Osun Defender Online Version of April 15, 2022

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 - THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022

My Life Is Under Threat, Journalist Cries Out

VOL 17 NO 15

Significance Of Good Friday P. 5

2,313 Concerned People Sign Petition To Save Osun River

By Most Rev. John Akin Oyejola, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Osogbo

P. 6

P. 5

Fear Grips APC Members In Atakunmosa As Gunmen Resume Killings PAGE 2

•Assailants Kill Party Chairman After Torching House

•Gbenga Ogbara

Osinbajo, A Modest, Cerebral, Decent Person – Akande Ismaeel Uthman

F

ORMER Interim Na onal Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Adebisi Akande, has showered encomium on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, describing him as one of the ‘brightest boys’ in Yorubaland.

Akande described Osinbajo as modest, cerebral, perspicacious, courageous and decent

in every sense.

The former governor of the State of Osun penned down his thoughts on Osinbajo on page 493 in his autobiography, My Par cipa ons.

He wrote: “Osinbajo is one of our brightest boys. He was a professor of Law at the University of Lagos and he served under Tinubu as A orneyGeneral and Commissioner •Continued on Page 7

INEC Disqualifies 88,630 Voters In Osun

Pg. 7

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 - THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022

2

News

Fear Grips APC Members In Atakunmosa As Gunmen Resume Killings Ismaeel Uthman

M

EMBERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Atakunmosa East Local Government of the State of Osun have called on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olawale Olokode, to forestall further killings by armed poli cal thugs in the area.

The APC members expressed fear on the killing of the party’s Chairman in Atakunmosa East Local Council Development Authority, Gbenga Ogbara, in the early hours of Monday by some assailants.

According to the APC members, the murder of Ogbara is a poli cal killing which is not alien to their poli cal environment.

Leading the APC members, a mid-aged man, Mr. Gbenga Afolabi, described Ogbara’s murder as a resump on of poli cal killing, traceable to a par cular leader of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) in the area.

Afolabi alleged that there is a killing squad of the PDP, led by one Solomon Adefioye, notoriously know as Solo Iwara, which is responsible for number of violent poli cal a acks and killings in the local government.

The police had on March 10, 2022 declared 33-year-old Adefioye wanted for alleged mur-

• A news paper vendor displaying a Ramadan gift from wife of the Minister of Interior, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola recently.

der, arson, ritual killing, armed robbery, rape and kidnapping.

Inves ga ons by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that some APC leaders in Atakunmosa, led by late Ogbara, had reported Adefioye’s gang to the police late 2021 for allegedly terrorising communi es in the area.

Findings revealed that some of the gang members were arrested and detained by the police.

According to sources, one of the detained suspects died in police custody.

It was gathered that Adefioye’s gang might

have marked all the APC leaders who reported them to the police for killing in retalia on of the death of one of them.

Sources told the medium that Ogbara was apparently the first target of the killing plot by the Adefioye’s gang.

Ogbara was shot dead by the assailants in his home in Igangan in the early hours of Monday.

His wife and son, Aregbesola who were with him in the house were also shot.

But the wife and son did not die and were receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed

hospital as at the me of filing this report.

Speaking on the hospital bed in a shot video obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, Aregbesola, the son of the deceased said the perpetrators of the act lured his father out of his house and shot him several mes.

He said: “We just returned from the shop but my dad was in the house. I saw some people who rode motorcycles past us. When we got to the house, someone knocked on the door and asked for my dad.

“He went to the door, opened it, and moved

towards the gate. The people wai ng for him outside brought out gun and before he could turn, they shot him repeatedly and he fell. The men con nued shoo ng and I was hit in the hand.”

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that Ogbara had earlier been a acked in 2019 during the general elec on. His house and vehicle were torched by the assailants.

Inves ga ons also revealed that there have been recurrent poli cal killings in Atakunmosa East Local Government.

It was gathered that

Osun/Ekiti 2022: Group Urges Residents To Shun Secession Agitators Yusuf Oketola

A

socio-political group, Yoruba Appraisal Forum (YAF) has urged residents of Osun and Eki states to shun the call of those agita ng for Yoruba Naon by coming out enmass during the June 18 and July 16 gubernatorial elec ons in the two states.

YAF, which embarked on sensi sa on and enlightenment campaigns in Ado-Eki , capital of Eki State and Osogbo, the capital of Osun, on Monday and Tuesday respec vely, urged the people on the need to maintain peace in the run-up to the governorship elec ons.

The group urged the people to reject anyone promo ng violence during the forthcoming governorship elec ons in the states.

The Na onal Coordinator of the group, Adeshina Animashaun, who led other members during the campaigns, appealed to the government, security agencies and other major stakeholders in the South-West to rise to the challenge of ensuring a peaceful, free and fair elec ons in Eki and Osun states.

Animashaun urged the electorate in Eki and Osun states to ignore agitators and all those threatening that there won’t be governorship elec ons as scheduled by the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) in the two states.

He described as “devilish” the alleged plans by some Yoruba secessionist groups to work for the break-up of Nigeria, warning that this could lead to a second civil war in the country.

The Coordinator also faulted calls by some Yoruba leaders for the dismemberment of Nigeria and secession of the South-West region from the rest of the country.

He called on the government, security agencies and other stakeholders to urgently move to thwart any plans by anyone or group of persons and their sponsors to cause chaos in the two states during the forthcoming governorship polls.

Animashaun restated that the aims and objec ves of those kicking against the conduct of the governorship polls in the two states were mainly to cause violence, chaos and to destroy Yorubaland.

He said: “Those people by their nefarious and unpatrio c ac vies are bent on bringing

hardship and disaster to the peace loving people of the South West.”

The YAF coordinator noted that the ul mate plan of those clamouring and campaigning against the governorship elecons in the two state was to execute their selfish and devilish secession agenda as well as the dismembering of Nigeria.

Animashaun, therefore, stressed that YAF would never support any person or groups promo ng violence and clamouring for the secession of Yorubaland from Nigeria.

He reminded those threatening to stop the forthcoming governorship elec ons in both Eki and Osun states that such violent act is criminal, treasonable and punishable under the law of the country.

Animashaun enjoined Nigerians to eschew all

divisive tendencies to preserve and con nue to build the country under a peaceful and progressive atmosphere.

“Peace and righteousness do a great deal of good to any group of people and na ons, and this we believe should con nue to bind the conscience of every Nigerian.

“We should, therefore, not give any room to unpatrio c men to destroy the good legacies and country bequeathed to us by Nigeria’s founding fathers.

We must strive to be among those superior characters to hold the balance of power to keep our great na on up to a high standard of civilisaon. Second-rate men and women must be effec vely checked and kept at bay to save our dear fatherland from collapse”, he added.

a member of the APC was killed on February 19, 2022 during the governorship primary of the party by the reported PDP killing squad in Odogbo.

The medium also learnt that three members of the party in Unit 5, Ward 10 of the local government were shot during the 2019 general elec on, a development that led to the cancellaon of result in the unit.

The shot APC members are: Raphael Orowusi, Ti layo Awoniyi and Azeez Oloyede.

Reac ng to the killing of Ogbara, Afolabi who led other APC members in a chat with OSUN DEFENDER on Monday, said the PDP has always been making move to hold the grip of the local government.

Afolabi stated that the Ogbara was killed to weaken the APC, calling on Governor Oyetola and the Commissioner of Police to come to the aide of the party members.

He said: “The death of our party chairman is from a par cular PDP leader in the local government. The people that came to kill the APC chairman are his boys, and this is not the first me they will be carrying out this kind of poli cal killings and a acks.

“The said PDP leader has always wanted his party to dominate the local government. He wants to con nue holding the grip of Atakunmosa for his party. That is why he has been killing and a acking our people.

Our members are constantly being a acked in Iwara by this PDP killing squad.

Before the last primary elec on, one of our leaders in Ajumobi, Ward 2, Atakunmosa East local government, Hon. Lukman Abubakar, was attacked. He was bea ng and his property were destroyed.

“The killing of our chairman, Ogbara is to weaken us. They want our people to be afraid of coming out to vote on elec on day.

“I am using this opportunity to call on Governor Oyetola and the Commissioner of Police to come to our rescue.

These people are deadly and ready to con nue killing us. If things connue like this, APC members will not come out to vote in July 16, 2022 governorship elec on.”

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 - THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022

3

Review & Outlook

BY BINZAK AZEEZ Pontius Pilate At A Time Like This

T

“People must return to principles, stop ignoring inconvenient facts, and go back to the notion of building and sharing community values on the basis of societal solidarity and the quest for social justice”

HE American pop ar ste, Andy Warhol, is o en quoted as sta ng that “everyone has a fi een minutes of fame”. In the case of Pon us Pilate, the fi h governor of the Roman province of Judea, it has being never ending centuries of infamy in the spotlight.

The notoriety of Pilate is associated with presiding over the trial of Jesus Christ and ordering his crucifixion. Although academic, jurispruden al as well theological discourses and disputa ons con nue on the interpreta on of the Roman Law of Condicions as applicable to the memories or faithful recollec on case of Jesus Christ, the overall of facts; it is all about self. In the verdict is that Pon us Pilate is ul mate immorality, the princithe ul mate bad man in the his- ple of collec ve responsibility is gleefully repudiated when it torical span.

In rightly condemning Pilate’s becomes convenient and poli miscarriage of jus ce, a lot of cal expedient to do so. Nigeria’s people do not first of all remove carpet crossing poli cal estabthe log in their own eyes. At lishment are clearly not in a posi on to the me cast any of the instone at famous Pontius trial, PiPilate late had and his a lot on unprinhis mind cipled, much of repreit far rehensible moved behavfrom a iour. turbulent It is Judea. another He was G o o d roughFriday • Scene of a miscarriage of justice. ly fi een and we months pray to see more.

We should from re rement to a comfortable villa in Rome, augmented also at a me of uncertaines and heightened anxie es with a superb pension. In addiacross a world full of strife, dison, Pilate who married late had cord and disharmony interpret a young wife and li le children into the events of Good Friday to think of and provide for. something deeper than just the Like much of today’s public vilifi ca on of Pon us Pilate. servants, he placed saving himPeople must return to princiself and protec ng his own privples, stop ignoring inconvenient ileges above principles, doing the morally correct thing and facts, and go back to the no on interpre ng the statutes impar- of building and sharing commually and with analy cal rigour. nity values on the basis of sociSadly, nothing has changed etal solidarity and the quest for over the centuries since the social jus ce.

We wish our esteemed readcrucifica on of Jesus Christ. Self ers, their families and loved serving bureaucrats and poli ones a blissful and fulfilling cal party apparatchiks have no Easter. me for principles, ins tu onal

Accessing The Trial Of Mubarak Bala “There is no difference between Prophet T.B Joshua of Lagos and Prophet Muhammad of Saudi Arabia, our own from Nigeria is even be er in that he was not a terrorist” - Mubarak Bala team of Kano based prac cing lawyers submi ed a pe on against Mubarak Bala to the Kano State Police Command in April 27, 2020. The pe oners alleged that the aforemenoned remark was posted on Mubarak Bala’s Facebook page on April 25, 2020. It was further emphasized in the pe on that since 2014, Bala had been deriving pleasure in blatant descrip on of Prophet Muhammad as rapist, pedophile, terrorist, amongst other vitupera ve appella ons.

Basically, the pe oners were discontented with the name-calling of their prophet and therefore approached the police authority whom they deemed fit have the cons tu onal powers to address their grievances. It is unjust and inappropriate to cas gate the aggrieved lawyers’ approach.

So far, the lawyers were within the ambit of the law in expressing their dissa sfac on.

They had taken a civilized and lawful step unlike the self-help approach resorted to by some suspected religious fana cs who murdered Gideon Akaluka in 1994 on the basis of blasphemy. It was alleged that Akaluka’s wife used some pages of the Quran as toilet paper for her baby. Akaluka was therea er lynched and beheaded and his severed head was reportedly paraded around the city of Kano. They didn’t also emulate the barbaric pathway of religious fundamentalists who murdered Mrs. Bridget Agbahime in cold blood in downtown Kano for alleged blasphemy.

Having received the pe on, the police swi ly apprehended Bala. The arrest was within the powers of inves ga on and arrest conferred on them by virtue of Sec on 31-32 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020. It was only that the police authority exercised this power beyond due process. Within 48 hours of Bala’s arrest, the police ought to have arraigned him if he had a case to answer. The law is clear on this posi on. Alterna vely, he could have been offered administra ve bail pending the determina on of police inves ga on. The offence allegedly commi ed by Bala is not a capital offence under Nigeria’s law. Therefore, he is en tled to administra ve bail.

Indeed, none of these available legal op ons was adopted by the police. The police authority rather decided to keep Bala in custody for almost two years. This level of high-handedness and law-

A

“While it is hopeful that the judgement passed on Mubarak Bala would be nullified by the Court of Appeal if the trial court’s verdict is challenged. Bala and his cohorts henceforth be mindful of making reckless and incendiary comments capable of jeopardising the fragile harmony amongst the people upholding different religious views in the country”

lessness couldn’t effec vely be checked by the court.

Some me 2020, the Federal High Court si ng in Abuja ordered the immediate release of Mubarak Bala but the ruling was not complied with. There is no provisions in Nigeria’s criminal law that empowered the police to act in this regard.

Nothing substan al was heard of Mubarak Bala’s whereabouts and condi on since his arrest. There were only specula ons and hearsay un l few days ago when he was arraigned before Jus ce Farouk Lawan of Kano State High Court on 18-count charges bordering on blasphemy, incitement, contempt of religion and breach of public peace. The prosecu on alleged that Bala has contravened the provision of Sec ons 114 and 210 of the Penal Code. The court therea er sentenced Bala to 24 years imprisonment.

Many interna onal organisa ons, local observers and human rights’ ac vists have condemned the judgement delivered on Mubarak Bala. But li le or no a en on is being paid to his alleged disparaging remarks on the personality of Prophet Muhammad.

Be it Mubarak Bala, his followers and sympathizers couldn’t have condoned been repeatedly and falsely referred to as rapists, pedophiles and terrorists. They would either raise eyebrows or avail themselves with legal ac on.

Admi edly, Mubarak Bala’s trial is full of procedural irregulari es and the prosecu on didn’t meet both local and interna onal fair trial standards. Bala had been illegally incarcerated for almost two years for an offense which penalty a racts two years jail term or fine under Sec on 210 of the Penal Code of Kano State. It remains a mystery and legal abracadabra how the trial court arrived at its decision and eventually sentenced Bala to 24 years imprisonment.

While it is hopeful that the judgement passed on Mubarak Bala would be nullified by the Court of Appeal if the trial Publisher – Moremi Publishing court’s verdict is challenged.

House Ltd. Bala and his cohorts henceforth Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman be mindful of making reckless (0805-121-2204) and incendiary comments caProduc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa pable of jeopardising the fragile Reporter – Yusuf Oketola harmony amongst the people Reporter – Kazeem Badmus upholding different religious views in the country. Nigeria Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto remains a secular state which Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere guarantees religious pluralism.

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing Mubarak Bala, like other NigeriHouse Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite ans, has the fundamental rights Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, to prac ce his beliefs. Any atState of Osun tempt to hide under diversity of ISSN : 0794-8050 religious views in promo ng reTelephone : 0805-121-2204 ligious war must be resisted for Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php collec ve survival. e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com •Binzak Azeez writes from osundefenderbank@gmail.com Newworth LLP (Legal PracAll correspondence to the above email addresses. titioners), Onikan, Lagos

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 - THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022

4

News

Osogbo Residents Groan Under Epileptic 15 Political Parties To Participate In July 16 Guber Election Power Supply, Estimated Billing Ismaeel Uthman

Kazeem Badmus

A

R

ESIDENTS of Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, have chided the Ibadan Electricity Distribu on Company (IBEDC), over what they described as epilep c power supply and outrageous bills given to them.

Some of the residents, who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, said it was disturbing that IBEDC could con nue to give them es mated bills in spite of the irregular power supply.

They complained that the irregular power supply has hindered economic ac vi es and social life in their various communies.

Mr. Olabode Ajao, a resident of Kobongbogboe area, said that electricity consumers in the community were being given es mated bills in spite of poor power supply.

Ajao said the power supply was at its lowest ebb with residents of the community, especially those without prepaid meters, paying higher for what they did not enjoy.

He stated: “The power supply is not regular again in our area. We hardly get three hours electricity during the day and at the end of the month, they will bring outrageous bills for us to pay”.

A welder at Ogunbelewo, Rasaq Olawale, lamented that he has been spending lots of money on fuel to power genera ng set to keep his work going, saying electricity supply in the area is nothing to write home about again.

Olawale said: “Ar sans in this community are suffering. The epilep c power supply has led to a decline in our ac vi es. A larger chunk of our profits goes into purchase of petrol, yet they are s ll bringing exorbitant electricity bill”.

Speaking with the medium, Mrs. Olabisi Kayode, a resident of Halleluyah Estate, was of the opinion that the IBEDC inten onally fails to provide enough prepaid meters to electricity consumers in order to keep extor ng them.

Kayode complained that electricity supply to Halleluyah area was very poor and in spite of that, the IBEDC has been coming with es mated bills.

She said had all electricity consumers have their own prepaid meter, there won’t be reason for outrageous bills as consumer will be able to pay for only what they use.

•Osogbo Power Transmission Company.

“What IBEDC is doing by not providing prepaid meters for all consumers is inten onal as the company is using the opportunity to extort the consumers”, she said.

Kayode call on the government to mandate electricity suppliers to provide prepaid meters to all consumers and stop charging outrageous bills.

When contacted, the Senior Communica on Officer of IBEDC, Osun

Region, Mrs. Kikelomo Owoeye, said the power outage being experienced in some communi es in the state was due to low power genera on and recent vandalisa on of the Transmission Company of Nigeria tower.

“We are closely monitoring the situa on with our partners in the electricity value chain and we will keep you updated”, she said.

Owoeye, however, said

electricity has been restored to Agunbelewo and Okinni, urging residents of any area with prolonged power outage to report to the IBEDC office near to them, saying it might be issues of local faults which could need quick intervenon of technical team.

She appealed to the IBEDC customers not to hesitate in calling or repor ng to the office for quick resolu on if there is any power fault.

Osun 2022: Group Seeks NOAs Support In Orientating PWDs Participation Kazeem Badmus

A

civil society group, the Inclusive Friends Associa on (IFA) has urged the Na onal Orienta on Agency (NOA), to prio se the inclusiveness of Persons with Disabili es in the electoral process, ahead of the July 16, gubernatorial elec on in the State of Osun.

The Execu ve Director of the group, Grace Jerry, made the appeal on Wednesday in Osogbo during an Advocacy visit to NOA state headquarters, Abere, state of Osun.

According to Jerry, there is need for NOA to encourage Persons with Disabili es on the need to go out and exercise their franchise without fear of being in midated or a acked.

She also urged the agency to in its messages, remind the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) on the need to make available, all necessary materials needed to aid PWDs during elec on.

She said: “As an agency tasked with communica ng government policy, staying abreast of public opinion,

and promo ng patrio sm, na onal unity, and the development of Nigerian society, we are here today to see how we can collaborate with the Na onal Orienta on Agency.

Osun elec on is in few weeks me and in the area of informa on, it is important that we begin to come up with targeted messages, targeting the community of people with disabili es.

“It is important that they come out and exercise their franchise. It is important that we all together, promote disability issues from the human right approach and no longer the maternity approach.

“So, together with the NOA, we want to seek collabora on on how we can come up with messages, jingles that will make persons with disability to come out en masse to get their voter card and also vote on the elec on day. We will also ask that in your messages, remind INEC not to forget its deployment plans as regard persons with disabili es. We wouldn’t mind even developing the messages of the jingles with you so that it is targeted towards the community.

“For those who may not be able to listen to the radio or have the luxury of watching the television, is it possible to adopt the ‘Town Crier’ method so that this informaon can get as far as the rural areas”.

In his response, the state Director of NOA, Abiodun Oluropo, assured the group of the agency’s support towards their request.

He said: “It is nice that we are having this interface because everything is geared towards having progress and advancement in the electoral process. I have received your message very well and we understand your needs, and I want to assure you that in the build-up to the forthcoming governorship elec on in the state, we will impress it upon INEC and other stakeholders of the need to carry PWD’s along. Most especially, the NYSC and the Security agencies.

“Concerning the produc on of jingle’s, as soon as we have the necessary logis cs in place, we will do our level best to help out as you have requested”. He concluded.

total of 15 poli cal par es have fielded candidates to par cipate in the July 16, 2022 governorship elecon in the State of Osun.

This is contained in the final list of candidates eligible to par cipate in the governorship elecon released by the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) will again test their electoral popularity in the elec on.

Also, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi will be contes ng the elec on on the pla orm of Accord Party, while Hon Lasun Yussuff is the flag bearer of Labour party.

INEC had rejected the nomina ons of three pares - Ac on Alliance (AA), African Democra c Congress (ADC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The commission cited failure of the par es to comply with the guidelines on poli cal party operaons (2018) or the cons tu on as reasons.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that AA did not submit a nomina on jointly signed by the Na onal

Chairman and Secretary of the party, while ADC and APGA nominated candidates that do not meet the age requirements for the office of deputy governor as enshrined in the cons tu on.

The INEC’s Na onal Commissioner and Chairman, Informa on and Voter Educa on Commi ee, Festus Okoye, in a statement, said the publica on of the final list was due to close of nomina ons by par es and in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.

He said, “The commission wishes to remind poli cal par es that under Sec on 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, any party that observes that the name of its candidate is missing from the list shall no fy the commission in wri ng, signed by its Naonal Chairman and Secretary, supported with an affidavit not later than 90 days to the elec on.

“Furthermore, the atten on of par es is drawn to Sec on 32(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides that failure to nofy the commission shall not be ground to invalidate the elec on.

“The final list is published in our state and local government offices in Osun State as well as our website and social media pla orms for public informa on as required by law.”

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 - THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022

5

News

2,313 Concerned People Sign Petition To Save Osun River Ismaeel Uthman

A

total of 2,313 people have signed an online pe on to the United Na ons Educa onal, Scien fic and Cultural Organisa on (UNESCO) to inves gate and remediate Osun River which has been polluted by mining ac vi es.

The pe on which was ini ated by a civil society group, Urban Alert, started on April 5, 2022 and is targeted at ge ng a minimum of 2500 signatories.

Tagged ‘#Save Osun River: Inves gate Osun River’s Contamina on and Colour Change’, the pe on has been getng a en on of environmental ac vists, lovers of nature and other concerned people.

The introductory part of the pe on reads: “Some mes in 2018, water in the Osun River began to wear a scary brown colour. Inially, residents thought the change is as a result of flooding which will only be a temporary issue, but Osun River has changed from its

precious colourless appearance to brown ll date.

“This change in colour which implies that the river has been contaminated has exposed communi es that rely on the river as their source of water and aqua c lives to poisonous materials.

“Physical assessment and scien fic studies have revealed that the Osun River colour change is as a result of illegal and unregulated gold mining ac vi es in some parts of Osun State, Nigeria. Laboratory tests have further confirmed that the 213km Osun River has been heavily contaminated with mercury, lead and cyanide as a result of the ac vi es of the gold miners.

“Over 2million people living in 20 communi es in Osun State, 5,000 tradi onalists, and over 5 million tourists are currently exposed to heavy metals that are capable of causing brain and kidney damage, tremor, impaired vision, paralysis, and cancer.

“The vulnerable

white-throated monkeys and sitatunga antelopes drinking from the Osun River are also facing exnc on.

“Ending the menace of illegal and unregulated gold mining acvi es and its impacts on the lives of the people, water bodies, the environment, and the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove (UNESCO World Heritage Site) demands a sincere approach by the government and all stakeholders.

“There is an urgent need for an independent assessment of the current situa on, remediaon, and enforcement of laws that protect the environment, mining communi es, and water bodies.”

Osun river.

My Life Is Under Threat, Journalist Cries Out Kazeem Badmus

T

HE Editor of an online news pla orm, EyewitnessMedia, Adewale Adetoyese, has cried out to security agencies for protec on over recent threats to his life.

Adetoyese made the call on Monday in Ile-Ife, state of Osun, lamen ng that he has been receiving strange telephone calls from unknown persons threatening to deal with him if he dares con nue with an inves gave report he was working on.

According to him, the inves ga on report is based on some persons recrui ng young girls between ages 14-18 to Osun from the middle belt and Southeastern part of the country for pros tu on among other unlawful dealings.

He said ever since he

Potholes, Craters Take Over Osogbo Roads Kazeem Badmus

M

AJORITY of networking roads in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, are now filled with potholes, findings have revealed.

Some of the potholes have metamorphosed into craters with motorists having to find ways round it to avoid damaging their vehicles.

OSUN DEFENDER noted the potholes and craters at Zarah spot and 7up turning of Ogo-Oluwa road, Ojurin at Old Garage, Capital, Gazal Hotel, Riverside, Osogbo Grammar School and Ofatedo junc on spots of Dele Yes Sir-Oke-Fia road.

Also, there are notable

•Capital

potholes on Agunbelewo, Tes ng Ground, Kola Balogun, GRA, Oke-Onitea, Prime, Ofatedo, Oja-ObaOke Baale, among other networking roads in Osogbo.

It was noted that some idle youths have taken the advantage of the poor condi ons of the roads to be begging for money from motorists on guise of filling the potholes.

The medium observed that two men are always at the Osogbo Grammar School spot and Gazal Hotel junc on of the Estate road at different mes, displaying shovel and bucket to show that they are filling potholes.

The crates, it was ob-

served, are as a result of minor potholes which were not mely fixed by the government.

Some residents and motorists in the state capital have frowned at the level of potholes on the major roads, calling on the state government to urgently repair them.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, a commuter, Abayomi Olayiwola, said he stopped plying Kola-Balogun/Tes ng Ground road due to the level of potholes.

Olayiwola maintained that plying the road will amount to waste of me, resources and some mes, led to damage of vehicle.

He said: “I stopped taking my vehicle to KolaBalogun area due to the bad road.

The road, if not pa ently plied, will result to damage of vehicle and I can’t be was ng my li le profit on repairing.

“The road has been like that for ages with government not

•Adetoyese

•Ogo-Oluwa

showing concern to the plight of those using it. It is very unfortunate that we have a road as bad as this in the state capital.”

A resident of Capital area, Benedict Olasupo, decried the level of potholes in the area, calling on the state government to do spot patching if it could not afford rehabilita on.

Olasupo said the state government should rise to its responsibility and fix the potholes for the safety of the commuters using the road.

He said: “The level of potholes on this capital road is alarming and there is need for urgent government interven on. The one in front of Capital Hotel has

caused a lot of accident and yet, nothing is being done about it.

“Some residents of the area are the ones filling the potholes themselves and it is quite unfortunate because it is the work of the state government.

“I just want to appeal to the state government to rise up to its responsibility and fix all this bad roads”.

Another resident, Olaide Babalola, said the potholes at Zarah Hotel spot of Ogo Oluwa road are hindering smooth vehicular movements.

Babalola said the potholes need to be fixed to avoid accident that may lead to loss of life, injury or damage of vehicle.

started the report, he has been receiving threatening calls, asking him to disconnue with the inves gaon.

Adetoyese said: “Just yesterday, a man with baritone voice who gave his name as ‘Chief’ called to threaten me over an assignment that we have been on for about two months regarding a syndicate office child traffickers.

“Our inves ga on revealed that these persons recruit young girls between ages 14-18 to Osun State from the Middle belt and Southeastern part of the country for pros tu on among other unlawful dealings.

“My decision to commence the broadcast of this devilish act to a ract the a en on of appropriate authori es towards apprehending these elements is however currently being met by countless threats which I receive on a daily basis.”

The journalist therefore called on the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to protect him from all forms of a ack and harassment as he con nues to discharge his legi mate du es.

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 - THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022

6

Religion

Introduc on WE adore you, O Christ and we praise You, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world” is the familiar By statement we u er at the beginning of our reMost Rev. John flec on for each sta on during the devo onal exercise of the Sta ons of the Cross. The exAkin Oyejola pression succinctly captures the significance of Good Friday sacred ceremonies. On Good Friday, we prayerfully recollect the passion and death of Christ for the salva on of the world.

Background Christ came into the world and took on our human nature in other to die on the cross for the salva on of the world. The gospel of Luke 18:31-33, shows that Christ Death would come to the executed person slowly, a er knew he was going to Jerusalem to die and he told his dis- few days, as a result of cumula ve impact of thirst, hunger, ciples about the event. Jesus then took the 12 aside and exhaus on, exposure and trauma c effects of scourge. told them: “Now, we are going to Jerusalem and every- Christ Jesus went through all these on Good Friday for the thing the Prophets have wri en about the Son Man will remission of our sins. Cf. Mark 15: 24, Luke 24: 39. be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the gen les. People The Jewish religious leaders, the council of Sanhedrin will mock Him, insult Him and spit on Him. A er they have had arrested Jesus and charged Him for blasphemy and for scourged Him, they will kill Him, but he will rise up on the claiming to be “the Son of God.” This ordinarily was not an third day.” The gospel of Ma hew 20:18-19, is more ex- offence punishable by death under the Roman Law, howplicit about those that would be responsible for the death ever, when the Jewish leaders took Jesus to Pilate he was of Christ and the manner of death. “See, we are going to charged with treason. According to them, he claimed to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be given over to the be the “King of the Jews” and that he forbade people from chief priests and teachers of the Law who will condemn paying taxes to Caesar, these were poli cal crimes of high Him to death. They will hand him over to the foreigners treason, a direct threat to the sovereignty of the Roman who will make fun of him, scourge him and crucify him. Emperor. That was the reason why Pilate the Roman GovBut he will be raised to life on the third day.” All predicted ernor who sentenced Jesus to death despite the fact that events happened to Christ on Good Friday according to he knew he was innocent wrote the inscrip on on top of the plan and will of God for Him. his cross “The King of the Jews” cf. Mathew 27: 37.

The cross was an ancient instrument of execu on, Significance of Good Friday originally, it was an upright stake to which the corpse of Good Friday opens our hearts to the limitless love of an executed criminal was bound for public display or on God who offers His only bego en Son as the atonement which the living body of a condemned person was affixed for the sins of the world. It also opens to us the unquan fito await death. For public execu on on the cross, the of- able love of Jesus for mankind, one who laid down his life fender would carry the cross to the place of execu on willingly to restore lost humanity back to God, the Father. which Christ did; He would be stripped and flogged se- “No greater love can a man have than to lay down his life verely. These they did to Jesus. The arms of the executed for his friends” he said. Jesus’s anguish, sorrow, and rejecperson are then nailed to the cross as well as the legs beon by the people He loved and served ll death show the cause deterrence was a primary objec ve of execu on on pathe c condi ons of the human souls; the ungratefulness the cross, the cross was usually erected in a public place. and wickedness that permeate human existence.

“

Significance Of Good Friday

On good Friday, we see Christ overwhelmed by the burden of the human nature He assumed, He fell three mes under the weight of the heavy cross He carried, we must note He has the same glory with God the Father, He has the same nature with God Almighty but did not count His equality with God something to grasped, He humbled himself up to the point of dying on the cross. Philippians 2: 6-8. He offers us lessons in humility and total obedience to the will of God. Earthly glory and allurements must not take away our gaze from the heavenly glory.

The cross on Good Friday is our sign post, our reference point of close affinity with Jesus and faith in Him. We venerate the cross, we honour the cross of Jesus and adore Christ crucified without shame or apology to anyone. We proclaim without inhibi on that Cross less Chris anity is fake and does not represent Christ. “The language of the cross remains nonsense for those who are being lost. Yet for us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1: 18). St Paul goes further to state that while the Jews ask for miracles and the Greeks ask for higher knowledge, we proclaim the Messiah crucified.

For the Jews a scandal and for the Greeks nonsense! But he is Christ the power of God. cf. 1 Corinthians 1: 22 - 24.

Christ instructs us to carry our crosses and follow him daily. cf. Ma hew 16: 24 -26. We are expected to crucify our passions and put to death in us whatever is sinful. cf. Gala ans 5: 24. We are not expected to be mere spectators at the foot of the cross, we must be involved in the mystery and make it ours. Through the cross, God shows that divine strength is paradoxically revealed in weakness (1 Cor. 1: 18-25).

Conclusion Finally, the cross is not only a comfort to the oppressed, whose sufferings imitate crucifixion and who can hope to share the resurrec on of Christ, but it also becomes a behavioural model as it symbolizes obedience to the will of God and imita on of Christ who humbled himself to the point of death (Philippians 2: 5-11).

May the grace and blessings of Good Friday be with you all. May God inspire our hearts and enlighten our minds to be a en ve to the message of the Cross and accept it wholeheartedly through Christ our Lord amen.

•Most Rev. John Akin Oyejola, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Osogbo.

News

Group To Osun Govt: Avoid Imminent Disaster, Be Strict On People Trading On The Road Kazeem Badmus

A

Civil Society group in the State of Osun, Centre for Social Jusce and Public Protec on (CSJPP), has asked the state government and police to avoid imminent disaster and be strict with people trading on the road and by the roadsides.

CSJPP said trading on the road is assuming a dangerous trend in Osun as traders have formed the habit of occupying half of the road on market days.

According to the group in a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Akin Akanji, on Thursday, buying and selling by the roadside and on major roads in some ci es in the state have remained unabated, calling on the government and police to avoid looming disaster with such prac ce.

The group accused the government of lack of poli cal will to stop such ugly prac ce, claiming that the police have also been compromised by markets leaders.

The statement reads in part: “Centre for Social Jusce and Public Protec on (CSJPP), has observed, with

serious concern, the unabated buying and selling by the roadside and on major roads in some ci es in Osun State.

“We note with serious warning to the State Government and the traders that there is looming danger if the prac ce of marke ng on the road is not stop with immediate effect.

“It is a known fact that

•Igbona market

traders at Igbonna, OtaEfun, Akindeko and Oluode markets in Osogbo; those at Odo-Ori market in Iwo, Oje market in Ede, Owode market in Owode-Ede, Alamisi market in Ikirun, Obada market in Iree and Sabo market in Ile-Ife, among others, have con nuously been trading on the roads, thereby obstruc ng free flow of traffic.

“On the market day of each of these markets, traders are in the habit of occupying half of the road with their goods and products.

They don’t care for vehicle and vehicular movements.

Most importantly, they don’t care for their lives.

“Most worrying is the compromise of the police and local government officials that are supposed to be

enforcing ‘no trading on the road or by the roadside’ at these markets. As observed, the policemen would rather be strict with motorists instead of chasing away the traders that have occupied half of the road.

“We want to believe, as informed by some members of the public, that leaders of these markets have been robbing the palm of the po-

lice at various Divisional Police headquarters where the markets are located.

“We also observed that the state government has been paying lip service to ge ng these recalcitrant traders off the road. It is either the government lacks the poli cal will to enforce ‘no trading on the road or by the roadside’ or it does not care for the safety of lives of the people. Either of this is not complimentary for a responsive government.

“There are many dangers associated with trading on the road or by the roadside. We want to remind Governor Oyetola and Local Government Chairmen across the state that security of lives and property is the primary responsibility of the government. If the poli cal heads of the state are unwilling to do the right thing for poli cal considera ons, they will be held responsible for the imminent disaster.

“It is not safe for people to be trading on the road. The Na onal Orienta on Agency (NOA) and the Ministry of Informaon and CiviC Orienta on in the state should wake up to their duty of sensi zing the people of the danger associated with tradi on on the road. A s ch in me saves nine.”

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 - THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022

7

News

Osinbajo, A Modest, Cerebral, Decent – Akande Continued from page 1 for Jus ce. Modest, cerebral, perspicacious, courageous and decent in every sense. Dolapo, Osinbajo’s delectable wife is a granddaughter of Chief Awolowo.

Among the Yoruba people where pedigree means so much, that is a gold medal.”

Akande was narra ng how Osinbajo’s name came up for the Vice Presiden al cket of the party in 2015 a er Buhari had disappointed both Tinubu and him in making the former governor of Lagos State his running mate.

According to Akande, Buhari had out of his own voli on said he was to make Tinubu his running mate before he retracted his words.

He said: “The following day a er the Elders’ Commi ee mee ng which was deadlocked, Buhari phoned Tinubu. He said he would like Tinubu to give him three names from which he would pick a running mate. We were all In Abuja and Tinubu rushed to me with this informa on.

“He wanted to know whether the understanding we reached with Buhari had changed. I called Buhari and he told me he now needed three names from us. I was angry with him. General, this was not what we agreed upon, I said in annoyance. You are changing our agreement?

“He knew I was getng angry, He said he was under pressure from some governors from the North including those who were Muslims. I told him the slot belonged to the South-West and to the Yoruba, religion is not a factor in leadership.

That is the burden the North has brought to na onal poli cs. He did not like my remark but kept quiet about it.

He said he would come immediately to discuss further with me.

“Before he came, fortuitously, Oshiemhole

and Aregbesola came in. He met the three of us. I kept the discussion open. I said this was not what you told us. This was not what we agreed upon at our en re discussions What gave rise to this, l asked?

“I went to bed early on that day. Suddenly, around 10 p.m, lbikunle Amosun came in and woke me up. He told me that he was just arriving Abuja from Lagos. He said Buhari called him and said there had been a stalemate on the issue of the vice-presiden al candidate.

Amosun pleaded that we should not allow evil to overwhelm us. He said we needed to discuss the issue again.

“I did not want to discuss the issue with him alone. I called Aregbesola, who was also in town. I called Tinubu, but he declined to join us. ‘I don’t want to be part of whatever you are discussing now,’ he said. ‘I don’t trust Buhari anymore! Even if we give him names, he may decide to go outside the list. So, let him choose on his own.’ He was unhappy with Buhari.

“I told him that was not the a tude to adopt. We were trying to toy with some names and I wanted him to parcipate in the discussion. A er some me,

•Osinbajo and Akande Amosun, Aregbesola and I were considering some names. Then I decided to call Tinubu again.’ We nego ated with Buhari in 2011 and gave him a name to choose instead of Pastor Bakare, I spoke to Tinubu on phone. Who was that person?” I asked.

‘It was Yemi Osinbajo, Tinubu declared.

“I asked Aregbesola to find out where Osinbajo was. He called him on the phone. ‘Yemi, where are you?’

‘Don’t you know your case is coming up tomorrow?” “I am in Abuja to argue your case.’

Osinbajo answered at the other end. Which hotel are you staying?

Osinbajo told him.

“I got a blank sheet of paper and wrote the name, Yemi Osinbajo, on it. I instructed Amosun and Aregbesola to deliver that note to Buhari immediately. It was almost midnight. Then, the two of them le .

“I was wai ng for Buhari to call me a er he must have received my message. He did not. It was Tinubu who came to me at the wee hours of the morning.

He was not in a good mood and was worried

that Buhari might visit our efforts with bad faith.”

‘Let us go back to Lagos,’ he said. ‘Why?’ l asked. ‘Maybe Buhari has his own agenda,’ he said. Even if we give him a name, he might not use the person. Maybe he just wants to use us for whatever his agenda might be.

“I reassured him that Buhari would not disappoint us and that he would agree with our choice as the vicepresiden al candidate of our party. Then, we le for Lagos.

“The second day, I

was watching the television when it was announced that Professor Yemi Osinbajo had been chosen as the running mate of General Muhammadu Buhari. I knew at that moment that we made the right choice and that we were on the threshold of history.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

UTHMAN BASHIRAT KEHINDE

That I was formerly known and addressed as A D E A G B O BASHIRAT KEHINDE now wish to be known and addressed as UTHMAN BASHIRAT KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

INEC Disqualifies 88,630 Voters In Osun Kazeem Badmus

T

HE Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that a total of 88,630 voters registra on in the State of Osun have been invalidated for flou ng the guidelines s pulated for the Con nuous Voter Registra on (CVR) exercise.

According to the commission, 218,142 new registra ons were completed, out of which 88,630 were invalidated, represen ng 40.6% of the total number of new voters.

INEC Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, who gave the sta s cs during a press confer-

ence at the Commission’s Headquarters, on Wednesday, said the infrac on happened in all the states of the Federaon.

According to him, out of the 2,523,458 new registra ons, 1,126,359, represen ng 44.6% were invalid, adding that the infrac on which was

uncovered while cleaning up the voter register, happened across the 36 states.

He said: “While the number of new registrants is very impressive and demonstrates the eagerness of Nigerians to vote in the forthcoming elec ons, the commission has a duty to clean up the data to ensure that only eligible Nigerians are registered.

“As you are aware, the founda on for any credible elec on rests on the credibility of the Register of Voters.

The introduc on of the biometric registra on of voters in 2011 has helped to sani se the register. You may recall

that ini ally, 73,528,040 Nigerians were registered in 2011.

“Using the Automated Fingerprint Iden fica on System (AFIS), the commission was able to remove 4,239,923 invalid registra ons.

Consequently, the Register of Voters for the 2015 General Elec on stood at 69,288,117 voters.”

PUBLIC NOTICE FAGBOHUN DAMILOLA HENRY

That I was formerly known and addressed as FAGBOGHUN HENRY D A M I L O L A now wish to be known and addressed as FAGBOHUN DAMILOLA HENRY. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

Crime

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 - THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 15 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

PERSPECTIVE

N

IGERIA is a country full of miseries, because the voice of wisdom and celebrated men of le ers are ge ng relegated by the poli cians who purchased their academic tles from the universi es that have lost their universality. It’s no longer news that once upon an accused person for the murder of cicero of Esa Oke, Chief Bola Ige, Sen. Iyiola Omisore has been elevated to the posi on of Na onal Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress. But when Professor Wole Soyinka penned his concerned in paper on the murder of his friend, and the elevaon of the “prime suspect” to the post of Naonal Secretary, Omisore replied with denigrating salvos, and even dragged the octogenarian roughly, just like Ige was once dragged before he was killed. However, the issue did not gain tracon in the media, because the media outlets belong to those who made the eleva on possible. There was no outrage, because Omisore’s posi on now would serve the poli cal ambi on of the payer of the pipers. However, that would not be subject for this piece, a me is coming for that, because the bomb carnage along KadunaAbuja corridor should be addressed quickly, for we could be the next vic ms if the situa on is not addressed properly.

Nigerian banditry seems to have been upgraded to a full-fledged terrorism. Fortunately for the bandits, the country is blessed with highly incompetent leadership that is desperate for bougeyman to blame. To the best of my knowledge, the first cons tu onal assignment of any government in any sovereign state is to guarantee the security of life and property, and if you have a government that cannot do the least assignment, such a government has failed, and it deserves to be treated with scorn and disrespect.

I am not calling for insurrec on or rebellion, because violence has no posi ve result, but accountability and probity that would make the government be on its toes. This could be achieved through a well coordinated civil ac on or a huge defeat for the ruling party in the next elec on. The ques on is what is the alterna ve?

Obviously, the opposi on is worse than the governing party, and that tells us that the na on is at the crossroads.

How could a rag-tagged bandit be more powerful than a state? Where are the intelligence and counterintelligence services? Why is the na on s ll paying the intelligence agencies, when there is nothing to gather for security informa on? Where is the Directorate of State Security? Where is the Na onal Intelligence Agency? How come nobody knew how the bandit was planning to a ack the train service along the Kaduna-Abuja corridor? How come there was no p about the explosion that torpedoed a

“All presidential and governorship aspirants should be made to dissect the state of insecurity and economic downturn in the country, and people should be made to listen to pragmatic solutions each one of them offers”

Group To Osun Govt: Avoid Imminent Disaster, Be Strict On People Trading On The RoadPg. 6

BY GOKE BUTIKA

Why Is Nigeria A Jungle Of Bandits? train and caused death, sorrow and abduc on?

How come no one was apprehended for the carnage? What are the Ministers for Defence, Police affairs, Director General of State Security and Director General of NIA s ll doing in their respec ve offices? Why is the President s ll holed up in his bunker at the Aso Rock, instead of visiting the site of the carnage, and various hospitals where the vic ms are ensconced? Which kind of country is this?

I used to think that the Nigerian government was bracing up for something that would eliminate the threat against the state, but the consistency of the a acks on the helpless ci zens and proper es since the return of civil rule has shown that there are misfits everywhere in the government. Though, the bucks stop at the table of the President, the security architecture that was set up to work for him is a failure, the intelligence services that ought to gather informa on are nowhere to be found, and the leadership of all security agencies seem to have slept on their core assignment, and to cap it all, the ci zens who ought to have shown their displeasure on the way they are being governed have thrown

STRIKER

their hands in the air.

However, it should be noted that each state has a governor, and each Governor is ge ng a security vote to police his state, but the data manifest their failure as well, because all the attacks were staged in states. That should tell us that most of the Governors are not doing their job. Give it to the Borno governor, Babangana Zulum, the guy is working round the clock to secure his people in a war-torn state, and that does not stop him from execu ng infrastructural projects, but large number of the Governors are ge ng richer, while their states are ge ng poorer and insecured, sugges ng that priori es are being misplaced. States have failed as well.

Having painted the graphics of the sorry state of the na on, it behooves me to suggest plausible solu ons: In the first place, genuine countrymen and women should organize themselves in such a way that voters would be educated on the recruitment of the leadership and with stated implica ons of elec ng bad leaders.

This is not rocket science, because an average voter believes that his vote is not important, that what ma ers is the token a poli cian would

offer to buy it. So, it is the duty of civil society groups to enlighten such a person that his vote is important, and that is why poli cal gladiators are campaigning vigorously to have it. People should be made to understand the power of their thumbs, and the kind of sufferings that would follow its misuse.

Secondly, all presiden al and governorship aspirants should be made to dissect the state of insecurity and economic downturn in the country, and people should be made to listen to pragma c solu ons each one of them offers. Analysts of the civil socie es should genuinely interpret words and inten ons of the candidates for the people, and they should guide people in forming their opinion on the best candidate. This is achievable if people can endeavour to inves gate members of the civil socie es and figure out those who will not compromise on the pot of porridge.

Then, ins tu ons of learning and civil sociees should partner in a way to set a “microscope” on the behavioural pa ern of the given leadership, in order to alert the people about the change of programmes of the government. I understand the nature of Nigerian universi es and their Professors who cherish their academic tles and bask in academic arrogance, but it is noteworthy that poli cal leadership with limited academic credenals would always be their employers and dictate tune. And if they choose to stay aloof, the demand of their job would be vi ated just like we are having ASUU strike now. That reminds me, this me demands for personali es of Gani Fawehinmi’s, who will constantly expose the government’s moves and covered iniqui es, and un l the above suggested solu ons are somehow implemented, this na on has not prepared for a posi ve change, and the worse condi on of the country has no chance of changing for be er any me soon.

It’s quite pathe c.

Bu ka writes from Houston Texas, USA

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

A Renegades’ Paradise

W

E have come to a me when poli cians who are standing firm for a cause that is right and moral are becoming endangered species. Everywhere you go in Nigeria, all you see are poli cians in gangs who no one can actually say what they and their party represent in the myriad of ideas begging for devotees and issues begging for solu ons.

In a speech he delivered on the 12th of July, 1945, General Dwight Eisenhower said, “If a poli cal party does not have its founda on in the determina on to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then, it is not a poli cal party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.” It looks like the des na on that we have arrived at in today’s Nigeria. Ideology is long abandoned and even mere manifestoes are betrayed and forgotten to gather dusts on shelves.

A poli cal party ought to ar culate a clear posi on on the historical challenges confronted by a na on, sugges ng specific strategies for overcoming them and propelling the na on to greatness and its people into prosperity. Whether those ideas are revolu onary, simply radical, progressive, or centrist or conserva ve, they are usually explicit and the poli cians in every party remain faithful to them as tools for policy formula on whenever they get into government.

However, here we are in Nigeria today, with two major poli cal par es that have the wherewithal to garner votes and put candidates in gov-

ernment at all levels – legislators and execu ves.

What do these par es represent and where do they stand on the issues begging for solu ons, which have plunged Nigeria into the very edge of the abyss? What are the par es’ posi ons on true federalism? How do we go about restructuring for a genuine Federal Republic of Nigeria?

Silence!

We have a complex and agonising situa on with security above all; then with energy, infrastructure, housing, health, educa on, jobs, and literarily every sector of socio-economy. What are the par es’ proposi ons for resolving the grave challenges? Silence!

All that the poli cians in those par es want is power! Power to do what?

Nigeria is not totally bere of a history with tradi ons in poli cs, and it is up to Nigerians to have a rethink as we enter another season of elec oneering to put compe ng candidates of various poli cal par es in government between now and first quarter of 2023. Nigeria used to have par es like Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Na onal Party of Nigeria (NPN) and other pares in between those two extremes, like the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) and others.

We moved from there to the imposed Social Democra c Party (SDP) and Na onal Republican Party (NRC) in the aborted 3rd Republic. Everyone knew what those par es represented and what to expect in terms of policies from their

poli cians should they get into government.

Today, we are in a paradise of renegade policians who stand for nothing revealed and crisscross from one party to the other as easily as moving from the living room to the bedroom to such an extent and scope that it has engendered li ga ons capable of occasioning a cons tu onal crisis. The spirit of any cons tu on must take cognisance of the spirit of the speech of Eisenhower: poli cal par es (and poli cians in them) must stand for a clear and noble ideal or any ideal whatsoever for that ma er! If so, people vote for par es on that basis. To harvest votes on the basis of the promises of represen ng an ideal and then get into government and move to another party is to renege on promises made to voters. What should be the consequences?

No consequence for poli cal betrayals is what has turned us now into a renegades’ paradise with poli cs without defini on or ideal; just a conspiracy to grab power for self and clique advancement. The solu on lies in the hands of the people, despite the prevalence of disempowering ignorance and poverty. For the sake of their children’s tomorrow, the people must pause, rethink, summon strength to organise, and act sensibly with their votes ONLY for individuals with known posi ons and commitments (irrespec ve of par es, small or big, no ma er the corrupt inducements): away from the parks of renegades seeking power only to represent not the people but selves and associates.

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarnaty 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