Osun Defender Online Version Of September 1st, 2023

NJC To Investigate Osun Judge Pg. 6 Over Alleged Perversion Of Justice Pg. 4

IBEDC Customers Lament Challenges In Vending Electricity Pg. 6

Community Calls For Tinubu, Adeleke's Pg. 6 Intervention Over Military Project Pg. 4

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 01 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2023 VOL 18 NO 34

Osun APC Finally Shredded

•As IleriOluwa-led Leadership Suspends Founding Fathers

•Oyetola, Followers Commissioned to Bury APC – Salinsile •APC Parading Failures As Leaders, Goofed On Expulsion – Odunlade

•Adeoti

•Adebiyi Ad bi i

•Salinsile

•Salaam

Artisans Accuse Community Heads OfPg. 5 Aiding Omo Onile Activities In Osogbo •Adeleke Directs Security Agencies To Go After Perpetrators

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 01 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2023

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News

Osun APC Finally Shredded Ismaeel Uthman

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State is now shredded, following the suspension and expulsion of some founding fathers and other members of the party by former governor Adegboyega Oyetola-led leadership.

The crisis rocking the party climaxed on Wednesday and Thursday with the suspension of two former chairmen of the party, former speaker of the house of assembly and other loyalists of the immediate past minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, yesterday, the party claimed that the leaders were suspended for an -party ac vi es.

Leading the list of the APC leaders suspended are Alhaji Moshood Adeo who was chairman of Alliance for Democracy, Ac on Congress and Ac on Congress of Nigeria between 2003 and 2011, Elder Lowo Adebiyi, pioneer chairman of APC in the state, the immediate past Deputy Chairman of the party, Alhaji Azeez Adesiji.

Also suspended are ex-Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam, former Na onal Assembly members, Senator Mudasiru Hussein and Hon. Rasheed Afolabi, immediate past Deputy Chief Whip of assembly, Hon. Abidemi Ogunkanmi, ex-chairman, House Commi ee on Local Government, Hon. Wasiu Adebayo, former state lawmakers, Hon. Adenike Abioye, Hon. MBO Ibrahim and Hon. Israel Oyekunle.

Other loyalists of Aregbesola suspended by the APC are: Messrs. Adelani Baderinwa, Sikiru Ayedun, Kunle Ige, Biodun Agboola, Rasheed Opatola, Akeem Olaoye, Segun Olanibi, Tunde Ajilore, Ganiyu Ismaila Opeyemi, Zakariah Khalid, Engr. Kazeem Salami, Barr. Gbenga Akano, Barr. Gbenga Awosode, Francis Famurewa and Tajudeen Famuyide.

Lawal had on Wednesday announced the expulsion of former secretary of the party, Hon. Rasaq Salinsile together with 83 others, including the current Commissioner for Poli cal Affairs, Dr. Biyi Odunlade and Special Adviser to the Governor

on Children Affairs, Alhaja Temilade Olokungboye.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that none of the suspended and expelled APC members was invited to appear before any disciplinary commi ee of the party, nor confronted either formally or informally with any allega ons.

The medium reliably gathered that except Salinsile, all other members of the APC whose expulsion was announced on Wednesday, were evicted for taking poli cal appointments under Governor Ademola Adeleke administra on.

Inves ga ons revealed that 81 of the expelled APC members are members of the newly cons tuted caretaker commi ees in their various local governments.

When contacted Adebiyi and Baderinwa who are leaders of Omoluabi caucus of APC, said they would respond appropriate to the ac on of the party.

Oyetola, Followers Commissioned to Bury APC – Salinsile

However, Salinsile described the expulsion as a joke and content meant for social media, sta ng that the party did not at any me accuse him of any wrongdoing.

Salinsile said the acon of the APC shows how disorganised the leadership of the party is, wondering why it will act in flagrant disobedient to the cons tu on.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, Salinsile said the unending mismanagement of the party is a reflec on of the fact that former governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his followers have been commissioned to bury the party.

The former Secretary of the APC maintained that the current scenario is a case of tenant chasing away landlord from his house, describing the managers of the party as poli cally naïve.

He said: “I don’t know what they (APC) based their judgement on; coming from the fact that even before the gubernatorial elec on in 2022, they said we were not part of them; they didn’t want to have anything to do with us and they held strictly to that.

They declared some of us persona nongranta.

•Oyetola, Followers Commissioned to Bury APC – Salinsile

•(Middle) World Health Organization Consultant, Harish Chellani, (4th) right , Chairman Hospital Management Board, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Isiak Adekunle and other dignitaries during the Advocacy visit to Òsogbo on the release of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) by WHO held at the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

“All our a empt and efforts to bring unity and sanity into the party were rebuffed by the so called Ilerioluwa group.

How come you expelled us from the party you had earlier said we did not belong to? You said we are not members of your party and you are now claiming that you are expelling us for an party. Which party?

“Let us assume without conceding that as members of the party, we commi ed an offence, the cons tu on of the party is very clear on how disciplinary measure should be taken. Ar cle 21A and B of the party’s cons tuon clearly stated how you can discipline party members for various offences.

“I don’t know for any other person, but I was never invited for quesoning. All I saw was my reported expulsion from the party on the social media. The said leadership of the APC didn’t follow due process in taking ac on against us; if at all we have committed any offence.

“However, this is a pointer to the fact that the party is disorganized and Oyetola and his followers are commissioned to bury the APC. “The party Chairman does not know anything about party administraon; he is naive when it comes to party administra on and party poli cs. Otherwise, no responsible and reasonable party chairman would descend so low to put his signature to that kind of rubbish called expulsion.”

Speaking on the APC members who were appointed into local government caretaker

commi ees, Salinsile said the party goofed by expelling members because of accep ng political appointment under a PDP government.

He said: “PDP offered me appointment, I declined it. Even if I accepted it, I don’t think there is anything wrong about it. This will not be the first of its kind. Chief Ajibola Ige of blessed memory served in Obasanjo’s PDP government as a minister. Did that make him a less leader in the progressive? Did anybody condemned him, did anybody attempt to send him away from the party?

‘During the Abacha junta, Late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Late Chief Olu Onagoruwa and our referred leader, Ebenezer Babatope all served in that government. That was even an an -democracy era. It didn’t make them lesser leader.

“I don’t know what is wrong with these people in APC. It is like they have been commissioned to ruin APC totally in Osun.

“I don’t see where a tenant gives a landlord quit no ce. Starting from Isiaka Oyetola, down to his cohorts, they’re tenants in the progressive family. I came to know Oyetola when he was appointed Chief of Staff. I never knew him un l then.

For him now to lead some people that didn’t know how we started the building of the party to say they are expelling us from the party is very shameful.”

Salinsile said he was going to challenge his expulsion with due process.

APC Parading Failures As Leaders, Goofed On Expulsion – Odunlade

Reac ng to his expulsion, the Commissioner for Poli cal Affairs, Dr. Biyi Odunlade, described the state leadership of the APC as jesters, saying they lack authority to suspend him.

According to Odunlade, the purported expulsion is from the IleriOluwa fac on of the APC, describing it as laughable.

Odunlade maintained that the APC is confused and has embarked on comedy to remain in the news.

He said: “The purported expulsion is laughable; it is not even from main party organs, it is from IleriOluwa facon and they are best ignored. They are just unserious comedians; and they must play to the gallery and talk to be in the news.

“APC as a party crumbled when some self-centred people decided to wage unneces-

sary war against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. The party ought to respect Aregbesola but they didn’t, so I have moved on.

“APC leadership is just direc onless; they don’t know what they want. What do you even expect from a party that parades losers as its leaders. The current state Chairman of the party, Tajudeen Lawal couldn’t even win his ward and local government.

“The expulsion is laughable; they are comedians. As it stands in Osun today, APC is empty because the strength of the party has been denied. They should cover their faces in shame for failing to win a seat at the na onal assembly and manipula vely won a seat out of 26 in the State House of Assembly.

“It is a shame that they are consoling themselves with the Federal Government; they know the market is closed against them in Osun.”

Vacancy! Vacancy!!

Leading publishing house based in Osogbo, Osun State, requests applica ons for the following post: 1. Marke ng Manager 2. General/Opera ons Manager 3. Reporters: This is a graduate entry level and open to all discipline 4. Proof Reader/ Rewriter 5. Graphics Designer Any interested candidate should apply through osundefenderboard@gmail.com

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 01 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2023

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AST week, this Newspaper devoted space to the lauching of two Books by Mr. Anthony Famoriyo, a former Permanent Secretary , Osun Central Education District. The two books, “CHARACTER EDUCATION and DEVELOPING STRONG CHARACTERS” should be on every shelve and be mandatory in the formative years in the schools.

Extremely well-written and with nuggets of insights, they are more than literary exposition. They are at the right time at a time of economic disequilibrium. Nigeria is at a crossroads, and we have to look deeper in other to get out of the crisis.

Looking deeper, we have to look at the cultural mores, norms, and traditions of the past in navigating our way through.

Historical examples abound, Mr. Antony Famoriyo devoted a chapter to punctuality as a concept interwoven with the Yoruba OMOLUABI ethos. Unfortunately, we have not used this cultural norm as a veritable tool of economic organisation.

This is in contradistinction to the way that the Japanese used their well-known imbibement of punctuality as an economic liver. After the Second World War ended in 1945, the Japa-

Culture And Sustainable Development

nese converted the benefit of punctuality into the “Just-intime” method of manufacturing organisation and production which turned Japan out of the ashes of war into an economic superpower. By contrast, we glorified the self-depreciating nonsense of “African Time” with predictable disastrous

“Nigerian current economic crisis is not just an issue of defective micro and macroeconomic policies they are in reality, they resolved of the abandonment of cultural norms and tradition.

Fiscal in stability is the result of the abandonment of the Omoluabi ethos of prudence, saving for the proverbial raining day, and community values” consequences.

Our culture is so rich, we must turn it into our economic trajectory. It noteworthy to recall that the observations of Garman economic anthropologist of financial intermediation in Ijesaland was instrumental in the evolution of Germany’s hugely admired “lender bank-

ing” model. This communitybased system of financial relationship is at the heart beat of Germany’s outstanding economic success and it much envied “Social market economy”.

Nigerian current economic crisis is not just an issue of defective micro and macroeconomic policies they are in reality, they resolved of the abandonment of cultural norms and tradition. Fiscal in stability is the result of the abandonment of the Omoluabi ethos of prudence, saving for the proverbial raining day, and community values.

We must go back to them and emulate the Japanese and Scandinavians who have used their culture and traditions as economic levers and shock absorbers and economic trajectories for economic advancement and sustainable development.

At a time of crisis, we must think out of the box and look at the past as navigate a sustainable future. Our cultural values must be at the head of all policies, including education, health, fiscal and all areas of human education. Contemporary history has shown unambiguously that culture is the engine room of sustainable economic development. There is no need swimming against the tide, kudos to Mr. Antony Famoriyo!

Opinion Unemployment Figures: NBS Go Explain Taya!

Abimbola Adelakun

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INCE the Na onal Bureau of Sta s cs published figures that put the unemployment rate at 4.1 per cent, they have faced sweltering cri cisms. Earlier in April, they announced they were changing the metrics used in calcula ng the unemployment rate in the country to align with the Interna onal Labour Organisa on guidelines. Since last Thursday when they released a jobs report that revised the unemployment rate (previously calculated at 33.3 per cent as at Q4 2020) to 4.1 per cent for (Q4 2022 and Q1 2023), they have been cri cised for asser ng that the Nigerian unemployment figures are at par with some of the most developed countries/diverse economies. Without any evidence to substan ate such asser on, the NBS go explain the wizardry of their numbers taya!

That no one exactly celebrated the progress the NBS reports is understandable. A healthy amount of scep cism must greet a 4.1 per cent unemployment rate announcement. Anywhere in the world, figures are considered poli cal. Contrary to received wisdom that numbers objec vely assess reality, they can, in fact, mythify. In the hands of unscrupulous poli cians, they bestow a pa na of legi macy upon lies.

For Nigeria where poli cians solicit empiricists to use their scien fic tools to produce a truth that will find no feet to stand on the grounds of reality, the former Statis cian-General of the Federa on, Yemi Kale, must have faced a lot of pressure

“Now, despite the fuzziness of their statistics, I will give it to the NBS that they at least explained that what has changed is not the reality of Nigerian unemployment but simply the measuring rule”

when he headed the NBS and published figures that directly refuted the propaganda of the previous administra on. And that is why any sta s cs emana ng from the agency that can be deviously seized on by a non-performing government, will be scru nised for traces of chicanery.

Now, despite the fuzziness of their stas cs, I will give it to the NBS that they at least explained that what has changed is not the reality of Nigerian unemployment but simply the measuring rule. They stated that the lower unemployment figures are not based on government performance but mere standardisa on of the defini on of unemployment to conform to internaonal standards. According to them, under the old mensura on system, they categorised ‘unemployed’ as anyone of working age who worked below 20 hours, or did not work, but searched and was available for work during the week of the survey.

Under the new calculus, what counts as being “employed” is to work for pay/profit

because the income generated within that me frame was not necessarily livable. On that score, I hundred per cent agree. Nigeria should not have adopted that rule because it merely distorts the truth of our local situa on. In some other countries, doing the bare minimum at least qualifies you for social/welfare benefits, but what does it mean in Nigeria?

Conforming to interna onal standards must not come at the expense of accurately discerning the truth of your situa on.

Figures should clarify reality, not occlude it. Facts are important, but they are also manipulable.

Numbers can be twisted by the neck un l they tell a story you need them to tell.

Publisher – Moremi Publishing One can arrive at a 100 per House Ltd. cent employment rate in NiDeputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman geria if we expand the defiProduc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa ni on of what cons tutes Reporter – Yusuf Oketola “work” un l it includes the Reporter – Kazeem Badmus me we spend volunteering Photo Journalist – Shola Aderinto in religious houses (in expecComputer Graphics – Zainab Olalere ta on of spiritual blessings), OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing or even solici ng “urgent 2k” on social media. VirtualHouse Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, ly everyone will be classified as “occupied” even though State of Osun that will not make what they ISSN : 0794-8050 do an occupa on in the real Telephone : 0809-301-9152 sense of it.

Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com •Culled from The PUNCH osundefenderbank@gmail.com Newspaper All correspondence to the above email addresses.

•Read full article on www.osundefender.com

for just an hour within the week of the survey. They said the new marker aligns with “interna onal best prac ces.”

Well, this is one of those instances where “interna onal” and “best prac ces” are mutually exclusive because the NBS re-categorisa on is problema c on several levels. As Kale said when interviewed on Arise’s Global Business Report on Monday, while he was at the NBS, the commi ee in charge of reviewing the minimum number of work hours thought such a coun ng measure does not make sense in Nigeria

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 01 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2023

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Community Calls For Tinubu, Adeleke’s Intervention Over Military Project Kazeem Badmus

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NDIGENES of Ifon in Osun State have protested a reported plan by the Nigerian Army to acquire a parcel of land belonging to the community for a project without their consent.

The indigenes who staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday in the town claimed that some military men had visited Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Asiru Olaniyan, and later inspected a parcel of land belonging to Ifon Orolu, in prepara on for a project being proposed for the area.

Led by the regent of the town, Chief Babatunde Oyetunji, the indigenes called on the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, who hails from Ilobu, to ensure that si ng of project doesn’t lead to crisis in the area.

The protesters were armed with placards bearing inscrip ons such as ‘Lagbaja don’t cause crisis in Orolu/Irepodun community,’ ‘Nigerian Army is for whole na on, not for a community,’ ‘federal government should cau on Lagbaja,’ ‘Tinubu call Lagbaja to order,’ amongst others.

However, the indigenes said they were not opposed to si ng of developmental projects in the area, maintaining that such must be done with transparency and consulta ons with relevant stakeholders.

They demanded that the approval of the community must be obtained, while Ifon should also reflect on the project since it would be sited on their land.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Oyetunji who doubles as the Eesa of Ifon, said: “Available informa on revealed that the proposed facility will be built on Orolu land with a possible ulterior mo ve of naming it as belonging to Ilobu community.

“We seize this opportunity to call the atten on of the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Chief of Army Staff to be cau ous on this matter in order to avoid communal clash, the result of which could include loss of lives and proper es.

“The two communies of Ifon-Orolu and Ilobu have been having frequent clashes and it would be unwise to deliberately cause another one at this point.

“While the people

of Orolu local government are not opposed to any development in Irepodun and Orolu lo-

cal government areas, any development project must be done in consulta on with relevant

stakeholders and especially those whose land would be used to host the projects.

“We want to categorically state that some of the places the military officials were sighted

Army Denies volvement

•Members of Omoluabi Progressives Caucus in Ifelodun local government area of Osun State at their meeting on Tuesday.

NGO Tasks Stakeholders On Family Planning Advocacy For Women Kazeem Badmus nongovernmental organisa on, The Challenge Ini a ve (TCI) has called for increased awareness on the need for women of childbearing age to key into family planning in Osun State.

The organisa on also urged the state government and other stakeholders to work towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaking during a strategic mee ng for family planning advocacy held at the Ministry of Health, Abere, on Tuesday, the State Program Manager of TCI, Dr. Adebusola Oyeyemi, noted that family planning is the most costeffec ve way of achieving reduc on in maternity and child mortality and morbidity.

Oyeyemi maintained that family planning also improves maternal and child health, no ng that there was a need to address the challenges facing uptake of the programme in the State.

She urged tradi onal, community and religious leaders to educate their subjects on the need to key into family planning to have a safer community.

The TCI Manager also appealed to parents to monitor their children and help in their sexual reproduc ve health decisionmaking to avoid unwanted and unsafe abor ons.

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According to her, ending poverty and ensuring quality educa on to promote sustainable economic growth in the state would not be achievable if women have no access to quality and right-based family planning services.

She said: “Family planning is the most cost-effec ve way of achieving reduc on in maternal and child mortality and morbidity and improved maternal and child health “Contracep ve access is incorporated in the SDGs, and FP2020’s goal of reaching 120 million women and girls, and is a

cri cal benchmark on the global path to universal access by 2030. The SDGs make specific reference to family planning in the Goals 3 and 5.

“By 2030, we have to ensure universal access to sexual and reproducve health care services, including family planning, informa on and educaon, and the integra on of reproduc ve health into na onal strategies and programmes.

“I want to call on our tradi onal rulers, community and religious leaders to enlighten our women on the importance of key-

ing into family planning.

“It will be impossible to end poverty and hunger, ensure quality educa on for all and promote sustained economic growth without ensuring that every woman has access to quality, right-based family planning services.”

Earlier in his address, the state Director of Public Health, Dr Akeem Bello, said the state government would always priori se the health of its ci zens.

Bello appreciated TCI for their support, promising that the ministry would do more in terms of awareness.

NJC To Investigate Osun Judge Over Alleged Perversion Of Justice Yusuf Oketola HE Na onal Judicial Council (NJC) has promised to inves gate Jus ce Kudirat Morayo Akano, an Osun State High Court judge, over allega on that she deliberately perverted the course of jus ce in a suit she adjudicated.

In a le er obtained

by OSUN DEFENDER on Monday, the Chief Jusce of Nigeria (CJN), Jusce Olukayode Ariwoola, stated that the council was looking into the allega ons against Akano by the Centre for Human Rights and Social Jus ce.

“This is to acknowledge receipt of your peon dated 29th June, 2022, on the above sub-

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during the tour actually belong to the Odofin and Eleesi families in IfonOsun.”

ject ma er and verifying affidavit forwarded vide le er dated 9th May, 2023, and to inform you that ac on is being taken, please,” the CJN said in a one-paragraphed acknowledgement le er he personally signed on July 7.

The human rights group had approached NJC on behalf of its member, Adeniyi Sulaiman, who was contes ng the Awo stool in Egbedore local government.

Sulaiman is challenging the selec on of Prince Taiwo Rasaq Adegboye as the new Alawo of Awo on September 13, 2021.

In the case marked HED/48/2021, which was ins tuted against Adeg-

boye before an Osun State High Court si ng in Ede, Sulaiman claimed that the defendants forged some documents used during his selec on as the Alawo of Awo. But the case was dismissed by Jus ce Akano, a development that sparked protest from the plain ff.

Sulaiman and the human rights group claimed that rather than hearing the ma er on its merit, jus ce Akano dismissed it a er four appearances.

The human rights group said it believed that the judge had compromised her posi on as a judicial officer and only the NJC could inves gate the ma er, hence the pe on.

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However, the Nigerian Army has dissociated itself from any involvement in an a empt to confiscate the land belonging to the community.

Director of Army Public Rela ons, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu made this known in a statement tled, ‘Re: Complaints of Orolu Community, of Orolu LGA over Alleged Proposed Community Interven on Project by the Nigerian Army’.

The statement reads: “The Nigerian Army has been no fied of malicious allega ons reportedly peddled in a press statement by one Chief Babatunde Oyetunji, Eesa of Ifon in which he levelled allega ons that the Nigerian Army has decided to forcefully acquire land for a proposed project in Orolu Community of Orolu Local Govt of Osun State.

“Without mincing words, the NA wishes to clarify that the report is en rely false, malicious and an effort by some vested interests to tarnish the good reputaon of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and drag the name of the ins tu on in the mud.

“In this par cular case, a re red senior officer conceptualised an interven on project; a medical centre in Osun state, which has not even been formally forwarded to the Chief of Army Staff for approval, since the Department of Civil-Military Affairs at the Army Headquarters is yet to receive requisite informa on to enable it ini ate a comprehensive proposal for the project.

“Surprisingly, if the said project for which the COAS and the NA are being maligned sails through and is approved, it is a project that will benefit the civil populace and serve humanity, irrespec ve of community affilia on.

“The Nigerian Army hereby absolves itself of any involvement in an attempt to confiscate any community land.

“Therefore, members of the public are enjoined to discountenance the allega ons and con nue to support the Nigerian Army and its Kine c and None kine c opera ons across the country.”

News

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Artisans Accuse Community Heads Of Aiding Omo Onile Activities In Osogbo Kazeem Badmus

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HE Osun State Ar san Workers Union has accused some of the community heads installed by the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji of aiding the acvi es of notorious louts known as Omo Onile in Osogbo and its environs.

According to the union, the community heads are culpable in the incessant attacks on its members working at various construc on sites by the hoodlums.

OSUN DEFENDER noted the miscreants have been terrorising residents of the State, especially prospecve house owners and arsans, while demanding payment before work can commence on any construc on sites.

Members of the union who besieged the Ataoja’s palace last Friday during a peaceful protest, said they were being a acked and maimed by the louts in a bid to compel the owner of the project they are working on to give them money.

The Coordinator of the union, Comrade Waheed Adedokun, said the incessant a acks on the ar sans especially bricklayers and carpenters have le them with injuries.

Adedokun said the union was aware that the Omo Oniles have been remi ng part of the money they extorted from the project owners to some of the community heads in

Osogbo and its environs.

According to Adedokun, the louts usually resorted to brutal assault on the ar sans at the sites when the house owner refuses to given them money or he or she is not present whenever they arrive.

The ac on of the miscreants, according to Adedokun, is already affecting members of the union, calling on the state government and security agencies to come to their aid.

He said members of the union did want to resort to self-help, hence the reason they came to express their displeasure at the palace.

Adedokun said: “We are here today to express our displeasure over the way some hoodlums are disturbing our workers at construc on sites.

“These hoodlums will go to wherever our members are working to demand money, and beat them up if they don’t give them money. They demand between N100,000 and N1million.

“We are calling on the state government and the security agencies to arrest the situa on into order for peace to con nue to reign in the society.

“We have it on good authority that some of the representa ves of the Ataoja of Osogbo in some communi es aiding these miscreants’s ac vi es.

They are the ones giving them informa on because they collect kickback from

•Adeleke Directs Security Agencies To Go After ‘Omo Onile’

•The protesting Artisans them.”

One of the vic ms of the hoodlums’ a ack, Abdulganiyu Bamikole, told the medium that the miscreants assaulted him and other workers when they were roofing a house in Osogbo recently.

Bamikole noted that the Omo Onile said they have to beat and injure them to show that they mean business for the house owner to take them seriously and pay.

He said: “We were roofing a house around Osogbo local government secretariat that day when these hoodlums came around.

They asked us to come down from the roof and before we got down, they had already started beat-

ing us. I was bea ng with cutlass. They told me they had to beat us so that the owner of the house would take them seriously and pay them well.”

Another vic m, Musibau Babatola, told OSUN DEFENDER that the miscreants who came with over 20 motorcycles almost sniffed life out of him and an appren ce with him on the day they a acked them.

Babatola disclosed that he was s ll recovering from the bea ng melted on him by the miscreants, calling on the state government and security agencies to come to their aid.

Addressing the union on behalf of the Ataoja, the Babakekere of Osogboland, Prince Sulaiman

Olanipekun, assured the ar sans that the monarch would look into the issue when he come back from his journey.

Meanwhile, the Governor of the State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, has warned the miscreants to desist from their nefarious ac vi es or face the full consequences of their illegal ac ons.

Adeleke while responding to pe ons over the harassment and molestaon of ar sans and contractors at building sites across the state, expressed disgust and anger at the spate of violence on innocent construc on workers and developers by the louts.

Adeleke, in a statement

by his Spokesperson, Rasheed Olawale, on Tuesday, stated that the state government would not tolerate the gruesome tac cs of the ‘Omo onile’ in forcing landowners to part away with their hard-earned money.

The Governor said security agencies have been instructed to go hard on anyone involved in the unwholesome prac ce.

The statement reads, “I have received several pe ons from Osogbo, Ife, Ilesa, Ikirun, Iwo, and almost every major town in Osun State. Recently, I received more than three pe ons from Osogbo alone, where perpetrators allegedly maimed and even killed some site workers.

“I have reports of seizure of work equipment belonging to ar sans and even illegal deten on of contractors and site workers. All these must stop forthwith.

“I have subsequently directed security agencies to conduct special opera ons to go a er perpetrators.

Our administra on will not tolerate brazen lawlessness and unwarranted disrupon of livelihoods of innocent ci zens.

“I’ am also reques ng vic ms of these untoward ac vi es to report incidence to law enforcement agencies for appropriate ac ons.”

A Prosperous Beginning For Qomarudeen And Shifaa

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LL road led to Saki, an ancient town in Oyo State, on Saturday, August 26, 2023 for the solemnisa on of Mr. Qomarudeen Lekan Ibraheem and Shifaa Yetunde Bashir. It was a brighter day for the young couples who have courted for two years before they ed the nup al knot.

The groom, an indigene of Ila-Orangun of Osun State while the bride, Bashir is from Saki, Oyo State.

With the marriage, Qomarudeen has completed half of his faith, according Prophet Muhammad.

Prophet Muhammad advised Muslims to marry; he forbade the prac ce of celibacy. He said, “Marriage is my precept and my prac ce.

Those who do not follow my prac ce are not of me.” He also said, “When a man has married, he has completed one half of his religion.”

The Chief Imam of Darusalam Kulende area, Sango, Ilorin, Abdulazeez Abdulrazaq, who delivered lecture at the wedding, advised the new couples to love each other and follow the dictates of Quran and Islam in building their homes.

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•The bride’s family •Qomarudeen & Shifaa Reading from the holy Quran, Abdulrazaq said Islam priori zes marriage and places responsibili es on both the husband and wife, urging the new couples to love each other and fear Allah in their dealings.

He specifically advised the wife to be submissive to her husband, while charging the groom to respect his wife and provide for her needs.

A renowned Islamic musician, Alhaji Abdul-Salam Azeez Abiodun Ajiroba, better known by his stage name Saoty Arewa, entertained audience at the event with his song.

Parents and families of couples showered prayers and them, wishing them a frui ul union.

Dignitaries at the event include: Pro Olowofela Adeniyi,

Commissioner (represen ng Oyo State) Federal Character Commission, Khalifatu Sulaiman Odoka from Ejigbo, Director of Finance, Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Mr Banji Ajiteru, the Amira Nurudeen Muslim Mission, Araromi Ila- Orangun, Alhaja Issa Mulikat (Iya Alasalatu), Amira Fadillullahi Society of Nigeria, Sheidah Mujidat Adeoye, among others.

•The couple

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 01 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2023

6

News

IBEDC Customers Lament Challenges In Vending Electricity Yusuf Oketola

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OME prepaid meter users in Osogbo, Osun State, have lamented their inability to vend for electricity from the Ibadan Electricity Distribu on Company (IBEDC) as a result of poor network.

According to the IBEDC customers, they have been unable to buy electricity online and even at the nearest offices of the distribu on company.

They state that they were being referred to the regional office of the IBEDC located at Sta on Road, Osogbo to buy electricity and upgrade their meters.

A customer, Sherifat Adeyemi, stated that she was compelled to go to the IBEDC regional office to vend for electricity on Wednesday.

She said: “Before now, I used to vend online. But it has been difficult doing that. I was running low on electricity and in order not to be in darkness at the end of the day, I went to the Ogo-Oluwa office but I was told there was no

network; that I should proceed to Sta on Road.

“On ge ng to the Staon Road Office, I met a crowd who all came for the same purpose – to purchase electricity.

“I was number 58 of over 200 people on the line.

Another customer, Olajumoke Moses, stated that she has been in darkness for the last three days without any hope of recharging her prepaid meter.

“It is my husband that recharges my meter online.

He has been telling me for days now the network of the IBEDC is poor and was unable to vend electricity”, she stated.

Meanwhile, the IBEDC has revealed that the pressure on the system by customers vending to beat the deadline for rollover of their prepaid metres is responsible for the downme.

But some of the IBEDC customers have speculated that what the company might deliberately be frustra ng online vending in a bid to eliminate it.

•The distribution of Palliative warehoused at the Coacoa Farm Industry Èdè, by Osun State government on Wednesday.

One of the customers with this impression is Tunde Agbaleye who stated that “the IBEDC wants to eliminate the middle

man. They want all of us to be vending from their offices. In this day and age of technological advances, IBEDC is going back.”

An online vendor, Olajumoke Anu said she had stopped vending for her customers as a result of the poor network.

Court Awards N250m Against FG, Firm For Seizing Family’s Gold-rich Land

Yusuf Oketola Federal High Court in Osogbo has ordered the Minister of Mines and Steel Development and a firm, Segilola Resources Opera ng Limited, to pay Pa Olulade Ejisanmi’s family of Odo-Ijesa village in Atakunmosa East local government Area of Osun State a sum of N250m for seizing a parcel of land for the purpose of mining mineral resources.

The judgment was pursuant to an origina ng moon filed by Mrs. Ti layo Ajayi and Mr. Femi Adeoye on behalf of the Ejisanmi family.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that gold was discovered on the land and the Federal Government subsequently took control of the property and issued a mining lease to Segilola Resources Opera ng Limited without paying compensa on to the Ejisanmi family.

A er taking control of the land, an offer of N150,000 or N100,000 per acre was made to the family in line with the Nigerian Mining and Mineral Act which mandates that compensa on should be paid to land owners.

The family subsequently hired human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN in pursuit of jus ce.

In the suit marked FHC/ OS/CS/45/2022, the family presented six issues for determina on including whether by virtue of Sec-

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on 100 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, the defendants’ entry on the plain ff ’s land without their consent is unlawful.

The plain ffs also asked the court to determine if, by virtue of Sec on 44(4) of the 1999 Cons tu on, the refusal of the ministry and the mining company to allow the family to determine the compensa on payable to them for taking

over the possession of their vast land is illegal, null and void.

They sought eight declara ons including an order awarding the sum of N1bn as compensa on against Segilola Resources Operating Limited for the alleged breach of the family’s rights under Sec on 43 of the cons tu on as well as a separate order awarding the sum of N500m in damages.

But in its response to the suit, Segilola Resources Opera ng Limited – the

second defendant – argued that it was validly issued a mining lease that permitted it to carry out mining ac vi es on the land in ques on.

The firm added that awarding N1bn against it would be in contraven on of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act. In his judgment, Jus ce Ayo Emmanuel, noted that Sec on 100 and Sec on 102 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act state that when an applica on is made for mineral tle in re-

I Settle More Than 90% Of Cases Before They Get To Police Stations – Elegboro Yusuf Oketola

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HE Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa in Oriade local government area of Osun State, Oba Moses Agunsoye, has explained that tradi onal rulers se led more than 90 per cent of different cases in their domain before ge ng to the police.

Oba Agunsoye said that was possible because the tradi onal rulers are the closest to the people and know what’s going on in an out of their towns.

The monarch who double as the Vice Chairman of Osun State Tradional Council, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Monday.

He noted that in the olden days, it was tradi onal rulers that took decisions, but that’s not

happening again.

Oba Agunsoye said: “In the olden days, it was the obas that took decisions, but that is not happening again. Now, we are figh ng for a cons tu onal role for royal fathers. Most mes, I se le more than 90 per cent of cases before they even get to the police sta ons.

“For security, we are the ones securing our towns. I know what is going in and out of my town. I’m the one empowering the hunters in the town. Talking about policing, I’m the one policing my environment.

So, the cons tu onal role should be well spelt out.

“I’m a member of the Osun State Tradi onal Council. We’ve set up a tripar te commi ee

with selected lawyers from among the obas, the ministry of local government and the ministry of jus ce.

“We are going to meet the State Governor so that we can have a bill that spells out our cons tu onal roles.

“There’s also the issue of bringing police officers from another state to our domain. They do not know our terrain.

The officers do not also know the rules and regula ons of the town.

“Different communies have their do’s and don’ts so, the role of a tradi onal ruler should be well spelt out for effec ve monitoring, coverage, protec on and overall benefit to the government. The role must be well spelt out for us to curb the menace of criminals and bad boys.”

spect of an area, a no ce of applica on must be given to the owner of the land in a prescribed manner and consent must be obtained before a licence is given.

He said: “My findings show that the second defendant (Segilola Resources Opera ng Limited) actually entered the plain ff ’s land for mining purposes and therea er kick-started discussions with the plain ff on the issue of compensaon.

“The affidavit evidence before the court has not disclosed any compensaon paid to the plain ff in par cular even though others were said to have been paid.”

Jus ce Emmanuel held that there was nothing before the court to show that the plain ffs were invited or allowed to make an input as to their proprietary interest or quantum of compensa on in respect of the land, thus amoun ng to a viola on of Sec on 44(1) (a)(b) of the 1999 cons tuon.

The judge subsequently held that since the firm had obtained a mining licence that would expire on September 20, 2040, and will con nue to carry out mineral explora on having not followed due process, Segilola Resources Opera ng Limited was ac ng illegally.

He awarded a sum of N200m as compensa on for the compulsory acquisi on of the property and a separate N50m as exemplary damage against the ministry and the firm.

She said, “On many occasions, my account will be debited and no token will be sent. When I discovered that it was recurring, I stopped that part of my business un l IBEDC sorts itself out.”

Reac ng to the development, the Lead, Media Rela ons of Ibadan Electricity Distribu on Company, IBEDC, Busolami Tunwase, told journalists that the problem may have arisen as a result of downme on the system.

Tunwase said: “Intermi ently, there could be down me but it doesn’t last for long. I think the pressure is just the phobia of people ge ng cut off before the rollover date.

“The rollover date is in November and everybody trying to vend at once is the problem. We keep explaining to customers that we are here to a end to them so they don’t really need to stress themselves.

“They can go to our website and get the token.

We observed that most people who want to vend also want to obtain a token.

“We have made available various op ons for them. They can vend and get the token. They can go to the website and get the token, they can also walk into our office and get the token. Customers aiming to vend and get the token have made the system to be under strain.

“That is why we made provisions for our staff to be at the office on weekends to a end to customers.

“We appeal to our customers that the cutoff me is s ll Novemb er. There is no need to rush.”

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 01 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2023

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Sports

EPL: State Of Play As Summer Transfer Window Closes Tonight Kazeem Badmus

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HE summer transfer window in England will close at 11pm, today (Friday) with clubs working to bring in their targets before the window ends.

The summer transfer window opened on Wednesday, June 14 and Premier League clubs have spent a record over £2bn on players in the summer transfer window, with spending expected to con nue before the closure.

EPL big boys have bought players to boost their chances of winning the Premier League and Champions League.

OSUN DEFENDER takes a look at the state of play of the top five teams in England ahead of tonight’s deadline.

MANCHESTER CITY

Last season’s treble winner, Manchester City, having overseen the departure of key players like IIkay Gundkgan, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte have brought in Josko Gvardiol, Jeremy Doku, Mateo Kovacic with a deal agreed verbally with Wolverhampton for Matheus Nunes for £47.3m.

City will try and retain the treble or go a step further by going for the quadruple and the early season signs showed they mean business.

City have won their first three league matches having defeated Sevilla to claim the Super Cup last month.

Manchester City might not do any deal again this summer unless something huge presents itself.

ARSENAL

Last year’s runner-up, Arsenal,

brought in Declan Rice in a record buy for the club. Rice was followed by former Chelsea player, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber from Ajax and a loan for Bren ord goalkeeper, David Raya.

The gunners may look to the final day of the window to bring in a le back due to the injury suffered by Timber on his debut. Other than that, Arsenal is likely to have a quiet end to the window.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Deadline day might be busier for Manchester United who is trying to bring in at least a midfielder and a le -back cover for the injured Luke Shaw.

United is targe ng a loan move for Fioren na Morocco Defensive Midfielder, Sofyan Amrabat, with a loan move already agreed with To enham le -back Sergio Reguilon.

United have already signed former Chelsea midfielders, Mason Mount, Striker Rasmus Hojlund and G o a l k e e p e r Andre Onana.

There are also expected departures on today with midfielder, Donny Van Der Beek, Defender Eric Bailey and other fringe players leaving the club.

CHELSEA

Chelsea football club

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who have been the biggest spender in Europe’s top five leagues since Todd Boehly took over the club with over £1bn spent will have a quiet end to the window with the agreement to sign Manchester City rising star, Cole Palmer already in place, experts predict.

Chelsea already signed Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion in a record £115million deal, Romeo Lavia, Robert Sanchez, Axel Disasi, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, and Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.

There is likely to be more outgoing than incoming for Chelsea.

LIVERPOOL

J u r g e n Klopp’s Liverpool will try to bring in another midfielder before the window shuts with Bayern Ryan Gravenberch targeted.

While the Reds have brought in the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo, Klopp will hope to make a couple more addi ons to bolster his squad.

Midfield leaders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have both le the club for Saudi Arabia and their star man, Mohamed Salah is attrac ng interest from Al-I had.

Osun Mega Schools Aimed At Giving Equal Opportunities To Every Child – Ex-commissioner Yusuf Oketola

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former commissioner of Educa on in Osun State, Mr. Kola Omotunde-Young has revealed the ra onale behind the building of nine Mega Schools by the administraon of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Omotunde-Young explained that the Aregbesola administra on embarked on the project to give equal opportuni es to both the rich and poor children of Osun.

He stated this in an interview with newsmen at a book launch programme in Osogbo, last Thursday.

The former commissioner said the government built the schools to give opportunity to the children of the poor so they can also have the hope of becoming an important personality in life.

He said: “Our inten on behind those schools is for the children of the poor and ordinary people to a end same schools with the children of the President and Governors. This will give them the sense of belonging and to have hope of becoming something meaningful in life.

“And if you check all

those schools, we provided all necessary facili es available for them to ease learning.

“Before now, it’s only child of the rich that attend best schools like Government College Ibadan, Queens College, among others where they provide necessary facili es available to teach students.

“So, What did Aregbesola do? He said instead of go-

ing to King and Queen College alone, we should build a school that all children in Osun would be able to attend. That’s why he built eleven of the schools. We checked the popula ons of all students in high schools and we made sure the mega schools can contain them instead of pu ng them in dilapidated classrooms.

“And if any successive governments want to make

changes, they should do it objec vely. Such government should be able to meet previous administra on and ask ques ons about why they carried out such projects and policies”.

Speaking on steps taken by the Aregbesola’s administra on in maintaining the mega schools, OmotundeYoung said a professional facility manager was engaged to train principals, staff and

students on how to maintain the buildings.

According to him, “Some people even said we didn’t put maintenance measures in place for those schools.

That’s far from the truth.

Then, we engaged a professional facility manager because we understand that it is not the job of a principal or teachers to maintain schools. That’s not their area of specialisa on.

“Those we engaged are the one looking a er the schools. If there’s any defect, they will fix it and they are paid for the job for the period of their assignment.

“The person we engaged as the administra on head of Osogbo Government High School was the Commissioner for Educa on in Lagos State in the last four year. He spent three years as the administrator of the school.

“He was training the principal, teachers and students on how to manage the school. We engaged him and others who are experienced like him in school administra on to manage schools to meet internaonal standards. And they are there before we le office in 2018. What happened a er we le I don’t know.”

PUBLICATION

ADEKANMI

•The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi (7th from left), flanked by executives and members of Osun Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Osun delegates at the 2023 AGM/Conference/Elections of the NIPR, in Abuja, recently.

SAIDAT

ALABA

That I was formerly known and addressed as TIJANI SAIDAT ALABA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEKANMI SAIDAT All former ALABA. documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

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Sports

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 01 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2023 VOL. 18 NO 34 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

EPL: State Of Play As Summer Transfer Window Closes Tonight

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O Nigerian is alien to the untold hardship in the land as a result of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hasty and poorly informed removal of fuel subsidy the very day he was inaugurated the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As a President of a country under a pla orm of a party that claims to be progressive, if fuel subsidy would be removed at all, some measures should have first been taken, with a meline of when it would be eventually be removed, having understood all the precondi ons and all the stakeholders engaged.

For instance, a progressive government would have asked itself and provided answers to these ques ons: why subsidy in the first instance? Why importa on of fuel when we are a crude oil producing na on? Who and who are in charge of subsidy payment infla on?

Why are our four refineries dysfunc onal?

Can they be repaired and put to use with opmal produc on or be disbanded and built new ones? Sincere address of these posers will make the people brace up and lay down a formidable shock absorber for subsidy removal.

Despite lip service to diversified economy by successive governments, our economy is monolithic and oil dependent. Hence, fuel (Petroleum Motor Spirit) is very central to our collec ve livelihood and any increase in its price and fluctua on in its availability will automa cally trigger corresponding rise in the prices of all consumables and affect free movement of people for their day-to-day acvi es. This is a known fact to the most naïve Nigerian.

In three months, Tinubu led government has raked in almost N2trillion from the sweat and blood of the people as a result of subsidy removal which has made life more miserable and pulled more people into poverty index.

While the government preaches perseverance and promises be er future for the overburdened poor people, the people in government have con nued to live flamboyantly.

Government officials – elected and appointed - go about with re nue of aides and motorcade. Last month, for example, despite their humongous salaries and allowances, the Senators s ll shared N2m each for their recess enjoyment. This is the one we saw live on television; there would have been many behind the scenes, especially among the execu ves. It is ge ng clear that subsidy is removed from the people but kept for the power elite. The roune experience is that the ruling elite pillage and plunder our collec ve wealth and careless on suffering of the poor people, promising and failing them on ‘be er tomorrow,’ as witnessed in the promise of “Everything For All by the Year 2000”.

Under the guise of handing out pallia ves to the bled, Tinubu led government disbursed N185bn at N5bn to each State and Federal Capital Territory with trailers of rice. With the exemp on of Governor Zulum of Borno and one or two other states, these Governors would mess up the so-called pallia ves and

“If the ruling elite will listen and act, milking people via fuel subsidy removal, killing small and medium scale businesses and making life miserable for majority of the people will only prosper people in government as resources generated will be redistributed via looting while socio-economy remains in comatose”

State Of The Nation convert, especially the money, for their personal emoluments as they do with regular resources of their states. It is golden truth in Nigeria that money collected through blood and sweat from the people and put in government coffers have never translated to be er life for the same people robbed. The so-called pallia ves are just another avenues to embezzle public fund. We have not forgo en what they did with pallia ves meant for distribu on as a result of lockdown during COVID-19 that the hungry and angry people they were meant for had to take the bull by the horn, loo ng warehouses where foodstuffs were stocked.

Similar scenario has started playing out in Balyelsa State. Assuming without conceding that these Governors have become ‘born again’ and distributed these pallia ves in an organized manner without favour, what becomes of the people whose small businesses have been literally killed by the subsidy removal?

Is it rice that will pay their skyrocke ng bills, including increased school fees of their chil-

STRIKER

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dren? Will these pallia ves be regular ll soluon is found to epilep c power supply and local refinement of crude oil or simply once and for all token, while the fundamental cause of subsidy, woeful power supply, humongous cost of governance, corrup on and loo ng of public treasury, dysfunc onal educa on, etc go una ended?

All these pallia ves are shadow chasing and an escape from the fundamental quesons boggling down Nigeria, the most of which is the un-federal opera ng system of a Federal Republic. The prac cal solu on is to make our refineries work op mally and quit importa on. In a similar ‘promise and fail’ of the previous government, Tinubu led government has also promised that Port Harcourt refinery will become opera onal by December this year, considering the “progress” of rehabilita on work in the plant. We shall wait and see but we have not forgo en that same Port Harcourt Refinery was promised to begin produc on by December 2021 when the last gov-

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ernment injected $1.5billion into it in 2021.

Having failed to deliver, December 2022 delivery was made. It failed again and first quarter of 2023 was promised. You and I know the situa on today. Same people who have failed us severally are the ones selling dummy to President Tinubu that this December would not fail! Meanwhile, this old refinery has capacity to refine 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day and the new one has 150,000 bpd.

If the ruling elite will listen and act, milking people via fuel subsidy removal, killing small and medium scale businesses and making life miserable for majority of the people will only prosper people in government as resources generated will be redistributed via loo ng while socio-economy remains in comatose. What is needed is crea on of conducive environment that can make people to be produc ve. How can this be a ained? Revert to subsidy of fuel, stop making subsidy a crime, rigorously implement the subsidy and punish any corrup on in it un l it will be ended without adverse consequences to ci zens produc vity and wellbeing; declare state of emergency on our four refineries and electricity with a meline on when they will be func onal; complete Ajaokuta S ll Industry and genuinely fight corrup on.

Once these few ones are a ained, living and working condi on will improve, government will be by taxa on on the goods and services of the people while resources generated from the sales of crude oil and other resources should be channeled to building human and physical infrastructures. This is the living route a progressive party should ply and not lazy but destruc ve path that makes very infinitesimal propor on of the populace to be extremely rich while majority of people cannot breathe as poverty and misery in the midst of plenty have become their por on.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

FRICA and African people are going through an unhealthy transi on phase: understandably star ng out from the Francophone countries; they are waking up to the reali es of a truth stridently long told – Neo-colonialism.

France is the most out-and-out and unrepentant neo-colonialist force in Africa.

It granted no independence to its former colonies, s pula ng condi ons for “independence” that are clearly new terms for fresh bondage. It is no wonder that the spate of coup sweeping Africa should begin from there.

Puppet regimes are fostered on the “former” colonies to allow France brutally exploit the resources of those countries only to the benefit of France and the elite families and cliques they impose on those countries in the name of “cons tu onal” government and “democracy.” Whenever any of the governments does not do its selfish bids, it orchestrates coups and a change of government “by any means necessary” to “correct” the situa on like the overthrow of Thomas Sankara; replaced by a puppet Blaise Compaore that was sustained un l unsustainable.

The people are now red. Disempowered and impoverished, nakedly exploited and oppressed but now looking everywhere for Messiahs. Being helpless, the military brass are cashing in on their messianic longings.

The Anglophone countries are simply going through the same trauma c tribulaon and misery, with a more subtle, an people, pro-foreign powers, Neo-colonialist template - packaged more remotely to make it seem that England and their American cousins have no hand in it; as if it is

An Unhealthy Phase simply a self inflicted, internal affairs woes.

However, the facts lend themselves clear to the discerning. The turn of the Anglophone countries is only a li le ahead around the corners as far as ends to exploita ve, oppressive “democra c” governments are concerned.

Nigeria is the glaring example of hopeless and despo c power elite that are patently an -people over the years: with all the God-given resources it is endowed with, especially the people.

For God’s sake, how can a head of family have a land where yams grow everywhere without effort, and he cannot even organise his children to harvest but call outsiders to do so, then sell all the yams, as per being one of the largest producers in the whole wide world, then collect money, and be looking for where to go buy pounded yam to feed his family from those he sold the yams? It is the height of insanity! And all kinds of excuses that sicken the senses are adduced for why it is impossible to make our pounded yams from our yams here to feed us fully, and then sell only the excess yams to purchase whatever is needful.

The worrisome thing is the people’s helplessness in their patent frustra on, bi erness and bo led angers; with their division, lack of concerted, organised acons for their own redemp on. The cons tuency that takes advantage to send the parasi c power elites packing is now the armed forces of the various African countries, who are in every material parcular only comrade-in-arms of the civilian despo c, carefree, careless and insane

wings of the same Neo-colonialist Agency of Foreign powers - only that the civilians hide and operate under “democracy” that Fela Anikulapo Ku has since exposed as “demo- crazy.”

The plain truth is that the system of foreign domina on, exploita on and oppression leaves the people no other messiah than themselves. Impoverished, divided and manipulated along ethnic and religious fault lines as they are, they can count on any other force to free them only at great risk. Democracy remains the only solu on to “demo-crazy.” If democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people, it is the fault of the people that they allow it not to be so. Individuals have limit to intervening to make democracy equals to democracy. However, when they come together, one by one over me, pa ently and painstakingly, and then into thousands and eventually millions in a determined organisa on, their redemp on into egalitarian governance is inevitably assured, and no power on earth, imperialis c or neo-colonialist can stop them!

Of course, they need the process spearheaded by a small organisa on of righteous and self-sacrificial men and women, but it is their disposi on in daily life that will make that organisa on come quick or late. Hoping on coups by a military that is ill-trained, ill-orientated and ill-equipped by the same vampire neo-colonial power to deliver them from bondage is simply a fantasy that will deliver them from frying pan to fire; and an endless mo on without movement.

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.

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