Osun Defender Online Version of September 22, 2023

Resumption: Mass Withdrawal Hits Private Schools

•As Parents Seek Alternative, Enroll Children In Coaching Centres •We Have Qualified Teachers In Public Schools – NUT

takes to do so.

“It is difficult for us to checkmate them. When we try to make sure they join the associa on and do what is necessary, they will tell us that joining an associa on is not compulsory by the Cons tu on of the country.

“Many of the people star ng private schools are not qualified. Some of them did not even know anything. There are lots of schools with many students and the owners who are managing the schools cannot speak good English. We have not been given the opportunity to control the establishment of private schools in the country.”

between private and public schools.

Olatoke said there are qualified teachers in the public schools to take care of the students moving from private schools.

“The parents are now comparing and they are seeing that there is no difference. There are qualified teachers that can handle their children in public schools. So, what is the need to go and pay exorbitant amounts in private school?

“They are coming in a good me, the government is ready to improve the standard of educaon in Osun State”, he stated.

•Continued from Page 1

Ekwubiri, in an exclusive interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, noted that his school was also affected by the mass withdrawal of children by the parents, saying the economy situa on of the country was having effect on the educa on system.

He said: “Everybody knows that the condion in the country is extremely difficult. We are facing a hard economy. Because of that, parents have decided to go to schools where their children will not pay.

“The parents are now taking their children from our schools to the public schools because of the economic crunch.

“Even in my school, I’m facing the same scenario. Parents are complaining that they cannot con nue to pay the private school fees again because of the economy of the country.”

Ekwubiri lamented the decay in the educaon sector of the state, saying that many private schools no longer have SS II and SS III students.

According to him, parents prefer to send their children to coaching centres where they will register them for external examina ons and buy results for them, instead of allowing them to complete their secondary school educa on.

He said: “Like I told the Deputy Governor during the last educa on summit, the state government is the problem of educa on in Osun State. There are things that the

government is encouraging and they are affec ng the educa on system of the state.

“If you go to many schools, you will not see SS3 students again. Their parents have enrolled them in lessons because they believe they only have to pay a small amount there compared to school and they will register them at centres where they will buy results for them.

“That is another level of poverty in the country. Students no longer have tes monials. Unlike our me when we were given tes monials, students nowadays only have cerficates.”

Speaking on why private schools are s ll coming up despite the situa on, Ekwubiri said some of the people establishing private schools nowadays are doing so because they had no alterna ve ways of ends meet, adding that most of them lacked the qualifica ons to operate a school.

He noted that some of the owners have the backing of those in government, thereby making it difficult to checkmate them.

According to him, “Even though parents are taking their children to the public schools, new private schools are s ll coming up every day and you wonder why are new private schools being established when the exis ng ones are already losing their students.

“The reason is that most of the owners of

the new private schools do not have any other work to do. Since the government didn’t pro-

vide jobs, the best thing they could think of is to start school even when they don’t have what it

The state Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Muritala Olatoke, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said parents have come to realize that there is now difference

The NUT chairman, however appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to help teachers in the state in terms of pallia ve and remuneraon.

He stated: “My plea to the government is to remunerate the teachers accordingly. We know the standard of living to-

•Continued on page 5

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•Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, giving his remarks as the Special Guest of Honour at the Media Chat with Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to former President Muhammadu Buhari, at NUJ Press Centre, Osogbo, Organised by Osun Association of Veteran Journalists, on Tuesday.

Photo: Shola Aderinto

To exploit new opportuni es and reposi on for greater success, a leading publishing house based in Osun State needs to fill the following posi ons:

PRESIDENT Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been on a roadshow selling the immense propentites of the Nigerian Market.

He has positioned himself as the country’s Chief Marketing Officer, this is a commendable departure from lethargic interpretation of the role of the President. Positive signals have come from his roadshow in India and New York. India saw ledges of fourteen billion dollars worth of potential direct foreign investment. In New York, the president rang the bell of the New York Stock Exchange and was in dealmaking mode in his interaction with assorted business groups and associations. All very well and good.

However reservations not criticism about what has been largely a positive excursion, there is a school of thought that the revamping should be from home. Often sighted is the position of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo during elections that preceded the ushering of the Aecond Republic in 1979. The avatar noted during a press conference that if elected as President of the federation, he will neither go out nor receive visitors in the first two years of is tenure while he is busy reconstructing the foundation of a house.

Nigeria still suffers from glar-

After The Trips

ing foundational defects decades after Chief Awolowo’s observation to attract and retain the right type of investments, Nigeria must sort out its institutional deficits otherwise, it would be attracting the wrong sort of people who are not investors but fly-bynight operators and vulture capitalists.

Without strong independent institutions, the country will never attract the quantum of investment desperately needed; a good example is the ongoing painful debacle is the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria whose inability to stick to its core mandate of price stability has triggered a currency crisis. The crisis would have been avoided if the Central Bank had jealously guided its operational

“We must painfully realised that Nigeria is far from meeting the standards of a modern nation state. These standard have to be met for the country to be competitive in the modern globalised world. For example must now emphasizlse exports to survive”

independent and if very crucially the National Assembly had done diligent oversight work.

The institutional deficit which cuts right across the board must be corrected. Nigeria is competing for investment with scores of other countries, furthermore, special attention must be given to the enhancement of internal capital, local capital is vital and must be strengthened. There must be

renewed emphasis on the Ease of Doing Business, ending multiple taxation, and promoting innovation and fair competition.

India for example has shown that cutting red tape leads to a more dynamic economy. Brazil by continuously capitalizing BENDES BEHEMOTH sustainable finance bank as not only depended indigenous capital but unleash Brazilian works class private companies. Further more, it is important to build our basic industries such as Iron and Steel, Machine Tools, etc. A nation without basic industries can not be taking as a serious modern states.

The President excursion abroad has been positive cut we must now take pause and concentrate on the huddles at home. We must painfully realised that Nigeria is far from meeting the standards of a modern nation state. These standard have to be met for the country to be competitive in the modern globalised world. For example must now emphasizlse exports to survive.

However, we can not export competitively if we do have internationally competitive ports and supporting institutions. The searchlight must now beamed at the deficits and stumbling blocks at home which is acting as a break in sustainable development.

The Discourse VAPP Act: Combatting Violence, A Step Towards A Safer Society

IN the pursuit of crea ng a just and safe society for all its ci zens, governments around the world have enacted laws aimed at preven ng violence and protecting individuals from harm. One of such significant legal frameworks is the Violence Against Person Prohibi on Act.

The Violence Against Person Prohibi on Act (VAPP) is a crucial piece of legisla on that addresses various forms of violence against individuals, especially women and vulnerable popula on.

This Act is not peculiar to a par cular country but rather there are different terms used to describe similar legisla on adopted by different na ons to combat gender-based violence, domes c violence, and other forms of harm inflicted on individuals.

In Nigeria, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibi on) Act (2015) is an Act to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence against persons and to provide maximum protecon and effec ve remedies for vic ms and punishments of offenders; and for related ma ers.

The bill for Violence Against Persons Prohibi on (VAPP) was enacted in 2013 and passed by the House of Representaves (Nigeria) on May 14, 2015 and passed by the Senate on May 14, 2015.

The Act a er passage by the Na onal Assembly was domes cated by 34 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Zamfara state is the only state yet to domes cate the Act while Lagos and Eki States have Protec on Against Domes c Violence Law and Gender Based Violence Prohibi on Law respec vely, and they have some of the provisions found in the

VAPP Act.

The Protec on Against Domes c Violence Law of Lagos state (2007) is Lagosspecific and was passed to provide protec on against domes c violence and for connected purposes. The law offers protec on to any person who is or has been subjected or allegedly subjected to an act of domes c violence.

The Eki State Government harmonised its exis ng Gender Based Violence Laws for clarity and to ensure effec ve persecu on of offenders. Specifically, a key provision in the Violence Against Persons (Prohibi on) Act is included in the Eki State Gender Based Violence (Prohibi on) Law, 2019.

The VAPP Act typically provides a comprehensive defini on of violence, which includes physical, sexual, psychological, and economic. This broad defini on ensures that various forms of harm are covered, and perpetrators can be held accountable.

The Act empowers vic ms to obtain protec on orders against their abusers by restric ng the abuser’s contact with the vic m, ensuring the safety of the vic m while it also provides support and rehabilita on services to vic ms of violence which include medical care, counseling and legal aid.

The VAPP Act criminalises specific acts of violence, such as rape, domes c violence and sexual harassment in which perpetrators can face severe penal es, including imprisonment, if found guilty of such offenses.

The primary objec ves of the VAPP Act are to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of vulnerable individuals, par cularly women and children, who are o en the primary vic ms of violence.

Promo ng gender equality by addressing gender-based violence and the empowerment of women, through criminalising violence and providing support to vic ms, the act aims to create a safer society where individuals can live free from the fear of violence.

Changing Societal A tudes: The act’s public awareness campaigns and educa-

onal ini a ves seek to change societal a tudes towards violence, fostering a culture of non-violence and respect.

While the VAPP Act represents a significant step forward in the fight against violence, there are challenges to its implementa on and effec veness. These challenges may include inadequate funding, insufficient awareness, and cultural norms that tolerate or even condone violence. Despite the domes ca on of the Act by many states and the advocacy that has con nued to trail the law, cases of abuse have con nued to grow, whereas news of convic ons is seldom heard.

OSUN DEFENDER

According to Director of Gender Equality for Development, Mr. Oluwamayowa Ojo, the increasing cases of GBV is due to delay in ge ng jus ce, “relevant stakeholders should expedite ac on toward inves ga on and prosecu on of such cases to ensure jusce is served in good me”.

Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.

Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman

Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa

Reporter – Yusuf Oketola

Reporter – Kazeem Badmus

Photo Journalist – Shola Aderinto

Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, State of Osun ISSN : 0794-8050

Telephone : 0809-301-9152

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All correspondence to the above email addresses.

However, governments and civil society organisa ons are con nuously working to address these challenges and improve the enforcement of the act.

In the future, the VAPP Act may evolve to encompass emerging forms of violence, such as cyberbullying and online harassment. Addi onally, interna onal coopera on and sharing of best prac ces can enhance its impact globally.

The VAPP Act, for all its remarkable quali es, cannot accomplish all that it was created for without the necessary structures to aid it in doing so.

“Promoting gender equality by addressing gender-based violence and the empowerment of women, through criminalising violence and providing support to victims, the act aims to create a safer society where individuals can live free from the fear of violence”

Funmi Adekoya-Ojo

Olufon Stool: Ruling Houses Warn Adeleke On Contempt Of Court

TWO ruling houses in Ifon, headquarters of Orolu local government area of Osun State, have warned Governor Ademola Adeleke to stay away from any move that might bring his administra on to disrepute and incur contempt of court on the vacant stool of Olufon.

The ruling houses, Oluyeyin and Odunolu, urged Adeleke to respect court process and allow kingmakers to perform their statutory roles in the selec on of new Olufon.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the government has begun the process to appoint a candidate to fill the vacant Olufon stool.

The Ministry of Local Government and Chie aincy Affairs had wri en Orolu local government to call a mee ng with Laojo ruling house where selec on of candidate would emerge in line with 1979 Chie aincy Declara on on Olufon Chiefdom.

According to the le er dated September 15, 2023 with reference number CD.10/VOL.IV/347 and signed by Bashir Oladipupo on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, the local government should have a representa ve at the mee ng where selec on of candidate for the stool will be done.

A copy of the le er which was made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads: “I am directed to refer to the above subject and inform you to con nue the efforts to fill the vacant stool of Olufon of Ifon.

“Against the ini al le er Ref. No. CD.10/4/vol.iv/314 dated 19th November, 2021 which directed the Council to commence the process of filling the vacant stool using the 1979 registered Chie aincy Declara on, you are hereby directed to use 1988 registered Chie aincy Declara on which state that it is the turn of Olaojo ruling house.

“Consequently, you are to cause a mee ng of the Olaojo ruling house to be observed by your representa ve where candidate(s) would emerge for the vacant stool. Therea er, your council should forward all relevant documents to the Ministry for its further use.”

However, both Oluyeyin and Odunolu ruling houses have kicked against the move, describing it as a flagrant disregard to judicial process.

The ruling houses condemned the direc ve of the state government to use 1988 declara on which is a subject of li ga on in court.

Head of the Oluyeyin Ruling House, Prince Olatoye Oyedokun, said the

•Protest, Approach Court Against Usage of 1988 Declaration

government was star ng the appointment process on a wrong note, urging that Laojo is not the next ruling house to produce new Olufon, according to the 1979 Chie aincy Declara on on Olufon Chiefdom.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that there are two different declara ons on the Olufon stool – the 1979 and 1988 declara ons.

The 1979 declara on which was promulgated during the reign of Oba James Olagunju Akinyooye recognized five ruling houses of Moronfolu, Olumoyero, Odunolu, Orisatoyinbo and Oluyeyin.

The 1988 declara on which was promulgated

when Olufon stool was vacant was signed by Olobu of Ilobu. It recognized just two ruling houses - Orisafi (which comprises Oluyeyin, Olumoyero and Orisatoyinbo royal families) and Laojo (which comprises Moronfolu and Odunolu royal families.

Findings revealed that Olumoyero, Odunolu, Orisatoyinbo and Oluyeyin ruling houses kicked against the 1988 declara on and approached court on it, while only Moronfolu ruling house supported it.

Oyedokun ques oned why the state government would abandon the 1979 chie aincy declara on being support by four out of

five ruling houses in Ifon, to use 1988 declara on which is being supported by just one ruling house.

He noted that the government would be toeing a wrong path if uses the 1988 declara on, saying that the move would be a slap on the judiciary.

Oyedokun said: “May we inform Governor Adeleke that the 1988 chie aincy declara on is a wrong document to use for the selecon of Olufon. Let me quote an extract of a judgment delivered by late Jus ce Fasansi Ogunshola on suit Number HOS/127/88 on 7th July, 2008.

The judge said: “The 1988 declara on is being

disputed in court for the third me, and on two occasions it has been struck out – first in suit number, HOS/127/88 where 1988 declara on was declared improper, Second in suit number HOS/22/2008.

“It was struck out for failure to exhaust administrave procedure as s pulated in Sec on 20 (2) (b) of the chiefs Law, Cap 25, Law of Osun State 2002. The same blunder is also commi ed by the Moronfolus in suit number HOS/111/2021.

“So, it is clear that the 1988 chie aincy declaraon has no locus standi to be used for selec on of new Olufon.”

In its reac on, the Odu-

nolu ruling house said Laojo ruling which the government wanted to nominate candidate is not exis ng.

A statement issued by the Directorate of Media, Research and Documenta on of the ruling house and jointly signed by Prince Ahmed Olayode, Prince Wasiu Siyanbola and Prince Sulaiman Oyedotun faulted the le er to the local government which called for selec on of candidate from Laojo ruling house.

A copy of the statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER in Osogbo, on Wednesday, reads: “We believe in the government of Governor Ademola Adeleke that he cannot go against the rule of law, since that was the instrument that gave him his mandate a er Supreme Court judgement and he will not allow himself to be used to set Ifon Osun on fire.

“It would be recalled that the 1988 Olufon chieftaincy declara on which was made during the period of interregnum was set aside by his lordship, Hon jus ce Olowoofoyeku of Osun State high court Osogbo in suit no Hos/127/88 between Bello Akintola Olagunju and 8 others and the government of Osun and 11 others, wherein his lordship declared that the 1988 chie aincy declara on was improperly made.

Sexual Harassment: OAU Tops As 35 Lecturers Dismissed In Nigeria

Yusuf Oketola

NO fewer than 35 lecturers in Nigeria’s ter ary ins tu ons have been indicted and dismissed over sexual misconduct in the past five years, findings by OSUN DEFENDER have revealed.

According to findings by OSUN DEFENDER, out of the 35 cases, Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, topped the list of ins tu ons with the highest number of lecturers indicted for sexual misconduct.

The school has recorded six different cases as of the me of filing this report.

In April 2018, OAU announced indefinite suspension of a Professor of Accoun ng, Richard Oladele, over sexual harassment.

The university, in February 2020, announced the suspension of a lecturer at the Centre for Distance Learning, Monday OmoEtan, for sexually moles ng a 19-year-old female student.

Also, in 2021, the OAU management dismissed three lecturers from the Departments of English Language, Interna onal Re-

la ons and Accoun ng over sexual harassment.

In April 2022, the university again launched a probe into allega ons of sexual harassment against a professor in the Department of Linguis cs and African Studies.

Sexual harassment has been recurring incidence in higher educa on ins tuons across the country.

A survey conducted in 2018 by the World Bank Group’s Women revealed that 70 per cent of female graduates from terary ins tu ons in Nigeria were sexually harassed in school, with the main perpetrators being classmates and lecturers.

The Senate had in 2021 passed a bill that randy lecturers be subjected to 21 years imprisonment to checkmate sexual harassment on campuses.

However, most of the lecturers indicted and found guilty of sexual misconduct a er the bill was passed were only sacked.

Reac ng to the development, the Na onal President of the Academic Staff Union of Universi es

(ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, urged students to report cases of sexual harassment to the school authori es and the student union.

Osodeke stated that ASUU had an Ethics and Grievances Commi ee that looked into such cases, sta ng that boxes where students can anonymously report such cases were placed on campuses.

The ASUU president said: “In the cases that happened in OAU and UNILAG, the lecturers were jailed and in the case of UNICAL, the university has taken ac on and suspended him.

“If students have any issues, they should be reported to the Student Union as they did in Calabar

and if they have become notorious, what was done in UNICAL should be done and the university should take it up from them.

“The system follows the process but the student has to report if there is a case. We are in a country where a criminal case must be proven beyond reasonable doubt but as a union, in all our campuses, we have an Ethics and Grievances Committee that anyone can go to report any case.

“In many universi es, we have boxes where students can write about the problem without having to put their names and drop them in the box. These boxes help to serve as checks but many students are not willing to do so.”

“Not minding the dismissal of other reliefs sought by the plain ffs, the court also declared that the 1979 amended Olufon chie aincy declaraon which recognises five independent ruling houses is the subsis ng instrument guiding the appointment of Olufon”.

“We believe in this current administra on that they cannot abandon the ongoing court process on HOS/104/2020 & HOS/111/2021 respec vely.

“We join a genuine call to expedite ac ons on the filing of the Olufon vacant stool, and equally appeal to the state government to respect the ongoing court process and allow the kingmakers to perform their tradi onal du es without any interference.”

“We’ve gone to court to seek interlocutory injunc on to stop government from further ac on on 1988 Declara on, and we have served all the pares involved in the suit HOS/111/2021 yesterday.

“Odunolu Olurombi ruling house has also gone to court, and they have served all government func onaries and the par es involved in the same suit number HOS/111/2021, to stop government from taking further ac on on their planned imposi on.”

Ismaeel Uthman

•(Middle) Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Olatunde Badmus, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Olabomi, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, and other dignitaries, at a dinner in honour of the Custom boss, recently.

Staff Audit: Knocks As Osun Govt. Shuts Academic Activities In 12 LGs

Yusuf Oketola

THE direc ve by the Osun State Ministry of Educa on shu ng down academic ac vi es in public schools in 12 local governments in the state at the first week of resump on has met cricisms from different stake-

holders in the state.

In a memo dated September 18, 2023 and

signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. M.A Jimoh, the minis-

try ordered public schools in Ifelodun, Odo-o n, Boripe, Ila, Boluwaduro,

Ifedayo, Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Obokun

and Oriade local governments to suspend academic ac vi es to allow the teachers to par cipate in the ongoing staff audit exercise.

Yusuf Oketola

THE Osun State Campus Monitoring Commi ee of Na onal Associa on of University Students (NAUS) has called on President Bola Tinubu to take measures that can address the astronomical increase of tui on fees in public ter ary ins tu ons in the country.

The student body lamented the recent increase of tui on fees of federal universi es, especially Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, main-

Yusuf Oketola

THE Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs

taining that high cost of public educa on will throw many Nigerian youths out of school.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday, the president of NAUS, Comrade Popoola Olayinka, the Secretary, Comrade Akinleye Okiji and other execuves, argued that educa on is a right of every ci zens and never a privilege.

According to the union, “A serious government must priori se educa on and make it affordable for ci zenry”.

Service has said that it generated N47.4bn revenue between January and September this year.

Speaking at the conference, Olayinka who disclosed that the associa on in conjunc on with OAU student union has given the management of the ins tuon a 5-day ul matum to reverse the fees increment, hinted that failure to yield to their demands will lead to mass ac on.

He said the associa on and OAU student union have called for the closure of student payment portal and total suspension of any payment into the accounts of the university un l all demands are met.

The outgoing Customs Area Comptroller of the command, Babajide Jaiyeoba, according to a statement issued by

Condemning the aborted communal clash between Ilobu and Ifon, and the recent killings in Ilesa, NAUS urged security agencies to rise up to ensure maximum security in every part of the state, adding that those behind the ugly incidents should be brought to jus ce. On pallia ve, the associa on urged federal and state governments to further roll out measure to cushion the effect of subsidy removal, saying as many Nigerians are facing serious challenges especially on food and transporta on.

Justrite To Pay N1m Damages To Customer Over False Theft Accusation

Oketola

AN Osun State High Court, si ng in Osogbo, has awarded a sum of N1million as damages against Justrite shopping mall in Osogbo for wrongly accusing a customer of the

The court also ordered the mall to write a formal le er of apology to the female customer, Adeola Ikotun, who was said to have been harassed by agents and staff of the mall who raised false alarm of the on her.

Ikotun’s private parts were reportedly searched by agents and staff of the mall without finding any incrimina ng item on her.

A er suffering the public ridicule on December 22, 2019, Ikotun dragged Justrite Limited to court and demanded N10m as damages and a public apology in two na onal newspapers, claiming that her character was defamed by the business ou it.

In the suit marked HOS/42/2020, the plain ff (Ikotun) had argued that one of the female security agents of the shopping mall dipped her hand inside her private part not minding that she was experiencing her menstrual period.

She asked the court to compel the defendant (Justrite Limited) to pay her the sum N180,000.00 being the cost she incurred as payment for medical bills and also pleaded with the court to mandate the firm to pay her a sum of N400,000.00 being cost she incurred for the prosecu on of the case.

Delivering his judge-

ment on Wednesday, the presiding judge, Jus ce Jide Falola, held that Ikotun was defamed a er the anthe device of the shopping mall was ac vated, a situa-

on that elicited gathering of crowd around her thus making some eyewitnesses to have wrong impression about her character.

Falola ordered Justrite

Limited to pay a sum of N1million to Ikotun as damages, and also write an official le er to apologise to her.

the command’s Public Rela ons Officer, Kayode Wey, on Tuesday, said this during the handingover ceremony at the command in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Osun/Oyo Customs Generate N47bn In 9-Month Students Seek Tinubu’s Intervention On Tuition Fee Increment, Condemn Ilesa Cult Killings

Jaiyeoba also said the command made various seizures of prohibited goods with a duty-paid value of N308m in the last nine months.

He added that the command under his leadership surpassed the revenue target of 2022.

“I want to appreciate officers and men of the command for their coopera on, display of professionalism, and resilience. I want to emphasise that these quali es enabled the command to achieve set objec ves.

“Finally, I want to urge all the officers of the command to ensure they keep working as a team, perform their dues within the ambits of the laws guiding the service, and extend the same coopera on he received to his successor,” he said.

Meanwhile, the incoming Comptroller, Ben Oramalugo, highlighted the core du es of customs officers as revenue genera on, trade facilita on, and suppression of smuggling.

He stated that those were the mandates he would be upholding.

He urged all officers to extend to him the coopera on given to his predecessor, to enable the command achieve its set objec ves and attain greater heights.

Resumption: Mass Withdrawal Hits Private...

•Continued from page 2

day. Government should do something to help us.

“Teaching cannot be compared with those that work in the ministry. We teachers cannot leave a student for just one hour without going to class except we will not be able to cover our syllabus.

“The government should please do something on me in terms of pallia ve. The pallia ve for teachers should be more.”

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a mother

who iden fied herself as Omobolanle Akanji, said she decided to withdraw her children from private school because of increment in their school fees and high cost of text book and other instruc onal materials needed.

Akanji said she has enrolled her children in public school where she paid li le amount of money.

She said: “I have two children. My first child was paying N35,000 as school fee before while my second child was paying N20,000 but on resump on this term, the

school jerked up the fees to N42,000 and N35,000 respec vely.

“As if that is not enough, the price of textbooks needed for the term is too costly. I don’t know how I can afford that and that is why I decided to put them in a government school.

“I believe there is nothing they want to learn in the private school that the public school can’t give them. I just make sure I provided their basic needs and monitor their progress.”

According to the memo, students in Ifelodun and Odo-O n local governments were expected to stay away from school on September 19, 2022 while those in Boripe local government were excused from school on Wednesday.

In Ila, Boluwaduro and Ifedayo local governments, students won’t be in school today, Friday September 22 and those in Atakunmosa East and West, Ilesa East and West, Obokun and Oriade local governments will also stay at home on Tuesday, September 26 and 27, 2023 respec vely.

However, some stakeholders in the state have cri cized the decision, blaming the government and consul ng firm on slow pace of the exercise.

The stakeholders stated that shu ng down academic ac vi es is a reflecon of insensi vity of the government to promo ng func onal educa on and also showed the incompetence of the consul ng firm.

According to the Chairman of Commi ee For the Defence Of Human Rights (CDHR) in the state, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu, instead of shu ng down academic ac vi es, the government ought to ask the consul ng firm to work a er the school hour on Friday and Saturday.

He said: “The Osun staff audit has suffered a lot of hindrances right from the commencement of the exercise. Moreover, it is worthy of note that the challenges emanated from the part of the consul ng firm handling the project.

Another parent, Abdullah Olawale, said he withdrew his child from her previous school because of the cost of transportaon.

“I had to put my child in a school near my shop because I can no longer afford the transportaon cost.

“The school my son was going before is around Estate area and he would have to be spending close to N1,000 everyday. That does not include his feeding allowance and other things”, he stated.

“It is therefore important that the state government should ensure that companies which will be engaged for such significant projects are capable in terms of skill, personnel, and years of experience

“The state should note that this is not the first me a staff audit has been organised in the state and the process has never been as terrible as this.

“The mandatory stay away of the student from school in the first week of resump on when other students are already in class further reflected the incompetence of the consul ng firm and the insensi vity of the government to promo ng func onal educa on.”

Yusuf

SEPTEMBER 22 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

Oyetola Lied, Didn’t Welcome But Frustrated Reconciliation Steps – APC Member

Ismaeel Uthman

Amember of the All Progressive Congress in Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun local government of Osun State, Mr. Wahab Olanrewaju, has accused former governor Adegboyega Oyetola of being economical with the truth on his statement that he wanted to resolve the crisis in the party with his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

According to Olanrewaju, Oyetola did not only failed to ini ate reconcilia on, but also frustrated every step taken by Aregbesola and the na onal secretariat of the party to bring peace and unity to the party.

Olanrewaju, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER, yesterday said the whole world is aware of how Oyetola unleashed poli cal onslaught on Aregbesola to the extent that members of the party were warned not to associate with the only two-term governor of the state.

He said: “It came to me as a rude shock when I heard defeated former governor of the state, Oyetola, saying he begged Aregbesola for three years. My ques ons are: where, how and when did he begged Aregbesola? Or could it be that Oyetola is talking about another person?

“At no me did Oyetola begged Aregbesola; he did not even ini ate any reconcilia on. Instead, he frustrated every move to reconcile the party. Aregbesola and the na onal secretariat of the party had several mes taken steps to reconcile aggrieved members of the party, but Oyetola and his IleriOluwa people would frustrate their efforts.

“They believed they could win the 2022 governorship elec on alone. They didn’t regard those of us who did not join them in their plot to a ack and decimate Aregbesola as genuine members of the APC. Even Senator Ajibola Basiru described us as inconsequen al members of APC (erunrun akara).

“Oyetola was the leader of IleriOluwa camp which was orchestra ng violent attacks on members of The Osun Progressives (TOP). He never said anything on those a acks,

even when Aregbesola as a si ng minister was a acked by thugs at Old Garage in Osogbo. They never even invited Aregbesola to their campaigns. So, where, when and how did he beg Aregbesola?”

However, Olanrewaju said it is not too late for Oyetola to sober on his ac ons that led to the collapse of the APC in Osun, saying there is room for genuine reconcilia on.

“If he had wanted peace and reconciliaon, APC will not be a loser in the 2022 governorship and 2023 general elec ons. But arrogance and self deceit couldn’t allow them to see the reality. But it not too late to be sober and create room for reconcilia on. We all love APC”, he stated.

Amotekun Arrest Man For Stealing Transformer Cable

OPERATIVES of Osun State Security Network

known as Amotekun have arrested a 24year-old man, Abiodun Tiimileyin, for allegedly stealing electricity transformer cables in Iwaro community of Ilesa.

This was disclosed by the Amotekun Commander, Brig-Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday.

Adewinbi said the suspect was arrested in the act on Monday at 4:00 a.m.

He said: “A young man, Abiodun Timileyin, 24, was arrested by opera ves of Amotekun in the early hours of Monday, a er he was spotted by residents stealing feeder pillar cables inside a transformer.

“The residents alerted opera ves of Amotekun from Ilesa Area Command to the crime, and our officers swi ly swung into ac on and arrested the suspect during the act.

“During interrogaon, the suspect confessed to the act and he had been handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), with exhibits, for further inves ga on and prosecu on.”

Adewinmbi added that two suspected motorcycle thieves were arrested by local hunters in the Aisu area of Ede and handed over to the Amotekun Corps.

The corps command-

er explained that the suspects gave a commercial motorcyclist beef jerky (kilishi) laced with

a seda ve drug to eat, and upon fallen asleep, they made away with his motorcycle.

He said luck, however, ran against them as local hunters who recognised the motorcycle

stopped them and asked the whereabouts of its owner.

•Avoid Distractive, Interloping Activism, Adeleke’s Aide Tells Lawyer

SAN Threatens Court Action Against Osun Govt Over Unpaid Judicial Officers’ Allowance

ASenior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mutalubi Adebayo, has threatened legal ac on against Osun State government and the state Judicial Service Commission over the unpaid arrears of allowances it owed judicial officers in the state.

The legal luminary in a no ce dated September 21, a copy obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, declared his inten on to commence legal ac ons, giving the government ll September 30, 2023, to liquidate all the arrears.

Adebayo stated that he will claim interest and aggravated damages in respect of the unpaid allowances, saying the refusal of the state government to pay amounted to disregard for the rule of law.

The no ce reads: “This serves as a no ce to the Governor, the government and the Judicial Service Commission of Osun State of Nigeria that if all the arrears of allowances being owed all the judicial officers in the state ( both serving and re red) from the tenure of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola ll date are not liquidated on or before the 30th day of September 2023.

“I, JCI Senator Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo, SAN, shall on the 3rd day of October, 2023 commence legal ac-

on in a court of competent jurisdic on to recover the full amount of the said unpaid allowances from the Government of Osun State and its Judicial Service Commission.

“Take further no ce that I will also claim interest and aggravated damages in respect of those unpaid allowances because the acts of the government of Osun State in refusing to pay same over the years amount to sheer callousness, recklessness, disregard for rule of law, indecent and unfair.”

Reac ng to the threat, the spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Rasheed Olawale, said the lawyer’s ac on does not only amount to meddlesomeness but a misrepresentaon and misinterpreta on of employment rela onship between employees and the employer.

Olawale, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, said judicial workers in the state have unions that can advance their interests if the need arises, advising the lawyer not to usurp the unions in their du es.

The statement read in part: “It is on record that the Adeleke administra on ensures payment of salary as at when due and is also working to pay up inherited employment-related debt from the previous adminis-

tra ons.

“Many would wonder why the Ibadan lawyer did not sue those who created the mess while they were in office. We are even shocked that the barrister in ques on chooses to attack a Governor who is doing all within his powers to correct fundamental errors of the last 12 years and set the state on the path of sustainable growth.

“We must also put on record that Osun judicial workers have their unions and it is not in doubt that the union leadership is capable and able to advance the interest of their members. The Unions are also not unmindful of the inherited rot and ongoing efforts of the government to holiscally address their issues.

“We are constrained to therefore urge the lawyer to avoid distrac ve and interloping ac vism. As we believe he is not polically recruited, he should adopt other dignifying route rather than usurping labour dispute ques on which only the unions and their employers can undertake.

“As we assume the lawyer has good inten ons, he can rework his threat into an appeal to the State Governor to con nue his ongoing phased payment of outstanding liabili es inherited from the previous administra ons.”

Adewinmbi applauded the local hunters for arres ng the suspects who specialised in stealing motorcycles in Ede town, calling on commercial motorcyclists and other residents of the state to always be careful of strangers offering them gi s or food.

He said the arrested suspects had been handed over to the police for further inves ga on and prosecu on.

ADEWUSI ADEDAYO

That I was formerly known and addressed as ADEWUSI FESTUS ADEFIOYE, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEWUSI ADEDAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADEYEMO WALIYAT

That I was formerly known and addressed as AMUSA WALIYAT IYABO, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEMO WALIYAT . All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AKINSUROJU DAVID OLUWATOSIN

That I was formerly known and addressed as AKINSUROJU DAVID KUNLE, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINSUROJU DAVID OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Yusuf Oketola

Kazeem Badmus

•APC members in Irewole Local Government at the inauguration of Omoluabi Progressives Caucus of the party on Wednesday

Spanish Club Cadiz Condole With Mohbad’s Family

SPANISH club, Cadiz CF, have joined millions of Nigerians in expressing their hear elt condolences to the bereaved family of late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba popularly known as Mohbad.

The 27-year-old singer died last Tuesday and has since been buried. His death has con nued to generate reac ons.

The management of Mohbad, on Monday, announced a candlelight procession and tribute night for the late ar ste Thursday (today).

In a hear elt message

shared on the club’s social media pla orm, the Yellow Submarine said they were saddened by the sudden death of the musician.

“We con nue to be shocked and saddened by the news of the death of Nigerian rapper @iammohbad,” Cadiz wrote.

“We wish for rest and jus ce for the family. Your star will shine brighter than ever in the sky. RIP Mohbad.”

The post instantly generated a lot of reac ons from Nigerians who hailed the LaLiga ou it for their gesture.

Kerr Scholl said, “Please

Cadiz CF to win thousands of hearts of Nigerians all over the world, in your next home game, can you please display a rip MOHBAD picture on the large screen? It will be the happiest thing I’ll get from any club same as my fellow Nigerians. THANKS.”

Prince Visual added, “Thanks and we’ll always support you guys for all the love you’ve shown to us @Cadiz_CFNG @Cadiz_ CF.”

Lateef Abayomi also tweeted, “Cadiz always with Nigeria, God bless you … You’ll win Champions League soon.”

In apprecia on of the message, Tonye Cole said he had started suppor ng the club.

“I’m officially a fan of @cadiz_CFNG, they are always represen ng Nigeria.”

Olamilekan Baruwa added, “I’m following and watching all your matches when chance.”

“Best club in the world a er Barcelona, Newcastle and Inter Miami,” Babatunday Abdulganeey said.

Obiakpor also wrote,

“Cadiz always coming through for Nigeria.”

Sagboski Lashi also

hailed the Spanish club for their gesture.

“Best club in the world

and you are bigger than my Manchester United. Rest on Imole.”

Handball: Nigeria Seal U-18 World Championship Ticket

NIGERIA have qualified for the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship a er defea ng Morocco 28-14 on Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the Africa Women’s Youth Handball Championship in Monas r, Tunisia.

Nigeria’s U-18 women’s handball team went into the match knowing full well that a win against their North African counterparts would

qualify them for the Mundial in Asia and wasted no me to make a statement.

The IHF Women champions were dominant in the first half and went into the break with a comfortable 17-5 lead.

The Moroccans came back in the second half determined to reduce the deficit but they met a compact Nigeria side led by coach Shi u Agboola who outscored them and won the match 28-14.

The result means that Nigeria have qualified for the semi-finals of the compeon and also for the first me qualified for the IHF Women’s Youth World Championship which will hold in China next year.

The team will also play in the IHF Women Trophy Intercon nental Phase later in the year as well.

Nigeria will play Egypt in the semi-finals today.

Oyetola Failed To Sustain Aregbesola’s Charisma, Dynamism To Rebuild Osun – Aaraj

AN Osogbo born contractor and philanthropist, Engr. Kehinde Raji, popularly known as Aaraj has eulogised former governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on his achievements while presiding over the state.

Raji, in an interview with an online news medium in Osogbo, stated that he cherishes the former governor because of his appe te to develop Osun and bringing many home-based contractors to limelight with the mandate that personnel from the state must be contracted.

He said it was unfortunate that former governor Adegboyega Oyetola who succeeded Aregbesola, failed to sustain his effort to rebuild Osun.

“My love for Aregbesola is natural due to his dynamic ways of doing things. For example; I was contracted a er the state found my resume qualified and I executed construc on projects during Aregbesola’s reign that has transformed Osun to the limelight.

“Aregbesola brought so much infrastructure that really changed the image of Osun to its current level, especially Osogbo. But his administra on was unable to pay me in full because

the projects were s ll ongoing, promising that his successor would con nue where he stopped but the reverse was the case when Alh Gboyega Oyetola was in power. It is unfortunate that Oyetola did not Areg-

besola’s effort to build the state”, he stated.

Raji, however, said the current administra on of Governor Ademola Adeleke will do the needful on the payment of the work done for the state because gov-

ernment is a con nuum.

Speaking on Adeleke’s performance so far, Raji noted that it is too early to rate a government which is into the 10th month of its four years tenure.

He said his support for Adeleke’s aspira on in 2022 was as a result of his passion about how to develop Osun and in order to unseat Oyetola.

“I supported Adeleke for the benefit of the ci -

zens of Osun as a whole and because his predecessor (Oyetola) didn’t match up to the standard of the governance Osun people deserved which was obvious during his years tenure”, he said.

Osun Assembly Bemoans Poor Skill Of Private Media In Crisis Management

THE Osun state House of Assembly has charged members of the fourth Estate

of the Realm in the private sector in the state to be more mindful of their roles in dispute and conflict management. The charge came on

the heel of the private media’s ac ons on the ongoing Ifon/Ilobu land dispute which resulted into aborted communal clash.

A lawmaker representing Irepodun/Orolu cons tuency, Hon. Emmanuel Oladimeji, had during the plenary on Tuesday, raised an issue under

Truck Driver, One Other Remanded For Causing Death Of 3 Persons

A33-year-old driver, Oluwaseun Ogunsola, has been remanded in the Correconal Centre for allegedly killing two persons along Ife/Ibadan Expressway.

Ogunsola, a driver in charge of IVECO truck with registra on number OGUN TTD 337 YL drove in a dangerous manner which led to the death of one Foluke Olotu (65), a resident of Wakajaiye and 64-year-old Samuel Agbaje who at Isale Chrisan Church of Nigeria, Gbongan, Osun State.

Ogunsola was also ac-

cused of damaging one Mazda Bus with registraon Number: OSUN LEW 412 XF, property of one Bamidele of No. 1, Osoko Layout, Akure, Ondo State valued N3,000,000.

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, Ogunsola commi ed the offence on September 11, 2023 at about 13:30hrs at Sallam Sallam Islamic Central, Ife/Ibadan Expressway, Gbongan.

The alleged offence, according to the police, contravened Sec on 18 of Cap 146, Vol.II, Law of Osun, 2002 and Sec on 27 of RTA, Cap 548, Laws of Nigeria.

But the defendant pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge bordering on dangerous driving and manslaughter levelled against him.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, O.A

Daramola, ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ilesa Correconal Centre, pending the determina on of his bail applica on.

He however transferred the case to Gbongan Magistrate Court.

Also, a 35-year-old driver, Tunji Oyeleye was arraigned before the same magistrate court for allegedly causing the death of a 60-year-old man, Ayoola Yekini and injuring his wife, Sidikat Ayoola at Ita-Olokan area of Osogbo.

He was also remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre pending the determina on of his bail applica on.

ma ers of urgent public importance, to complain about how private media sta ons, especially radios, mismanaged the land dispute between the two communi es.

Oladimeji expressed dismay on what he described as insensi vity of the private media sta ons in dissemina ng informaon on the land dispute, in spite of the call for media to stare clear of discussions on the issue.

The lawmaker stated that not only should the erring media sta ons be reprimanded but also sanc oned for flou ng the call of the assembly and triggering issues that remain sensi ve.

In his response, the speaker, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun who aligned himself with Oladimeji’s prayer, charged the House Commi ee on Media and Publicity and other relevant stakeholders in the case to meet and come up with urgent solu ons.

Yusuf Oketola

Yusuf Oketola

Yusuf Oketola

•Mohbad

Ihave always been very happy watching and following Nigerian youths in entertainment industry, par cularly music; how they have explored global arena to demonstrate their talents and capaci es, making us proud regardless of the fact that they have not grown up to witness any good policies implemented by successive governments in the past 30-35 years, which is their average age range, that could propel them to jus fiably come up with the stuff of their output.

Last month, Sunday 20th of August, Ahmed Ololade popularly known as Asake live concert at the O2 Arena, London, with Tiwa Savage, Olamide and Fireboy is a striking example. Asake crooner arrived 20,000 capacity arena full to the brim with enthusias c cheers from the fans as they emerged from a helicopter. As at 2022, in terms of number, O2 Arena is the 9th largest building in the world. Although it is a month since the show held, its video clips and Asake performance adapta ons by youth domiciled in Nigeria s ll dominate the social media. This stage name – Asake – is actually his mother’s name. When he was in a cultural group, people used to call him ‘OmoAsake’ and over me, ‘Omo’ was dropped and ever since, the name gets stuck. One would naturally be happy for these guys’ triumph in their chosen profession unlike their counterparts who indulge in drug abuse, cul sm, killing themselves indiscriminately over inanity. In just two days-between Saturday, 16th – Monday 18th September, 2023 – cult clashes claimed 25 youthful lives in Sagamu, Ogun State.

However, research has shown that mafia, crooks and organised crimes have been domiciled in the leisure industry (tourism, music, movie and sports) long me ago. The industry is a home to characters with shady business deals like money laundering, hard drugs consumpon and sales, killings, amongst others. This is not peculiar to a par cular environment; it is a global phenomenon but being regulated so as not to cons tute nuisance to the society. The mysterious death of a Nigerian rapper and singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Imole Aloba popularly known as Mohbad is allusion to this aforesaid fact.

Since the reports of the demise of the 27 years old boy on 12th September, 2023, the en re entertainment industry and Nigerians have been thrown into sorrow. There have been various versions of what led to sudden termina on of the life of this boy with a bright future based on his calm lyrics and storytelling. Most of the versions, however, point at Marlian Records owned by Azeez Fasola also known as Naira Marley. The reports state that Mohbad was a former signee of the Marlian Records. Being a good song writer, he was instrumental to most of Naira Marley songs and since he qui ed the label and became a solo ar ste, Marlian boys had been allegedly chasing and bullying him everywhere he went. Samson Balogun also known as Sam Larry, a close associate of Naira Marley and Zinosleesky, associates of Marlian Records, are alleged to be involved in Mohbad’s death. On her Instagram, Tori Keeche,

Mohbad: Cry For Justice

licious damage of proper es valued the sum of N500 million, assault occasioning harm, oppression and conduct likely to cause breach of peace” against Sam Larry and Oba Elegushi of E -Osa, Lagos State but police didn’t act on this pe on.

this piece, demanding for jus ce for his soul. Already, Mohbad’s body is reported to have been exhumed following human right lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana intervenon, wri ng a le er to the Chief Coroner in Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, demanding a Coroner Inquest into the death.

Naira Marley female ar ste, allegedly said she knew about the plan of Naira Marley and the team to kill Mohbad but was not part of it. Before his eventual death on September 12, Mohbad had on the 27th June, 2023 filed a pe on to the Police, cap oned: “Pe on of threat to life, ma-

The alleged involvement of Marlian Records in the death of Mohbad has negavely affected the company, the owner and associates. For instance, Zinosleesky’s US tour has been cancelled by the show promoter as nobody is buying the cket and those who already bought are reques ng refund just because he is affiliated with Marlian Music. Locally, managements of some radio sta ons like Splash FM, Agidigbo FM in Ibadan, have placed ban on Naira Marley songs while over 900,000 people have unfollowed Naira Marley on Instagrame. Mohbad’s death has sparked protests in Ikorodu and Lagos State Polytechnic area, Ogun, Effirun road, Warri, Delta State, Oyo and Osun states as of the me of wri ng

Only Police could unravel the exact circumstances surrounding this death as all said against Naira Marley and his associates are mere allega ons; although, by public opinion, Naira Marley and his gangs are guilty as charged. He needs to immediately report himself to the police to exonerate himself if his hands are clean on the ma er. Interes ngly, Lagos State Police had on Monday, 18th September, in the present of the deceased parents, inaugurated a 13-man Special Team to unravel who were responsible for Mohbad’s death. Nigeria Police owe Mohbad’s soul jus ce; they should not let Nigerians down in their inves ga on by arres ng and prosecu ng everyone involved in the death. As Yoruba will say, if a child does not witness historical record, he/she must not miss hearsay as the la er is superior to the former. The Nigeria Police should not let us down as they have done in the past where killers of Chief James Ajibola Idowu Ige, SAN are yet to be arrested since 23 December, 2001 when he was assassinated in his Ibadan residence. Almost 5 years a er, 27 July 2006, Engineer Anthony Olufunso Williams was also assassinated in his Ikoyi Dolphin Estate, Lagos. As I write, his killers are yet to be arrested. All eyes are, therefore, on the police to fish out Mohbad’s killers no ma er how connected or wealthy they could be as the soul of Mohbad cries for jus ce. The rapper was survived by the two parents, wife and a five-month old baby boy.

STRIKER Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

MOHBAD’S death is clearly a symptom and consequence of a lawless country, whatever anyone thinks to the contrary. No democracy can run without strict enforcement of the rule of law. Democracy, majority rule, cannot run on impunity. If might is right, with certain persons untouchably living above and beyond the law, as is clearly the case in the land today, there is no way of asserting that that society is democra c. As we write, millions of barrels of Crude Oil are s ll being purportedly “stolen” while this very week, soldiers and policemen were ambushed, killed and their vehicles burnt in Imo; interes ngly, in thousands of such instances over the years, hardly anyone is ever conclusively brought to jus ce openly.

To begin with, what are the causa ve factors of criminality? A famous saying has it that “an idle hand is the devil’s workshop” while another says “my people perish for lack of wisdom (knowledge).” Whereas there is a choice to be made by every man and woman, based on conscience and morality, there is no deba ng that widespread hunger, unemployment, underemployment, illiteracy, ignorance and poverty are stronger forces than moral admoni ons and good conscience. It is ONLY a er the primal needs of man (food, clothing and shelter) are taken care of, and quality educa on that delivers knowledge, character and skills is everywhere available and affordable, that those who choose crime can then be truly iden fied for the devils they are. Governments everywhere that do not take the provisions of the above seriously, despite the statement that the “primary responsibility of government is the security of lives and property and WELFARE of the people,” thereby show their hands as

The “Die Minute”

devil’s agents.

Democracy is no empty word; it bears repea ng a million me! It is the expecta on by the founding fathers of democracy that it will lead to the triumph of the wishes of the majority; and to what end? Securing for them the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which are inalienable for all men (and women) who are created equal by God. It is on this founda on that the principles of the rule of law, fundamental human rights and separa ons of powers are built. Poli cal pares, periodic elec ons, the judiciary, the free press, and the likes, are only means to an end of delivering the ul mate democra c objec ves; their mere jaundiced and zombie presence in any country does not automa cally translate to the fact that society is democra c or enjoying democra c dividends.

Indeed, it is clear that “democracy,” in most African countries especially, has been so corrupted and manipulated that it has become a smokescreen for authoritarianism, delivering brutal exploita on and oppression of the majority, with super benefits only to minority power elites at the slavish service of foreign powers. These despo c elites merely pay lip services to democra c principles and prac ce; making sweet, empty promises to their disempowered people that they wi ngly divide to rule. The spate of coups and return to military rule in many African countries, especially former French colonies, while it may be a desperate jump from frying pan to fire, is no doubt a clear expression of the frustra on of “the majority” with “democracy” that is now no more

than a new nomenclature for dehumanising tyranny.

The first steps of any genuine “government of the people, by the people and for the people” in guaranteeing security of lives and property and the welfare of the people, can never be to make life more difficult for them under any condi ons or (un) reason, while preaching understanding and perseverance. If Democracy cannot be er their fortune, it should leave them where they are. The genuine first steps are to start solving the problems of why the majority are not gainfully employed; why there is epilep c energy supply; why they cannot locally refine, process and add values to a mul tude of their God-given resources; why they cannot feed themselves with overabundance of arable lands and livestock; why educa on is not delivering knowledge, skill and character, and is even now unaffordable even as it is mere schooling and cer fica on; and many such issues that seem intractable for decades. Unfortunately, the ques ons are not even posed much else a ended to, as the fixa on remains on “free oil money” collec on, loading into federa on accounts, and disbursing to ers of government for wilful spending by the CEO at each er. In all these, the ques on of return to a genuine FEDERAL REPUBLIC for equity is even forgo en.

Essen ally, for Nigerians and Nigeria, the warped structure has bred and grown all kinds of monsters, pushing us to the “die minute.” May the death of Mohbad (Imole) amplify the wakeup call to those whose avowed calling is the progressive transforma on of society.

“Nigeria Police owe Mohbad’s soul justice; they should not let Nigerians down in their investigation by arresting and prosecuting everyone involved in the death”

•Mohbad