Osun Defender Online Version of March 27, 2021

Front Page Comment

Proportional Salary Cuts In The Vatican

T

HREE days ago, Pope Francis, Head of the Roman Catholic Church Worldwide, took the unprecedented step of making proportional cuts in the salaries of the church’s Cardinals and Clerics as a response to dwindling revenues because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The church

has been hard-hit by shutdowns affecting income from its mainstays, such as museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.

The proportional pay cuts in the Vatican is reminiscent of the decision forced upon the then governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as a painful response to the

disruption of federal revenues in a quasifederal state as a result of the collapse of oil prices, the mainstay of Federal Government revenue.

For both the Pope and Aregbesola, very difficult decisions from an ideological stand Continued on page 3

SATURDAY, MARCH 27 - THURSDAY, APRIL 01, 2021 VOL 16 NO 11

12 Royal Aspirants Jostle For Akinrun Stool Page 2

Alakinde, A Professional Till Last Breath Page 6

21-Yr-Old Girl Arraigned For Diverting Company’s N468,85 Page 6

Olowu Kuta Wants More Global Recognition For Yoruba Language, Culture Page 7

•Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola after his investiture as Grand Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), B Zone (South-West), in Ibadan, yesterday.

COVID-19: Everybody Will Be Vaccinated, Osun Govt. Assures Residents

Page 2

SATURDAY, MARCH 27 - THURSDAY, APRIL 01, 2021

2

News 12 Royal Aspirants Jostle For Akinrun Stool

By Ismaeel Uthman

T

HE race to fill the vacant stool of Akinrun of Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government of the State of Osun has started.

Gboleru Ruling House is expected to present the next traditional ruler of the town, according to Ikirun District Chieftaincy Declaration and Gazette of 1959.

The two other ruling houses entitled to the Akinrun throne are Adedeji and Obaara (comprising of Oyejola and Oyewole families).

The Akinrun stool became vacant when Oba Abdurauf Olayiwola Olawale Adedeji II, joined his ancestors on February 04, 2021 after a brief illness.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that princes from the Gboleru Ruling House have been making surreptitious moves to emerge the new Akinrun.

This is even as Ifelodun Local Government has not written to the ruling house to present nomination for the Akinrun stool.

As at the time of filing this report on Thursday, no fewer than 12 royal aspirants from the Gboleru royal family have indicated interest in the stool, according to sources.

The aspirants include three professionals of same parents from Adesekan Compound.

Among the royal aspirants are: Waheed Oladimeji, Lamidi Adegboyega Olatunji, Fatai Olatunji (omo Kasali) Taofeek Aderibigbe and Tajudeen Olaniyan Olatunji.

Others are: Timothy Oyetunji, an Estate Management expert, Mukaila Shittu, Prof Samson Oyetunji, an Electrical-Electronic Engineer and Kayode Akinloye Oyetunji, a UK based businessman and Information Technology expert.

Also, the medium confirmed that Gboleru Ruling House has been organising regular meetings to ensure that a competent and experienced person is nominated or selected for the stool through a peaceful process.

•Representative of the Hon. Member representing Ede South, Ede North, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency, Hon. Bamidele Salam, presenting instructional materials to Students of Muslim Grammar School, Ede, on Wednesday.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday, the spokesperson for the Gboleru Ruling House, Mr. Abimbola Tooki, confirmed that a

number of qualified people from the family have indicated interest in the stool.

However, Tooki said he could not put a figure to the number of princes

jostling for the vacant Akinrun stool, noting that the ruling house might have to screen down the aspirants in line with request from the government at the

appropriate time.

According to Tooki, the government was yet to communicate with the family on the presentation of candidate(s) for the stool.

He said: “There are

COVID-19: Everybody Will Be Vaccinated, Osun Govt. Assures Residents

By Solomon Odeniyi

F

OLLOWING agitations from some residents in the State of Osun on their inability to partake in the ongoing Coronavirus vaccination exercise, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu has said everyone would be covered in subsequent

batches.

In an exclusive interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, Isamotu said frontline workers such as health workers, journalists, security personnel and some strategic leaders in the state were those meant to be vaccinated in the first phase of the vaccination exercise.

Isamotu said resi-

dents who do not belong to the categories of people being currently vaccinated would receive theirs in second and third batches, which would commence soon upon the arrival of subsequent consignments.

He said: “This is the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines and it is meant for frontline workers who are basically the

Symbol’s Quote

“The beauty of the built-up environment in the developed world is largely due to landscape engineering and this is what separates the civilised from the uncivilised environment. Save for the few beautiful houses, our environment is a chaos, total bedlam”

health workers, security personnel, journalists and the so-called strategic leaders. We are yet to even cover these people.

“Many of those who are agitating do not fall into this category of people. Residents of the state should relax, everybody will get vaccinated. A lot of people who feel they should have taken the vaccine do not fall into the category of the people which the first batch is meant for. The second and third batches cover every resident of the state and it will come very soon.

“On the allegations that the vaccination exercise has been politicised, Isamotu said: “People should also reason with us. Yes, we vaccinated people like Baba Akande who initially wanted to come over to the clinic to take the vaccine, we also took the vaccination to the House of Assembly, and other places. We have to give them that honour.”

He said the index cases of the state are gradually going down, urging the citizens not to lower their guards even with the availability of a vaccine.

three ruling houses in Ikirun: Obaara, Adedeji and Gboleru. Adedeji, which just left the throne succeeded Obaara Ruling House. Naturally, there is no contesting the fact that Gboleru Ruling House will present candidate for the next Akinrun and there is even a consensus on that.

“Within the Gboleru family, a lot of candidates have indicated interest and that is expected because they are eligible to the throne. Those who are qualified will be presented to the kingmakers and the government, from among who a person will be chosen to occupy the stool. But I can confirm to you that there are a number of people from the royal family that are qualified to occupy the stool.

“I can’t give you a particular number that we are presenting. Part of the process is that the government will write to us to request for nomination for the stool. Based on that request, we will forward to them the name(s) of the qualified person(s), depending on the tone of the letter.

“We may consider screening for the royal aspirants. For instance, if the government requests for two candidates, it means if there are 10 of them, we will screen them internally and present two. We can’t pre-empt the letter. But we will follow its tone whenever we receive it from the government.

“The onus lies on the government and kingmakers to now do their internal process to choose a particular candidate among the nominated ones.”

Tooki maintained that when the process of selection begins properly, the Gboleru Ruling House will separate the wheat from the chaff.

However, investigations by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that some notable Ikirun indigenes have been making moves to instigate princes from the Obaara Ruling House, particularly from the Adeyemi family to contest the throne.

Politics have also crept into the race, as some of the royal aspirants have been tagged pro- and anti-government.

PEOPLE FIRST

SATURDAY, MARCH 27 - THURSDAY, APRIL 01, 2021

3

By

Femi Oyedele Does Epileptic Power Supply Persist In Nigeria?

Honours Earned In God’s Due Season AnWhyanalysis of the opportunity costs of the now availability of energy in Nigeria.

N

O good gesture goes completely unacknowledged. Getting acknowledged is sine-qua-non to being rewarded.

Like in obeisance to the law of magnetic force/attraction, one good turn deserves another. Hence, a good gesture, no matter how its light is surreptitiously attempted to be covered under a bushel, will glow out, illuminating the entire spaces in and out.

The foregoing is apt an analogy; regarding the honours strewn on the immediate past Governor of the State of Osun and incumbent Minister of Interior, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. That the twoin-one recognition is coming in handy from no less reputable body than the South-West Zone of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), is clear attestation to the recipient’s clean antecedents and up-till-date credible and incontrovertible track record as a performer in governance, a progressive activist who puts his people first all the time.

Aregbesola was invested as Grand Patron of the NUJ, B Zone (South West) yesterday, March 26, 2021 and in addition, added instant feather to his cap as he was conferred with an Award of Excellence. How excellent is God’s loving kindness!

This, no doubt, is in recognition of his contributions to the media profession. Aregbesola like Awolowo, Tinubu, Jakande, collaborated with the press to present and gain public acceptance, leading to enthusiasm for an innovative programme of social and economic reconstruction. The press, for him as a democrat, is a vital partner; since democracy, unlike autocracy is based on persuasion and not force. The award should be seen as an acknowledgement of this democratic copartnership.

As two-tenure helmsman of the State of Osun, Aregbesola’s intimidating posture, gestures and unprecedented performances still haunt his traducers to their marrow while his colossal giant strides in his present port of

call send shivers of jitters down the spines of vast number of his detractors, which, in sad reality, include enemies within the fold.

The enemies within, fair-weather-friends are the worst adversaries ever known. In this instance, they have been confounded in their shameless craft.

An avatar in the character and spirit of progressives, Aregbesola impacted and impressed valiantly among journalists during his eight-year epoch as Governor in the State of Osun. It is incontrovertible that his giant strides paved way for the goodwill and smooth relations his Chief of Staff and successor, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, enjoys with journalists in the state today. It will amount to crass ingratitude if anyone attempts to slight or disregard Aregbesola’s huge imprints upon the pen profession in the state. A corporate guru of no mean repute, Aregbesola is himself a media proprietor of sorts. That these honours are heaped on him is not at all a miscarriage of merit.

Like the biblical Herod did in copious envy of the newly-born Christ, enemies of progress scampered in vain to block the award and the investiture. Aregbesola’s towering magnificence, his aura of intellectuality and ambience, coupled with creativity in mass investments, not only in physical infrastructure, but also in human capital investment cum empowerment bewilder them even as his achievements loom larger in today’s Ministry of Interior. These honours, at last, vindicate this Enigma as having a just cause all this while. The path of the just, says the Bible, is like the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. And Proverbs 22:29 says: “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”

These awards are huge indeed! They are well-earned, well-timed and well-realised in due season. Bravo to the Emancipator and Protagonist of Modern Osun! March on to greater successes and trample ponderously to higher impacts and victories in life.

Proportional Salary Cuts...

Continued from front page point had to be made. Both leaders share a similar philosophical orientation. Pope Francis, 84, comes from the working class and was detained as a vanguard of the pro-democracy forces during the long struggle for the restoration of democracy in his native Argentina. Aregbesola also took a notable role in Nigeria’s similar struggle for the restoration of democracy. Both men are lifelong committed social democrats, who believe in putting the living standards of the mass majority and their families first above all else.

Aregbesola, at a critical juncture, put majority interests first above immediate electoral convenience. Here he emulated Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who as Premier of the defunct Western Region, refused to back down on the imperatives of the use of taxation for development and suffered debilitating electoral reverses as a consequence. This is known as leadership. As the first post independence Prime Minister of India is often stated as having said, “a politician looks at the next election, a statesman at the next seven

generations”.

History is vindicating Aregbesola on a lot of fronts. As Pope Francis said on Wednesday, the imperative of a painful decision was based on the need to preserve jobs in a situation in which there was no room for maneuvre. He echoed Aregbesola’s position years earlier. Without the modulated salary payment in Osun then, there will have been cuts in public sector employment in a state just attracting private sector investments. This would have, in addition, stymied purchasing power; stifling the development of the commercial sector as well. Those states that did not exhibit the political will to follow Aregbesola’s example are still reeling from the consequences of putting short-term political gains above commonsense.

Now that the Pope as well as so many others have adopted the modulation of salaries as an alternative to the laying off of workers, Aregbesola’s foresight has been vindicated. We salute the steadfastness with which he navigated through stormy weather in a sea of opportunism. Kudos!

M

modern societies to function. Neighbourhood security, hospital, schools, industrial activities, air traffic control system, public transportation, modern sewage system, high-rise housing operations, modern communications and the financial system, all depend on electricity for their performances. It is the reason that industries like Michelin, Dunlop and Patterson Zochonis moved to Ghana. The irony of electricity supply in Nigeria is that Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana and Niger, to which we supply electricity, enjoy stabler electricity supply and have better usage of it than us.

If well planned, we can harness our solid wastes to generate thermal electricity.

We are also blessed with fossil fuel and biofuel in Nigeria.

Nigeria has 12,500 megawatts (MW) of installed generation capacity, largely from hydropower (12.5%) and thermal power plants (87.5%).

It is noteworthy to state that currently, less than 5,500 MW is typically available for onward transmission to the final consumers in Nigeria. The installed generation capacity is low as well as the distributed electricity considering the roles electricity can play in reducing abject poverty and bridging the gap between the rich and the poor.

Haneda Airport in Japan, for example, uses over 15,000 MW of electricity. 1,000 MW of this electricity is from solar panels on terminal roofs covering a total of 7,463 square metres.

There are at least eight (8) means of generating electricity in the world.

By the Grace of God, Nigeria can use all the eight means. These are (1) hydro from moving water, (2) thermal from burning of fossil fuel, or combustible wastes, (3) wind turbine, (4) solar, from photovoltaic cells collecting sun heat and converting it into electricity in a panel, (5) nuclear from reaction of chemical compounds in nuclear power plants, (6) biomass gasification, (7) sea waves and (8) human body heat. It is only through lack of determination and dereliction of duty on the part of DisCos and TCN that Nigerians will not be supplied 24/7 electricity in this modern time.

OSUN DEFENDER IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER, •Femi Oyedele is a project MAGAZINE OR ANY PUBLICATION WHATSOEVER manager based in Osogbo.

OST people would rather ask: Who invented electricity? Electricity is a form of energy existing naturally, so it cannot be “invented”. There are so many misconceptions and fables about who first discovered it.

Benjamin Franklin is credited with the feat of discovering electricity on June 10, 1752. On this day, Benjamin Franklin was flying a kite during a thunderstorm and collected electrical charge in a Leyden jar, which enabled him to demonstrate the connection between lightning and electricity. Thomas-Francois D’Alibard succeeded on his experiment on electricity in May 1752 in France.

Before these researchers, at least a man was electrocuted! Despite the fact that it is deadly when touched; there is no day that human beings do not use it!

Electricity has many usages in our day-to-day activities. It is used for lighting dark spaces, improving ventilation and heating of spaces and for refrigeration of foods, water and medications. It also provides means of amusement. Radio, television, cinema, electric dreamland and artificial lightning are the most popular forms of amusement.

Electricity, like water, is life! Is there anything one can do without electricity?

Not at all; it is used as a clean energy to cook foods and boil water. It is used to wash clothes, move vehicles, grind and blend foods, vegetable and fruits and it helps in street lighting to improve visibility and security at night.

Electricity is central to the ability of

“The irony of electricity supply in Nigeria is that Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana and Niger, to which we supply electricity, enjoy stabler electricity supply and have better usage of it than us”

SATURDAY, MARCH 27 - THURSDAY, APRIL 01, 2021

4

News Residents Protest 3-Week Darkness In Ikirun, Iragbiji, Ada

By Ismaeel Uthman

R

ESIDENTS of Ikirun, Iragbiji, Ada and Ororuwo of Ifelodun and Boripe local government areas of the State of Osun have protested a three-week power outage in the communities.

According to the residents, the communities have been thrown into darkness since Wednesday, March 11, 2021.

They bemoaned the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) for what they described as lackadaisical attitude towards resolving the technical problem responsible for the power outage.

OSUN DEFENDER was informed that the Control Panel that supplies electricity to the affected community was faulty, making distribution of power to the places impossible.

A resident of Ikirun, Mr. Shina Oyerinde, lamented that the power outage has been crippling the community’s economy as majority of people who depend on electricity for their day-to-day activities have been rendered jobless.

Oyetinde said it is disheartening that the privatisation of electricity distribution has not yielded desired result to Nigerians, lamenting that the IBEDC has been nonchallant in fixing the said faulty distribution panel.

He said: “We have been thrown into darkness since Wednesday, March 10. We actually thought it was the usual epileptic power supply on the first day, until it got to one, two, three weeks and we are now getting to a month in darkness.

“It is not only Ikirun that is affected by the power outage; Iragbiji, Ororuwo, Aagba, Ada and other places were also affected.

“We have reported to the IBEDC but it is unfortunate that the company has not been responsive.

We were told that the Control Panel that supplies electricity to Ikirun and other affected places is faulty. But nothing has been done on it till date.

“It is unfortunate that the desired result which privatisation of electricity distribution should bring to Nigerians is not there.

There is no difference between when the government was managing the power distribution and

when private company is handling it now.”

Lamenting the power outage in Ikirun and irregular power supply across the state, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the State of Osun, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, said businessmen and women in the town have been counting their losses as a result of the non-availability of electricity.

Baderinwa who commented on his official Facebook page, wrote: “Some weeks ago, more than 60% of Ikirun, headquarters of Osun North East Division of the State of Osun was thrown into darkness.

God knows how much loss has been incurred by the affected people. And nobody cares to merely let the people know the cause of the darkness and how long it may take to repair.

No empathy.

“This situation is not restricted to Ikirun.

Agunbelewo/Ilobu/Ifon residents had also cried of being in the darkness for weeks. It took almost a year to resolve the Ijesa axis’ darkness, even when it is yet to overcome epileptic supply. There is no environment in Nigeria that enjoys moderate power supply.

“Waheed Lawal, the street protégé of Gani Fawehinmi, a renowned protester of “man’s injustice to man”, led his crowd to ask “where is the light?” few days back in Osogbo.

“Very doubtful if the situation was this bad before the Shylock businessmen took over power supply business in Nigeria.

The month of March will soon end and bills, including “estimated/crazy” will be distributed. Before you know it, mass disconnection begins.

“Nigerians are always taken for granted for too long, maybe, because the rulers don’t have similar experiences with the people on issues like this. The government intended discontinuing the irresponsible contract holding everybody to ransom when it was about expiring but such has gone under.

“It is hoped that someone in charge will pay attention to this power supply problem or is it darkness supply before some children of anger who will not be taken for granted will come out for #Enddarknesssupply protest. IBEDC; where is the light?”

Reacting to the power outage, Regional Communication Officer, Osun Region, Miss. Kikelomo Owoeye, explained that five Protective Relays of power distribution got damaged by rainstorm, and as a result, it was not safe for anybody to release electricity to the affected areas.

Kikelomo, in a press statement on Wednesday, said: “The Management of IBEDC empathise with our customers under Ikirun Business Hub. The outage experienced in some areas was due to the heavy rainstorm that occurred on March 11, 2021 and damaged many equipment and this led to loss of five Protective Relays which are supposed to protect the equipment in five different control rooms across Ikirun Business Hub. “As a temporary measure, supply was restored back to Inisa and Ila-Orangun axis on March 12, 2021 and the following communities are already enjoying supply: Eko-Ende, Oree, Eko-Ajala, Oba-Ile, Oba-Oke, Eko-Ende road Ikirun, Eweta, Inisa, Eekosin, Agbeye, Elesinfunfun, Iba, Okua, Obaagun, IlaOrangun, Iree, Otan, Iresi, Edemosi.

“While the affected communities that are still out of supply are: Ikirun township, part of Obaagun, Iragbiji, Ada, Ororuwo, Ada-Owode, Ipetu Ile, Aagba.

“However, the management of IBEDC has been working at replacing all the faulty relays to ensure that our customers are restored back to supply.

“Meanwhile, we have engaged our customers through the monarchs, community leaders and youth leaders of the affected communities to update them on the happenings and we have been giving update on various radio programmes and our WhatsApp platforms.

“We want to use this medium to inform our customers not to fall for the whims of fraudsters at this period as IBEDC has not requested for any financial support from anyone in this regard.

“We also urge our community leaders and esteemed customers to assist in protecting the transformers in their communities to prevent them from being vandalized.

We assure that as soon as the management takes delivery of the relays they will be restored to supply.

“We appeal that they exercise patience while the repairs are being done.”

SATURDAY, MARCH 27 - THURSDAY, APRIL 01, 2021

5

Investiture

Nigeria Will Outlive Everyone Criticisms On Aregbesola’s Investiture, Of Us – Aregbesola Award, Political, Says NUJ

F

ORMER Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that the country will outlive all of her citizens, urging Nigerians to live the ethos of honouring their individual and collective consciences.

According to Aregbesola, the only duty to Nigeria at present time is to create unity for everybody to experience her joy.

Aregbesola spoke yesterday in Ibadan, at his investiture as Grand Patron of Nigeria Union of Jounalists (NUJ), SouthWest Zone, where he also received an Award of Excellence in Leadership.

The former governor of the State of Osun said: “Solutions to our differences and problems arising from disunity will be found only in a conscious effort by all of us to make fundamentally ethical every moment of our lives.”

Aregbesola said he was receiving the honour as ‘Aregbesola (as a person), and not as Minister

T

•Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, fresh Awardee of Excellence in Leadership, admiring the plaque of honour after presentation.

of Interior’.

He traced his love for the media to his days in students’ unionism at the Polytechnic, Ibadan when he was writing for campus journals with leftist orientation.

The minister dedicated his award and investiture to all media practitioners working tirelessly and uncompromisingly for the making of an informed society.

Aregbesola said: “My relationship with the media has been long, right from my students’ unionism days at The Polytechnic Ibadan, when I used to write for campus journals, especially those with leftist orientation. Those were the days of ideological ferments when there was consciousness and, as fiery young men, we sought to change the world for good.

“Of course, we knew then that the written word is powerful as the tool of idea propagation and consciousness formation and shaping. Since then, as some of you already know, I have had sustained interest in some print and electronic media, running to two decades.

“My interest in the media stems from my belief that humans are intrinsically good and will be inclined to do the right thing if properly informed. Education, indisputably, is the bedrock of being learned, but this must be reinforced daily on a good diet of information.

“An educated person without subsequent relevant information is not better than the uneducated but with current information. Therefore, in an environment where the media conscientiously inform and educate the people, they will be well mobilised for their own development, to resist tyranny and extend the frontiers of liberty and freedom.

“This belief has sustained my interest in the media, not minding the huge cost in a challenging economy with zero prospect of profit. The cost is huge indeed, and many of you already know that the media, especially the traditional ones, are the least attractive for investment, if profit is the motive.

“However, I consider it an invaluable gain if the media helps to birth an informed society where the human condition is improved and tyranny rolled back and freedom keeps expanding. But it is a cost I am willing to bear, in light of the noble overall objective.

“This brings us to the challenges we face as a nation.

From all studies I am familiar with, welding together a heterogenous people with disparate cultural and historical background is a long and tortuous process that can suffer colossal reversal at any time, irrespective of

the progress already made, if the actors are not careful.

“The media has a historic duty, not only to put the government on its toes and censor it where it erred, but to also let the world know where dramatic improvements have been recorded.

“More importantly, the media should be dexterous in reporting conflict and volatile matters such that while not blacking out news, it should not be exacerbated in a way that engenders conflicts, breeds national acrimony and promotes separatism.

“It is the very essence of corporate social responsibility, a major plank of which is that an organisation should ensure that its product does not in any way harm the users and the society at large.

“I must thank once again, the South-West NUJ for the honour. I thank the national body of the association for its support. I thank also all the people of goodwill that love us and have continued to support us through thick and thin.

“I dedicate this honour to all media practitioners working tirelessly and uncompromisingly for the making of an informed society.”

HE Vice Presi- sion in no small means. dent of the Ni- He owns three media geria Union outlets and employed of Journalists (NUJ), journalists. He also South-West, (B Zone), bought buses which Mr. Cosmos Oni has are still being used by explained the rationale both the Osun Council behind the investiture of the NUJ and NUJ of the Minister of Inte- Correspondens Chaprior, Ogbeni Rauf Ar- el. egbesola as the Grand “He was accessible Patron of the union to journalists as goverand at the same time nor and as a minister. honour conferred on The criticism as rehim with an Award of gards this programme Excellence in Leader- is political. We are jourship. nalists and should disAccording to Oni, tance ourselves from Aregbesola merits the politics. However, it honour because of his is disheartening that immense contributions some of our members to the media profes- have allowed themsion, accessibility to selves to be used. We journalists and his de- know what is happenlivery of good govern- ing. But we are on the ance in Osun. side of the truth.

Cosmos described ‘Article 5 of the NUJ the ‘senseless’ criticism Constitution is clear. The of the programme as zone does not need the political, saying that approval of the council the division in the po- chairmen to organize litical space in Osun was “Ogbeni has no doubt responsible demonstrated his for the sponsored contro- love for and contribversy. uted to the profession He expressed dis- in no small means. may that He owns three media some members of the outlets and employed union al- journalists” lowed themselves to be used to a programme or give score cheap political award to somebody. It point. is the NUJ State Council The Vice President Chairman that needs apsaid: “Ogbeni has no proval of the zone. The doubt demonstrated criticism of the investihis love for and con- ture and award is basetributed to the profes- less and political.’

Oyo Deputy Gov: Aregbesola, A Leader Nigeria Needs To Develop

T

HE Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Rauf

•Engr. Rauf Olaniyan

Olaniyan, has extolled the political and human virtures of Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, describing him as a true leader and a pure ‘Omoluabi.’

Olaniyan said Aregbesola is his political mentor and a disciplined politician who he is proud of associating with and who he would always honour.

Speaking at the in-

vestiture of Aregbesola as the Grand Patron of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), SouthWest, Olaniyan encouraged the minister to be strong and optimistic in the face of conspiracy and attacks on him.

He said: ‘My relationship with Aregbesola defies political ideology. I am close to him. He is my political mentor. Aregbesola is an Omoluabi. He is a

leader Nigeria needs to develop. He is committed to the development of his state and Nigeria.

He is not after money.

He is a genuine leader, passionate about the country.

‘We will all become history. Everything will become history. I want to encourage and assure you, Aregbesola that you will triumph on the conspiracy and attacks.’

SATURDAY, MARCH 27 - THURSDAY, APRIL 01, 2021

6

Feature

Alakinde, A Thorough-Bred Professional

By Solomon Odeniyi

S

UNDAY Alakinde, a unique voice of a private radio station, Uniq FM, Ilesa sorrowfully bid this world farewell at the wee hour of Monday. He painfully lost his life in an accident at Iloko Junction, IlesaAkure Expressway, Ilesa. Alakinde was coming from a concert in Ijebu-Jesa, around 3am. He wanted to link the expressway, going back to his office, when his Peugeot car was crushed by a luxurious. He instantly gave up the ghost. He was in company of two students, who were undergoing their Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) at the radio station. One of the students, a male, died instantly with Alakinde.

The other one, female, is currently receiving treatment at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife. She had earlier been admitted at the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa before getting

transferred to OAUTHC on Tuesday.

According to some of his colleagues, Alakinde usually slept in the office after finishing his ‘Yin Logo’ programme every Sunday night. But, unfortunately, to seal his fate, Alakinde rushed out of the station for a concert in Ijebu-Jesa. He could not also sleep in IjebuJesa because of the fear of missing his early morning newspaper review programme, ‘Ojutole’. He was returning to the office to keep the rest of the night there, with a view that he would be woken by other staff members, should he fall deep in sleep next morning.

But he did not make it to the office. Instead, death took him on eternal journey in the road crash. The said the road crash occurred at 3:05am, 300metres from basefront of Rock Villa Hotel, opposite Old Sazo Oil, Ilesa.

Dissecting the cause of the accident, Public Relations of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osun Sector, Mrs. Agnes Ogungbe-

•Alakinde mi, said overspeeding (Speed Limit Violation) might be responsible for the accident. She said the accident involved Alakinde’s car registered SMK 312 GQ and a Yutong Luxury Bus registered LND 322 XY. It involved 54 persons – 34 males and 20 females.

Speaking on his life and times, the General

Manager of Uniq FM, Mr. Jare Ayo-Martins, described Alakinde as a humble young man and rare gift to the broadcast media profession. He said: “Sunday Alakinde’s death is a Colossal loss to us in Uniq FM. He was a humble young man, full of wisdom. He took his job as his life. He was very professional. The

way he talked on radio was unusual. Not everybody knew he was a young man because his programmes were educative, informative and enlightening – full of wisdom. His death is irreplaceable; we will forever miss him. We pray to God to console his family.”

One of his colleagues, Olaniyi Gbad-

amosi, was full of emotions while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER about Alakinde. He described Alakinde as a friendly and organised media personality, who was dedicated to his work. Gbadamosi said Alakinde had good relationship with staff members of Uniq FM and was popular among the people. He said Alakinde legitimately struggled to be successful in life, noting that it was painful that death took him away when he was about ‘enjoying’ his struggle.

Alakinde, an indigene of Gbongan, Ayedaade Local Government of the State of Osun, was the head of the most popular Uniq FM’s programme, ‘Ojutole’. He was the presenter of ‘Yin Logo’ and ‘Yungba Yungba’, a religious programme and social programmes holding the airwaves on Sunday and Tuesday nights respectively. He was buried at his house at Orogoji, Ifewara road, Ilesa. He left behind his aged parents, wife and two children.

Crime

Police Arraign Fashion Designer For Alleged Phone Theft Stories by Yusuf Oketola

A

25-year-old man, Aliyu Sodiq, has been dragged before an Osogbo magistrate’s court, State of Osun, for allegedly stealing two mobile phones.

Sodiq, a fashion designer, stole one TECNO Spark 4, TECNO T301 handsets and cash sum of N350, 000; all valued N410,000 which belong to one Ezigi Chukwuka.

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, Sodiq and others at large committed the offence on December 16, 2020 at Odiolowo area, Osogbo.

The offence contravened Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

But, the accused person pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing levelled against him.

Sodiq told the court that he did not know anything about the missing phones, saying he came from Ibadan to meet a customer in Osogbo as a fashion designer.

According to him, on getting to Osogbo, he was

tracked down and arrested by the Police, who accused him of stealing the phones in question.

Defence counsel, Kehinde Adepoju, prayed the court to admit Sodiq to bail on a most liberal term.

Adepoju noted that the

accused person was presumed innocent until the contrary is proven by the court.

The bail application was opposed by the Police prosecutor, Inspector Kayode Adeoye on the ground that the offence committed

by the accused person was rampant in the society.

Adeoye told the court that Sodiq was tracked down before the Police arrested him, adding that he has no traceable address as he had claimed to be residing in Lagos and Ibadan

respectively at different times.

He therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the bail application by the defence counsel, as none of his relatives who could stand for him as a surety knew he was in the Police

station.

However, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Modupe Awodele, admitted the accused person to bail in sum of N500, 000 with a surety.

The case was adjourned till May 24, 2021 for hearing.

UNIOSUN Student Caught While 21-Yr-Old Girl Arraigned For Writing GNS Exam For Colleague Diverting Company’s N468, 85

A

State of Osun State magistrate’s court, sitting in Osogbo, has ordered the remand of a student of Osun State University, Korede Gbolahan, in Ilesa Correctional Centre for allegedly impersonating a 200 Level student of the school in examination hall.

Gbolahan, a 27-yearold student, was arraigned before the court on a two-count charge of impersonation and fraud.

According to the charge sheet, Gbolahan, with intent to defraud Osun State University, Osogbo, falsely presented himself as Isola Basheer, a 200 Level

Part-Time student of Industrial Relations of the institution to write GNS 212 examination.

Gbolahan and other suspect at large committed the alleged offence on March 19, 2021 at about 8am at Library Complex, Osun State University, Osogbo.

The alleged offence contravened Section 516 and 484 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

However, the accused person pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge levelled against him.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Razak Olayiwola, told the court that Gbolahan claimed that he is a

student of a Polytechnic in Oyo State, while investigation revealed that he is also a student of UNIOSUN. Defence Counsel, Mrs. Yinka Dada, prayed the court to admit the accused person to bail, promising that reliable surety would stand for him.

But the Magistrate, Mrs. Modupe Awodele, suspended ruling on the bail application made by the defence coAunsel.

Awodele ordered that the accused person be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre.

The case was adjourned till April 9, 2021 for ruling on bail.

T

HE police, on Wednesday, arraigned a 21year-old girl, Damilola Orimogunje, before an Osogbo magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing a sum of N468, 850 belonging to R.O.S Global Limited.

Orimogunje, a staff member of the company, was arraigned before the court on a count charge of stealing.

According to the charge sheet, Orimogunje committed the offence between the month of January and February 2021 in Osogbo.

But Orimogunje

pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Defence counsel, Okobe Nagite applied for the bail of the accused person, assuring the court that reliable surety would stand for her.

Nagite told the court that arrangement was ongoing to settle the matter between Orimogunje and the nominal complainant.

The Magistrate, Mr. Adekanmi Adeyeba admitted the accused person to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties.

The case was adjourned till May 5, 2021 for hearing.

PEOPLE FIRST

SATURDAY, MARCH 27 - THURSDAY, APRIL 01, 2021

For The Record

7

Random Thoughts On Nigeria Today

I

must thank the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Southwest Zone, for the honour being bestowed on me by making me the Grand Patron of the association in the zone.

My relationship with the media has been long, right from my students’ unionism days at The Polytechnic Ibadan, when I used to write for campus journals, especially those with leftist orientation. Those were the days of ideological ferments when there was consciousness and, as fiery young men, we sought to change the world for good.

Of course, we knew then that the written word is powerful as the tool of idea propagation and consciousness formation and shaping.

Since then, as some of you already know, I have had sustained interest in some print and electronic media, running to two decades.

My interest in the media stems from my belief that humans are intrinsically good and will be inclined to do the right thing if properly informed. Education indisputably is the bedrock of being learned but this must be reinforced daily on a good diet of information.

An educated person without subsequent relevant information is not better than the uneducated but with current information. Therefore, in an environment where the media conscientiously inform and educate the people, they will be well mobilised for their own development, to resist tyranny and extend the frontiers of liberty and freedom.

This belief has sustained my interest in the media, not minding the huge cost in a challenging economy with zero prospect of profit. The cost is huge indeed, and many of you already know that the media, especially the traditional ones, are the least attractive for investment, if profit is the motive.

However, I consider it an invaluable gain if the media helps to birth an informed society where the human condition is improved and tyranny rolled back and freedom keeps expanding. But it is a cost I am willing to bear, in light of the noble overall objective.

This brings us to the challenges we face as a nation.

From all studies I am familiar with, welding together a heterogenous people with disparate cultural and historical background is a long and tortuous process that can suffer colossal reversal at any time, irrespective of the progress already made, if the actors are not careful.

We have the stories of Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Senegambia, Ethiopia, Soviet Union and others that have to go their separate ways after living together as one nation for decades. Even in prosperous and seemingly stable Europe there has been sustained separatist agitation in France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Cyprus, Finland, Denmark, Azerbaijan, Lithuania and virtually all over the

Speech By The Minister Of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At His Investiture As The Grand Patron Of The Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ) South-West Zone, Held At The Banquet Hall Of The Premier Hotel, Ibadan, On Friday March 26, 2021

•The recipient, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, being presented with the Certificate of Investiture by former National President of NUJ, Mr. Lanre Ogundipe and Vice President South-West, Mr. Cosmos Oni. Photo: Olushola Aderinto continent. In spite of the failed referendum for the independence of Scotland, the call for separation from Britain has not abated.

This is because, as the influential American political scientist, Samuel Huntington, put it, ‘Democracy anywhere is an unfinished business’. Where democracy is faltering, what we need is more democracy.

The call for separation is expensive and can be disruptive. It takes a great toll on development. The creative energy and scarce resources of the people calling for separation are dissipated in what may turn out to be a fruitless effort. Some of the agitations have been going on for centuries and they are not closer to it than they were at the beginning.

Besides, those who take the precipitate action of resorting to armed conflict often plunged their land and people to ruin from which there may not be an exit option. Nations are often locked in civil wars of mutually assured destruction in which peradventure one side wins, the victory will turn to ashes because the cost of victory is the loss of everything that was fought for.

Wars can also be so devastating that when it ends, the people are set back by not less than a hundred years. Worse still, as it is well established in the revolutionary literature, revolution often consume her own children. Those who engineered popular uprising may be consumed by it.

This is not a cowardly outlook. When a war becomes inevitable, irrespective of my age and physical condition, I will be the first to volunteer then. But we are far from that situation and pray we will not get there.

I evolved in the epoch of pan-Africanism and black nationalism. It is therefore anathema for me to accept ethnicity as a basis for the development of space and people. It is a fact of history that every division fostered by sectionalism will not stop until the irreducible minimum division is reached. Somalia is a good example.

Nigeria’s unity is currently tested in ways it has never been.

Therefore, the nation today needs men and women of character and of honour, in the mould of the founding fathers.

•To be continued next week •Read full article on www.osundefender.com

News

Olowu Kuta Wants More Global Recognition For Yoruba Language, Culture

By Odunola Akinbode

O

LOWU of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude, has canvassed for more international recognition for the Yoruba language and culture.

This, according the monarch, would help in the wide projection of the Yoruba culture beyond the shores of the country and further enhance the speaking and writing of the language among children of school age and youths across the country.

Oba Oyelude spoke when he received the initiators of Egbeje Ede, an indigenous package of games, data and knowledge in Yoruba idioms and language.

He called on government of the South-West states to approve the use of Ebeje Ede in public schools across the region.

The traditional ruler pledged his commitment to the multiplication of Egbeje Ede, which he believes will stimulate articulation of Yoruba language, tradition and culture.

The initiators had earlier informed the monarch of plans to mass-produce the indigenous game to encourage youth employment and creativity.

Oba Oyelude, while addressing a delegation of students under the auspices of Chamber of Nigerian Comrades, warned against moves

to divide Nigeria along ethno-religious lines.

According to him,

patriotism should overshadow divisive tendencies capable of set-

ting Nigerians apart in arms against themselves.

The monarch cautioned against ethnic profiling of criminality and crimes, adding that such will create bad blood among ethnic groups who are expected to hold Nigeria together.

He also spoke against allowing foreign interference in issues that can expose Nigeria to ridicule and danger.

Oba Oyelude cited the recent #EndSARS protests, which were carried out with manipulations of individuals and groups with intentions to endanger security of lives and property in the South-West of the country.

CHANGE OF NAME AMUSAT SAHEED OMOBAMIDELE That I was formerly known and addressed as AMUSAT SAIDI DELE OJO now wish to be known and addressed as AMUSAT SAHEED OMOBAMIDELE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

FALEKEOLUWASEUNGABRIEL That I was formerly known and addressed as FALEKE SEUN GABRIEL now wish to be known and addressed as FALEKE OLUWASEUN GABRIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ABADEOBAYE OLAOLUWASEGUN SAMUEL That I was formerly known and addressed as OPEYEMI SAMUEL with former date of Birth, 01 - 01 - 2000 now wish to be known and addressed as SONOIKI OPEYEMI DARE. With correct date of Birth, 23 - 07 - 1998.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

SATURDAY, MARCH 27 - THURSDAY, APRIL 01, 2021 VOL. 16 NO 11

www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

Police Arraign Fashion Designer For Alleged Phone Theft Page 6

T

HERE are so many definitions of life but for the purpose of this piece, we could define it as a condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity and continual change before death. Of all creation on Earth, man is the superior being as only man has self-consciousness in addition to highest consciousness of the world. Homo sapiens, the sole living representatives of the hominid family are distinguished by notable development of their brain with a resultant capacity to articulate speech and abstract reasoning. We are considered to be the most intelligent living organism, as we have ability to think and react to situations. We possess many cognitive capacities not seen in other animals like language, reasoning and planning.

Hominid family consists of all modern and extinct Great Apes (that is modern humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and all their immediate ancestors).

Every development in the world today is originated from human brain, in reaction to reality, to make living easier for us. Every innovation is designed and targeted at enhancing the living condition of human - no more, no less.

Every human effort is geared towards making the Earth a better place for human beings – making foods abundant with less efforts; making movement from one point to another easier, faster and leisurely; making light available where there is darkness; making means of accessing goods and services easier and making us well and healthy when we are sick among several others. Researchers have revealed that our ancestors, Homo Sapiens, stone and Middle Age humans evolved and moved across the landscape, interacted, exchanged and improved their technology towards improving their lives.

There is an administration/government in each household. However, there is a need for a central body that will administer the society - Government. Government provides parameters for everyday behaviour of the citizens, protects them from outside interference and often provides for their wellbeing via public services. Simply put, government maintains order, provides security and defence and provides public services. However, for government to exercise the aforesaid duties, it has to educate its people whose knowledge acquired will be transferred to develop the society. Simply put, the government has responsibility to develop society.

To achieving this, it has to give free and qualitative education to its citizens who will eventually translate this knowledge and consequent skills to developing the society in all areas of life. Government does not do its citizens any favour if it provides them free and qualitative education. No! It is just a means to an end as they are the ones that will be in charge of intelligence and defence; hospitals and research centres; agriculture and manufacturing; automobile and

Death: The End Of It All of life of a per“Despite the fact that end son or organism. For being, it the people quickly for- ais human procget the dead, the mem- essirreversible where someone loses his/her existory of those with good ence as all organs deeds reverberates in are shutdown. It is of life. our heart several years absence Since death is inafter they have gone.” evitable as it will vis-

aviation; sports and entertainment, etcetera, having acquired quality education and skills.

In fact, ability of the ruling elite to coordinate human beings towards achieving developmental goal determines its advancement or backwardness. In the process of these engagements, virtually every member of the society will work to contribute his/her quotas to the collective advancement and earn his/her legitimate wage for the services rendered. Leaving a society better than we met it is a function of value added which ultimately will make us healthy and guarantees longevity before death takes us to join our ancestors. Death, therefore, is the

STRIKER

it one day no matter the resources and wealth in one’s procession, what is the problem with black people lagging far behind in making our society better, for a qualitative and long life for majority? As we have come into existence empty, so shall we go empty. While black people, especially the leaders love good environment and things of live, they do little or nothing to creatively and organisationally engage their citizens in innovation that

will bring forth development in all areas of life.

Instead of emulating their forebears in striving for a better society, the contemporary black leaders steal and crudely accumulate resources meant for development. The killing of their colleagues by the dreadful Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, which does not discriminate between the poor and the rich, is supposed to be a lesson to black leaders. How many of their colleagues killed by the virus went with the stolen money? Perhaps, if the condition of wherever we go after death is as precarious as our situation and that their crazy and crude accumulation of wealth will give them comfort zone hereafter, one could reluctantly pardon them. Interestingly, they still convert resources meant to curb the spread of the disease and cushioning its effects to private money-making! Despite the fact that the people quickly forget the dead, the memory of those with good deeds reverberates in our heart several years after they have gone. We are stupendously blessed with everything required to excel. I am not sure of a second chance. For the privilege of being alive today, let us make our land a better place than we met it: a new Nigeria, where poverty, misery and penury will have no place. Contributing to that is the essence of a life well lived and far nobler and unforgettable than a lifelong career in vanity and property accumulation.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

No Easy Walk To Freedom

N

elson Mandela said the above instructive words, the title he chose for his September 1991 book. His words are backed by the phrase made popular by the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that “power is not served a la carte.” There are several local sayings in many Nigerian languages that buttress the point made but let us restrict ourselves to just one, a Yoruba saying, “eni to ba ma je oyin inu apata, ko gbodo w’enu aake,” literarily translated, “whosoever seeks to lick honey from the rock must not mind the eventual look of his/her axe’s sharp edge.”

Why is Striker beating its iron on this one single spot? To contribute in a small measure in making Nigerians rethink their messianic complex. There is no Messiah anywhere that will come and solve the problems of nationhood for us and neither will dividing it into a hundred separate countries deliver any good so long as we are unyieldingly beholden to a negative mentality that refuses to recognise that it is struggles and sacrifices by the majority that build nations. Individualism amidst “suffering and smiling,” irrational actions, blind anger and atomistic fervour will certainly not.

Mental laziness, quick fix, fire-brigade and short-cut mentality will not allow us to study the stories of the nations that have broken up into smaller entities and to find out how they are really faring, nor will it allow us to study the stories of great and prospering nations that are not only multi-ethnic but multi-racial; some smaller than us, others bigger than us in multiples, and then find the answer to the question, “why?” All we want is

to reach the “Promised Land” without any journey, much else an Israelite one.

Ours is repeated stories of misdirected anger and fights in recent decades, as if it is not in this same country that citizens rose (doesn’t need to be every single citizen), organised and fought the military juntas to an inglorious exit that gave us today’s democracy. Democracy seems to have taken away from us the spirit that nurtures democracy itself: constant popular participation and positive engagement of the government to secure the will of the people. A Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Tai Solarin, Gani Fawehinmi, Balarabe Musa, Aminu Kano, Chima Ubani - all lived in this very country: fearless, outspoken to power, committed to a just and free Republic, the betterment of the condition of the masses (masses from every tribe), and fought against any and every enemy of such.

Call today for a protest against hike in petrol pump price and electricity tariff, as was indeed recently done, hardly would a dozen Nigerians come out for a peaceful march of less than 1 kilometre, on what is a clear issue that adversely affects 160 million Nigerians out of 200 million! However, raise the alarm that “other tribes are oppressing us,” “other religion are oppressing us,” “other political parties are the enemy,” and so on, you are guaranteed to generate so much heat, so much tension, and build a self-serving, anarchical army that invariably prosecute a “war” in which not a dozen poor Nigerian masses can claim to have benefitted but thousands suffer irreparable loses – witness all the groups involved in sectional agitation from 1999 till date, King of them all, Boko Haram.

“There is no easy walk to Freedom” does not paint the picture of physical battles and exertions alone but mental acumen and organisational capacity in which the majority are involved, which is where it derives its justification and legitimacy.

“Power is not served a la carte” does not paint the picture of taking power through a coup or political brigandage but letting you simply know it will not be given on a platter of gold. Therefore, strategic thinking, political sagacity, bridge-building, fencemending, personal sacrifices and mass mobilisation will be needed to take power for a popular cause.

In his musical classics “Sorrow, Tears and Blood”, Fela opined on why we “fear” so much to do the right thing in struggling sensibly and correctly against oppression and injustice instead preferring “dubious battles” and ending up “suffering and smiling.” He said, “dem always get reason to fear - I no wan die, I no wan quench, Papa dey for house, Mama dey for house, I wan build house, I wan enjoy...” As we are being pushed by self-centred forces to the brink of catastrophe today on account of dubious, senseless battles, it is time clear-minded patriots abandoned lethargy and self. It is time to show that there still are thousands of clear-headed Nigerians who can walk freedom road. It is no shortcut, it is no quick fix and it is not sectional. Indeed, it is an all Africa inclusive walk, needing more sense than sweat and blood in this 21st Century; unless, in shameful surrender, we have conceded that there is no such political wizardry, mental acumen and organisational capacity in the land anymore despite all the ideological rendezvous of the 70s and 80s.

Osun DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun.

All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, ISMAEEL UTHMAN, Telephone: 0805-121-2204, usmanismail001@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.

Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefemder@yahoo.com