Osun Defender Online Version Of September 29th, 2023

•(R-L) Osun NUJ Chairman, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Barr. Kolapo Alimi and other guests at a Public Lecture tagged: ‘Marginalisation Of Women In Politics The Way Out’ organised by Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) held at NUJ Press Centre, Osogbo, yesterday.

Photo: Shola Aderinto

2 News Disaster Looms In Osun Community Over Mining Activities

Yusuf Oketola

THERE is a looming disaster in Iwoye, a community, Egbedore local government area of Osun State.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that acvi es of miners in the community been posing threats to the wellbeing and natural habitat of the residents of the community.

Iwoye is a community that sits on massive bodies of mineable rock.

Miners in the community, according to findings, now engaged in the use of explosive materials to blast rocks at various quarrying sites.

The explosive materials, it was noted, always vibrate and shake buildings nearby the sites to their founda ons.

Sources in the community told OSUN DEFENDER that two major quarry companies in the area, Slava Yeditepe and Wolid Quarry, are allegedly notorious for the usage of explosive materials to blast rocks.

The residents lamented that the ac vi es of the miners are already having injurious impact on both private and public properes and their health without proper compensa on.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that people in the area regularly fall sick while residen al and public buildings have become weak, a situa on that could cause earthquake or other disaster if not addressed.

It was learnt that over hundred residen al buildings in the area had been terribly affected by the consistent blas ng of rocks.

According to the residents, the blas ng was being done at a distance that violated the lawfully s pulated kilometres that must be observed to prevent residents from feeling the impact.

A house owner in the community, Ramota Olawale, told OSUN DEFENDER that the mining ac vi es have cracked her building wall.

Olawale who is in her late 50s said she is at the risk of losing her shelter due to the rock blas ng acvi es.

Another aged resident of Iwoye who didn’t want her name in print, described the community as “too rocky”, saying that is responsible for the ‘indiscriminate’ blas ng with explosive device.

She said: “Rocks are too much in our community; that is why people are coming to blast anyhow. They normally use explosive materials that always vibrate and shake out

•Residents In Fear •NASS Member Petitions Minister

buildings to founda on. You will shiver if you witness a blast here.”

This is just as the Community Grammar School in the town has adjusted its daily ac vi es to prevent students from witnessing the blas ng period.

One of the workers at the school, who craved anonymity, said the school had to close before the normal closing hour due to the mining ac vi es.

He said: “Whenever they blast, students shiver. Some of them, especially the new intakes, will be looking around to see if it is an a ack because of the situa on of the country. Most mes, when we are having a lesson, the sounds of the blast normally scatter the whole process and cause stress for us.

“So, the teachers and the students have been working under tension. It has been a tough environment for us.”

However, the lawmaker represen ng Ede-North/ Ede-South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Cons tuency at the House of Representaves, Hon. Bamidele Salam, has pe oned the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake regarding the mining ac vi es.

Salam, in the peon dated September 20, 2023, a copy of which was obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, yesterday, said: “I write to bring to your atten on, the alleged illegal mining ac vi es in Iwoye, Egbedore local government of Osun State and the dangers being posed to residents and proper es in the area.

“The alleged illegal mining ac vi es by the duo of Slava Yeditepe and Wolid Quarry Limited have damaged proper es and led to strange health issues in Iwoye, Egbedore Local Government of Osun State and its environment. It was further alleged from the findings that the mining licences of these companies have long expired without any renewal.”

Specifically, Bamidele asked the minister to order a stoppage of the operaons of the firms forthwith and conduct an independent inves ga on to assess the level of damage their ac vi es have had on the inhabitants of the area.

He asked: “That the mining ac vi es by the stated companies in Iwoye, Egbedore Local Government area of Osun State be out on hold, forthwith.”

“That your ministry and other relevant government agencies undertake a comprehensive inves ga on of these complaints and carry

out survey of the damage occasioned by these mining ac vi es.

“That the companies

responsible for the harm being complained about be made to pay adequate compensa on to the af-

fected families, community and public ins tu ons.”

Both Governor Ademola Adeleke and Pro-

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3) Proof Reader/ Rewriter

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5) Reporters

fessor Aliyu Jauro, the director-general of the Na onal Environmental Standards and Regulaons Enforcement Agency, were copied in the pe on le er.

•Some of the buildings affected by mining activities

FORTY-EIGHT hours from now, we will be marking another day of independence from the colonial incursion. We love holidays, Independence Day this year falls on a Sunday meaning that the next day will be for the festivities.

All well and good? In reality, it is bittersweet. Very far from Uhuru in reality, it is a mixed grill of promises unfulfilled.

The sixty-third independence anniversary is taking place at a time when the chickens have come home to roost. The economy is belly up and the country is facing a terrible currency crisis, leading to the decimation of living standards. We are in dire straits and very painful policy options will have to be made.

Sadly, today’s dishevelment was avoidable. The warning signals were obvious. It says a lot that no one needed the gift of intuition, let alone the powers of clairvoyance to have predicted this man-made disaster.

It all went awry almost immediately. The aspirations of independence should have been consolidated by working out a national democratic agreement to deepen the federal arrangement and create a national identity, a geographical expression did not evolve into a national identity.

The termination of the first republic and arbitration of the 1973 Republican Constitution laid the

Another Independence Day Marking Promises Unfulfilled

seeds of today’s crisis. The country went from production to consumption and it has been downhill all the way.

What Is To Be Done?

The new federal government under President Bola Tinubu is clearly aware of the issue. It must however walk the talk and resist the temptation of uttering sanctimonious sermons. Adversity must be turned into opportunity by putting the people first. The mani-

festo of the All Progressive Congress (APC) made a clear commitment to constructing a “social market”, this presumably refers to a German, Nordic type economy in which shared prosperity is anchored on macroeconomic stability. A Social Market economy will certainly achieve both social and national cohesion and lead to a productivity economy. We hope they walk the talk not least by inducing a new form of industrial relations.

The proposed strike on Tuesday, the third of October will have been averted if a mound breaking tripartite system of industrial relations had been stated from day one. This should still be done and the strike must be averted.

OSUN DEFENDER

Publisher

Deputy

Produc

Reporter

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Nigeria must now up the ante on production and “export or perish’. The liquidity crisis distorting the value of the Naira can only be ameliorated through experts. To export, we need competitive ports and institutions! it must be done to stave off disaster.

We wish the government and the great people of Nigeria happy Independence Day and more fulfilling decades of ahead.

National integration, unity and achievements.

Long live the federal republic of Nigeria!

“Nigeria must now up the ante on production and “export or perish’. The li- quidity crisis distorting the value of the Naira can only be ameliorated through experts. To export, we need competitive ports and insti- tutions! it must be done to stave off disaster”

•Chief Obafemi Awolowo

•Albert Marcurley•Sir Amadu Bello

•Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe

•Michael Okpara •Titans in the struggle for Independence

How Hospital Negligence Killed Woman After Delivering Twins

easier and meaningful. We also need necessary drugs in the health centre for the need of the people. A lot of people come here for treatment, including pregnant women and the sick. People from about ten other neighbouring villages, like Agrodo, Aye, Isoko, Iwari, Oloko and others come here for medical a en on.

“They are carrying out surgical opera ons here before but all things are now in a deteriorated condi on and we have been calling on the government before now to intervene. But we hope they will a end to our demands.

gent a en on. Lack of proper medical a en on is what led to the death of the woman. Now, people are resul ng to going to quack doctors instead of coming to the government health centre.”

In her own narra on, another resident, Mrs Julianah Oloyede, said the OIC known as Iya Eleedu (charcoal seller) on the day of the incident, arrived the hospital at 9am and proceeded to the Regent’s place to seek fund to purchase drug and IV.

Yusuf Oketola sive blood which resulted to her death.

GETTING proper medical a en on has become a major challenge to people in rural communi es in Osun State, as they have con nued to groan over poor health facili es and a tude of health workers at Primary Healthcare Centres.

This resonates in the avoidable loss of lives of many healthcare seekers, like Mrs. Roseline Omidele, who died a er giving birth to a set of twins at a Primary Health Centre in Ola, Ejigbo local government area of the State.

Omidele was expected to return home with her set of twins when she fell into labour and was rushed to the PHC in Ola on September 18, 2023, where she earlier had a six-month ante-natal care as reported by residents.

Unfortunately, the woman died a er the delivery of the set of twins as a result of shortage of blood, it was learnt.

Her death, according to residents, was caused by shortage of manpower and lack of adequate medical facili es in the health centre.

Regular absence of health personnel who were supposed to be on call of duty at the maternity was also said to be connected with Omidele’s death.

Speaking on the incident, a community leader and spokesperson of the family, Pa. David Omidele, said the medical personnel at the maternity where the deceased had gone for delivery, told them that there were no drugs to take care of the woman.

Narra ng the ordeal, the deceased’s husband, Mr. Ayo Omidele, menoned one ‘Iya Eleedu’ as the medical personnel attached to the maternity. He claimed that the nurse was not present at the health centre hours a er his wife delivered, a situa on he said led to her loss of exces-

The husband said: “My wife registered for antenatal in the hospital. They knew the pregnancy was a set of twins. We have paid for every medical material demanded by the health centre. I’m weak and old, my wife that has been killed by the nurse – Iya Eleedu, was the one taking care of me”.

The incident, according to Paul Adekunle, a resident of Ola, has thrown the community into mourning, describing it as pathe c and bi er to swallow.

He said: “The incident that happened was sad and pathe c. It is difficult to swallow. A er the woman gave birth at the health centre, she fainted and was later resuscitated back to life but she later died.

“Some of the suspicion was that the woman was in short of blood a er delivering the babies. And if there was competent hand at the hospital, she could have survived.

“The staff that are supposed to be on duty are not available during the incident. It was another person who is not a staff that was called to help the woman to deliver. Those employed by the government were not available.”

Another resident in the community, Mr Simon Dada, recalled a similar experience when an expectant mother had to deliver on bare floor in the Health Centre due to the absence of personnel at that me.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that, the diseased arrived the health centre around 5am, but no one was on duty, which prompted her rela ve to reach out to a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) employed by Ola people.

It was learnt that the personnel arrived at 7am and took the delivery, while she reached out to the OIC who was nowhere to be found.

According to sources, the CHEW officer le the pa ent in the hospital to her fate while she went home.

Speaking on the experience of Ola people on the Health Centre, Dr. Jacob Fasanya, said the community had several mes complained on the poor management of the hospital to the government.

Fasanya disclosed that

the community is responsible for funding the hospital and provide necessary medical materials needed.

According to him, “We have been complaining to the government for a long me that we needed change of hands in the health centre. We want the workers there to be replaced.

“We are also in dire need of medical equipment that will make their job

“We need equipment and a new set of health workers. The workers here are about eight but only one or two of them always come to work. We need those who will be committed to work in this environment. What has just happened is part of what we have been experiencing for a long me.

“This is not be the first incident, but is the most cri cal and painful, and it demands ur-

“By the me she got back to the hospital, the case had become worsen and had to transfer the pa ent to Ejigbo, but she died few minutes a er they departed the hospital”, she stated.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the Primary Health Centre where the incident occurred was part of the 332 Health Centres captured in the World Bank’s Save One Million Lives fund under the administraon of Mr Adegboyega Oyetola.

Infrastructural Decay A Major Threat To Us - Isokan Residents Lament

Yusuf Oketola

RESIDENTS of Isokan South Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Osun State have lamented the deteriorating condi ons of infrastructure in their communi es.

According to findings by OSUN DEFENDER, school buildings and roads in the area are in shambolic state, a situa on that calls for urgent intervenon from the state government.

Findings by the medium revealed that devastating erosion has destroyed Fortress road, Ikoyi-Ile to Asejire old road network. The erosion has also caused damages to many homes and property.

It was also learnt that Oke-Alaafia area/Quareeb junc on to Ahoyaya road, Abiri to total market road along Olufun area has been in a devasta ng condi on for years.

Also, buildings in St.

Anthony’s College, CAC and St. David’s Primary Schools, Ikoyi have also dilapidated.

A resident of the town, Muideen Adebayo, claimed that the community has been relegated by successive governments in the state without any dividend of democracy.

Adebayo urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to come to their aid and renovate some of the schools and construct new roads for them.

He stated: “Some of our roads here have been abandoned for years. We have not been enjoying the dividend of democracy in this town. We ap-

peal to Governor Ademola Adeleke to come to our rescue. If you go to some of our schools here, they are in a bad state.

“We all know that a conducive environment aids learning. How do you want children to learn under this atmosphere?

The buildings are not good. There is no furniture among other things which needs to be provided.”

deplorable condi ons. He said: “Most of the buildings that were built during my regime as Chairman then and some other people during the last PDP government are s ll what we are seeing here today. But unfortunately, their condi ons are very pathe c, disastrous and highly disheartening.

•Another dilapidated school buildings and road

Recently the chairman of the LCDA, Hon. Muftau Olatunbosun, while inspecting some of the roads expressed his dissatisfaction on their

“We are back in government and we are up and running. Definitely, we shall kick start by renovating some of the old school buildings which are in shambolic state and then we swing into more ac ons by grading some roads and get an approval from the state government, so that we can construct some new roads and upgrade some exis ng ones which are the major roads that requires urgent repairs for the usage and be erment of our people.”

•The new born twins and the health centre

•Dilapidated school building and a bad road in the area

Adeleke Laments Brain Drain In Osun Health Sector

Yusuf Oketola

OSUN State Gov-

ernor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has said the dwindling number of medical experts in the health sector of the state calls for concern of all stakeholders.

Adeleke expressed his concern at the 9th Annual Interna onal Oncology Mul disciplinary Team Symposium organized by the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Science, College of Health Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Tuesday.

The Governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, reiterated his readiness to support any innova ve ideas that can stem the wave of increasing cancer-related diseas-

•Your Lamentation Hypocritical - APC

efi ed, we cannot but begin to raise a toast to our doctors, especially the surgeons — to pay tribute to them, for your painstaking lane of service to humanity.

“Many who have resigned to fate of early grave were revitalised through surgical interven ons performed by our valuable medical officers,

health sector, it is because we are standing on your shoulders.

“Osun State government under our healthcare agenda, would leave no stone unturned to partner with life-saving instu ons like this great body, to breathe life to dying cells.”

es in Nigeria. He commended the surgeons, medical specialists and oncologists for being life-savers and contribu ng immensely to the sustenance of humanity by discharging their dues and responsibilies.

The Governor said: “It is an interes ng me for surgical oncologists in the country and especially in our dear state. The rate of cancer related cases, as you must be aware, is becoming troubling and more troubling is the dwindling number

of experts in the medical field to combat the menace.

“Going by the experience of the state government in the recent medical outreach iniated by our government, in which about 55,000 Nigerians in Osun State have ben-

“ Many have unconsciously played around with life-threatening lumps un l some of your colleagues came to their surgical aid through our government support and bailed them out of their helplessness.

“ Therefore, if the state government was able to achieve the target goals so far in the medical outreach or even to do more in days to come in the

We’ve Enjoyed Support Of Intervention Funds, Philanthropists - UNIOSUN VC

Yusuf Oketola

THE Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Prof. Clement Adebooye has disclosed that the ins tu on has benefited immensely from interven on funds and philanthropists in the society.

Adebooye noted that the university has connued to wax stronger through supports enjoyed from the Federal Government, TETFUND, The Needs Assessment, Interna onal Communies and well-meaning individuals in the society.

The VC spoke at the 4th Candido Darocha Annual Memorial Lecture held at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium of the University in Osogbo, on Monday which coincided with the 12/13th Convoca on Ceremony of the University.

Highligh ng the supports the university has received from philanthropists, Adebooye stated that the family of Dr. Mrs. Apostle Folorunso Alakija, Mr. Peter Isola, Tunde Ponle, family of Yusuf Ali (SAN), among others have donated to the school.

He said: “This university has enjoyed supports of the federal government of Nigeria, The Te und, The Needs Assessment and interna onal communi es, same way we have enjoyed the support of philanthropists, especially

the family of Dr. Mrs Apostle Folorunso Alakija who have donated a N34bn Teaching Hospital to the university.

“Also, the family of Mr. Peter Isola from Ile-Ife donated ten fully equipped CCTV ICT driven to the Professorial suite of Osun State University, Ikire Campus. The family of Yusuf Ali (SAN) donated sixth bedroom school hostel to our college of Law, Ifetedo.

“The family of Tunde Ponle, Micon Golf, Ada, donated the whole es-

tate of Tunde Ponle to Osun State University in Ada. We shall con nue to appreciate the family of late Mrs. Abimbola Aina Mulele for contribu ng to the advancement of accountancy in this University through the ini al dona on of N38m and subsequent dona on of N20m to drive and promote the Candido Darocha trust fund in honour of her late grandfather, Chief Candido Darocha.”

Speaking on while the university is having two convoca ons at the

same me, the ViceChancellor said: “It is not that we are missing one. The tradi on of this University used to be when students complete their examina on between June and second week of August, we slate them for convoca on next year September which will coincide with the founda on me of the university.

“Therefore, we felt that if these students concluded their exams by the second week of August, why not do everything within the space

2024 Hajj: NAHCON Allocates 1,764 Seats To Osun

Ismaeel Uthman

THE Na onal Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has allocated a total of 1764 seats to Osun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in preparatory to the 2024 Hajj religious exercise to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

NAHCON also fixed a sum of N4.5m as minimum deposit for intending pilgrims.

The was disclosed by the Chairman of the Osun Muslim Pilgrim Board, Dr Moruf Ishola, while featuring on an Osun State Broadcas ng Corporaon (OSBC) radio program, on Wednesday.

Ishola explained that exchange rate is responsible for the increment in the hajj fare.

•Fixes N4.5m as Minimum Deposit

He implored all intending pilgrims in the State to top up their deposits and await the next official announcement of the final hajj fare by the board.

While promising a hitch free Hajj 2024, Ishola disclosed that the board has commenced registra on of intending pilgrims to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Ishola highlighted that all categories of age are allowed to perform Hajj operaon as an act of worship to Allah, maintaining that intending pilgrims who are elderly should be accompanied by those who are rela vely younger and stronger so as to assist in taking good

care of them.

In his remarks, the Administra ve Secretary of the board, Mr Muritala Fakunle, reiterated that the coming 2024 Hajj will be a success story, assuring all intending pilgrims who have already made financial deposit with the board of readiness of fairness and transparency in the final selec on processes.

Fakunle declared that the principle of first come, first served would be strictly enforced.

He disclosed that interna onal passports of the intending pilgrims and their inial minimum deposit of N4.5m should be ready on or before the 5th of February, 2024.

provided by technology to make sure that script are graded and everything is done to graduate the student in me so that they will not be coming back for their convoca on a er service.

“We discussed it and the University agreed that this is a good thing to consider and that we should experiment it this year and we carried out the experiment and it has been successful.

“Therefore, students of this University who concluded their examina ons four weeks ago are part of this year convoca on ceremony. Henceforth, we shall be gradua ng our students every September that comes a er their final examina ons in July of the same year.

“I want to reinstate that we are very strongly commi ed to our vision and founding objec ves of the university. As a responsible and highly responsive university, our targets are clear, our dreams are known and our strategy are well defined.

“I want to confirm to you that this university has aspires to become one of the unit of 1-10 Universi es in Nigeria by 2026 and becoming one of the 1-25 universi es in Africa also by 2026. We know the requirements to achieve all these and we are working very rigorously and vigorously to achieve this.

Reac ng to Adeleke concern, the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) called the Governor to order, adding that his lamenta on over the dwindling number of health workers in the state is hypocri cal.

In a statement signed by the State Chairman of the APC, Tajudeen Lawal, on Wednesday, the party said the Adeleke’s inhuman policy has been the reason for the dearth of medical personnel in the state.

APC stated that Adeleke was not being truthful on the real cause of the scarcity of healthcare workers in government establishments in the state.

The statement partly reads: “As long as Adeleke is hell-bent on poli cising the health sector, just like other sectors in the state, the challenges associated with them would never abate.

“Adeleke cannot feign ignorance of the fact that hundreds of the healthcare workers in the state had also resigned their appointments for fear of the unknown and sought greener pastures abroad.

“All the entrea es of the eminent stakeholders in the state to the governor to reconsider the plight of the maliciously sacked state health workers fell on the deaf ear of the governor on the excuse that the state government has no resources to pay them.

“There is no government that is worth its salt that will afford to play poli cs with the health sector just the way and manner that Governor Adeleke’s administra on has been doing.

“Adeleke should carry his lamenta on over the poor healthcare status in the state to the marine as it grossly lacks genuineness. I see it as a mere smokescreen to serve as a false concern.”

•Adeleke

•Lawal

Olufon Stool: Court Restrains Govt, Others From Selection Process

Yusuf Oketola

AN Osun State High Court, sitng in Osogbo, has ordered the state government and all other par es not to do anything in respect of the vacant Olufon stool, pending the hearing and determina on of a suit before it.

The order was made by Jus ce Ayo Oyebiyi while reacting to a mo on filed by Mr G.A Adesina Esq, counsel for the Odunolu Ruling House of Ifon, in Suit No. HOS/111/2021, on Tuesday.

Jus ce Oyebiyi maintained that the preserva ve order made on November 9, 2022 subsist.

He therefore, adjourned the hearing of the mo on filed by Odunolu Ruling House of Oluronbi Compound, and Oluyeyin Ruling House ll October, 12, 2023 for further hearing.

The ruling was in contrary to stories in some media platforms that the court declined the mo on brought before it Odunolu Ruling House and Oluyeyin Ruling

House respec vely.

It would be recalled that Governor Ademola Adeleke had last Sunday directed that the selec on process on the Olufon stool be stopped, a develop-

ment that prevented some ruling houses from protest. Reac ng to the acon of the Governor, the Oluyeyin Ruling House commended Adeleke for what it

CSO Chides Govt On N2bn Palliative Fund, Planned Flyovers At Oke-Fia, Old Garage

Yusuf Oketola

Acivil society organiza on in Osun State, The Mastermind, has challenged Governor Ademola Adeleke for keeping silent on the N2bn pallia ve fund received from the Federal Government even a er confirming its receipt.

The group, in a statement by its Execu ve Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, on Wednesday, condemned the government on the secrecy that shrouds the distribu on of pallia ves that were received from the FG.

According to the group, the government should be more open with such distribu on process in future.

The statement reads: “We must use this opportunity to condemn the secrecy that shrouds the distribu on of the pallia ves that were received from the Federal Government. For transparency’s sake, we encourage the Osun State government to be more open with such distribu on processes in future. Openness secures pub-

described as a proacve step that averted crisis.

The ruling house, in a statement signed by its Head and Secretary, Prince Olatoye Oyedokun and Prince

Taofiq Oyedokun, respec vely, however called for the probe of individuals who embarked on the selecon process without due process.

According to the ruling house, it is one thing to stop the process, it is another thing to ensure that the valid 1979 Olufon Chieftaincy Declara on is used any me selecon wants to take place on the stool.

The statement reads in part: “It baffles us that within Governor Adeleke’s cabinet, some individuals could a empt to brazenly manipulate Olufon Chie aincy process and wanted to impose their candidate on the tradi onal town through 1988 Chie aincy Declaraon that has remained a subject of disputes in court of law.

areas of Osogbo.

Education To Take A New Turn In Adeleke Administration

– TESCOM Chair lic confidence and the government cannot do without it.”

The group also called on the state government to cri cally assess security in Osun.

“We want to state unequivocally that the state can only grow in a secure atmosphere where ci zens can go about their lawful businesses without fear of a acks, in mida on or death.

“We call on the State Government to double its efforts in securing the State. The State Government must also posture itself in such a way that it is not seen to be endorsing thuggery through the relaonship of some key elements of government, with known ansocial elements”, he stated.

On the state of infrastructure, the group called on the state government to liaise with relevant agencies of the Federal Government to maintain the sec on of the Ibadan-GbonganAkure highway that is within the domain of our state.

It chided the government on its plan to construct flyovers at Oke-Fia and Old Garage

“A simple dualizaon of LAMECO – OkeFia – Old Garage stretch of road and signalizaon of that stretch will solve whatever traffic bo lenecks there may currently exist there.

“More specifically, traffic lights at LAMECO, Oke-Fia and Old Garage, on a dualized road, will ease every traffic conges on currently being experienced on the road.

“We advise that the government redirects the funds it will expend on construc ng flyovers, to widening major roads in towns whose major roads are currently too narrow for the kind of traffic that goes through them.

“Major towns like Ikirun, Iwo, Ilesa, Ejig-

bo and Ila-Orangun are in dire need of wider major roads, to reduce the risk to lives occasioned by the dense traffic that passes through those towns.

“The Akoda – Oke Gada – Ido-Osun dualiza on that is currently going on in Ede is a template that should be replicated in the major towns men oned above, as an alterna ve to erecting needless flyovers at Oke-Fia and Old Garage areas of Osogbo. Flyovers at those locaons will at best end up as wastes of space and resources, and the Governor can be er establish his legacy by dualizing major roads in the aforemen oned major towns.”

THE Chairman, Osun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Comrade Temitope Adeyemi, has reiterated the commitment of Governor Ademola Adeleke to revamp educa on sector in the state and bring back its glory.

According to Adeyemi, Adeleke is commi ed to reposi oning educa on through teachers training, capacity building and recruitment of needed teachers.

Adeyemi stated this on Tuesday during his rou ne visit to Oduduwa Grammar School Ile-Ife and Modakeke High School, Modakeke.

He affirmed that Adeleke is ready to address crical issues that will posi vely turn around the educa on fortunes of the state.

According to him, the Governor will implement the recommenda ons of the recently concluded educa on summit report in utmost good faith.

Answering ques ons from some of the teachers, Adeyemi assured them of the readiness of the Adeleke administra on to improving the welfare of the teachers in the state.

“The government should also be aware of a pending case against the same 1988 chie aincy declara on on Ifon stool. Olumoyero, Odunolu, Orisatoyinbo and Oluyeyin ruling houses are challenging the declara on in suit number HOS/111/2021. Only Moronfolu Ruling house is in support of the 1988 declara on.

“We insist that the controversial 1988 Chie aincy Declara on is a weak, invalid, unjust and unfair declara on to be used for the selec on of Olufon any me.

“The 1979 Chieftaincy Declara on which was promulgated during the reign of Oba James Olagunju Akinyooye and recognised five ruling houses of Moronfolu, Olumoyero, Odunolu, Orisatoyinbo and Oluyeyin, is the authen c and acceptable law to be used for the selec on and appointment of Olufon. Anything contrary to this will be rejected with strong ac on.

“Once again, we appreciate Governor Ademola Adeleke for stopping the fraudulent selec on process, while we call on him to also probe the individuals who want to manipulate the process and bring his administraon to disrepute.”

Kazeem Badmus

•(L-R) Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr Akindele Adekunle, Board Chairman, Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Barr. Niyi Owolade and the State Commissioner for Health, Barr. Jola Akintola, at 2023 International Nurses Week held at College of Health Sciences, UNIOSUN, Isale-Osun, Osogbo.

Photo: Shola Aderinto

•Gov. Adeleke

Palliatives: Govt. To Distribute 5,700 Bag Of Rice Today

THE Osun State government will today, Friday, begin the distribu on of 5,700 bags of rice to residents of the state in con nua on of the pallia ve materials distribu on.

The Commissioner for Informa on and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, disclosed this in a statement obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, no ng that the mode of sharing has been finalized by the pallia ve committee.

According Alimi, beneficiaries will begin to receive the rice pallia ves according to the me-table prepared to capture everyone.

He said: “The total number of the subsi-

dised rice pallia ves that will be distributed is 5,700: three thousand 50kg from the first batch of pallia ves, and two thousand seven hundred 50kg bags of rice from the 14,000 second batch.

“Similarly, Osun state has received N2bn out of the N5bn pallia ve money earmarked for the state by the Federal government.

“The template and modali es of payment will be made by

the Pallia ve Committee at the forthcoming mee ng.

“It can be recalled that the state received 3,000 50kg bags of rice from the federal government, and it will be shared with 2,700 50kg bags of rice from

the second batch approved 14,000 bags star ng Friday, while the state is s ll expecting 11,300 50kg bags of rice and 3,000 metric tonnes of maize.

“As the distribu on and collec on of the rice pallia ves begins,

we urge our people to be orderly, and as a government we assure everyone that the pallia ves given to the state by the Federal government will get to the target beneficiaries across the state.”

LAUTECH Final Year Students Die In Motor Accident

TWO final year students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology(LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, were on Wednesday evening reportedly died in a road accident that occurred around Okinni area of Osun State. The driver of the bus and the two LAUTECH

Miners Now Mining Residential Areas, Osun Community Raises Alarm

RESIDENTS of Ido-Ijesa in Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun State have raised the alarm over indiscriminate mining ac vi es going on in the community.

The residents who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said miners are now mining in residenal areas without recourse for the safety and health of the occupants.

They alleged that some poli cians and powerful personali es in Ilesa are the sponsors of the miners.

According to the residents, the miners have also been encroaching on people’s property without authorisa on for mining.

They urged the state government and royal fathers in Ijesaland to come to their rescue and curb what they described as threatening mining ac vies in the area.

Speaking with the medium, Abiodun Ogunleye, an indigene of the town, lamented that his family is a vic m of the indiscriminate mining ac vi es, Ogunleye said the miners have destroyed his family’s houses, farmland and water, calling on the state government to find a way to take the miners out of their community.

He said safety of the residents of the community should be the priority of the state government, adding that they have made series of appeals to those in power concerning the miners without any posive results.

According to him,

“These miners are now mining areas very close to residen al areas and by implica on, it is affec ng us. Our houses, the water we are using, our farms and our health are being affected.

“There was a me the local miners went to one of the most populated hostels (Ajangila) around the campus area in Ilesa. The miners had already started mining and digging the surrounding of the building without the student’s knowledge.

“It was a good Samaritan who alerted the students to the danger and they all had to run for their lives. The machines they used to mine in that hostel are s ll there ll now.

“Also, these local miners have occupied OkeOdo in Ido-Ijesa and they are mining there ll now. There are also mining acvi es going on in IsaleGeneral area. These miners have dug deep into building founda ons.

“The problem is that most of the landlords do not know the danger attached to this illegal mining and that is why we youth are saying enough is enough.

“We want to appeal to the state government and our royal fathers in Ijesaland to come to our aid. The ac vi es of these miners have to stop. They cannot con nue to endanger our lives because of their selfish gain.”

A widow, Chief Alice Coker, while narra ng her ordeals in the hands of the miners, told the medium that her son lost his busi-

ness because of the damage caused by the miners.

According to her, she loaned a sum of N500,000 to her son to boost his fish farming business but went into the drain due to the pollu on of water by the miners.

Coker lamented that some of the people in charge of managing the miners in the area were not sincere, adding that her plea to return her land to the normal state a er mining on them went on deaf ears.

She said: “I am a widow with no one to fight for me.

I had three lands I was using to farm before the Chinese came and mined on them. They promised to return the land to normal before leaving but they didn’t.

“I complained to those who brought the Chinese and they warned me to stay calm that the miners are s ll coming back but ll now, I didn’t see anyone.

“My son is into fish farming. I went to obtain N500,000 loan for him to assist his business. He dug a pond on one of the lands but a er the Chinese le , the water got polluted

with led and all the fish died. My son couldn’t do the business again.

“I know God owns everything and the land they destroyed was nothing but the issue is that the miners have polluted the water to the extent that it is not safe to use again.

“The ac vi es of these miners have caused a lot of illness to the people and that is the main issue. Our children should not get sick because of some people making millions. The Governor has to show he priori ses our welfare and send this miner away.”

Contributory Pensioners Demand Release Of Bond Certificate

THE Osun State Chairman of Contributory Pensioners, Gbenga Oyadare, has urged the state government to stop trea ng members of the group as second ci zens, saying they must be paid their en tlements like former lawmakers in the state.

Oyadare disclosed this in an interview with newsmen yesterday, adding that the group is red of the excuse by the state government that it is managing the state funds.

According to the chairman, since the state Governor has money to pay lawmakers who were not returned to the state assembly their severance packages, he

should also release their bond cer ficate and pay arrears of half salaries owed them.

He said: “We have wri en le ers to him before now. We are only reminding him that it is me for him to pay. What is good for the geese is good for the gander. If he had paid those people, why shouldn’t we be paid?

“Let him manage the li le resources for us too. If he had to manage funds, he would pay them some and pay us some but since he can pay them up, we must be paid up too.

“If we want to be just, let us manage what we have. You pay them some and you pay us some. But you pay them up and you are asking us

to take some, are we second ci zens? We should not be treated like that.

In his words, the Public Rela ons Officer of the group, Mr Toyin Ayinde, noted that 48 of their members were in an unstable condi on, needing urgent medical a en on.

He said: “This suffering is now too much. That is why we came out to face the government. We have about 8,000 pensioners and only 1000 have been paid. Our people are suffering across the state. People can’t even afford to buy drugs. Many have resulted in homemade herbs to treat themselves. One of us in Iwo who has cancer can’t afford to buy drugs.

“We have 48 of our members who are not stable again.

students were burnt to death.

Five other students of the university were said to have also sustained degrees of injuries in the accident.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the students were returning from Erin Ijesa waterfall where they went for a picnic.

Confirming the incident, the Head of Opera ons, Osun Emergency Medical Services And Ambulance System (OSEMSAS), Mrs Elizabeth Arowosafe, said the injured vic ms were rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital for treatment by men of the agency.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the driver of the white Mazda bus oversped and later somersaulted while trying to escape after crushing a commercial motorcyclist.

Arowosafe said, “It was late in the evening yesterday that I was called by my paramedics and driver in Irepodun Local Government that a car somersaulted.

“I was told the driver was speeding and tried to dodge some people around Okinni area when the incident happened.

“The driver alongside a lady was burnt to ashes. We were able to rescue six people. We rushed them immediately to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

“The hospital did well. In fact, there was not enough space to accommodate the injured people and we had to leave our stretcher for them to use.

“We could not recognise the dead vic ms. They were travelling inside a bus. I learnt that the occupants of the bus were final year students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, who came to Erin Ijesa waterfall for an excursion.

“One of the injured students confirmed to us that they were coming from an excursion. She gave us five of the vic m’s names but she didn’t get the strength to name the others.”

• (R-L) Mr Ajaegbo Jude Chinedu- NAPTIP Zonal Coordinator, Comr Gbenga Komolafe- FIWON National Secretary, Comr. Modupe Oyedele- Osun NLC Chairpson and other invited guestat the Federation of Informal Workersʼ Organization of Nigeria (FIWON) Congress in Osogbo on Wednesday.

Kazeem Badmus

Kazeem Badmus

Kazeem Badmus

Kazeem Badmus

Olufon Stool: Court Restrains Govt, Others From Selection Process

PRESENT day Nigeria is beset and buffeted with several problems, some of which are self-inflicted.

The biggest challenge is the Japa mentality of the elite who want their bodies enjoying the Nigerian sun but their wants and even needs fed from every other country but not Nigeria. They have lived abroad, seen it all and consider those that have not been outside as lacking in the enjoyment of the finer things of life. Their a empts to live abroad, while simultaneously being in Nigeria, is cos ng the country a humongous amount of foreign exchange, as they try to show and teach our locals how to live the life!

Below are sugges ons borne out of direct par cipa on in contact with and observa ons of goings on in the sectors menoned in this writeup.

Foreign Fruits And Their Impact On Nigerian Trees And Fruits:

While every country has a right to trade, it is interes ng that Nigerians totally adopt goods from outside the Nigerian economy to the detriment of indigenous alterna ves. We prac cally throw away the baby with the bath water when we replace our indigenous op ons with foreign subs tutes.

In prac cally every city in Nigeria now and conspicuously displayed are Grapes, Apples, Pears, foreign grown Oranges, Tangerines and even Pomegranates. Meanwhile there are many people who grew up in the ci es who have never seen Oro (Irvingia Gabonensis), Iyeye (Spondias Mombin), even wonder what Awin (Dialium Guineense) is and look with disdain or fear at so many other local fruits that where in high demand in years gone by!

The distribu on network of the imported fruits is so efficient and the visibility so strong that they have even now become an integral part of Bridal Engagement Dowry requirements. There is hardly any Nigerian town where these fruits are not found.

One can only imagine how much foreign exchange goes into funding this luxury and how much money the foreign farmers and importers are making! Sta s cs have it that in 2021, Nigeria spent approximately 5M US dollars impor ng fruits from South Africa alone.

Beyond fruits, even our local Indigo Dye has all but gone into ex nc on. The Indigo Plant (Indigofera Tinc ria) in the SouthWestern part of Nigeria, especially, is so hard to come by. Even when the local name Eluu is mo oned, there are few amongst those who stock dye that know it. This has led to the use of a synthe c replacement called Indanthrene. Indanthrene is so commonly used now that plant Indigo dyed Tieand –dye is very expensive and the Art of dying fabrics with plant Indigo would have been lost but for a few people like Mrs Nike Okundaye of Nike Art gallery who are struggling to keep the Art alive. Many nowadays

BY FOLAKE

Looking For Simple But Far Reaching Solutions In The Present Crises

•Synergy Needs For A Way Out Of Crisis

How will NAFDAC achieve its objec ve when the trees needed for this very important purpose are being felled indiscriminately?

Some of our Trees used in Herbal medicine like the Asofeyeje Tree (Raulfia Vomitoria) have to be sourced by sellers of Herbs in neighbouring countries to meet demand.

•Our Nigerians in the Diaspora can come in even handier if they are encouraged to form Business Councils e.g. Nigerians in Canada-Nigeria Business Council, Nigerians in UK-Nigeria Business Council etc. These Business Councils will have official and legal bilateral relationships with interested Nigerians in Nigeria. They will operate exactly like the Business Councils that have helped foreign Countries to trade with Nigeria. This kind of arrangement will help limit the number of Nigerians wanting to leave the country to fend for themselves since the bilateral arrangements will ensure that all business interests are legally protected.

areas of the host countries. This exposes them to a acks by hos le members of these countries.

do not know what the plant Indigo dyed cloth looks like because the Indanthrene blue has successfully been passed off as replacement. Plant Indigo is now being adver sed for Nigerians to purchase by companies in India. Apart from being used as a dye, Indigo or Eluu as it is called locally has medicinal values.

Effect Of Such Luxuries On Our Local Farmers And Tradi onal Herbal Medicine:

To most local farmers the indigenous fruit trees have become financially unviable and una rac ve. This has made it very easy for such trees to be sacrificed for immediate cash to whoever is the highest bidder requiring land, especially for the building of Housing Estates. Unfortunately, these trees are not needed as fruit trees only. Their barks and roots are also sources of Bio-ac ve components needed and used in our local Herbal Medicine.

Need For Even More Collabora ve Efforts Amongst Government Agencies And Bodies

Just recently, September 11, 2023 to be precise, as published in www.the denewsonline.com, the Director General of the Na onal Agency for Food and Drug Administra on and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, pledged to ensure Nigeria’s Herbal Medicines’ improvement to enable global acceptance.

This desire and resolve must have been borne out of juxtaposing the unrecorded revenue got from Nigeria’s Herbal Products with those produced in India and China. From 2015- 2023, Indian Ayurvedic Medicine generated 626.48M in US Dollars while the Chinese Tradi onal Medicine (TCM) market size in 2022 was 28.7Billion in US Dollars, according to sta s cs posted on the internet.

There is a need for Forestry Agencies and those involved in licensing Estate Developers to ensure that trees to be felled to make way for Estates are propagated through cu ngs and transplanted.

Estate Developers should be encouraged to plan green areas that will involve the replan ng of cu ngs from the trees they fell to prevent these trees from going into ex nc on. There is also a need for the encouragement of the growing of Orchards of indigenous Fruits and also the conserva on of some Forests to ensure the preserva on of our precious trees for their medicinal wealth.

When Agencies and Bodies work assiduously, be er results will be got if their goals and efforts are congruent and meet at a point.

Sugges on

While Nigeria must allow Free Trade, she must also always have the great number of Nigerians in the Diaspora in mind and work to export even our own indigenous fruits, properly and beau fully presented. The relish with which they are eaten by this group will act as a rac on and selling point to indigenes of their host countries. Efforts should also be made to give necessary support and incen ves to our local farmers to make these fruits as readily available as the foreign alternaves. Propaga ng love for these fruits locally will increase their local demand and this will help to entrench their demand by Nigerians even when they are outside the country, thereby promo ng earnings from export. This is aside from other very useful benefits of these trees.

The Way Our Businesses Leave Our Shores:

When many Nigerians go abroad to live and do business, they carry with them money that is barely enough and this limits them and their ac vi es to the downtown

A careful and deep look at how Indians, South Africans and Chinese do business reveals a system where resources are pulled together to rent shop space in uptown areas and the shop space par oned to accommodate all subscribing vendors. This gives more security and even greater respect and acceptability.

The Use Of Our Diaspora

The major benefit derived from our Diaspora presently is remi ance of money for family support back home.

Unfortunately, most mes, the money is used locally for essen als that ul mately do not generate any further income beyond what it was remi ed for.

Sugges on

Our Nigerians in the Diaspora can come in even handier if they are encouraged to form Business Councils e.g. Nigerians in Canada-Nigeria Business Council, Nigerians in UK-Nigeria Business Council etc. These Business Councils will have official and legal bilateral rela onships with interested Nigerians in Nigeria. They will operate exactly like the Business Councils that have helped foreign Countries to trade with Nigeria. This kind of arrangement will help limit the number of Nigerians wanting to leave the country to fend for themselves since the bilateral arrangements will ensure that all business interests are legally protected.

Such an arrangement will also help to boost the ac vi es of the Marke ng Boards that the present administra on is looking at re-introducing and also help with backward integra on of ideas, educa on and other inputs that will facilitate trade in a way that Business Councils of other countries cannot afford to do. The Diaspora partners will act with vested interest that is geared towards developing their own home country.

“Nigeria has had a very long standing relationship with countries like the United Kingdom yet there is no Nigerian owned Warehouse that serves as a one stop place for Nigerian Food Ingredients”