Osun Defender Online Version Of September 08, 2023

2 News Extortion, Harassment By Thugs Pervade Osogbo

•Continued from Page 1

the commercial motorcyclists who would carry their passengers through routes where they will be sighted and extorted.

Inves ga ons revealed that the thugs have posi oned themselves at some strategic areas and will immediately trail the commercial motorcyclists upon sigh ng somebody they want to extort.

The thugs usually forced the bike-man to stop and aggressively asked the passengers to give them money or give away any disposable property with him or her while si ng on the motorcycle.

In many occasions, the thugs would display gun or other dangerous weapon to threaten their vic ms and force them to do their biddings.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that majority of the vic ms are youths, either male or female who usually plug earpiece in their ear or put on headphone while on bike or walking.

Other vic ms, according to findings are some innocent looking individuals who dressed flashy, and some ladies believed to be women of easy virtue.

Areas where the daily extor on and harassment are rampant, according to findings, are Odiolowo, Alekuwodo, Okonfo, RascoOld garage, Otaefun, IsaleOsun, Oke Ayepe, Obate, Omo-West and Ogo-Oluwa axis of Osogbo.

OSUN DEFENDER had witnessed 13 difference incidences of harassment and extor on by the louts and thugs between May and August, 2023.

Of the cases witnessed, five occurred at OdiolowoJaleyemi axis, two at Rasco-Old garage, one at OgoOluwa, two at Okonfo, two at Alekuwodo and two at Otaefun.

Two young girls carrying a carton of noodles on motorcycle were flagged down by three thugs on another bike at Odiolowo, some mes in July this year. The thugs a empted to snatch the noodles they were carrying but the girls resisted as they shouted on top of their voices.

It took the interven on of the Chairman, Osun Civil Socie es Coali on (OCSC), Comrade Waheed Lawal, and other people in the area to free the girls from the hoodlums.

A male student of Osun State University was extorted by two louts who forced the motorcycle carrying him to a halt at opposite a hotel, Odiolowo, around 4pm, on June 17.

The thugs collected a sum of N3000 from the

•Louts Operate On Bike, Target Students, Innocent Looking Individuals

student and the earpiece he was pu ng on.

Also, two young men were extorted at the front of Punch Office, Odiolowo, on Friday, August 4, by some thugs who waylaid them immediately they dropped from the motor-

cycle.

The young men were compelled to transfer a certain amount of money to one of the thug’s account when the vic ms insisted that they had no cash on them.

On August 27, OSUN

DEFENDER witnessed the extor on of two ladies by louts at Rasco area, Osogbo. The thugs crossed the motorcycle carrying the ladies and they were asked to give out money or their jewelries.

When the ladies were

complaining that they do not have money, one of the three thugs shouted at them, saying “Isn’t that iphone 13 with you, you be er give us money before we change it for you.”

The ladies eventually gave the louts some

Osun Needs Law To Guide Against Abandoned Projects – CDHR

Yusuf Oketola

OSUN State House of Assembly has been asked to promulgate laws that will ensure con nua on of ongoing or abandoned projects by successive administra on.

The request was made by the Commi ee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in a le er addressed to the Speaker of the assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun.

In the le er signed by the Osun State Chairman of the organisa on, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu, CDHR requested the assembly to promulgate a law that will stop abroga on of developmental programmes, policies and projects of past administra ons.

The human rights group said the request was aimed at ensuring that democra c processes are not taken for granted and that power is not abused by any of the three arms of government when there is change in leadership of the state.

The le er reads in part: “It becomes important that we call the atten on of the Osun State House Of Assembly to the promulga on of a law that will stop the abroga on of developmental programs,

policies and projects of past administra ons. The assembly needs to enact a law that will state the process of abroga on of programs.

“This request is aimed at ensuring that democra c processes are not taken for granted and power is not abused by any of the three arms of government whenever there is change of government. Doing this will set a path for full par cipa on of the ci zens in governance, promote project and program con nuity and promote the Freedom of Informa on Act to hold public office holders to account.

“The abroga on of past government policies, programmes and projects without proper democra c processes raises concerns about accountability and true representa on of the electorate. In democra c socie es, transparency in decisionmaking and public parcipa on in governance is aimed at ensuring that policies reflect the collecve will of the people and not just the decision of the rulers.

“Hasty and poli cally mo vated abroga on of polices automa cally suspends the diverse voices and perspec ves of the

populace, poten ally leading to policies that do not align with the needs and aspira ons of the people.

“A robust democra c system involves open discussions, expert opinions

and engagement with citizens to make informed choices. Avoiding this process may lead to unintended consequences and erode the founda on of a fair and representave governance system.”

money as the medium watched from distance.

One of the food vendors at Olaiya area of Odiolowo had to seek interven on of journalists when some louts numbering about seven besieged her place and demanded for money, threatening that they would descend on her if she refused.

Narra ng her ordeal to the medium on Monday, a member of Na onal Youth Service Corps, Miss Naimat Oyindamola, said: “My friend and I were harassed last Friday by some guys at Okonfo, around NACOMYO school, Osogbo. The guys demanded money from us; and we told them we didn’t have money. They insisted on collec ng money to the extent of sugges ng we transfer to their account.

“My friend and I were already shaken; luckily for us, another friend of ours who is a male met us there and he pleaded with the guys, promising that he would see them some other me. The guys told us they have marked our faces; they threaten to deal with us if we failed to give them money as promised.”

When contacted, the police Public Rela ons Officer, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola said the State Police Comman will swi to ac on and arrest the ugly trend.

Opalola assured residents of the State Capital of their safety, urging them to report any harrasement or extor on to the nearest police staon.

•Mrs. Ethan Talatu, Director South-West Region, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) addressing participants at a one day General Sensitisation on Agro Allied Products, held in Osogbo Yesterday.

Photo Shola Aderinto.

Aregbesola’s

•Continued from Page 1

World Class Model Schools; Only The Deep Can Call To The Deep

School, and Adven st Government High School Ede.

These schools had the most comprehensively equipped Science and Voca onal studies laboratories of any schools in Osun whether government or private. They also had the best facili es for classroom studies, sports and extra-curricular ac vi es. Their toilet facili es and conveniences were best of breed. All these were a ested to by all - staff, pupils, visitors.

The ones at Ife, Ikire, Ikirun and Ila fully completed and partly equipped. Only the one at Iwo was not yet in a state to make it usable.

These schools were built so that the children of everyone - the ordinary ci zens of Osun, the poor, the trader, the farmer etc - could be educated in the best environment that will bring out the best of humanity in them and suppress the animal in man.

Several state governments came to appraise the schools and the Governors of Lagos, Oyo, Borno, etc resolved to build similar schools. Oyo State government under Senator Abiola Ajimobi did. Lagos State government under Akinwumi Ambode did. Borno State Government under Prof Babagana Zulum commended them, adopted the model and have been developing similar schools successfully as one of its progressive policies.

When resources – teachers, equipment, facili es, finance are limited, you aggregate and consolidate to op mise resources to obtain the best results. This is what reflected on the sizes of the world class model high schools built by Aregbesola and strategically located around the State.

To ensure that the school infrastructure were maintained to the best standards, the Aregbesola administra on engaged professional facility management companies, under mutually beneficial terms, for each of those schools.

What succeeding progressive and thinking government is expected to do is to appraise the system for efficiency and improve it. It may even change the firms engaged by Aregbesola to those they feel comfortable doing business with. Throwing out the facility management system put in place, with no credible alterna ve, is something right thinking people find difficult to understand.

To ensure that the schools are managed con nuously to world class standards, Aregbesola administra on formed Omoluabi Educa onal Services Limited (OESL), a company wholly owned by the State, put seasoned educa onists and managers as its directors and engaged the services of African Management Services Company (AMSCO) - a UNDP supported pan-African organisa on that provides integrated human capital development solu ons to private and public sectors across sub-Saharan Africa - to engage a Chief Execu ve Officer for OESL from anywhere in the world. That search produced a world class Educa on Administrator. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Educa on was made a perma-

nent member of the board of OESL.

Government also got the services of seasoned Educa onal Administrators to manage the schools for a period and also train the principals and teachers to upgrade their capacity to be able to manage such quality schools and not run them down to what was met of all schools when the government took over in 2010. These administrators were supervised by Omoluabi Educa on Services Limited.

Similarly, government approached and got the consent of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to take responsibility for the supervision of Oduduwa Government College, Ile-Ife, and was in discussions with Osun State University for Ilesa Government High School and Fakunle-Unity Government High School Osogbo and with University of Ibadan for the model high school in Ikire. This was meant to be the structure for every of such school. Since universi es have experience managing their staff schools to quite high standards, the Aregbesola administra on sought to combine their exper se with the internaonal exper se of OESL, all to ensure the most outstanding results.

Even if you hate Aregbesola and think he only built the schools to siphon money, massage ego, or whatever your negave mental a tude (NMA) can throw up, would he have put through all of above to do so? Did he require collabora on with universi es or engagement of interna onally cer fied educa on administrators for such mundane things?

Only the deep can call to the deep.

In developed and developing countries- including the U.K., Canada, U.S.A, etc – pupils in high schools which are typically age 15 and above a end the best schools wherever the schools are located, since they are old enough to make the commuting required to the schools.

Vice President of USA, Kamala Harris, is proud that she was one of the pupils bussed to elementary school as a young girl.

To alleviate transporta on issues for those who require it, progressive thinking governments either provide school buses (like Aregbesola did with Omoluabi Scholar Buses) or nego ate with transporters and owners of commercial vehicles, to provide transporta on at heavily discounted rates, for pupils in school uniform within certain hours on school days or they do both.

Relevant discussions on educa on in Osun should be about con nued improvement in literacy level, numeracy level, science, technical, voca onal skills level, crical and analy cal thinking level and quality and character of pupils being produced.

It should also interest managers of educa on in Osun, how the State is faring with out of school children and what percentage of graduates from their schools are matricula ng and progressing. How many schools with no (or an quated) laboratories and or equipment have been fully equipped? How the State is responding to examina on malprac ces in its schools and schools under its jurisdic on and finally performance in WASSCE and UTME should also be of concern?

The government of Osun under Aregbesola declared emergency on educa on, prepared and approved an Omoluabi Policy on Educa on, cons tuted and empowered Community Based School Management Boards (CMBs), also Councils and Commi ees (CMCs) for Elementary, Middle & High Schools, involving tradi onal rulers, Community Development Associa ons, religious leaders, leaders in the community and parents across party lines and interests.

Government started a campaign on ‘’Responsible Paren ng and Parental Responsibili es’’ (RP&PR) - in partnership with tradi onal rulers – as part of what was required to change and uphold the narra ve on educa on posi vely and to galvanise the whole society to recognise the danger inherent in con nuing with the status quo and need for redirec on, educaon and empowerment.

The government ins tuted an Emergency Literacy Programme (ELP) supported by ANCOPPS, NUT, etc. Apart from the regular training using external experts as facilitators that was organised for principals and teachers, it also introduced Monthly Capacity Building Training of teachers through peer training by WAEC Cer fied Subject Master Teachers and Examiners. This was

in different ci es round the State, supervised by the Tutor Generals. Government also started a Roving Teachers Scheme (RTS) - to maximise and op mise teaching resources amongst schools - and reintroduced Rural Pos ng Allowance (RPA) as a concept to encourage teachers to embrace rural pos ng.

Government reintroduced joint review of performance in final cer ficate examinaons (Junior School Cer ficate Examina on (JSCE) and Senior School Cer ficate Examina on (SSCE) with principals and heads of schools to ensure that all involved took responsibili es for performance and to strategise for con nued improvement.

To help in proper management of educa on, government developed and issued the following documents: “Policy Guidelines on General Administra on and Reward Management System in Elementary and Middle Schools in the State of Osun (issued by SUBEB 2016), Policy Guidelines on General Administra on and Reward Management System in High Schools and Technical Colleges in the State of Osun (issued by Ministry of Educa on, 2018), Policy on Establishment of “Community Based School Management Commi ee, Community Based School Management Board, Community Based Management Council” (published bySUBEB)” and “Omoluabi Policy on Educa on”.

The government had started preparaons to implement the Omoluabi Policy on Educa on and the implementa on of the Yoruba Mother Tongue policy on educa on which had been introduced by Prof Babs Fafunwa into the na onal Educa on Policy.

To encourage con nuity, very comprehensive handover notes were prepared at the Ministry of Educa on on the state of educa on, fundamental problems that required to be tackled and suggested soluons to ensure that the standard already achieved could be sustained and improved. Unfortunately, for many Nigerians, whatever you have documented (or put in a book) is unlikely to be read.

The government official who schooled where water ran in all toilets will see an anomaly requiring immediate correc on in any government school or establishment with dysfunc onal toilet facili es, while the official who is used to such nonfunconal facili es in schools, reacts by using the nearest shrub as alterna ve to same problem.

Part of what differen ates humans from animals is concern for where defeca on happens and its effect on the environment. When pupils are raised in an environment that lacks something as simple as proper toile ng facili es, the animal in man stays too close to the surface.

OSUN DEFENDER

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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, State of Osun

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All correspondence to the above email addresses.

The elites in Nigeria made choices by abandoning government run down schools for private schools, so they don’t care what experience the child of the common man, who cannot afford private schools gets. They don’t mind taking the child of the common man to a school where he has no protec on when it rains, where there are no toilets or water and where there are no teachers. They relate nostalgically to the schools as “old students”.

Those world class model schools were mostly fully

•Wasiu Kolawole OmotundeYoung

•To

“It should also interest managers of education in Osun, how the State is faring with out of school children and what percentage of graduates from their schools are matriculating and progress- ing. How many schools with no (or antiquated) laboratories and or equipment have been fully equipped? How the State is responding to examination malpractices in its schools and schools under its jurisdiction and finally performance in WASSCE and UTME should also be of concern?”

4 News Erinmo-Ijesa Indigenes Kick Against Ceding Mountain To Ekiti

INDIGENES of Erinmo-Ijesa, Oriade Local Government of Osun State have kicked against reported ceding of the popular Erinmo mountain to Efon Alaye, a border town in Eki State by children of the late Prophet Joseph Odeyemi.

Late Odeyemi, according to findings by OSUN DEFENDER, hailed from Efon Alaye and un l his death oversaw the administra on of the famous Ori-Oke Erinmo.

In a statement issued and signed by Erinmo-Ijesa Diaspora Heritage (EIDH), the indigenes noted that the prayer mountain was referred to as “Ori-Oke Efon Alaye via Erinmo” in a document for Odeyemi’s funeral programme.

The statement which was made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday was signed by the EIDH Chairman, Barr. Jonathan Omosebi.

EIDH also alleged that the children of the late prophet intended to bury him on the mountain, calling on Osun State government to intervene.

The group said any a empt to cede the prayer mountain to Eki State would be resisted, maintaining that it is one of their heritages.

It described the acon of the children and family of Bojesomo to transfer ownership of the mountain to themselves is unacceptable.

The statement reads: “The a en on of Erinmo-Ijesa Diaspora Heritage (EIDH) has been drawn to a dubious a empt to transfer the ownership the famous Ori-Oke Erinmo to Efon Alaye by the children and family members of a certain Late Prophet Odeyemi Joseph Bojesomo who un l the me of his death oversees the administra on of the famous Ori-Oke Erinmo.

“We came across documents in the public space announcing the funeral programme wherein the world-famous Ori-Oke Erinmo was referred to as Ori-Oke Efon Alaye via Erinmo and their intent to bury the late

Baba Bojesomo on the mountain.

“Erinmo Ijesa is an ancient town in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State, Erinmo is famous and regarded as a ‘Spiritual Jerusalem’ of some sort because of the spiritual power and potency present at the mountain - OriOke Erinmo.

“This mountain is o en visited by people from across Nigeria and beyond for the

purpose of prayers and pilgrimage and many tes monies abound of answered prayers from the mountain, which is testament to the spiritual potency of the mountain.

“Everyone who knows Erinmo and even those who are yet to visit the community have heard of the famous OriOke Erinmo notable for spiritual potency. While Efon Alaye in Eki State is a border

town to Erinmo Ijesa.

“Efon Alaye is the town where the late Baba Bajesomo hailed from, he has managed the affairs of the Ori-Oke without any rancour with the host community un l his recent demise.”

The associa on noted that: “The Ori Oke was named Ori Oke Agbara Emi mimo from the me of its establishment and that it never been named or called Ori Oke Efon

Alaye via Erinmo as falsely described by the Bajesomo family.

That the Ori Oke situates at Erinmo Ijesa, Osun State, not Efon Alaye.

“The Ori Oke was established by Erinmo indigenes and there has been other people who has been in charge of Ori-Oke before late prophet Bojesomo.”

The group called on the children and family of late Bajesomo to

desist from and cancel any plan on the interment of their late father on the mountain, sta ng the it is a place of prayer and worship.

It also noted that the prayer mountain is an historical asset and heritage of the people of Erinmo Ijesa and not a property of any individual or family, insis ng that it cannot be turned to a burial site by anyone and for anyone.

“We demand that amendments be made on the funeral programme earlier released, with the accurate descrip on of the revered mountain to Ori-Oke Erinmo and its loca on as Erinmo Ijesa, Osun State.

“In conclusion, we seek the mely interven on of the government of Osun State to prevent the ceding of Erinmo Mountain to Efon Alaye, a community in Eki State; we also call on the security and other relevant government agencies to be observant and ensure nothing untoward is done to threaten the peace and tranquility of the people of Erinmo Ijesa and visitors to the famous Ori-Oke Erinmo”, the group concluded.

Osun Govt. Rejects FG Appointed Focal Person For NSIP

Yusuf Oketola

OSUN State government has distanced itself from the ac vi es of Federal Government appointed Focal Person for Na onal Social Interven on Pro-

grammes in the state, Mr. Kehinde Ibitoye. The government said it was not involved in a programmes being planned by the NSIP with Microso and Fidelity bank.

In a statement signed by Mallam

Rasheed Olawale, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s Spokesperson, the government said Ibitoye’s recent ac vi es were injurious to its reputa on.

The government also declared that it was not part of any

programme involving Microso Corpora on and Fidelity Bank, accusing Ibitoye of dropping its name.

It called on local and na onal agencies and private sector organisa ons to beware of any solicita on

NUC Approves 32 Courses For University Of Ilesa

Yusuf Oketola

THE Na onal Universi es Commission (NUC) has granted approval for the University of Ilesa to run 32 courses for the 2023/2024 academic session.

The approval was contained in a le er by the Execu ve Secretary of the NUC, Chris Matyak, dated September 4, 2023 and signed by the Ac ng Director, Academic Planning of the Commission, Abubakar Girei.

The le er reads: “The vice-chancellor is invited to recall that a resource verifica on visit was carried out by panels of experts to the proposed

take-off academic programmes in the University of Ilesa, Osun State, with a view to assessing the human and material resources available for their establishment.

“I am directed to inform the vice-chancellor that the execu ve secretary has considered and approved the establishment of the fullme mode of the following undergraduate programmes, to be run in the Main Campus of the University with effect from 2023/2024 academic session.”

The approved courses are bB.Sc. Anatomy, B.Sc Physiology, B.Sc. Accoun ng, B.Sc. Business Administra on,

B.Sc. Economics, B.Sc. Ed. Economics, B.Sc. Poli cal Science, B.Sc. Ed. Poli cal Science, B.Sc. Tourism and Hospitality, B.Sc. Transport Planning and Logis cs Studies, B.A. Linguis cs, B.A. Ed. English, B. A. English Language, B.A. History and Interna onal Studies, B.A. Music and B.A. Ed. Music.

Others are: BMLS Medical Laboratory Science, B.Sc. Microbiology, B.Sc. Biochemistry, B.NSc. Nursing Science, B.Sc. Public Health, LL.B. Law, B.Sc. Computer Science, B.Sc. Cyber Security, B.Sc. Ed. Computer Science, B.Ed. Guidance and Counselling, B.Ed. Business Educa on and

B.Ed. Educa onal Management, B.Ed. Adult and Con nuing Educaon, B.Sc. Ed. Agricultural Science, B.Ed. Social Studies and B.Sc. Ed. Integrated Science.

Matyak explained that the approval does not cover the part- me mode of delivery of the programmes.

“All programmes shall bear only the approved tle and nomenclatures and any change will require the approval of the Commission. The University is enjoined to provide adequate human and material resources for the development and growth of the approved programmes”, he added.

from Ibitoye in relaon to the state government.

The statement which was made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads in part: “The State Government affirmed that Mr. Ibitoye was an appointee of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and that his recent ac vi es brought reputa onal damage to the state government, calling on local and na onal agencies and private sector organisa ons to beware of any solicita on from the said Ibitoye in relaon to the State Government.

“The State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has also directed an in-depth inves ga on into the ac vi es of the said Mr Ibitoye with a view to generate a report for ac on with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.”

Yusuf Oketola

•Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi, representing Obokun State Constituency in Osun State House of Assembly with PDP Youth leaders in his constituency during their visit to his office on Tuesday.

Govt. Reads Riot Act To Dog Owners, Tasks Them On Vaccination

Police Arrest Owner Of Dog That Killed 5-Month Baby

Kazeem Badmus

THE Osun State Police Command has arrested the owner of the dog who a acked a woman, Nafeesat Muhydeen and killed her five-monthold baby at Abiola Oloke Estate area of Ido-Osun, on Wednesday, August 30.

OSUN DEFENDER had reported that an Alsa an dog reportedly jumped out of an uncompleted building around the area, a acked the mother and grabbed the baby strapped to her back.

Speaking with newsmen, the Police Public Rela ons Officer in the state, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the arrest of the owner of the dog, saying jus ce will be done on the ma er.

OSUN State Government has threatened to take necessary disciplinary and legal acon against dog owners over the incessant

a acks on residents of the state. The government said it has resolved to wage war against dog a acks on innocent residents, saying that anybody whose dog misbehaved would

face full wrath of law.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in the state, Mr. Tola Faseru, read the riot act at a meeting held with dog breeders, owners and veterinarian at the

ministry, on Wednesday.

the dog a ack, Muhydeen, has demanded an audience with the owner of the dog.

Narra ng how the incident happened with tears dripping from her face, the grieving mother said: “It was my daughter that had catarrh but later, I started having headache and catarrh too. I went out around 1:30pm to go and get drugs at the junc on.

“We were about to reach the junc on when I heard a dog barking at my back. Before I knew what was happening, the dog had dragged me and my daughter inside the mod.

“I tried to save my child from the dog but as I was struggling, the dog kept attacking us. Unfortunately, I lost my child to the incident. She was just five months old.

Alienating Aregbesola’s Loyalists Counterproductive To Consolidation Of APC – Stalwart

Yusuf Oketola

Astalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Engr. Bashir Lawal has expressed displeasure over the suspension and expulsion of some leaders and members of the party, who are loyalists of immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in the state.

Lawal, in a le er written to the Chairman of Elder Caucus of the APC, Engr. Sola Akinwumi, asked President Bola Tinubu, the Na onal Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje and other elders of the party to wade into the ma er.

It would be recalled that the IleriOluwa led APC leadership in the state had last Wednesday and Thursday suspended 84 members and expelled 26 leaders of the party for alleged an -party ac vies.

But Lawal in the le er dated September 2, 2023, a copy of which was obtained by OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, described the ac on of the party as power-wedged too much, un mely and counterproduc ve to the peace and consolida on of the party in the state.

He said the expulsion of 84 members from a party that once struggled in a gubernatorial elecon to get victory with

500 votes is outrageous.

The concerned APC stalwart said: “In democracy, majority have their ways while minority have their says. Without undermining the authority of the party, I wish to express this freedom on behalf of those who might share same opinion with me; that the execu ve decision is power-wedged too much, un mely and counterproduc ve to the peace of and consolidaon of the party in the state.

“Yoruba elders in polics believe that there is no get out but get-in in poli cs. Expulsion of eighty members from a party that once struggled in a gubernatorial elec on to get victory with five 500 votes is outrageous. This also calls for ques on if the Execu ve Committee has legal right to expel people from the party.

“ I am opportuned to listen in the streets. We may not fail as poli cal party if we listen to comments from voters that admire our party. It was believed a group, the fenced in-house opposion during the regime of Alh. Gboyega Oyetola, the former State Governor, were shortchanged with “dividend” of democracy but to be invited few months to the elec on which they claimed not to have benefi ed from the commencement of its tenure.

“The streets ques-

oned now, is not the same thing playing out should some people be expelled or suspended which may be an indirect way of fencing them from benefi ng from presidency and the recent blue economy?

“Though, the ac vi es of some of the suspended members during last elecons were appalling, yet the party and some members may not be absorbed for their role too in handling the in-house opposion.

“Now the elec ons have gone, the need to forget the past should not be overemphasised. Any suspension or expulsion is like opening the old wound instead of managing it.”

Lawal maintained that it is essen al for the party to manage its internal crisis very well and not undermine the strength of any group or member.

He stated: “Essen al ingredients of poli cs is managing crisis. Those expelled or suspended are well known members and pillars of the party. Membership should not be undermined. If APC frowned at their misdemeanors, the party was equally a beneficiary of same attude. What we lost in them, we gained from Wike, Seyi Makinde and others. Therefore, it will not be too much for lovers of the party to overlook the past and forge ahead.”

Faseru par cularly frowned at the rate at which unlicensed dogs roam about the streets, calling on owners and breeders to cage their dogs or be sanc oned.

He explained that it is now compulsory for all veterinary outfits to register with the state government, just as he directed that all dogs must get an -rabies vaccinaon cer ficate which must be duly signed by a cer fied veterinarian.

Faseru expressed the state government’s condolence to the family of a dog a ack in Ido-Osun, where a dogs killed a five-month-old baby and injured the mother.

In their separate remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Osun State Agriculture Development Commission (OSADEC), Hon. Akanfe A dade and Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Adegbemisola Fayoyin, enjoined dog owners and breeders to respect the feelings of other people in the society who do not love dogs.

The Director, Department of Veterinary Services of the ministry, Dr (Mrs) Olatokun also urged the dog owners and breeders to get anrabies vaccines which are available in all government veterinary clinics in the state free of charge.

Opalola warned dog owners to take care of them to avoid reccurrence of the ugly incidence, maintaining that police will not hesitate to take ac on against anyone found culpable.

She said: “We have arrested the owner of the dog. We will make sure jusce is done on this ma er.

“We want to use this opportunity to tell those rearing dogs to take care of them. Dogs are not human and if they are not taken care of well, they will become terror in society.

“We were informed that nobody was taking care of those dogs. They were just kept in that house. There are laws guiding rearing of dogs and anybody that doesn’t have the approval will face the law.

“We don’t want such occurrence in our society. We all should take care of our animals.”

Meanwhile, the vic m of

“This is the 2nd year that my husband and I have been living in this area.

“I want to see the person that owns that house where the dog was kept. I heard he has been arrested but I want to see him. I thank God that I did not take my other children with me. Had it been I did, maybe it would be worse than this. “

A resident of the area who iden fied himself as, Dayo Adeyemo, told newsmen that the community will take a stand on the rearing of dog in the area in their next mee ng.

“We don’t know who owns the house because it has not been completed. There were two dogs in that house. We will have to discuss the issue in our community mee ng. We have to decide if we are going to allow anybody to rear dog in the area again.”

Osun Govt., Tinubu Honour Indigene With ...

•Continued from Page 1

enable him to con nue to toe the line of excellence in his academic pursuit.

Celebra ng Ogundeji at a recep on held at the Governor’s Office in Abere on August 31, 2023, the Deputy Governor of the State, Prince Kola Oyewusi, promised the state government’s support for his educa on career.

Oyewusi, who represented Governor Ademola Adeleke, lauded Ogundeji’s feat, describing it as a pride to the state.

He warned Ogundeji against complacency and social vices, no ng that he has a brighter future to live.

“As you enter higher ins tu on, you will mix with different characters, do not allow them to change who you are, but change them for be er”, said Ogunwusi.

Mrs. Ti lola Adeleke,

wife of the State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who was part of the event thanked the awardee for making her country home, Igbajo and the state at large proud.

Mrs Adeleke promised to work on the template created by the Federal Government to create enabling environment for Ogundeji to excel during his Master’s Degree programme.

Ogundeji’s mother, Mrs. Elizabeth said his son is the most cultured student, who served the school as labour prefect, and was always ahead in virtually all subjects, according to his teacher.

She said she was not surprised that her son scored 309 in the JAMB overall result which prompted him to become the chosen candidate from Osun state.

• Osun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Tola Faseru (middle), Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and OSADEC, Hon. Akanfe Atidade, after a meeting with Dog Breeders, Owners and Veterinary Doctors at the Ministry, on Wednesday.

Fatimah Ibrahim

Father Of Missing 5-Year-Old Child Cries For Help

Kazeem Badmus

Amiddle-aged man, Asimiyu Arowolo, has expressed his agony over the disappearance of his five-yearold son, Mubarak, since May 03, 2023, calling on security opera ves to assist in finding him.

Arowolo, a resident of No 22, Odo Eran Area, Sabo, Osogbo, Osun State, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER claimed that his son was kidnapped by a suspect, Hussein Mumini, who has been arrested by the police.

According Arowolo, Mumini met Mubarak with his elder brother at the front of their home and sent the later to buy recharge card for him to be able to kidnap the vic m.

The grieving father said Mumini confessed to have kidnapped his son and took him to Ejigbo.

He said: “My child,

•Police Parade Suspect

Mubarak, was kidnapped and the kidnapper has been arrested by the police. He kidnapped him on the 3rd of May, 2023, at No. 22, Odo Eran Area, Sabo, Osogbo. Since then, we have been looking for him.

“Mubarak was outside with his elder brother (Ramadan) playing when the kidnapper called Ramadan to get a recharge card for him. I don’t know if he used charm to talk to him because my children don’t run errands for anybody if we are not at home.

“Before the elder brother came back from where he went to buy the card, the suspect has kidnapped Mubarak. Since then, we have been looking for the child.”

When asked how he knew the suspect with the police was the one who kidnapped his son, Arowolo said the miss-

ing child’s elder brother iden fied the suspect when they went to the police sta on.

He stated: “He (the suspect) tried to kidnap

another child around Powerline area, Osogbo. He also sent the elder sister of that child card but on her way to buy the card, she looked back

Weeds, Dirt Takes Over Osogbo Roads

Kazeem Badmus

WEEDS and dirt have taken over some major roads in Osogbo, capital of Osun State.

The development, OSUN DEFENDER gathered, was a result of the absence of social workers on the road as residents now turned the road into a dumping ground.

It would be recalled that the state government on February 16, 2023, cancelled the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) whose beneficiaries included the social workers, replacing it with Imole Youth Corps which has not commenced since then.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that Osun Waste Management Agency personnel were not packing the waste as regular and early as before.

Some of the roads where weeds have taken over are, Powerline, Ota Efun, Stadium, Obelawo, Old Garage, Biket and Kobongbogboe.

The medium visited the areas on Thursday and it was noted that both side of the roads and the median were bushy.

A heap of refuse was observed on the median of Ota Efun and Igbona roads, while some of the dirt had already li ered the road.

Speaking with the medium, Basiru Oladimeji, a resident of Ota-Efun,

called on the state Ministry of Environment to find a solu on to the overbearing weeds.

Oladimeji said apart from posing danger to residents of the state, it makes the state look dirty, especially to travelers. “I don’t know what the people at the Ministry of Environmental are doing. This is embarrassing. If you are going from Stadium to Dagbolu, there is no place that is not occupied by weeds.

“Also, the roads are very dirty now because the OYES people who normally sweep and cut the grasses have been sacked without replacing them.

“I want to urge the state government to look into this and find a means to clear all the weeds and also engage people who will be cleaning the roads like before”.

For Mrs Yetunde Omolere, residents of the state should also take responsibility and stop dumping refuse by the roadside.

Omolere, a trader around Biket Area, told the medium that government alone cannot do everything for the cizens, adding that dumping refuse by the roadside should be prohibited.

She however called on the state government to see to the clearing of the weeds that have tak-

en over the state roads.

Omolere said: “I’m not an advocate of government doing everything for the ci zens. We should also know what is wrong and right. How much are the private waste collectors collecting monthly that we can’t contract them individually?

“It is very wrong for we people to be dumping refuse by the roadside and those culpable of these are majorly market women.

“In as much as I will urge the state government to find a way to clear the weeds that occupied our roads, I will also appeal to them to prohibit dumping of refuse by the roadside. Anyone cut should be punished.”

Reac ng to the delay in packing the waste on the major roads, the General Manager, Osun Waste Management Agency, Mr. Oyewole Oladosu, said the security situa on of the country is responsible for the development.

Oladosu in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER said personnel of the agency could no longer start work by 5am as they used to do due to the insecurity in the country.

He disclosed that there has been a dras c increase in the number of areas being covered by the agency, a development that could lead to delay in packing the waste.

The GM however called on the residents to partner with waste contractors, maintaining that dumping refuse by the roadside is illegal.

He said: “We all know the security situa on of the country and no government is ready to risk the lives of the people. Our personnel usually start work around 5am before, but now, we have to let the day break properly before they move out.

“Also, the number of areas we are covering has increased. What is important is that we are packing it every day. I want our people to know that dumping refuse by the roadside is illegal.

“I want to urge our people to partner with private waste operators as this will help us a lot. Community leaders should encourage the use of waste bins in their areas and partner with the waste contractors.

Speaking on the waste dirtying the roads, Oladosu said scavengers looking for metals were the ones li ering the roads with refuse, stating that relevant ministries were already on the ma er.

“I want you to know that animals are not the ones li ering the road with refuse. Mostly scavengers looking for irons are the ones who sca er the refuse and li er the road”, he stated.

and saw the suspect taking away her brother. She alerted the residents and the kidnapper was apprehended.

“My wife’s elder brother read the news online and alerted us. When we got to the staon, the officer in charge asked if Mubarak’s elder brother could recognise the person who sent him a recharge card and he said yes.

“They brought out three persons but my son said none of them sent him the card. They later brought out a guy with a bucket in his hand and immediately my son sighted him, I shouted that he was the one.

“We were asked to bring Mubarak’s photograph and the suspect was shown the picture. He confessed to have kidnapped him and told the officers the child was in Ejigbo with a herbalist.”

On efforts made to locate the kidnapped child, Arowolo said: “On the 19th of August, we went to Ejigbo with the police and the suspect but when we got there, he was just taking us to different places without any posi ve result.”

Arowolo appealed to the security agencies and anyone with useful informa on regarding the kidnapped son to assist in finding him.

“I want to appeal to whoever knows where my child is to assist us. The police are trying and I want to further urge them not to relent. Nobody prays for his child to be missing “ he concluded.

Meanwhile, Mumini, an indigene of Iresi in

Boluwaduro local government of the State was recently paraded by the police for a emp ng to kidnap a girl around Powerline area, Osogbo.

Police Public Rela ons Officer, Osun Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, said: “On 5th August, 2023 at about 1200noon, the 25-year-old Hussein Mumini was apprehended at power-line area, Osogbo.

“The suspect confessed that he wanted to kidnap his unsuspec ng vic m, eight years old around the area before he was arrested.

“He further confessed to have been involved in serial cases of kidnapping within Osogbo metropolis.”

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, Mumini said his friend introduced him to the kidnapping business, adding that he had not kidnapped anyone before his arrest.

He said: “I went to pack blocks around Powerline area. A er finishing the work, I was passing through the area when a girl shouted that I wanted to kidnap her brother which I didn’t do.

“I didn’t know anything about the boy that was kidnapped in Sabo. I didn’t kidnap anybody. My friend Biodun was the one who told me about Ejigbo and he was the kidnapper. I didn’t know where he is now.

“Biodun was the one who told me he was taking a child to Ejigbo. He told me he sold a child for N50,000. He gave me N250,000 without telling me he is a kidnapper. He told me a er giving me the money.”

•Graduating students of Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State, at their Convocation, yesterday.

Osimhen, Oshoala Nominated For Ballon D’Or

NIGERIAN duo Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have been shortlisted for the 2023 Ballon d’Or award in the men’s and women’s categories, OSUN DEFENDER learnt.

The pres gious ceremony will take place in Paris on October 30.

Both players enjoyed an incredible year for club and country.

Osimhen currently the leading scorer in the African Cup of Na ons qualifying series with seven goals, becomes the first male Nigerian footballer to be shortlisted for the award in 24 years.

Former captain Kanu Nwankwo was the last Nigerian star to be shortlisted for the award in 1999.

The 24-year-old made history as the first African to be crowned Capocannoniere last season in the Serie A and the Napoli striker is the first player from the con nent to achieve the feat winning the Scude o a er scoring 26 Serie A goals (31 goals in 39 games across all compe ons).

Oshoala on her part, earned her consecu ve nomina on a er a successful campaign with Barcelona Femeni where she won the Women’s Champions League.

Last year, she became the first African to be nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or and this me, she is the only African player listed in the women’s category.

The 28-year-old was the top scorer for Barcelona Femeni last season a er she notched 26 goals (21 league goals and five in the Women’s Champions League) in all compe ons.

She was also instrumental in Barcelona Femeni winning the league tle and the Women’s Champions League last season.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi is the favourite to win a record eighth tle after captaining Argen na to World Cup glory in Qatar. However, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are both likely to be strong contenders considering their impressive form in the year under review.

Other players shortlisted are Bukayo Saka, Marn Odegaard, Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane, Kevin de Bruyne, Rodri, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Julian Alvarez and Ilkay Gundogan.

Others are Nicolo

vicha Kvaratskhelia, Robert Lewandowski, Randal Muani, Emiliano Mar nez, Lautaro Mar nez, Kim Min-

Kae, Luka Modric, Jamal Musiala, Andre Onana and Vinicius Jr.

The 20 nominees for the Women’s Ballon d’Or Award are Aitana Bonma , Millie Bright, Linda Caicedo, Olga Carmona, Rachel Daly, Debinha, Mary Earps, Patricia Guijarro, Yui Hasegawa, Amanda Ilestedt, Diani Kadidiatou, Sam Kerr, Mapi Leon, Ka e McCabe, Hinata Miyazawa. Lena Oberdorf, Asisat Oshoala, Ewa Pajor, Salma Paralluelo, Alexandra Popp, Hayley Raso, Alba Redondo, Guro Reiten, Wendie Renard, Fridolina Rolfo, Jill Roord, Khadija Shaw, Sophia Smith, Georgia

Super Eagles Are Underachievers

FIFA’S Chief of global football development, Arsene Wenger, believes the Super Eagles possesses an incredible talent to be a great footballing naon but they have failed to a ain their heights.

Nigeria host Sao Tome and Principe in their final Africa Cup of Na ons Group A clash at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo on Sunday, having won the AFCON thrice in the history of the compe on despite reaching the finals on seven occasions.

They also won gold in the men’s football event at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta as well as silver at the Beijing Olympics and bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Despite their feat glo-

bally, the former Arsenal coach believes the Eagles are underachievers considering the abundant of talent the “Nigeria has incredible talent but they are the great underachievers of world football,” Wenger was quoted as saying.

The Frenchman is one of the most successful managers in English football having won three league tles, a record seven FA

Cups, and two Manager of the Year awards.

However, the impact of Wenger’s on Nigerian play-

Stanway and Daphne Van Domselaar are the other players on the shortlist.

Bellingham is in the mix for the main prize and U-21 award, named the Kopa Trophy, as is Manchester United’s new boy Rasmus Hojlund a er his impressive season with Atalanta last me out.

Arsenal stopper Aaron Ramsdale has been nominated for the Yashin Trophy, given to the best goalkeeper over the course of the year. Ramsdale is joined by another of United’s summer signings, Andre Onana, Manchester City’s Ederson and World Cup winner Emiliano Mar nez.

– Wenger

ers goes far beyond the pitch according to his former player Nwankwo Kanu.

“Wenger is not just a football coach,” Kanu, who helped Wenger win two league tles, said.

“He’s a man who knows we are all human beings before footballers. And that’s why he was able to affect the lives of so many people posi vely.

Wenger set a new English transfer record for an African player when he paid Inter Milan £4.5m for Kanu.

•Wenger

The 73-year-old also gave Alex Iwobi his breakthrough at Arsenal when he handed the Nigerian his debut in a Carabao Cup fourth round e against Sheffield Wednesday at the Hillsborough Stadium.

OSPOLY: Govt Shuts School After Odetayo’s Resumption

Yusuf Oketola effect.

OSUN state government as ordered the closure of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree for two weeks.

The shutdown came few hours a er the resump on of suspended Rector of the ins tuon, Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo, yesterday.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Educa on, Hon. Dipo Eluwole, the government said the closure was necessary to maintain peace in the polytechnic.

The statement which was made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads: “This is to inform the general public, par cularly members of staff and students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree to proceed on two weeks break, with immediate

“The immediate break is a necessary ac on in order to maintain peace in the ins tu on consequent upon the forceful return of the suspended Rector, Dr. T.A. Odetayo.

“The general public should also note that school accounts have been frozen with immediate effect and it is impera ve that everyone cooperates fully and adheres to these direc ves.”

Odetayo’s resumpon followed an injuncon granted by an Industrial Court, si ng in Lagos which restrained the state government from taken further acon on his purported suspension.

It would be recalled that the state government in a le er dated July 11 and signed by the Permanent Secre-

tary, Ministry of Educa on, Kehinde Jimoh, suspended, Odetayo for alleged misappropriaon of funds and abuse of office.

Odetayo went to court to challenge his suspension on the ground that it is unjust and based on frivolous allega ons calculated to tarnish his image and bring him to disrepute.

In the Mo on Experte moved by his lawyer, Mr. Rasheed Oluwofobi, last Friday, Odetayo prayed the court for an order of interim injunc on restraining Adeleke and other relevant authories from giving effect to the le er of suspension dated July 11, 2023 and the query dated August 1, 2023 given to him pending the hearing and determina on of mo on on no ce for interlocutory injunc on before the court.

Jus ce O.A Ogunbowale, ordered the State Governor, Sen. Ademola Adeleke and 14 others to stop any ac on on appointment of Rector for Osun State Polytechnic Iree.

Addressing the polytechnic staff, Odetayo appreciated the Governor of the state for allowing the rule of law to take its course, adding that he never abused office since his resumpon as the rector of the ins tu on.

Odetayo who said he was surprised on his suspension, said he is ready to con nue working towards moving the school higher.

“I was really surprised when my suspension le er came in because prior to that, I didn’t receive any query le er or called for any mee ng.

“I am resuming to office because the court

has given an injunc on on the ma er and there is a stay of execu on.

“I know our governor is a listening person and I want to appreciate him for allowing the rule of law take its course. I am back to con nue working towards moving the polytechnic forward.”

Speaking on behalf of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) of the ins tuon, the Ac ng Chairman of the union, Dr Ezekiel Alabi welcomed the rector back to office, promising the union’s support always.

Alabi who described Odetayo has a man of virtue, noted that he hoped the state Governor being a product of the judiciary will allow jus ce to take place fully.

He said: “I am happy that this is happening today. On behalf of ASUP, OSPOLY chapter,

we are welcoming back our amiable rector, the man of the people. You are a man of virtue and we are promising our support always.

“I also want to appreciate the Governor for allowing the law to take its course. The Governor is also a product of the judiciary and it shows he is someone who lead by example”.

Barella, Jude Bellingham, Karim Benzema, Yassine Bounou, Antoine Griezmann, Josko Gvardiol, Kh-

LAST week edi on unraveled untold hardship President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hasty and poorly informed removal of fuel subsidy caused and what could be done to reverse the manufactured sufferings and crea ng conducive environment that can make people to be produc ve and be useful to themselves and the society instead of shadow chasing of distribu on of the so-called pallia ves, which are another veritable avenues by the ruling elite to further steal public funds. Anyway, this is the way of the ruling elite; they can do anything and everything to cheat, including betraying themselves. They embrace development template of Britton Wood ins tu ons - IMF and World Bank - to pillage our collec ve resources once their own cut is guaranteed via corrup on. Hence, their regular slogan and ac on, “the poor should persevere and sacrifice for a be er tomorrow” while they live extravagantly and junket around the world, looking for what is not lost.

Meanwhile, the level of the poor people complacency is very scary. At every four electoral year, few of them go out very early in the morning to queue to vote and wait ll the evening for the vote to be counted while majority don’t go out to vote but use the elec on day as a holiday to do other things. Before the Elec on Day, candidates of some poli cal par es would have bribed the voters with food items like rice, beans and noodles. The climax is the s pend between N5,000 and N10,000 on elecon day. With very infinitesimal excepons, this conspiracy is so perfected that no law enforcement officer raises eyebrows. Before this, there would have been primary elec ons by various poli cal par es seeking posi ons in the general elec ons. Let us take Presidenal Primary as an example. The polical par es would sell nomina on forms to interested party members. The purchasing price of this form is always very prohibi ve; only those who have stolen or extremely rich could buy it. The last primaries of the APC and PDP in Abuja to elect their presiden al flag bearers in 2022 are pointers to this fact. APC presiden al nomina on form was sold for N100m while PDP sold its own at N40m. Delegates to the primaries are selected from wards, local government and states by the party leadership. It’s a fierce ba le and special privilege to become delegates to such na onal conven on. Why? They are assured of making millions of naira and in some cases, thousands of dollar given by contestants to procure votes. When they return a er the primary/conven on, they do renovate their houses, buy Tokunbo

State Of The Nation II

cars, give cut to party leadership that made their nomina on possible and ‘buga’ around their neighborhoods for some period.

It is not difficult to conclude that at such conven ons, only the highest bidders will emerge as candidates, not necessarily the best aspirants. And eventually, these are the people the poli cal par es will present as their candidates during the general elec ons. Therefore, the majority of poor people who will ul mately determine who wins and becomes President of the land are passive onlookers from the beginning of the process to the final stage - general elec ons. Once the voters collected their por on at the general elec ons, the electoral circle is complete. Apart from prohibi ve party nomina on form, delegates procurement, posters, billboards, electronics and prints media adverts and bribing of electorates dur-

ing campaigns and other logis cs for the general elec ons and finally, votes procurement from the electorates on the elec on day, the eventual winner and losers must have spent billions of naira individually. While the losers are on their own, the winner is not a Father Xmas. He/she will recoup his/her funds with huge profit. Hence, naked corrup on and primi ve accumula on of resources meant for societal development stream into private pockets of poli cal office holder – elected and appointed.

Yes, I understand the rela onship between cause and effect. “A cause is something that produces an event or condi on; an effect is what results from an event or condi on.” I know that successive government neo-liberal policies could be very frustra ng and turn virtuous but downtrodden to various crimes for a shortcut to bail out of poverty

such as ritual killing, kidnap for ransom, robbery, etc. But avenging our frustraons on ourselves to bypass poverty is no solu on. Neither does harassment of God day and night in the church or on mountain hill for prosperity is a way out. A slave is half free the very day he/ she is conscious of his/her slavery and is prepared to struggle for freedom but a willing cap ve cannot be rescued as he/she has given up, adapted to the condi on and is unwilling to struggle. The la er is the case of poor people in Nigeria. They suffer and smile, pretending that all is well. As school children feel towards their school end of the year party so do poor people feel when begging for what rightly belongs to them from the ruling elite.

Meanwhile, every four electoral year is just a snap of one’s finger and another one is here. Tradi onally, a Governor/President will do everything to spend his/her two terms of eight years in power. If a poor man of voting age of 18yrs, for instance, allows a rogue execu ve to destroy his/her life five me of 8yrs tenure, he will be 58yrs in poverty and misery if he/she is privileged not to have died before attaining the age. Except the poor brace up to take the bull by the horn by forming their own poli cal party or join the exis ng one close to their yearning and aspira on to wrest power from the ruinous ruling elites (rather than collecting s pends without qualms from their historical enemy and asking God for interven on), misery and poverty will be their permanent por on. It is not a curse but a scien fic reality.

STRIKER Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

IN his seminar wri ng, “Nigerian, Who Are You?” the Late dis nguished philosopher, Pius Adesanmi, wrote, “Because the Nigerian does not know that the tragic backwardness of his country is a direct consequence of the absence of philosophy, because he is blissfully unaware of the costs of Nigeria’s na onal culture of hos lity to any no on of philosophy, theory, and abstract thinking, he becomes this perpetual laughable character, seeking doers who will make Nigeria like Dubai and London overnight, in the absence of thought and dogon turenchi. He does not know that those places he admires and wants Nigeria to be like are products of four hundred years of uninterrupted dogon turenchi –if you limit things just to The Enlightenment and modernity.”

It is not backwardness and human sufferings that automa cally give birth to struggles, rebellions and freedom. For humans generally and Nigerians especially, tolerance to backwardness and sufferings has no elas c limit! It is deep sense of indigna on against injus ce that gives birth to struggle; and it is such struggles that birth men of excep onal honour and dignity. The problem with Nigeria is that the absence of illumina ng thought and prevalent contempt for crea ve thinking (amidst widespread hustle for anyhowwealth without produc ons) has led into an intensely corrupt and toxic society where there are only an insignificant percentage of men and women of honour and dignity surviving.

In October 1999, a BBC News Online Poll picked Karl Marx as the Greatest

Paying The Price

Thinker of the Millennium. Every thinker and philosopher, be he/she in favour or against the fundamental conclusions of Marx’s thinking, must agree that the world is worse off today without the kind of rigor and depth that he brought into cri cal thinking. If the world is worse off, Nigeria is nowhere to be found in that world, as Adesanmi pointed out. We simply don’t believe that things must be well thought-out to arrive at certain basic truths. How then can we embrace the responsibili es imposed by those truths that we are blissfully ignorant and in contempt of?

Deep thinking must precede ac ons, in private and public life. In ma ers of freedom, democracy, and governance, this applies even more rigorously. The price we must begin to pay, one and all in our small ways, is ge ng deep knowledge and following it up with passionate, organised ac ons. Otherwise, we will con nue to groan amidst endless trials, misery, trauma and tribula ons as each wickedly oppressive preceding government, in retrospect, sadly “looks even be er” than the current diabolical one: as an -people, self-serving, an -democra c vampires con nue their stranglehold on our “democra c” process and “governments” because we lack the profound, clarifying thought (and can never therefore commit to the logical, organised, self-sacrificing ac ons), to displace them from the governance space and replace them with patriots.

Choices (especially in the face of compound ignorance and grinding poverty that are joined by divisiveness along primordial cleavages), can only be informed, logical, lo y, selfless and patrio c choices if they are anchored on sound philosophical thinking. An inspiring iden ty that can galvanize the people and catapult them to libera ng ac ons can only be a func on of deep thinking and rigorous research that reveals the fundamental truth.

Invariably, when these truths are embraced, so must the courage be found to follow the truths to the dark places where they lead - in order to emerge into the refreshing shine at the other side. Truths impose responsibili es. Among these responsibili es are struggles and self-sacrifices. Like Mandela said, “there is no easy walk to freedom.” Anger and agonizing amidst pain while embarking on spasmodic protests or occasional violent outbursts that hurt the very people more than their oppressors, leads to nowhere good.

Those who desire to be free from age-old and unremi ed exploita on and oppression - that they do not want handed down to their children and their children’s children - must begin paying the price through seeking libera ng knowledge and philosophy; it is the only road to ar culated, organized ac ons and sustainable freedom in a just society where life more abundant is guaranteed.

“A Governor/President will do everything to spend his/her two terms of eight years in power. If a poor man of voting age of 18yrs, for instance, allows a rogue executive to destroy his/her life five time of 8yrs tenure, he will be 58yrs in poverty and misery if he/she is privileged not to have died before attaining the age”