recalled
Commending
•Photos: Shola Aderinto
Teachers Recruitment: Fate Of Shortlisted Applicants Unknown Four Weeks After Resumption
FOUR weeks after the resumption of students in Osun State for the 2023/2024 academic session, the state government is yet to officially engage the 5,000 teachers it promised to recruit.
The recruitment exercise commenced seven months ago after the state executive council approved the recruitment of 5,000 teachers to fill the vacancies in the state teaching service.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the state government, after approving the recruitment on February 8, 2024, sold forms to interested candidates with the CBT test held on March 7.
The medium recalls that the state government had promised that the teachers would resume at their places of assignment at the start of the current academic session.
Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on July 31, 2024, assured residents that the 5,000 teachers will be on ground when schools resume.
He said, “I want to tell you that the recruitment exercise will be on merit. There won’t be any favouritism towards our party members.
“I want to tell you that before the schools resume for the next session, everything will be in place,” Eluwole noted.
The medium also noted that the state government on September 05 announced the cut-off mark for each subject in the ongoing teachers’ recruitment exercise.
In the figures released, the cut-off mark
for the Education Officer category includes English Language – 48, Mathematics – 48, Government – 62, Agricultural Science – 50, Biology – 52, Civic Education – 58, Computer Studies – 54, Economics – 56, Yoruba – 46.
For TESCOM category, the marks include English Language – 48, Mathematics – 46, Agricultural Science – 60, Commerce – 60, Economics – 60, and Civic Education – 70.
After announcing the cut-off mark, the state
government also directed eligible applicants to proceed for interview.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the interview was scheduled between Monday, 9th to Friday, September 13, 2024.
However, 28 days after the interview, the exercise is yet to be concluded.
When contacted on why the state is yet to fulfil its promise of getting the recruited teachers ready for the ongoing
academic session, Commissioner for Education, Eluwole, said he is yet to receive the report of the interview.
He told OSUN DEFENDER that the recruitment process will be concluded very soon.
Eluwole said, “Don’t be too in a hurry. Very soon, the recruitment will be completed.
“The report of the interview will be submitted this week and when it is submitted, we will proceed with the next step.”
Omoluabi Progressives Tours More LGs, Strengthens Membership •Empowers
Widows In Ife Central
daily strengthening its fold for the task ahead.
MEMBERS of various interest groups and political affliations across 12 local government areas in Osun State, have pledged their alliance with Omoluabi Progressives, a caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is just as the tendency empowered some widows in Ife Central Local Government area of the state.
The local governments visited in the second phase of the ongoing tour of council areas in the state, according to a statement by the Organising and Publicity Secretary of the caucus, Abosede Oluwaseun, on Thursday, are Ilesa East, Area Office, Ilesa West, Atakunmosa West, OdoOtin and Ifelodun.
Others are Ife Central, Ife North, Ede North, Ede South, Irepodun and Orolu.
Welcoming the new members to the tendency, Chairman, Omoluabi Progressives, Alhaji Azeez Adesiji said the caucus is
Attendant Remanded In Prison For Stealing N1.8m Soft Drinks In Osun
Gbolahan Abolarin, Oyindamola Abanise
AMagistrate Court sitting in Osogbo has remanded a 30year-old woman, Akinbode Christiana, in Ilesa Correctional Centre for allegedly stealing soft drinks.
The police had accused Christiana who was said to be a shop attendant at Adisdek Drinks and Wine,
of conspiring with others, now at large, to steal the drinks worth N1.8 million.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Akintunde Jacob, the defendant, with others at large, on October 1, 2024 at Adisdek Drinks and Wine, Osogbo, forged a receipt of Adisdek drinks and deport to claim goods worth N1,874,900, an offence contrary to and punishable under section 467 (0) of the Criminal Code cap 34 Vol. Laws of Osun State Nigeria 2002.
Symbol’s Quote
“Make no mistake about it, the public we serve are watching us and are doing their own assessment, based on how our services have impacted them. The set up will mean nothing to them therefore if our services disappoint them”
When the defendant was asked to answer a plea to the three count charges of conspiracy, forgery and stealing, levelled against her by the police, she kept mute and efforts by the magistrate and others to let her answer proved futile as she kept on looking at them.
Her counsel, Olatunbosun Oladipupo, told the court that he had tutored her before the court ses-
sion, and expressed surprise over the action of the defendant, praying the court to grant an adjournment for her re-arraignment.
Presiding Magistrate, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara, thereby ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ilesa correctional centre.
The case was adjourned till October 21, 2024 for rearraignment of the defendant.
Adesiji hinted that so far, efforts are on to introduce viable programmes and initiatives to further propagate the ideals of the caucus, and inspire members on responsible leadership.
The former council boss noted that the reason why the tendency is focusing on the grassroots is to get through to those in core need of government attention if the tendency reclaims the state in 2026.
Adesiji stated that, “We find it vital to always reach out to the grassroots because the brand of politics we play at Omoluabi is people centric. We are not going to abandon all of you when we reach the desired zenith. That is why we are coming down to hear from you.
“I want to assure that we are the tendency to beat. Please, do not listen to those who are saying that we are betrayals. We did not betray anyone. Be assured that we are in touch with you and have our channels of communication open at all times.
“Ours is a tendency of the people. That is why we are confident to move round the nooks and crannies of our state without any fear. I am happy that more people are seeing the truth in us, and have further grown huge confidence in us. We will soonest introduce other critical support programmes for our members to let them know we are not just a political tendency but one that cares.
•Continued on Page 7
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•Osun State First Lady, Mrs Titilola Adeleke, with members of Nigeria Governors Wives Forum, at the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, recently
Kazeem Badmus
Sodiq Yusuf
17, 2024
The Cost Of Existence Crisis!
•Getting Scary With Another Fuel Price Increase
‘’S OMETIMES , people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed – Friedrich Nietzsehe”
In the Nigeria of today, it is raining cats and dogs.
For a hard-pressed populace, it is no longer about the cost of living. It is about which survival strategy to press into play. As the Financial Times of London pointed out during the week, it is the worst economic crisis Nigeria has seen in living memory. Sadly, there is not even cautious optimism that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
The crisis requires both intellectual honesty as well as critical thinking. We must also do away with ill-advised posturing such as “subsidy is gone,” in a country without even the most rudimentary of social safety nets.
Even with the recent hike, there is still “subsidy” as a comparative analysis of fuel prices across West Africa will
show. And so what, the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) in the European Union is a one billion dollars a day food subsidy!
The key battleground for Nigeria is the rate of exchange, floating the Naira has turned out to be ruinous, a punitive tax on the least protected sectors.
We must begin anew. There must be a fiscal redirection. The ballooning costs of governance must be reined in and the already outdated Oronsaye Report on the costs of the machinery of the government implemented in full.
Nigeria must also go for bust on export. This is the only way to shore up the value of the Naira.
We desperately need a redirection of thinking on the economy including the constitutional amendments necessary to stimulate production and a move away from the rent seeking state. In this dire situation the government must act quickly.
Old-Garage/Oke-Fia/Lameco Road: Matters Arising
DEAR E DITOR , I wish to bring your attention the delay in the ongoing construction of the Lameco underpass and by extension, the delay in the construction of Old-Garage/Oke-Fia/Lameco road in Osogbo, the state capital.
You will recall that the projects are all part of the N100 billion infrastructure fund of the Ademola Adeleke administration and according to the timeline should be completed in two months’ time, precisely December 2024.
While the project aims to ease traffic congestion and improve the flow of vehicles in the long term, the delay also can cause significant difficulties for both residents
Editor Letter To The
and transport operators. One of the immediate effect of the delay is that it increases distance for minibuses, as they are now forced to take longer routes to avoid the construction zone.
The recent hike in petrol prices is also not helping matters. I urge the government to come to the aid of the people and urge SAMMYA construction company, the contract to speed up work.
God Bless Osun State.
•Anuoluwapo Owolabi writes from Westland Polytechnic Ilobu, Osun State.
The
Discourse
Diversity And Unity - Our Strength And Power
BY the way, a serving Minister was quoted as saying, that the crisis in the country is being sponsored by those who wish to share power with the President. To me, there is nothing wrong with power sharing. It is only in a country like our own that it is a sin to lose an election. Much as it is wrong for the opposition to want to destroy the country because they are not in government, there is nothing bad in accommodating them in the government.
A coalition government is in no position an inferior government nor illegitimate. Power sharing is good for democracy. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Power sharing makes people dependent and responsible. It is essential to avoid violent conflicts, tyranny of the majority and ensure political stability. Democratic rule and power sharing have close links. Power sharing is an integral component of the spirit of democratic rule. It is highly applicable in a diverse society as ours. Let’s face it, a united Nigeria is still a dream. Ethnicity is still the rule here, and if power sharing will help bring about progress and unity, let’s adopt it. Monopoly of power by group, a tribe, a political party, will lead to envy hatred, disunity and jealousy, no matter how that party got to power, even if they bought their way to power.
In some countries it is called coalition. In the first Republic we called it alliance, in the second Republic we called it accord.
In his inaugural address on May 29 last year, President Bola Tinubu GCFR, declared, “Today, Fate and Destiny join together to place the torch of human progress in our very hands. We dare not let it slip.
We lift high this torch so that it might shine on every household and in every heart that calls itself Nigerian. We hold this beam aloft because it lights our path with compassion, brotherhood, and peace. May this great light never EXTINGUISH.
Our administration shall govern on your behalf but never rule over you. We shall consult and dialogue but never dictate. We shall reach out to all but never put down a single person for holding views contrary to our own.
We are here to further mend and heal this nation, not tear and injure it.
In this vein, may I offer a few comments regarding the election that brought us to this juncture. It was a hardfought contest. And it was also fairly won. Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, Nigeria has not held an election of better quality.
The outcome reflected the will of the people. However, my victory does not render me any more Nigerian than my opponents. Nor does it render them any less patriotic.
They shall forever be my fellow compatriots. And I will treat them as such. They represent important constituencies and concerns that wisdom dare not ignore”.
I remember in the first republic that there was an alliance between National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) AND ACTION GROUP. There was also an alliance between Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and Chief Ladoke Akintola’s Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP).
While at Olofin Anglican Grammar School in Idanre in Ondo state in 1964, I remember the first time I saw Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s wife, Chief Hannah Dideolu Awolowo (25 November 1915 – 19 September 2015) was when she came to Idanre, my hometown, in company of Chief Michael Okpara (NCNC), the then Premier of the Eastern Region, for a political rally. Their alliance then was called United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA).
The alliance between NPC and NNDP, transformed into what was known then as the NNA. That alliance produced the following as Ministers on March 31, 1965. They were Mr. M.T. Mbu(Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence, Navy), Alhaji Nuhu Bamali (Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs), Mr. Jaja Nwachukwu (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Usman Maitambari( Minister of State, Transport), Alhaji Ibra-
“Power
sharing is an integral component of the spirit of democratic rule. It
is highly applicable in a diverse society as ours. Let’s face it, a united Nigeria is still a dream. Ethnicity is still the rule here, and if power sharing will help bring about progress and unity, let’s adopt it”
him Tako) Minister of State, Defence, Army), Alhaji Hashim Adaji(Minister of State, Works), Mr. T.E. Orodi (Minister of State, Lagos Affairs), Chief H.O. Davies (Minister of State, Industries), Chief A. Akerele( Minister of State, Information), Alhaji Abdul Rasaq(Minister of State, Transport) and Mr. D. Ibekwe, Minister of State, External Affairs).
Others were Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Prime Minister and External Affairs), Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu (Defence), Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh(Finance), Alhaji Shehu Shagari(Internal Affairs), Alhaji Mahammadu Inuwa Wada(Works), Alhaji Zanna Bukar Dipcharima(Transport), Mr. Raymond Njoku(Communications), Dr. Kingsley O. Mbadiwe(Trade), Mr. Jaja Wachukwu (Aviation), Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya (Housing and Surveys), Chief A.M.A. Akinloye (Industries), Chief Ayo Rosiji(Information), Mr. R.A. Akinjide(Education), Mr. Adeleke Adedoyin(Labour), Mr. Alade Lamuye (Natural Resources and Research), Alhaji Yusufu Maitama Sule 9Mines and Power, Alhaji Waziri A. Ibrahim(Economic Development), Dr. T.O. Elias (Attorney-General and Justice), Dr. M.A. Majekodunmi(Health) and Chief J.C. Obande (Establishments).
Still fresh in memory was the NPN-NPP accord under a Presidential System of Government.
On August 9, 1979 the then Chief Justice of the Federation, Sir Darnley Arthur Alexander (28 January 1920-10 February 1989) GCON, who was born in Castries, Saint Lucia in the Caribbean but came to Nigeria in 1957, on the invitation of the Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo GCFR, constituted elections tribunals that would give judgments on various petitions that may arise on the Senate, House of Representatives, Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections. He acted on the electoral decree 1977. The tribunals were for Imo, Gongola, Lagos and Kaduna zones.
For Imo zone, Justice Alexander named Honourable Justices A. A. Adeoba(chairman), F.I. E. Ukattuh and A.A. Ononuju as members. For Gongola zone Honourable Justices D.E.Y. Aghahowa (Chairman), M.U. Anisiobi and Alhaji Garba Alfa Tarfan as members while for Lagos zone Honourable Justices A. Allagoa, A. Desalu and A. O. Ejiwunmi were named. Kaduna zone included Honurable Justice S.E.J. Ecoma(Chairman), honourable Alhaji Bashir Sambo and Mr. S. A. Ibiyeye as members.
OSUN DEFENDER
On the same day of August 9, 1979, Justice Alexander constituted the election tribunal on the Presidential election. Members of the tribunal were Justice Boonyamin Oladiran Kazeem (Chairman) while Justice A.I. Aseme and Justice A.B. Wali were members.
Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd. Acting Deputy Editor – Sodiq Yusuf Production Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa Reporter – Yusuf Oketola Reporter – Kazeem Badmus Photo Journalist – Shola Aderinto Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State.
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Telephone : 0809-301-9152
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All correspondence to the above email addresses.
Justice Kazeem was born in Lagos on August 29, 1922. He had his education at the Government School, Lagos, Christ Missionary Society Grammar School, Lagos and the University of London, England. He was called to the Bar and as clerk, 1942-1950, crown counsel, 1954-1959, senior crown counsel, 19591961, principal crown counsel, 1961-1963, legal adviser, 1963-1964, deputy solicitorgeneral, 1964-1965, solicitorgeneral general and permanent secretary, 1965-1967,
Eric Teniola
10th NASS: Omirin, Oladebo Fail To Sponsor Bills In One Year
TEN Osun federal lawmakers sponsored 47 bills representing 2.84 percent of the total number from the Senate and House of Representatives in one year, OSUN DEFENDER gathered.
The medium learnt that members of the 10th senate and House of Representatives processed a total number of 1,650 bills in the year under review. In the list, lawmakers representing Osun state account for 47 bills representing 2.84 percent of the tally.
However, 75 percent of these bills are yet to scale through second reading while 25 percent are awaiting consideration.
According to Order Paper’s detailed analysis of bills processed between June 2023 and May 2024, the three senators representing the state account for 7 of the 475 bills sponsored in the senate while the nine representatives from the state account for 40 of the 1175 bills recorded in the green chamber.
Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi representing Osun Central sponsored three (3) bills, while Senators Olalere Oyewumi representing Osun West and Francis Fadahunsi representing Osun East sponsored two (2) bills each. The duo of Oyewumi and Fadeyi are first term senators.
Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, Rep. Oluwole Oke representing Ibokun/Oriade federal constituency for a sixth (6th) term sponsored 21 bills putting him top of the chart.
Rep. Bamidele Salam representing Ede North/ South/ Egbedore/ Ejigbo and Ajilesoro Taofeek representing Ife Central/East/ North/South recorded 5 bills each.
Also Rep. Akanni Ademola (a newbie) representing Boluwaduro/ Ifedayo/ Ila federal constituency accounts for three of the (3) bills. Rep. Mudashiru Lukman representing Ayedire/Iwo/ Ila, Rep Adewale Adebayo representing Irepodun/ Olorunda/Osogbo/Orolu, Rep. Adetunji Olusoji representing Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe each accounted for two (2) bills each.
Of all the lawmakers, OSUN DEFENDER observed that only Olusanya Omirin representing Atakunmosa East/Atakunmosa West/ Ilesa West and Oladebo Omoleye representing Ayedaade /Irewole/ Isokan have failed to sponsor any bill since their inauguration as federal lawmakers in June 2023.
•Parliamentarians Should Focus On Bills That Will Solve Economic, Governance Challenges - Analysts
a press briefing organised for enlightenment and sensitization campaign on new national anthem, held yesterday
Parliamentarians Should Focus On Bills That Will Solve Economic, Governance ChallengesAnalysts
Meanwhile, the lawmakers have been charged to focus on sponsoring bills and motions that will address the multi-faceted issues of governance and the economy.
A public affairs analyst, Comrade Akin Akanji in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, charged the parliamentarians from the state and beyond not to focus on duplicating agencies or attracting federal government presence to their constituencies alone, but sponsor bills that will address the developmental yearnings and aspirations of the people.
“Law-making is not about facilitating development to their constituencies. It is about facilitating the wind of change and progressive governance to the people they serve. That is why the legislators at the federal level must work more on the economy and good governance.
“It is not all about nominating projects and sponsoring bills to create University of Agric or University of Chemical Engineering in Agurodo because you are an influential lawmaker, it is about looking at addressing why petrol is now above N1,100/litre or how the prices of goods and services is daily skyrocketing.
“For us at Centre for Social Justice and Public Protection (CSJPP), we are focused on making the lawmakers do more for those that bring them to power. That is the essence of leadership,” Akanji stated.
Also in his remarks, the Executive Director, Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development, Jare Tiamiyu called on
the federal lawmakers to drive legislation that will boost the fortunes of the masses and hold govern-
ment accountable. Tiamiyu said, “Our nation stands at the threshold of sustainable devel-
opment amidst the raging hunger, huge unemployment, bad governance, and serious leadership in-
efficiency. We must at this juncture seek initiatives and aim to address these anomalies by being at the forefront of change.
“In the last few years, our team through the OsunOpenLG have provided platforms for youth awareness and participation in initiatives aimed at reducing the information gap on how the nation’s leaders have utilised our resources for development. That is what the lawmakers should do too as the essence of leadership. Let them address the hunger and poverty in the land with their legislation. That is why they are there to check the Executive,” Tiamiyu stressed further.
African Youths Will Become 68% Of Global Labour Force If… – Aregbesola
TSodiq Yusuf
HE African continent is at risk of providing 68% of the global labour force in the next 30 years if youths do not embrace self-development and skill acquisition.
Former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who raised the alarm, said figures on the rate of out-ofschool children, increasing unemployment statistics, and lack of infrastructure, among others, have necessitated a strong redirection to progressive human capital development.
He observed that while Africa’s labour and employment system cannot accommodate the aspirations of youths, especially graduates, it is also important to bridge the gap between the educated and non-educated population, through advancement of self-development initiatives that will benefit the larger interest of the society.
Aregbesola, who spoke at the commissioning of Ruth Aina Atayero Foundation Skills Acquisition And Vocational Training Centre, Oremeji Street, Ilesa, also called on governments at all levels to invest in the cultivation of the intellect of young people, as done between 2010 and 2018 in Osun, to stem the wide unemployment gap.
His words, “The challenge of development we have therefore is that we are not developing humans. When human experience self-development, then they will be in the best position to develop the society and their environment.
“Nigeria’s universities have an approved capacity of 3 million students, under-
graduate enrollment rarely exceeds 2 million. However, 1.8 million students take the JAMB matriculation examination annually with only about 600 being admitted. What happens to the rest? To be sure, even with all the applicants gaining admission into our tertiary institutions, our labour and employment system cannot accommodate the aspirations of our youth.
“Nigeria accounts for 15% of the world’s out-ofschool children, with 10.2 million at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary school level. More alarming is the fact that only 1 in 3 adolescents eligible for the senior secondary school are in school. Too many of our children are left behind, missing out on basic education and skills acquisition necessary for survival in today’s economy.
“In the next 30 years, 68% of global labour force will come from Africa. What are our choices? We must act now or be consumed by the consequences of our inaction. If we fail to invest in our youth, they risk being seen only as a source of cheap labour. We must
equip them with appropriate skills, knowledge and leadership abilities to shape the future. We must move from being the global source of manual labour force to becoming its knowledge force. This centre is a step in that direction.
“When we were at the helms in this state, we did massive infrastructure development, which we considered to be very necessary. We built the longest kilometres of roads across the state, we built bridges, and literally transformed this state from a rural decrepit agglomeration of ancient communities to modern beautiful places.
“But we were not under the illusion that it was enough. We considered human development to be more important. This is why we built the beautiful and solid schools that remain pristine till today. This is why we provided for security, healthcare, skill acquisition training at home and abroad and empowerment for all and sundry.
“Because we got a huge number of the youth in the state engaged, Osun had the lowest unemployment,
lowest poverty index and the lowest crime rates in the country. The most import need of person is food, clothing and shelter. But these are just for survival, to keep that person alive and protect their dignity, is called civilization.
“Nevertheless, the most important development need of man is education –for the cultivation of his intellect, for the awareness of self, nature and the environment and more important to enable him to work. The capacity of the human to conceive of how to create value by applying his intellect and physical attributes to the natural resources around him is the real development.
“This is the biggest challenge in our society and for which it doesn’t appear we are making much progress. Poverty and unemployment exist because we have not gone past this threshold. The threshold of transforming abstract knowledge to technology, creativity and innovation. The moment a society crosses this threshold, it become prosperous and affluent,” Aregbesola stressed further.
•Mrs. Olorunfemi Olubukola, Director of the RCSI unit of National Orientation Agency (NOA), and others at
Yusuf Oketola
Anger, Frustration As Petrol Sells Above N1,100 In Osun
TSodiq Yusuf
HERE is anger and frustration among Nigerians over the latest increment in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, by the federal government.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail stations on Wednesday raised the price of petrol to N1,030 from N897/litre in Abuja, and in Lagos, it was hiked to N998/litre from N868/litre. Other locations witnessed similar price hikes, a development that triggered anger among residents of the country including Osun State.
In Osogbo the state capital, the product is sold between N1,064 to N1,200 as at the time of filing this report yesterday, causing an immediate hike in the price of transportation, food and other essential commodities, while in other parts of the state
OSUN DEFENDER also noticed resurgence of fuel queues, especially at retail outlets belonging to major marketers, across the state.
Findings by the medium further revealed the petrol price hike has conditioned commercial transporters to hike
•Motorists on queue at NNPC Filling Station, Osogbo, yesterday
fares. At the Aregbe park yesterday, Osogbo to Ibadan is now N4,000 from N3,500 it went for on Tuesday. Commuters also travelling from Osogbo to Ondo and Ore, Osogbo to Lagos, will now pay between N6,000 and N7,000, among others.
The situation is also reflecting in the price of food items and essential needs, which is always the trend whenever there is a rise in the price of PMS.
Entertainment
A civil servant, Mr. Alade Busayo who spoke to OSUN DEFENDER at Al-Fajr filling station, OgoOluwa, Osogbo, yesterday, carpeted the federal government over what he
described as a deliberate attempt to make life unbearable for the people. Busayo who said he had dropped his vehicle at home for the last six months, said he had to
get fuel for his generator because of his wife who put to bed on Monday. He said, “I have a car. But I have not been able to use it for over six months. It is at home. I
100m FG Drainage Project Stalls In Ikire
TOsun Afrobeats Sensation, Kazyroll Returns With ‘Come-Back’
Favour Fadairo, Anjolaoluwa Subuloye
MORE than 10 years after his rise to stardom, Osun-born Afrobeats sensation, Kazeem “Kazyroll” Olatunji is set to return to the centre stage with a new single ‘Come Back.’
The new track is his sixth studio track after ‘As you see me so’ released in 2014, ‘Hello Nigeria’ in 2017, ‘True love’ dropped in 2018, ‘Agba G’ - 2022 and ‘Billz’ – 2023.
Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, Olatunji hinted that the yet to be released track was inspired by friends and family.
He added that his decision to return in full swing to the music industry after a break is borne out of the passion to excel as well as support from his fans over the years.
His words, “The inspiration behind the song, “Come Back” came after a lot of break from the music industry and as a result of encouragement from friends, family, fans and loved ones.
“I believe my come back will mark the beginning of a new chapter in my music journey. This song, ‘Come Back,’ represents resilience, growth, and the power of support.
“It’s a testament to the love I’ve received and the passion that has always driven me. I’m excited to share my evolution as an artist with my fans and deliver something fresh, powerful, and true to my core. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience what’s next,” Kazyroll explained.
OSUN DEFENDER recalls that the song “AREGBESOLA THE CHAMPION” released in 2014 made Kazyroll burst into limelight as many people wondered how a 15-year-old as at then can compose such a song that made one of the hit tracks played at every rally during the second term campaign of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as Governor of Osun State.
•The state of the drainage, yesterday
Osun State University Road, Ikire, has stalled over insufficient fund.
The project, according to findings by OSUN DEFENDER was facilitated by the senator representing Osun West, Lere Oyewumi. A sum of N100 million was allocated for the project by President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government in the approved 2024 Budget.
It was gathered that the culvert was put in place after the July 22, 2023 flood that ravaged over 100 residents, shops, hostels, destroyed farmlands and killed livestock among others.
But OSUN DEFENDER visited the site of the project on Wednesday and observed that work has stopped without comple-
tion of the project.
Speaking with the medium yesterday, Spokesperson to Senator Oyewumi, Oluwatimileyin Popoola, said the fund approved for the project is not enough for its completion.
He stressed that the job currently done on the site is based on the resources available, saying additional fund will be included for the drainage construction in the supplementary budget.
“The money budgeted for the project at the first instance was not enough. The fund only covered where the project stopped for now. But additional fund will be earmarked for its completion in the supplementary budget,” Oluwatimileyin asserted.
earn less than N80,000 and my wife is a private school teacher whose salary is not up to N40,000. So, I cannot use 80% of my salary to fill my tank.
“I had to come here today to get fuel because I cannot afford the Band A Electricity bill which has consumed over N20,000 already this month. I have to switch off most appliances, so as not to pay more. That is why I augment with fuel in the night.
“My wife gave birth three days ago and she has to keep warm due to the cold weather. That is why we need fuel because we cannot afford to buy electricity for another N40,000 this month if we want to feed. Life is just too tough for us. The government should help us.”
Also, a businesswoman, Mrs Deborah Omolayo alluded to Mr. Alade’s position.
Omolayo, who runs a frozen food told OSUN DEFENDER that the hike in transportation fares has led to an adjustment in the price of her goods. She explained that, “I used to get some of my goods at an affordable rate. In the last one year, it has been hell for some of us with two or three businesses. Apart from the huge transportation costs, we have also had to battle with the hike in electricity tariff, commodity hike and all.
“I went to the market today and what happened was just alarming. I bought a keg of groundnut oil for N25,000 last week for my fried potatoes business. Today (Wednesday), I bought it for over N29,000. I don’t know what would happen next week. It is a hard time for us as a country. The government really needs to come to the aid of the masses,” Omolayo emphasised.
A commercial motorcyclist, Dare Ejidiran wants the resignation of the management of NNPCL if they cannot address the situation headon.
Ejidiran also called on President Bola Tinubu to expose all the gladiators in the oil sector who are contributing to the daily hardship experienced by Nigerians.
He sought the recalibration of the industry, so as to pave way for more indigenous operators in the downstream sector, especially refining to address the gaps highlighted over the years.
Yusuf Oketola
HE ongoing construction of erosion control and drainage culvert at Naira and Kobo junction,
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2024 - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024
6 Religion
ALL praise is due to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon the final Messenger, His pure family, noble companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
Shirk (“making a partner [of someone]), in Islam, is idolatry, polytheism, and the association of Allaah with other deities.
JUMAT SERMON JUMAT SERMON
Imaam
By Imaam Muhammad Abdulalimi
It is essential to mention here some details of the greatest sin which will not be forgiven by Allaah Almighty. This unpardonable sin is Shirk.
Shirk implies ascribing partners to Allaah, ascribing divine attributes to others besides Allaah Almighty and believing that the source of power, harm and blessings comes from others besides Allaah.
Islamic scripture stresses in many verses that Allaah Almighty does not share his powers with any partner.
Qur’an 4:48 says: “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.”
Allaah also says in Qur’an 23: 101-108: “And then no sooner the Trumpet is blown than there will remain no kinship among them that Day, nor will they ask one another. It will be an Hour when those whose scales are heavy, they alone will attain success; and those whose scales are light, those will be the ones who will have courted loss. They will abide in Hell. The Fire shall scorch their faces, exposing their jaws. “Are you not those to whom My revelations were recited, and you dubbed them as lies?” They will say: “Our Lord! Our misfortune prevailed over us. We were indeed an erring people. Our Lord! Take us out of this. Then if we revert (to evil-doing) we shall indeed be wrongdoers.” Allah will say: “Away from Me; stay where you are and do not address Me.
Verse 117 of Qur’an 23 reads: “And whoever invokes besides Allah another deity for which he has no proof – then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed,
Muhammad Abdulalimi News
Shirk
“The Qur’an warns those who believe their idols will intercede for them that they, together with the idols, will become fuel for hellfire on the Day of Judgment (21:98). “Indeed, you (disbelievers) and what you worship other than Allah are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to (enter) it”
the disbelievers will not succeed.”
Other verses for this sermon include Qur’an 23 verse 117 and 18 verse 102-110.
The Qur’an warns those who believe their idols will intercede for them that they, together with the idols, will become fuel for hellfire on the Day of Judgment (21:98). “Indeed, you (disbelievers) and what you worship other than Allah are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to (enter) it.”
The great majority of mushrikuun (polytheists) in the Prophet’s time were those who had never become Muslims; thus, the words of the Qur’an were addressed not to Muslims with the intention of keeping them firm in their faith but rather to non-Muslim Arabs. In fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), shirk became legally equivalent to kufr (unbelief). Those Muslims who profess it are considered outlaws who should be ousted from the Muslim community; all their legal rights are suspended until they denounce their polytheistic beliefs.
Shirk, however, received considerable extension of meaning throughout the dogmatic development of Islam. It did not remain simply a term for the idolatry prevailing outside Islam but came to be used as the opposite of Tawheed (the oneness of Allaah Almighty) and became synonymous with any belief or practice rejected by a particular sect.
Different grades of shirk have been distinguished, apart from pure and blatant polytheism. There is shirk al-ʿAadah (“shirk of custom”), which includes all superstitions, such as the belief in omens and the seeking of help from soothsayers.
Shirk al-ʿibaadah (“shirk of worship”) is manifested in the belief in the powers of created things—e.g., the reverencing of saints, kissing holy stones, and praying at the grave of a holy man.
There is shirk al-ʿilm (“shirk of knowledge”)—e.g., to credit anyone, such as astrologers or interpreters of dreams, with knowledge of the future.
All these types of shirk, among them are shirk Sagheer (“minor shirk”) and shirk Kabeer (“major Shirk).
May Allaah Almighty make this sermon a beneficial one for me, the writer, the readers, and the entire Muslims. And our last prayer, is praise be to Allaah Almighty, Lord of the worlds
•Sheik Muhammad Abdulalimi, is the Mudiru Ad-Da’wah WalIrshad, Obaagun, Osun State.
Despite Commissioning, Adeleke Abandons Project Named After Brother
•Continued from front page
pioneer occupant of the democratic leadership. I seek a point where our young ones can access details of who has governed Osun state and years of their service to the state.
“We also have a park at the circle where our people can hold meetings and relax while in the capital for one task or the other. I am preserving the good work of
our leaders. My sacred responsibility is to build on the records and experiences of former leaders to further develop our state.
“While my brother was the first executive Governor of the state, it has pleased God to make me the sixth state Governor. With that heavy burden of leadership, I am pushed to work harder and sustain my brother’s legacy of good
governance and human development.
“I must perform and I am performing. I must deliver and I’m delivering. The best way to uphold the legacy of former Governors and especially my late brother, is to deliver on good governance”, the Governor affirmed.
The commissioning of the project at the time without completion was, however, met with various criticism from the civil society organisations and the opposition
The Convener of the Centre for Responsive Governance, Comrade Ayo Ologun, said: “When the project was commissioned on the birthday of his elder brother so the project was not completed. What is the hurry about?
“He chose to commission an uncompleted project to honour the posthumous birthday of his brother. There is no urgency in commissioning the project that day.
It is not right, the enterprise of governance in Osun is not family affairs.”
OsunOpenLG: NGO Engages Grassroots, Community Stakeholders
Sodiq Yusuf
AS part of efforts to engender transparency and accountability at the local government level, advocates of the Osun Open Local Government project have visited grassroots and community leaders across Osun State.
The advocacy, which began early September has traversed through Osogbo, Boripe, Ejigbo, Egbedore, Ife North and Ife East council areas, is to reawaken the consciousness of the people on how to demand governance from represent-
atives elected by them at the local level.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the OsunOpenLG, a project of the Inisght Initiative for Community and Social Development, began in December 2023, with a view to bridging the information gap on why government must continue to work for those who put them in power.
Some of the stakeholders reached include the Director of Finance, Ife North local government, Ipetumodu, Ologuro of Oguro, Oba Tajudden Oladepo Ooyebami, Apake III, traders
at Okirika, Freedom Park and Orisumbare markets in Osogbo, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Tailors, Osun State, Mr. Mustapha, representatives of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Ejigbo chapter as well as Modakeke Youths.
A statement issued by the Executive Director, Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development, Jare Tiamiyu and Communications Officer, Sodiq Yusuf, stated that some of the issues highlighted during the grassroots arm of the stakeholders’ en-
gagement include poor infrastructure, general discontent due to the perceived lack of impact by local governments, minimal government presence and the fear of safety in revealing their identities while voicing grievances.
The community leaders and government representatives recommended stronger efforts toward making local government operations more open and transparent, setup of town hall meetings between residents and local government officials to foster dialogue and address
concerns as well as collaboration with organisations like the Council of Obas to create more awareness initiatives around local government transparency.
They also suggested that authorities at the third-tier of government design community outreach programmes to educate residents on civic responsibility and the importance of local governance, development of an e-platform for complaints and increase in public awareness of the role of local governments and the benefits of active civic engagement.
Similarly, the All Progressive Congress(APC) through its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal said; “We are not surprised that he commissioned an uncompleted project, the administration is built on lies and deceit. It only appears to those outside the state that he is doing something spectacular.”
More than eight months after, OSUN DEFENDER visited the site of the project yesterday and observed that the park has not come to life as weeds have taken over the place.
Adeleke also during the commissioning did not mention the duration for the project execution during the commissioning and amount earmarked for its construction.
All Progressives Congress (APC).
•Gov. Adeleke •Late Isiaka Adeleke
Community Groans As Osun Govt, Segilola Flex Muscles Over Gold Mine
Yusuf Oketola
RESIDENTS of Iperindo, Atakumosa East local government area of Osun State, host of Segilola Resources Operating Limited (SROL) have continued to lament the excruciating effect of mining activities in the area.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the residents who are predominantly farmers are groaning under environmental degradation occasioned by mining activities in the community.
A resident of the community, Mr. Segun Alabi, while speaking to newsmen expressed concern over the rate of environmental degradation in the area, adding that their farmlands have been turned to mining sites thereby making economic survival difficult.
Alabi stressed the need for the community to feel the positive impact of the huge amount generated from their community in terms of infrastructure and social amenities.
He opined that the road link to Iperindo is deplorable, saying the bulk of money realised by government on resources God endowed them with
Will Remain Sealed Till Company Fulfils Obligation - Adeleke
•Osun NUJ Chairman, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu with the newly posted Osun FRSC commander
during his visit to the NUJ Press Centre, yesterday
is being diverted to development of urban centres.
“The effect of the mining activities in this community is worrisome. As the host community, we ought to be benefitting from the proceeds of mining but reverse is the case.
“We are farmers and we can no longer go to our farms. Our lands have been turned to mining sites. We do not have clean water to drink. We go far distance to access potable water. We ought to be benefitting from the
huge amount of money realised by the government.
“Instead of both federal and state governments to look after our wellbeing, they are busy fighting themselves over the control of the mining sector.”
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Osun State Government had in January this year announced that SROL has agreed to reconstruct the dilapidated Iperindo - Ilesa road.
A statement by the spokesperson to Gover-
nor Ademola Adeleke, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, indicated that the road reconstruction was part of an agreement reached between the government and the firm at a business meeting.
The statement reads partly, “In a business meeting with the Managing Director, Segun Lawson and his team on Monday, Governor Adeleke disclosed details of the agreement reached with the Segilola Resources Operating Limited, announcing Hon Kazeem
Adeyemi
Akinleye, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, as the representative of Osun state on the board of Segilola firm.
“The firm has agreed to reconstruct the Iperindo - Ilesa road and expand scholarship to youth within its operating communities.”
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, earlier in the week inaugurated a fact-finding team in the heat of the face-off between Osun State Government and Segilola Resources Oper-
ating Limited (SROL).
Segilola Will Remain Sealed Till Company Fulfils Obligation - Adeleke
At a meeting between both parties and the federal government team in Osogbo on Wednesday, Governor Adeleke reaffirmed that the company will remain sealed until it fulfils its lawful obligations on shareholding, tax evasion and environmental degradation.
Adeleke, represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi explained that the claims of the state government against the mining company do not in any way constitute an infringement on its rights, as he noted that the government is not asking for royalty taxes but what is fundamentally due to the state as stipulated by the laws.
Earlier in his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Solid Minerals and Mining, Professor Lukman Jimoda, revealed that the company has always reneged on its promises to remit its Pay As You Earn taxes (PAYE) on its staff for the past 18 months, as it prefers to run to Abuja whenever the call arises.
•Residents Seek Tinubu, Adeleke’s Swift Intervention
Fresh Communal Clash Brews Between Ife, Modakeke
TKazeem Badmus that he had reported the development to the traditional Chief of Staff to Ooni of Ife, Chief Oyeyemi Oriowo, and the police to de-escalate the tension.
HE Modakeke community in Osun State has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene, and stop frequent attacks on the town by suspected hoodlums.
The President of the Modakeke Progressive Union, a flagship group for indigenes of the town, Prof. Peter Olawuni, made the appeal in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER
He said the intervention of the federal and state governments becomes necessary to deescalate tension after a signpost welcoming visitors to the town, around Urban Day Area, was pulled down by suspected hoodlums.
Olawuni said the latest incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, October 1, 2024, where a group of about 17 suspected hoodlums, coming from Mayfair Area of Ile-Ife, pulled down the signpost, erected at the entrance to Modakeke Community.
He described the action of the perpetrators as provocative, adding
Olawuni said, “I called the DPO and he said he has informed the Area Commander. I came here to inspect what happened and I called the Area Commander too. We were told to handle the whole situation with intelligence and moderation; that was why we called a meeting at the palace yesterday.
“The demand of Modakeke community is to let peace reign in the community. I think it is becoming too much on us and we have experienced so many
incidences in Modakeke.
“We have visited Governor Adeleke two times over the issue of security in both Ife and Modakeke. There was even a time we visited the deputy governor in his office and we declared that what they are doing here is provocative. The community is seeking immediate intervention of Governor Adeleke and President Tinubu.”
Speaking on the development, the Secretary of the Ife Development Board, Mr. Lawrence Omidiora, stressed that dialogue remained the only option to manage the situation.
Omidiora, who said violence should be
•Continued from page 2
“I cannot thank enough our traditional rulers, youth organisations, marketmen and women, community leaders and associations as well as other groups who have continued to express confidence in Omoluabi Progressives. This is the home of genuine progres-
sives and we are ready to have you on board.”
Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders, Trade Associations among others lauded the efforts of the State Coordinating Team of the caucus to facilitating the membership of grassroots politicians to the fold. They all pledged their
avoided at all costs, insisted that it would be inappropriate to immediately conclude that the perpetrators of the act were from Ile-Ife.
He said: “I think if the incident should be true, I want to believe that some people are looking for a fight between the two
communities. It would be very wrong for anyone to assume that the people who did it were from Ife. If someone harbours that kind of thought, it is because of the acrimony that existed in the past and perhaps suspicion.
Prof. Jimoda also frowned at the failure of the company to pay any dividend on the over N5.1 million shares the state government has with it.
He therefore urged the fact-finding team to wade in by ensuring that the 3.2 billion naira withholding taxes together with the accumulated unpaid dividends owed by the company are remitted into the coffers of the State Government as quickly as possible.
loyalty and solidarity to ensure that Omoluabi produces the government of Osun in 2026.
Highlights of the second phase of the tour was the empowerment of 20 widows in Ife Central local government, with a promise to do more in the coming months.
“The truth of the matter is that we need to look for means to resolve the issue because fight will not cause any positive development in both communities. The situation will take care of itself if we allow development to take place.
“We will sit down together to sort our differences in that regard because there are routes belonging to both communities. We are looking at how to ensure that there is peace all the time,” Omidiora stated.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Ogboni of Ipole, Oba Oyebade Oyele who doubles as the Chairman, Ijesa South Council of Obas, where Segilola Mining Company operates, said that no state in the country can tolerate what the company has been doing in Osun State for the past seven years.
Responding, the leader of the delegation from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Imam Ganiyu, appreciated the stance of the state government on the raised issues. He maintained that it is incumbent on the company to fulfil all its obligations to the state.
He then assured that the issues will be resolved amicably without any further delay.
Mr.
Shokunbi,
Abrief history of Nigeria will x-ray how Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has outlived its usefulness and for it to be dismantled or its roles and responsibilities reviewed in the face of present reality. Nigeria is the largest crude oil producer in Africa and the 6th largest producer in the world. It has different names for its crude oil such as Qua Ibo, Escravos blend, Brass River, Forcados and Pennington Anfan but its oil is classified ‘Bonny light,’ also known as ‘light’ and ‘sweet’ because it is largely free of sulphur and among OPEC members, it is the largest producer of this special oil mostly found and produced in the Niger Delta – South-South region of Nigeria - inhabited by Ijaw, Itsekiri and Ogoni who were naturally major producers and exporters of fish, and renowned for trading and shipping centre before the discovery of commercially viable oil by Shell in 1956 at Oloibiri in today’s Bayelsa State with the profit sharing of 50/50 between the government and Shell before 1960s when Texaco, Gulf and Mobil purchased concessions.
After the official independence in 1960 and becoming a Republic in 1963 via autochthonous constitution, there was a military coup d’état against the civilian government on January 15, 1966 wherein General Aguiyi-Ironsi was made the Head of the Federal Military Government, serving 6 months before being overthrown and assassinated in a counter-coup. Ironsi was succeeded by Major General Yakubu Gowon who established Supreme Military Council in same 1966. But there were some brouhaha that the counter coup which began as a mutiny from the mid-night of 28 July to 1 August, 1966 was planned and orchestrated by northern soldiers to checkmate Ironsi ethnic favouritism towards Igbos which resulted into secessionist agitation under the leadership of Igbo military governor headed by Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. The meeting to resolve this impending crisis was held in Aburi, Ghana between 4th – 5th January, 1967 where Gowon, Ojukwu and members of Supreme Military Council agreed to Nigeria becoming a confederation of regions. Different meanings and interpretations of the summit known as Aburi Accord led to Ojuwku declaring Biafra independence and plunged us into unnecessary civil war that lasted till 1970 with estimated loss of 2 million lives.
By 1971, the victorious Nigerian federal government, under Yakubu Gowon, nationalised the oil industry by creating Nigerian National Oil Company (NNOC) by decree to consolidate its dominance in the oil sector as it was also planning to join organisation
“NNPCL is cruel to Nigerians; it has outlived its usefulness and the new abnormal role of being Dangote refinery sole agent of buying and distributing fuel is unacceptable. The National Assembly must intervene by reviewing NNPCL roles, with a view to outrightly disbanding and replacing it or significantly restructuring it to be of profitable and beneficial service to Nigeria. Enough is enough!”
NNPCL Has Outlived Its Usefulness
of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) at that period. With his successive successors – Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo – at oil boom era, corruption started creeping into the ruling elite, rewarding their political supporters based on tribal, religion and selfish calculation for oil contracts, field allocations and concessions amongst other oil businesses. By 1979, NNOC was merged with the Ministry of Petroleum that transformed into Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with much more power than the combined NNOC and the Ministry of Petroleum. And since then, it has been solely responsible for harnessing Nigeria oil and Gas Reserves; it’s been in charge of exploration, production, refining, marketing and retailing petroleum products. At this period, Nigerian refineries supplied all domestic fuel requirements while excess was sold to neighbouring countries.
However, NNPC which was transformed from a corporate into limited liability company in 2022 as NNPC Limited, the only entity licensed to operate Nigeria petroleum industry, has been characterised with inefficiency, waste and mega corruption. Under NNPCL watch, Nigeria’s four refineries
– two in Port Harcourt, one each in Kaduna and Warri – have been dysfunctional and unable to produce optimally for over two decades but were officially shut down in 2019 for underperforming notwithstanding $25 billion spent to fix them for decades, making Nigeria a net importer of refined petroleum for decades despite being a major crude oil producer. Meanwhile, a private refinery – Dangote Refinery – with 650,000pbd capacity was built with $20billion.
Under fuel import regime, successive governments claimed to be subsidising imported fuel so as to make it affordable for the people as any increase in the price of fuel would ignite increase in the prices of goods and services, especially foods commodity and consumables. Anytime this socalled subsidy was removed in bit, which meant increase in price of fuel, it would ignite increase in prices of goods and services, especially food commodities and cost of transportation, making life more miserable for the average citizen. At every occasion this occurred, the governments had always claimed that subsidy removed would be used to develop strategic infrastructural
deficit like roads, hospitals, education, etc. Today, that claim and story cannot be accepted even by the marines as all these infrastructures have decayed. Accruals from subsidy withdrawal have continued to find their ways into the private pockets and bank accounts of the successive ruling elite and their cronies. Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is overwhelmed with thousands of cases of theft of our collective wealth by this gang of thieving ruling elite. How many thousand names and cases shall one catalogue?
As I write, NNPCL has stopped importation because Dangote refinery has begun refining fuel in Nigeria. That automatically stops the so-called subsidy. But interestingly, NNPCL has assumed the role of sole buyer of Dangote fuel and fixing the price which is more expensive than the imported fuel. The highest official price of imported fuel per litre a day before Dangote rolled out was N820 after the freight and all landing cost. It has now reportedly fixed the price of Dangote petrol to between N950 per litre in Lagos to N1,050 in most Northern Nigeria, banning independent markers from direct access to load from the Dangote refinery after every effort to frustrate the refinery accessing crude oil for production.
Oil which is supposed to be an advantage and blessing to Nigerian people has become a curse in the hands NNPCL under the watch of successive ruling elite that have continued to hurt Nigerian people and pulling millions into abject poverty. NNPCL is cruel to Nigerians; it has outlived its usefulness and the new abnormal role of being Dangote refinery sole agent of buying and distributing fuel is unacceptable. The National Assembly must intervene by reviewing NNPCL roles, with a view to outrightly disbanding and replacing it or significantly restructuring it to be of profitable and beneficial service to Nigeria. Enough is enough!
Searching For What Is Not Lost
ONE of the popular phrases in Nigeria’s political diction is “lack of political will.” In actual fact, it is a decent way to say “lack of interest.” Yoruba have a saying for an absentminded or confused persons searching for what is not lost: “ohunti a n wa lo Sokoto wa lapo sokoto,” literally translating to “what we set out to find at Sokoto town (a faraway place) is right inside our pocket.”
But for clear lack of interest, which has occasioned untold trials, tribulations and misery to Nigeria and Nigerians, how could successive generations of elites in government, with very few exemplary exceptions, make believe not to discern how to organise its citizens to feed, clothe, educate, and house themselves, in an atmosphere of equality and justice, which is the panacea for peace, security and prosperity?
There is no society and no day upon earth when all fingers will be equal: there will always be the rich and well-to-do as well as those struggling to make ends meet whatever the enabling environment guaranteed by any government but in a country fully wrapped in green (as doubly depicted in our flag), with permanent “summer” and overabundance of natural resources, something is deviously wrong with elite mentality because they can very well enjoy their many privileges in peace by simply putting in the average work in managing the human
and material resources available to an overblessed nation!
Today, we still keep searching for what is not lost, as we had done from Independence on October 1, 1960. The land is there, flowing with milk and honey; the populace is there, vibrant, energetic and sharp-minded to the point of equally constituting genius and nuisance worldwide. So what should be done? Simply organize them for productive engagement. In so doing, it is clear to all well-intentioned human beings who aspire to lead people that the first port of call is education. Education is not classroom rote learning for certificate to which it has been reduced. It is impacting knowledge and skills in citizens, so they can be useful (productive) to themselves and society. The production of every kind of goods and services needs standard training - from the most menial service to astronomy and heart surgery; from making brooms and toothpicks to industrial robots. Society simply needs, through careful guidance of its committed and patriotic leaders, to create the enabling environment, from priority to priority, for productivity training (education) and engagement of majority of its citizens. It is no rocket science.
When properly done, Information and Communication Technology, agriculture and agro-allied industry alone can sufficiently engage the majority and guarantee healthy
living enough to drastically bring down the budget for security, defence and healthcare! Not only will crime rate reduce drastically, conflict along religious, ethnic and political divides will reduce to barest minimum with correct education, particularly civic and cultural education, which should be compulsory for all at basic level.
The Republic, Democracy, Federalism, all come under sustained threat no thanks to negative and seemingly apathetic elite mentality that could not manage booming oil money for the common good, oil money that then became the priced-hunt for the military brass, whose devastating interventions and long rule complicated and aggravated a bad system of managing humans and material resources. The value of that oil and the potential “free” money it brings is going down gradually and will inevitably be gone! When the elite realise that there is a natural resource that is thousand times more valuable than oil - human beings - which every Nigerian region has in abundance, perhaps they will positively change their mentality, realising that if they manage that resource well, there will be enough for every citizen, and much more for them to enjoy in peace.
In just a decade from now, a half dozen Nigerians can create wealth in excess of our oil money proceeds for the last fifty years; ask Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffet and co.
O SUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State. All correspondence to the Acting Deputy Editor, SODIQ YUSUF, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefenderhq@gmail.com
STRIKER Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above