accused her of stealing his service pistol and kept her in his cell ll Monday, 6th September, 2021? Do you know while the girl was in the cell, he asked his boys to torture her to make confessional statements?

Do you know that this law enforcement officer on Monday, 6th September, 2021, took her to

an herbalist on Jebba Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos, around 8am where the herbalist told him that it was the girl that took the pistol, an allega on she denied? Do you know it was from there he took her to the SCID, Yaba, where she was detained?

Do you know that on Tuesday, 7th September, 2021, the police at the SCID took the suspect to her house and ransacked the apartment with the hope of recovering the missing pistol, but the effort, however, failed, as nothing was seen? Do you know that the DPO was queried by the State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu?

Comrades! Officers! Where are your guns?

Are they kept with Jennifers? Do you think it is meet and not off-limit to try a ‘quickie’ or a ‘doggy’ in the office allocated to you as public trust?

Do you know such a slip smacks of insanity and a dagger to the head of the service rules? Do you know such a slip eclipsed the bright sun of Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart and s ll torments the conscience of President Clinton in Monica Lewinsky scandal? Where do you keep your service-pistols? Can you decipher human construc on from the face? Will it be tenable later to say I never knew that she had a mission?

And one more lesson! Do you know that going to herbalists or any sorcerer to find out from the crystal ball about any missing item in your office or home is an ac on in self-help that is unknown to law and if it is the basis of your ac on against another person, you may be slipping dangerously into crime? Do you know that the statement of the DPO to the effect that “we went to prayer houses and consulted alfas”, sold him out as a non-professional law officer in uniform? To avoid all these ‘wahala’, is it not rife to run away from all Jennifers to keep us online in the inves ture of peace?

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

How Soon Will We Get Sense?

P

ETER Obi, former governor, Anambra State and Vice-Presiden al candidate of PDP in the 2019 General Elec ons, recently added his voice to the persistent Voice of Reason, which majority of the Nigerian poli cal elite wish to fade away. He said, “It is disheartening that we, the poli cal leaders could be so fixated on the 2023 elec ons when every aspect of our country is collapsing, owing to the horrible spate of violence, banditry, kidnapping, and all manners of violence and injus ce going on in the country. People are busy struggling to decide who will be the driver of a car that has engine problem. Should we not come together and fix the car first, then look for a competent and qualified driver later?”

Former Lagos Commissioner and APC Na onal Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire and Nobel Laure e, Wole Soyinka, Senator Ali Ndume, as well as many patrio c statesmen have spoken in similar vein. In this very space, Striker had wri en the following words: Since General Yakubu Gowon and the dawn of the oil boom ll date, successive governments, majorly military (military government being a crime against humanity and a disaster in itself) have been too busy cornering oil money for selves and associates, too slothful and unpatrio c to even mobilise Nigerians to prospect and add value to the crude oil by ourselves. Since then ll date, it is largely in the hands of foreign mul naonal companies. We get paid in arrears and distribute the earnings to Federal, State and Local Governments. Those manning those

places then deploy the fund as they please knowing full well that though it is our common patrimony, it is u er decep on that it is tax-payers money - the struggle to be in charge of that oil-rent money is the poli cs/ elec on that Obasanjo labelled “do-or-die.”

The consequences of 60 years of oil money mismanagement, or selfish-management, are what we are harves ng today.

Since discovery of oil, all coups have been about controlling that money, as all poli cs too, while frustra ng every other effort at crea vity, produc vity, innova on and industry! All promises by every incoming government, civilian and military to diversify produc vity and move away from a single product foreign exchange earning economy have ended up as lies and lip services. At all me, the target is the oil money for selves and associates, except in a few shinning excep ons. The situa on was helped and made worse by the adop on of the unitary system of government by the military since 1963, which, in every opportune Republic, civil poli cians have refused to correct.

U er disregard for genuine federa on as founda on structure for our democracy; enforced unitary mould; unpatrio c, parasi c nature of majority of the poli cal elites; and their undying love for free oil money are the reasons for Nigeria’s social, poli cal and economic misfortunes from which only every current ruling sec on of the poli cal elite profits, and the reasons for their fervent opposi on to restructuring of the country for genuine federa on. Indeed, who would have thought that by today, six years a er

the historic win by the All Progressives Congress, Nigeria will remain not restructured: oil s ll the main foreign income earner, war amongst the poli cal elites on who controls it s ll the poli cs of Nigeria?

The grave anomalies have pushed Nigeria to the brink. Rather than having a rethink and commi ng once and for all for formatng and re-installing our poli cal opera ng system first before going on, all that even the best among our “statesmen” are hustling for is who will next be in charge of the aboutto-crash-system! RESTRUCTURING SHOULD BE OUR PRIORITY, NOT ELECTIONS if we can read the bold, clear handwri ngs on the wall! Devote next two years to restructuring Nigeria then proceed to hold elec ons based on genuine federa on and republic, else they may wake up from their hallucinated dreams into a real nightmare country, God forbid.

As much as it is supremely in the hands of God, it is prac cally in the hands of the people. The people, crying and beleaguered with poverty and lack of knowledge, which befuddles their logical reasoning, must be made to learn to see clearly, muster courage, speak and act as one – for the redemp on of their country; a er all, the voice of the people is the voice of God. 10 more Presiden al elecons and 10 presidents in the next 80 years will lead us nowhere different than where we are today, if not worse. Restructuring for Genuine Federa on is not only the panacea for ending separa st clamours and extremist violence of all types, it is the inescapable prerequisite for “unity and faith, peace and progress” in Nigeria.

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