Osun Defender Online Version of July 9th, 2021

Attack On Muslims: Court Remands Masquerade Carrier, Imam, 5 Others Page 7

Wade Into Severance Seizure, TOP Urges Oyetola Page 2

How Pregnant Aunt Starved, Maltreated 5-Yr -Old Girl Page 5

FRIDAY, JULY 09 - THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021

VOL 16 NO 25

Widespread Discontent Over Caretaker Appointments Page 4

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Ismaeel Uthman

HE caretaker management committee appointments made by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola have been generating hues and cries in majority of Local Governments in the State of Osun.

Governor Oyetola had last week Thursday sent the names of the appointed Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Secretaries and members of the caretaker committees in each of the Local Governments, Local Council Development Areas and Areas Offices to the Osun State House of Assembly for confirmation.

While some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who felt cheated in the appointments resorted to protests by occupying the Osun State House of Assembly and houses of some of the APC leaders, others were grumbling and threatening to

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•Continued on page 4

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Osun Leads Ongoing CVR With Over 90,000 Kazeem Badmus

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•(1 & 2) Members of The Osun Progressives (TOP), at the inauguration of the group for Odo-Otin Local Government Councils in Oyan, on Sunday.

HE State of Osun has recorded a high surge in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration exercise with over 90,000 online registered voters as at yesterday.

The figure ranked Osun the state with the highest number of people who had already registered online for the exercise.

OSUN DEFENDER reported earlier that the ongoing exercise, which commenced last week Monday with the online registration and will be followed by the physical registration after two weeks, will run till the middle of May, 2022.

This was made known by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC) in the state, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje yesterday, while featuring on a programme on Rave FM, a radio station based in Osogbo, the state capital.

According to Agbaje, the high level of turnout can be attributed to the works done by the Commission before and during the commencement of the exercise.

He said: “Osun is the state with the highest number of people who have registered online so far and this can be attributed to the works we have done before the commencement of the exercise.

“INEC in the State of Osun have been doing a lot of Voters’ Advocacy to let people know the reasons why they have to register since this exercise commenced.

•Continued on page 7

FRIDAY, JULY 09 - THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021

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News

Wade Into Severance Seizure, TOP Urges Oyetola Niyi Olasinde

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HE Osun Progressives (TOP), a caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, has called on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to intervene in the seizure of severance pay of some former elected local government officials in the state in the interest of the party.

According to TOP, in a press statement signed by its Chairman, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi, it is an aberration to withhold and deny the dues of a man who has diligently worked for it A copy of the press statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads: “The Osun Progressives (TOP), a caucus of the APC, found it essential to urge Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to intervene in seizure of the severance pay of some immediate past elected local government officials and direct unconditional payment.

“We waited till now in the hope that personal contacts with affected state officials will yield results but it looks like there is a deliberate desire to have the affected ex-LG operators punished, as government officials insist there are issues to be resolved.

“As at now, the part payments of 25 per cent severance of those who have close affinity with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola but were said to be having personal issues to settle in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs are yet to be paid.

“We draw Governor Oyetola’s attention, that of APC national leadership and all men of goodwill to the aberration in withholding and denying the dues of a man who has diligently worked for it.

“We note that it runs contrary to the rule of natural justice to so do and indeed the provisions of the laws governing the payment of severance package.

“We even found it ir-

rational that issues like this, which ought to be resolved internally within our party, were brought to the public for washing like the other proverbial dirty linens which had been handled brazenly in the past by the leadership with intent to revenge perceived wrong done to them.”

The statement reads further: “If truly the affected ex-officials have issues to sort out with the ministry, one week should be enough to resolve them, if it is not a case of fraud or vendetta on the part of either actor.

“We remind the political office holders who have been playing and propagating mutual exclusion card against committed party members tagged non-IleriOluwa members of the party that most of the party members that are currently being perse-

cuted were the one who worked tirelessly for the success of the party during the 2018 Governorship Elections and 2019 Gener-

al Elections.

“The mutual exclusion game which has been the lead policy of the present leadership is an ill wind

which will blow nobody any good, we observe.

“A leadership which engages in unbridl0ed segregation is bound to

• Driving Against Traffic Rule: An officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) arresting an erring driver at Dele Yes Sir Roundabout, Osogbo, yesterday.

Captured by Olushola Aderinto

Akinrun Stool: Gboleru Ruling House Denies Nomination Of Candidate Idris Idowu

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HE Gboleru Ruling House of Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government, has denied nomination of Mr. Tajudeen Adesegun as the candidate of the royal family to occupy the vacant Akin-

single-handedly pursue alone, tasks which should be jointly done. Agba ti ko ke ohun soro, yo ke itan sare”.

run’s stool.

According to the ruling house, at no time and meeting did the family agree to present Adesegun as its candidate.

Addressing a press conference in Ikirun on Tuesday, the Mogaji of the ruling house, Prince

Alimi Olaleye and the Baale of the family, Prince Bakare Olaniyan, said nobody had been presented for the Akinrun throne yet.

The ruling house stated in the text of the press conference read

by Chief Mrs. Wosilat McCarthy, the Yeye

Symbol’s Quote

“I have Kaunda and others to thank for the panAfricanist ideology and legacy that my generation inherited from them. This makes it difficult for us to accept further partitioning of the countries created

by Europeans in their Berlin Conference of 1884.”

Meso of Ikirunland, that: “Prince Gboyega Olatunji, who presented the purported candidate from the royal house, is a bona fide son of the Gboleru Family, but has no mandate or authority to present any candidate for or on behalf of the ruling house.

According to the ruling house, Adesegun is not in any way related to the Gboleru but from Ojomu family, stating that his claims that his paternal grandmother was the first daughter of a former Akinrun, Oba Kolawole, is not also true.

The ruling house said: “At 57 years of age, with his aunt at 80 years, no member of the Gboleru family knew Segun and neither has he ever visited the compound until he learnt of the demise of the late monarch.

“Segun claimed that his paternal grandmother (Wuraola) was the first daughter of the late Oba Kolawole. This claim was debunked as records of the late Oba’s children exist and had Asumowu Olatorera as his first daughter.

“He claimed that his grandmother (Wur-

aola) got married to Mr. Adejumo of the Ojomu compound, where she had five children including his father.

“Mr. Segun was therefore told without mincing words that even if his story of Wuraola is accepted, there is no way a candidate of female descent can be considered for the exalted throne of Akinrun.

“He accepted this and made a solemn promise that he would support any choice candidate of the family.

“Unfortunately, Prince Gboyega Olatunji was used to cause confusion. We reiterate here that it is the turn of the Gboleru ruling house to produce the new Akinrun and it is hoped that justice will be done in this regard.

“We unequivocally state here that when the family is called upon to present a candidate, it will be done with the kindest regards, bearing in mind the expected growth and development of the ancient town of Ikirun, God willing.

“There are 10 capable and eligible princes from the Gboleru family, who have shown interest for the throne of the Akinrun and we are patiently waiting for the State Government to call on us to present our candidate for the throne.”

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, JULY 09 - THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021

Southern Governors’ Conference

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HERE should be nothing contentious about the communiqué issued by the seventeen governors of the “Southern” states. Regional groups sharing common boundaries often have issues of interest to peer review and find solutions to. There is nothing subversive about this.

Even in the United States, there are long established groups like the Midwest governors forum which are cross party and provide a common front on issues such as the environment, use of water resources and so forth.

In the conundrum we have found ourselves in Nigeria, regional groupings proffering solutions ought to be a way of turning the present crises into an opportunity for an advance.

“In the conundrum we have found ourselves in Nigeria, regional groupings proffering solutions ought to be a way of turning the present crises into an opportunity for an advance“ The demand for a rotational presidency is a reflection of today’s heightened anxiety. If ceding the presidency to another part of the country is a way to sooth frayed nerves and reinforce the belief in peaceful coexistence, the option should be taking.

The country as a whole needs to work out a programme of social and economic reconstruction. All fora put together to achieve this is most welcome and should be encouraged.

Safeguarding Our Schools In Osun

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with killing of innocent lives, destruction of farmlands and damage of immense proportions to properties.

In this connection, the bad eggs among the herders could come in at anytime and go away with our students under the guise of herding.

In the wee hours of Wednesday, there was report of a kidnap case which happened in Kaduna State, where bandits kidnapped some students of

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REETINGS friends, I believe every Nigerian and friends of Nigeria are worried - and increasingly so about the state of OUR COUNTRY, especially, regarding the stances of the leaders in relation to PEACE. Specifically, Government and stakeholders MUST realize that it is dangerous to think that the rather deliberately unmethodical, uncoordinated approaches to issues that are obviously eating off peace in Nigeria would help any individual, group, or ethnicity; or even at all save the Land. NO WAY! Actions and activities of Government, individuals, and stakeholders - community/traditional/faith leaders, etc, must be objective - and must be so seen, and understood by all - regarding how national matters that connect to the growing hues and cries across the country are currently being handled.

Government, particularly, must ensure that peace is sustained in this country through, unbiased, sincere and objective actions that are inclusive, and comprehensive, so that most, if not all sectors of the society are connected in the efforts.

No tribe or ethnicity can politically overwhelm another in a country like Nigeria, considering the sophistication of its citizens. NO WAY! Such idea of ethnic superiority, and political oppression backfired in 1990 in Uganda, when the

“Actions and activities of Government, individuals, and stakeholders - community/traditional/ faith leaders, etc, must be objective and must be so seen, and understood by all - regarding how national matters that connect to the growing hues and cries across the country are currently being handled”

Huti Government began to organize armed paramilitary gangs, and training them to prepare to wipe out the Tutsi civilians. They killed each other for 20 years, and up till now, the world still spends time reflecting on the ugly Uganda experience as one of the most horrifying, and most defining events in post-cold war history.

The Nigerian population is fourand-half the size of Uganda where their leaders toyed with peace and suffered for their selfish acts for two decades! The most probably earliest time Nigeria might get out of any break down of peace might not be less than 80 years!

The discourse here Publisher – Moremi Publishing is that Nigeria is TOO House Ltd. Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman BIG to experience a (0805-121-2204) breakdown of peace.

Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa The effect on Africa, Reporter – Yusuf Oketola and on the world is Reporter – Kazeem Badmus better imagined.

Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto It is dangerous to Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing play politics (in all forms) with peace.

House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, Such game would kill State of Osun peace, hence there ISSN : 0794 – 8050 wouldn’t be the space Telephone : 0805-121-2204 to practice politics anWebsite : www.osundefender.com/index.php ymore! e–mail : osundefender@yahoo.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com This is a National All Correspondence to the above email Addresses. call to action.

OSUN DEFENDER IS NOT AFFLIATED WITH ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER, •Adebayo Rasheed Mabayoje MAGAZINE OR ANY PUBLICATION WHATSOVER writes from Lagos.

OSUN DEFENDER

•Group photograph of Southern governors on Tuesday.

Dear Editor, S abduction of school students by bandits across various states is on the rise in the country, it is pertinent for the State Government of Osun to be proactive in putting measures in place for safeguarding our schools from invasion by bandits, who could come under the guise of herding in the state.

It is not far-fetched a fact that herders in recent times have been penetrating into different communities in Osun to cause chaos to the residents of various areas. The aftermaths of such invasions usually come

Review & Outlook BY ADEBAYO RASHEED MABAYOJE ‘Call To Action’

a private university, among other numerous ones from different schools across the state.

This should sound a wake-up call for all state governors in the South-West where we are recently, especially those states experiencing farmers/herders’ clashes and kidnap of innocent citizens to put all necessary machineries in place to prevent indiscriminate abduction of our students and other residents of our indigenous communities in the South-West.

•Read full article on www.osundefender.com •Ogunjimi Jinadu, from Osogbo.

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FRIDAY, JULY 09 - THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021

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News

Widespread Discontent Over Caretaker Appointments

•Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, in the midst of protesting APC members while addressing them at the entrance of the chamber, on Monday.

•Continued from page 1

fold their arms when the party needs their services.

The grounds of discontentment in some of the local governments is that Oyetola failed to follow their conventional political arrangements, favoured only the IleriOluwa caucus of the party at the expense of committee party members, imposition, lack of considerations for religious interests and leanings in the grassroots communities, among others.

However, OSUN DEFENDER noted that all the party members could not be appointed at the same time, as available political offices could not spread across.

The APC members in Boripe, Ede, Egbedore, Egbedore South, Ejigbo West, Ife Central, Ife East, Iwo, Iwo East, Iwo West, Obokun, Odo Otin South, Ola-Oluwa, Olorunda, Irepodun, Ifelodun, among other local governments, have begun protests on Sunday, demanding a reversal of the appointments in their various areas.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that members of the APC in Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government of the state, staged a peaceful protest to the country home of Governor Oyetola on Sunday, where leaders of the party were holding a meeting.

The APC members in Ward 02 of the local government decried what they described as lopsidedness in the caretaker appointments, saying that the government

had been favouring the Ojomu Arugba Unit of the ward since 2011, while neglecting other polling units.

Speaking at the Governor’s house, Mr. Wasiu Adeyemi, who led the protest said: “We are here to protest the caretaker appointments in our Ward 03. The government has been cheating other units to favour Unit 02 all this while.

“During Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration, Unit 2 produced the caretaker appointee for five years. During the 2018 local government elections, the same Unit 2 produced a parliamentarian. Now, Governor Oyetola appointed an elderly person from that Unit 2 again to represent our ward in the caretaker appointment. This is unacceptable.

“The man that is appointed has not been active in our ward meetings and political activities.

He lives in Osogbo. He is also aged. Why would the Governor want to cheat us, the committed APC members in other units in Ward 02? We want the Governor to reconsider his choice.”

The protesters were addressed by the Special Adviser to the Governor

Oyan Agog As TOP Debuts In Odo-Otin LGs Ismaeel Uthman

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LL roads led to Oyan, the headquarters of OdoOtin North Local Council Development Area of the State of Osun last Sunday, when members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) trooped out in thousands to inaugurate The Osun Progressives (TOP) for Odo-Otin LG, Odo-Otin South LCDA and OdoOtin North LCDA. With pomp and circumstance, the APC members, led by a renowned business mogul, Prince Jide Zubair, said TOP had come to stay in Odo-Otin LGs, with a view of restructuring and reenergising the party.

Representatives of each of the wards in Odo-Otin LGs joined other APC members in Odo-Otin North LCDA for the inauguration of TOP, which according to them, is a child of necessity for the progress of the party and continua-

tion of good governance in the state.

OSUN DEFENDER, which was at the event, noted that though some members of the APC were reportedly dissuaded from joining the inauguration of TOP, the hall which served as venue of the programme was filled to capacity, while the canopy provided could not also contain the enthusiastic politicians who turned up for the event, forcing some of them to hang on the windows and other available spaces.

Speaking at the programme, Zubair noted that TOP is not a splinter group but a caucus of the APC that want to breathe fresh air into the party for continuous prosperity.

According to Zubair, TOP offers alternative platform for members of the party to ventilate their anger instead of defecting to another party, saying that the caucus accommodates every

member of the APC who means well for the party.

Zubair charged TOP members not to be intimidated or discouraged, but rather be hopeful and confident of fortunes that will come their way within the party.

He said it is painful and unfortunate that those who worked tirelessly for the victory of the APC in the 2018 Governorship Elections have been made to suffer undeserved humiliation, while those who were nowhere to be found then are benefitting hugely from the government.

The businessman decried the reported discouragement of some APC members from joining the programme.

He said: “I learnt some persons were turning back some APC members from joining us here. We are all members of the APC and we will not give in to intimida•Continued on Page 7

on Works and Transports, Mr. Olatoke Olaniyan.

In Ede, members of the party APC were grumbling over the appointments of Chairmen for Ede South and Ede North Local Governments, Mr. Deji Agboola and Mr. Adeyemi Elliot Sesan respectively, who are Christians.

According to the aggrieved members of the party, it is politically wrong for the Governor to have appointed Christians for the mother councils in Ede, which is predominantly a Muslim community.

Though the APC members did not stage protests, their displeasure over the caretaker appointments, hinged majorly on religious bias and lopsidedness, was very pronounced.

However, a leader of the party in Ede, who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under condi-

tion of anonymity, said religion should not be the bases for appointments, saying that what is important is whether the appointed people deserved the appointments or whether or not such appointments were based on merit and political participation.

In Egbedore South Local Council Development Area, the APC members accused Governor Oyetola of jettisoning the extant zoning arrangement in the area by returning chairmanship of the council to Ido-Osun, saying that Ofatedo was to produce the Chairman.

According to the APC member, Hon. Kola Ajao, the immediate past Chairman of the Local Government will be serving a third term with his current appointment as Caretaker Chairman, which is not supposed to be.

The APC members •Continued on page 5

Captain Cook Workers Arraigned For Stealing N1.9m Worth Of Bread Yusuf Oketola

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HREE factory workers of Captain Cook Bakery in Osogbo were on Wednesday arraigned before an Osogbo magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing breads worth a sum of N1,951,050 from the company.

The accused persons: Kehinde Odugbemi, Adeyemi Adetoyinbo and Ezekiel Akanbi, were brought before the court on a count charge of stealing.

According to the charge sheet obtained

by OSUN DEFENDER, the first defendant, Odugbemi stole 3,737 loaves of bread worth N1,019,050.

Adetoyinbo allegedly stole 1,485 loaves of bread worth N401, 000, while the third defendant, Akanbi stole 2,015 loaves of bread worth N501, 000 properties of Captain Cook Bakery.

The charge sheet disclosed that the defendants committed the alleged offence between the month of November and De-

cember 2020 at Osogbo.

The alleged offence, according to the Police, contravened Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol.II Laws of Osun State, 2002.

But, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.

Defence counsel, Bose Dada, prayed the court to admit the defendants to bail on liberal terms.

Dada urged the court to exercise discretionary power in favour of the accused persons, promising that reliable sureties would stand for them.

Police prosecutor, Mr. Taiwo Adegoke, urged the court only to release the accused persons on bail with conditions equivalent to the worth of the stolen breads.

The presiding magistrate, Adekanmi Adeyeba, admitted the defendants to bail in sum of N500, 000 and a surety each.

The case was adjourned till August 4, 2021 for mention.

FRIDAY, JULY 09 - THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021

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News

How Pregnant Aunt Starved, Maltreated 5-Yr Old Girl In Osogbo Kazeem Badmus & Yusuf Oketola

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ESIDENTS of Ile Alawo and Oja Oba areas of Isale Osun, Osogbo, were on Monday utterly dumbfounded on sighting the heart-breaking appearance of a five-year-old girl, Bola (not her real name) Nofiu, who was in the care of her aunt, her father’s elder sister, Nike Olayiwola.

The innocent Nofiu looked malnourished and pale when she sneaked out of the house to beg for food from people, where sympathisers saw her and called the attention of OSUN DEFENDER to the unpleasant situation of the girl.

The medium could not stand the sight of the

little girl, as she had old and fresh injuries on her head and body as a result of several beatings from her aunt, Olayiwola, according to some residents of the area.

It was gathered that while Nofiu was eating the pap and moinmoin given to her by one of her neighbours, Olayiwola came to beat her with stick on the hairless head, making her to sustain injury.

Some of the residents of the area told OSUN DEFENDER that Nofiu had been suffering from starvation and persistent beating from Olayiwola for over three years since her parents divorced.

One of the residents, Mr. Mutiu Oladipupo, stated that he had known

the girl since she was a year old, adding that she was beautiful until her aunt took custody of her.

Oladipupo said: “I have known this girl for almost four years when she was still under her mother’s care. She was beautiful then. But later, I noticed some changes in her physique due to how she had been maltreated by her aunt with whom she has been staying since her mother left.

More so, she has not been enrolled in any school.

“Some neighbours have been feeding the girl on different occasions because her aunt would not give her food and anytime she saw food with her, she would seize it and stop the girl from eating it. She usu-

FGN SPW: Beneficiaries Lament Poor Service From Heritage Bank In Osun Yusuf Oketola

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ENEFICIARIES of the Federal Government Special Public Works in the State of Osun have expressed their displeasure over the poor service and hardship they face in the collection of their allowances from Heritage Bank in Osogbo, capital of the state.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday and Wednesday said they had been facing difficulties in accessing their funds from the bank since the beginning of the disbursement by the Federal Government.

It was gathered that Orolu, Irepodun and Ilesa East are among local governments from which beneficiaries of the programme are attached to the bank for the collection of their allowances.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a beneficiary from Orolu Local Government, Mr. Afeez Olatunde, said he had been to the bank on three different occasions and was only able to collect the first tranche of the three allowances.

Olatunde lamented that the bank also allegedly deducted a sum of N3,000 from his allowances in the guise that an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card will be made available to him.

He said: “This is the third time I will be coming to this bank. People are coming from different towns in the state everyday and would still not be able to access their

money. Nursing mothers, aged women and others are coming to pass the night in front of the bank because of N57, 000 and this is not happening in other banks.

“Some of these banks transferred the allowances directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries without deducting a penny. Why is it not so here?”

A beneficiary from Ilesa East Local Government, Mrs. Wasilat Adebari, said she left Ilesa around 3:00am for Osogbo, but was attended to around 3:30pm.

OSUN DEFENDER visited the bank at 9:30pm on Tuesday and found some of the beneficiaries logging around the Heritage Bank to pass the night, in wait for opening of bank operations the following morning, with a view to accessing their funds.

However, findings by this medium revealed that some beneficiaries who are attached to Heritage Bank have been able to access the fund without any stress in other states.

Mr. Nurudeen Olatunji, from Orolu Local Government of the State of Osun, told the medium that he was able to access his allowances without wasting much time at a branch of the Heritage Bank in Ekiti State, saying that his wife also cashed her allowances at one of the banks in Kwara State without stress.

It will be recalled that sometimes in October, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari approved

a Pilot Special Public Works Programme in the Rural Areas. The programme was domiciled in the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) for implementation.

•Nofiu ally rained curses on everyone that come to the girl’s aid. Everyone in this community is always afraid of her”.

Oladipupo added that Olayiwola had persisted in beating the girl every time to the extent that she sent her out of the house and everyone in the area was cautious of belling the cat in reporting the matter to the Police.

The little girl could not talk to anyone due to the trauma and owing to her poor health status when

OSUN DEFENDER made effort to speak with her.

Another resident who spoke with the medium on condition of anonymity said she felt so bad on setting her eyes on the girl because of the injuries inflicted on her through persistent beatings from her aunt.

She called on the State Government and wellmeaning individuals to come to the aid of the innocent girl.

Answering questions from the medium, Mrs.

stormed the State House of Assembly on Monday to protest against the caretaker appointments, saying that the lists of the candidates nominated by the party leaders in the areas were changed.

According to the party members, majority of the announced appointees were members of the Social Democratic Party and Peoples Democratic Party, who just defected into the APC. The protesters, who were armed with placards with inscriptions like “Enough is Enough, “O to gee!”, “APC is Nobody’s Property”, “2022 is Shaking” “Iwo People are Not Slaves”, called the Assembly to reverse the announcement of Ramon Lawal of Iwo East and Babatunde Ologbuuru of Iwo West.

They described Ologburu as a former member of the SDP, who followed Senator Iyiola Omisore into the party, saying his appointment is a slap on the faces of those who worked for the emergence of Oyetola in the area.

They said Lawal also joined the party from PDP recently.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the protesters said: “The nomina-

tion is a slap on all of us in Iwo APC. Two of the three chairmen are not members of our party.

They are people who just returned to our party after the Governor had been elected. We are calling on the Assembly to immediately reverse those appointments in the interest of our party.”

In Odo Otin South Local Council Development Area, the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Caretaker Committee were reportedly taken from Inisa alone, a development that has been generating controversies in the area.

Members of the APC in the council area said the three principal officers were chosen in Ward 10 alone, saying such step is against the natural law of justice and fairness.

Also, members of the APC in Olorunda Local Government have expressed displeasure over the appointments of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Caretaker Committees.

According to the APC members, the local government has been handed over to PDP, arguing that no core member of the progressives was appointed.

The APC members

Zainab Abioye, the mother of the girl, who is currently married to another man, said she was not allowed to take custody of the girl, stating that the aunt refused to let her go.

Abioye said: “I was unable to see my daughter since the family took her away from me. There was a particular day I came to see her, I was beaten to stupor and stripped naked by Nike, her father’s elder sister.

That is why I have not been coming to see her again.”

The mother, who lamented the unpleasant living condition of her child, alleged that she had been used for ritual by her ex- husband and his sister.

The case was reported at Oke-Baale Police Station and the Police went to Olayiwola’s house to arrest her and Nofiu, the girl’s father.

Nofiu attempted to escape arrest as he took to his heels before the Police apprehended him.

Residents of the area went into jubilation when Olayiwola and Nofiu were arrested.

Widespread Discontent Over...

•Continued from page 4

stated that the political arrangement is that chairmanship will be rotated between Ofatedo and Ido-Osun, but the latter has held on to it since.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that Governor Oyetola decided to return Ajao to honour his father, Alhaji Gbadebo Ajao.

Also, there is disquiet in Egbedore Local Government over the appointment of Mr. Kazeem Faleye as the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee.

The APC members said Faleye was neither living nor voting in the local government, questioning the rationale behind his choice by the Governor.

“The appointment of Mr. Kazeem Faleye as the Secretary of Egbedore Local Government Council is a slap on our face. The only thing we can trace to him is that he is an indigene of the local government but he does not live here and he is not voting here, he is voting in Dagbolu, Olorunda LCDA”, they said.

In Iwo, members of the APC in Iwo, Iwo East and Iwo West Local Government Councils

who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under condition of anonymity said: “The Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Caretaker Committee are all from PDP. They just defected to the party recently. The Chairman and Secretary came directly from PDP to APC while the Vice followed Omisore from PDP to SDP before joining APC. “The core APC members were left behind in the appointment. How could a politician seeking second term election reason like that? Also, the person that was appointed in Ward 04 is a biological brother of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Rasaq Adeosun.

“This is the injustice we are witnessing in Olorunda Local Government. We urge the governor to retrace his steps before is too late.”

In Ward 03, Ilare, Obokun Local Government of the state, members of the APC rejected the nominated caretaker members, demanding that the Coordinator of IleriOluwa group be appointed.

•Continued on page 6

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LL 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.

We give glory to Allah for sparing our lives to witness an-

Religion days.” Narrated by Imam Ahmad, 21829; Abu Dawood, 2437; classed as da’eef in Nasab al-Raayah, 2/180, but classed as saheeh by alAlbaani.

However, fasting on the day of Eid is haraam, as indicated by the marfoo’ hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed alKhudri (may Allah be pleased with him): “He (the Prophet (SAW) for-

JUMAT SERMON By Sheik Muhammad Muhammad Abubakr Makanjuola Makanjuola

other Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, during which the Muslims perform Hajj. This is a period when every Muslim must strive hard to perform good deeds (worships, charity, good talks, etc) no matter how small.

There are certain times of year during which even small acts of worship are rewarded in abundance. These periods of the year are, in reality, gifts from Allah (SWT) that He has given to us. And from those blessed times in which worship is abundantly and hugely rewarded are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. There are no other days that are rewarded like these ten days. Sadly, many Muslims do not realise the greatness and superiority and virtues of these ten days, and treat these days like any other day.

It behooves Islamic scholars, Imams and alfas to enlighten every Muslims on the virtues of the ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

Good deeds during the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are more beloved to Allah than righteous deeds in the last ten days of Ramadan. One of the good deeds is fasting nine days of the month, which is mustahabb. This is indicated by the words of the Holy Prophet (SAW), as narrated in the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas

Virtues Of The Ten Days Of Dhul-Hijjah (may Allaah be pleased with him): There are no days in the year more beloved to Allah (SWT) than the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and the last ten nights of Ramadan, as they combine acts of worship in a way unlike any other time. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “There is no deed that is better in the sight of Allah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of Al-Adha”. It was asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” The Prophet (PBUH) replied, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for Jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 969.

And it was narrated from Hunaydah ibn Khaalid from his wife that one of the wives of the Holy Prophet (SAW) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (SAW) used to fast nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’ and three days of each month – the first Monday and two Thurs-

Crime

bade fasting on the day of (Eid) al-Fitr and the day of al-Nahr (the day of sacrifice, i.e., Eid al-Adha).” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, No. 1992; Muslim, 827. The scholars are unanimously agreed that it is haraam to fast on these days.

Righteous deeds on these ten days are better than the others. With regard to fasting, that should only be done on nine of them; the tenth day is the day of Eid when it is haraam to fast. Based on this, what is meant by the virtue of the ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah is fasting nine days only, even though they are called ten days.

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah is here and we should not miss out on a single blessing. Even if we are not going on Hajj, there’s plenty good deeds to make.

We should perform and increase our Dhikr and Takbeer, night prayers, fasting all nine days especially the Day Of Arafah, make sincere repentance, recite the Holy Quran regularly and give Sadaqah and Charity.

•Sheik Muhammad Abubakr Mankanjuola, is the Mudiru Ad-Da’wah Wal-Irshad Obaagun, State of CHANGE OF NAME Osun.

SAIBU MARAUF KEHINDE

Osun Court Remands Lady For Allegedly Stabbing Lover Kazeem Badmus

A

N Osogbo magistrate’s court in the State of Osun has ordered the remand of a 27-year-old lady, Amaka Anyanwu, at the Ilesa Correctional Centre for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend, Mathew Omotoso.

Amaka was said to have stabbed her boyfriend with knife in his house at Olude area, Osogbo.

According to the Police prosecutor, Mr. John Idoko, Anyanwu, on June 30, 2021, at about 2AM, at Femi Daramola Street, Housing Estate, Olude Area, Osogbo, unlawfully stabbed one Omotoso with knife severally on his back.

Idoko said Anyanwu wilfully and unlawfully damaged Omotoso’s plasma television, two wristwatches, chairs and one iPhone 8, all valued at N412, 000.

He said the accused person committed an offence punishable under Section 355 and 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria

2002.

But Anyanwu pleaded not guilty to the allegations proffered against her.

Defence counsel, Mr. Sunday Atofarati

applied for the bail of the accused person in the most liberal term, saying that she will be available to stand her trial.

The presiding mag-

istrate, Mr. Adekanmi Adebayo, remanded the accused person in Ilesa Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till August 7, 2021 for ruling on bail.

Widespread Discontent Over...

•Continued from page 5

The APC members stormed the House of Assembly on Monday to protest what they described as ‘wrong nomination’, praying the Parliament to step down the nominee from Ward 03.

Similarly, members of APC in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government set bonfire in front of the residence of the Chairman of APC Elders’ Council in the state, Engr. Sola Akinwumi, on Monday.

The house, located at Kuelu area of the town, was stormed by the APC members, mostly youths, who were protesting alleged removal from the list of name of the Caretaker Committee Secretary, Ademola Adesina, popular known as Guduobe, on the instruction of Akinwumi.

The House of Assembly had earlier reportedly announced Adesina as Secretary on Thursday along the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Barrister Adegoke Ogunsola and other members. But his name was reportedly removed later, prompting the aggrieved APC members’ protests.

The APC members set up bonfires at the gate of Engr. Akinwumi’s house, chanting different songs and telling the APC leader to rescind his decision on the removal of Adesina’s name.

They also called on the Governor to ensure that Adesina is returned as the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee for the council.

The caretaker appointments also generated controversies in

Ifelodun North LCDA, Eweta, Ikirun as members of the APC alleged biases in the selection of principal officers among the appointed members.

According to the members of the APC in Ward 06, the position of Chairman and Secretary was given to the same Ward 08, which negates the spirit of fairness and justice.

The APC members, in a press statement signed

by IleriOluwa Coordinator in Ward 06, Olatunji Iyiola, believed that the positions should be distributed evenly among the wards.

According to them, Ward 06 is the second largest ward in Ifelodun North LCDA which needs special recognition and should not be treated in such ways.

The APC members argued that those chosen •Continued on page 2 MRS. ABOLANLE AYANFEOLUWA MODUPE

That I was formerly known and addressed as SAIBU MARAUF now wish to be known and addressed as SAIBU MARAUF K E H I N D E . A l l former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

IBRAHEEM MONSURAT OLUWATOYIN That I was formerly known and addressed as ADEKUNLE MONSURAT now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHEEM MONSURAT OLUWATOYIN.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OYEKOLA MUSIBAUDEEN ADEDAYO That I was formerly known and addressed as ADEDAYO MUSIBAU OYEKOLA with old Date of Birth 30/05/1975 now wish to be known and addressed as OYEKOLA MUSIBAUDEEN ADEDAYO with new Date of Birth 30/05/1972.All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

HOSSAIN ADERONKE AWAWWU That I was formerly known and addressed as JIMOH KAFAYAT YEMI now wish to be known and addressed as HOSSAIN ADERONKE A W A W U . A l l former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OYELADE CALEB AYODELE That I was formerly known and addressed as OYELADE AYODELE OLAYINKA now wish to be known and addressed as OYELADE CALEB A Y O D E L E . A l l former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

That I was formerly known and addressed as MISS AKEYENIJO

AYANFEOLUWA MODUPE now wish to be

known and addressed as MRS. ABOLANLE AYANFEOLUWA MODUPE.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, JULY 09 - THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021

7

Sports

Tokyo Olympics: Buhari To Host Team Nigeria Monday Kazeem Badmus

P

RESIDENT M u h a m madu Buhari is expected t o play host to Team Nigeria at the Presidential Villa on Monday, where he would hand the Tokyo 2020 Olympics-bound athletes to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in line with age-long tradition.

According to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, the event is aimed at keeping in line with the tradition of unveiling the

team to the President.

Dare said: “We are keeping to the tradition of unveiling the team to the President, who will in turn hand them over to the Nigeria Olympic Committee”.

The Minister also confirmed that the President is going to unveil the official wear / equipment of the team at the ceremony.

He said: “The unveiling of the official wear / equipment of the team will be done

by Mr. President at the ceremony.

This is a very sym-

bolic event meant to officially send forth the team to the Games.

“This should also inspire the athletes and to reinforce the fact that the Federal Government and the entire country are behind them,”

the Minister said.

Earlier on Monday, Nigeria’s preparations for podium outing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games began with the departure of the first batch of the country’s contingent to Japan from Abuja.

Oyan Agog As TOP Debuts In...

•Continued from page 4 tion. What we want is fairness, justice and equity in the party. We worked for this government and all of us that struggled to put the APC in power will not allow it to fail or disintegrate.”

Zubair listed TOP’s objectives as: to promote internal democracy in the party, ensure effective and efficient party management, mobilize, reconcile and network for party development and promote equity, fairness and justice within the party.

Other objectives of the group are: to ensure transparency and accountability in the party management, foster level playing ground, no to imposition of candidates and initiate progresses and activities for party development.

Also, a stalwart of the APC in Ekosin, Pa Israel Oyagbile, enjoined the TOP members to be focus and optimistic, just as he charged them to be active in party activities and rally round one another.

According to Oyagbile, no genuine progressive member would wage war against TOP, describing the attack on the group as mere market noise which would not stop the caucus from achieving its objectives and mission.

Oyagbile said if the APC could win with less than 500 votes in 2018 with a formidable team, then the party needs more than extraordinary effort to win 2022 elections, maintaining that every APC member needs to support TOP on its drive to ensure continuation of the APC government.

News

Attack On Muslims: Court Remands Masquerade Carrier, Imam, 5 Others Idris Idowu

that a crime has been committed and the interest of the Ministry of Justice is to ensure that justice is served, which was the reason behind his application for adjournment of the case for proper arraignment.

The magistrate, Asimiyu Adebayo, remanded the accused persons in Police custody and adjourned the case till Monday, July 12 for proper arraignment.

It would be recalled that the masquerade

A

LL the suspects arrested in connection with the attack on members of Kamorudeen Islamic Society of Nigeria in Osogbo, State of Osun, on June 27, 2021, were yesterday arraigned before a magistrate’s court.

But Chief Kayode Esuleke, the leader of the masquerade worshippers, who had reportedly slumped on the way to court, last week, was not arraigned.

His son, Ifashola Esuleke, a masquerade devotee, Kola Adeosun and Idowu Hakeem, were arraigned in the court.

The Chief Imam of the Kamorudeen Islamic Society of

•Yunus

Nigeria in Osogbo, Kazeem Yunus and Salawu Jimoh, Alarape Sulaimon and Raimi Saheed who are members of the

Osun Leads Ongoing...

•Continued from page 1 “I have also been going round across various media to inform the people of Osun that we have limited time for this exercise.

While other states will continue till around September next year, our state will have to stop around May due

to the Governorship Elections billed for July, 2022”.

Agbaje appealed to those who are yet to register to do so, while he also urged those who have already registered online to keep to date and time given to them for their finger capturing.

•Esuleke

society were also arraigned alongside the masquerade worshippers.

But the charge sheet with which the Police arraigned them in the court was not read, because the State Counsel, Mr. Moses Faremi, complained that the charge sheet prepared by the Police was defective.

Faremi, who had earlier announced that the State Government has taken over the case, prayed the court to grant a 24-hour adjournment to allow the Ministry of Justice to

correct the anomalies in the charge sheet.

His prayer was opposed by counsel to the Muslims, Mr. Kazeem Babatunde Odedeji, who argued that the adjournment was unnecessary, as it would constitute a waste of time of the court.

Odedeji called for proper arraignment of the accused persons in the court within the court hours yesterday, even as he agreed that there was need to change the charge sheet.

But Faremi insisted

worshippers allegedly attacked members of the Kamorudeen Islamic Society of Nigeria in Osogbo, on June 27, 2021 when they were holding special prayer on insecurity.

The leader of the Islamic group in Iwo, Alhaji Salawudeen Moshood was shot dead in the attack, while 14 other members of the group were injured.

Also, the masquerade worshippers claimed that two of them were also injured in the attack.

Widespread Discontent...

•Continued from page 6

as Vice-Chairman and Secretary have been in power for the past five years.

However, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, assured the aggrieved members of the party that the Parliament would look into their complaints.

Also, the caretaker appointments were greeted with protests in Ife Central and Ife East Local Governments as members of the APC rejected the appointees, alleging that the names of the party members com-

piled by party leaders were not reflected in what was announced.

The APC members accused some politicians in the local government of slotting in the names of their girlfriends into the list at the expense of committed party members.

In Ejigbo West Local Council Development Area, the name of the nominated Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Kolapo Olayanju, was stepped down on the allegation that he was not nominated by the leaders of the party.

The controversy on his appointment was yet to be settled as at the time of filing this report yesterday.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, JULY 09 - THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021

C

URTAINS fell on the extraordinary and illustrious life of Kenneth David Kaunda, Zambia’s founding father and pan-Africanist, after he died from pneumonia on June 17. He was buried July 7, after living for 97 years.

Kaunda was the last of the titans, the African nationalists that fought for independence from colonial rule, which included the likes of Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Nelson Mandela and others.

He was a remarkable man in dignity, humility, simplicity, intellect and character – a leader par excellence.

Given the role he played as a foremost nationalist, pan-Africanist and anti-colonial and anti-apartheid fighter South of Sahara, it will be difficult for me not to pen this tribute on the transition of this inimitable African leader.

Kaunda was born to teacher parents in 1924 and he too started life as a teacher but joined politics in 1949 by becoming a member of Northern Rhodesia Africa National Congress. In 1953, he moved to Lusaka to assume office as the Secretary-General of the African National Congress.

The entire Southern Africa was in colonial fervour. Colonialism there was not just economic exploitation and political subjugation; large swaths of Europeans were moving in with a clear agenda of resettlement, land grab and the remaking of the region in European image for whites.

It was in these circumstances that Kaunda emerged as a political leader for his people. It is interesting that he never took up arms, but used nonviolent means of passive resistance to advance his cause. For this he was imprisoned by the colonial government. He came out of detention to be elected the first President of independent Zambia in 1964.

His priority in office was education, followed by agriculture. He set a target of total literacy for Zambia and it is not surprising that Zambia has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa.

Finding himself within colonial and apartheid encirclement, he was in the forefront of the anti-apartheid struggle in Southern Africa. He committed Zambian resources and personnel to the struggle and allowed patriots from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola and Namibia to use his country as base in their struggles.

He participated actively in the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which he headed twice. He was a pan-Africanist who worked with others for African unity and integration. They transcended their local space as the entire continent was not even enough a platform for them. He was also in the NonAllied Movement, the association of states that do not align with either side of the Cold War. He was thus a national, regional, continental and global player – straddling the entire gamut.

One blight of his reign was the banning of multiparty political system and institution of political monolithism in Zambia. His argument was that a one-party system keeps ethnic, religious and other divisive tendencies in politics at bay.

But the global Third Wave of democratisation was in full swing, beginning from the late 1980s. The Cold War had ended with American unipolar hegemony being constructed without as much as whimper from any quarter. The United States and her especially European allies were then promoting transition to multiparty democracy where there were hitherto military autocracies and one-party dictatorships all over the world.

Kaunda was caught in the ferments of this wave as popular movement in Zambia, led by his nemesis and eventual successor, Frederick Chiluba, a trade unionist, rose to demand for multiparty democracy. Kaunda was forced to unban multiparty political participation and called for election ahead of

News Akinrun Stool: Gboleru Ruling House Denies Nomination Of Candidate

VOL. 16 NO 25 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

TRIBUTE By Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Kaunda, The Last Of The Titans Departs “Some people draw a comforting distinction between force and violence. I refuse to cloud the issue by such word-play. The power which establishes a state is violence; the power which maintains it is violence; the power which eventually overthrows it is violence. Call an elephant a rabbit only if it gives you comfort to feel that you are about to be trampled to death by a rabbit.”

Quote from Kaunda’s pre-Independent speech schedule in 1991. He only managed to garner 25 per cent of the votes as Chiluba swept him off power by carting off 75 per cent of the ballots, thus ushering a new era of political leadership in Zambia, after 27 years of Kaunda presidency.

I had a fortuitous meeting with Kaunda

STRIKER

in 2011, when I was the Governor in Osun.

We had been attracted to the Zambian beef industry’s success story and had visited with the intention of duplicating it in our state. So, in the company of my friends, the DirectorGeneral of the Bureau of Social Services, Olufemi Ifaturoti, Dr. Charles Akinola, the

Page 2 Director-General of the state’s Office of Economic Development and Partnership and Mr. Wale Adedoyin, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, we departed for Lusaka on December 11, 2011.

It was a pleasant surprise when our host and the then Nigerian High Commissioner in Zambia, Ambassador Folake Markus Bello included a visit to the old man in our itinerary. I was quite impressed that Kaunda had retired to a modest bungalow and from the serenity of this simple building in the heart of Lusaka, he received us warmly.

We discovered also that he had been engaged pro bono in advocacy works on HIVAIDS, healthy living and child development.

We decided immediately to publish one of the handbooks he wrote for students, copies of which were distributed to pupils in Osun schools.

His immediate post-presidency life was not particularly rosy. He found himself in opposition and had to frequently clash with President Chiluba as the key opposition figure. This got to a head when Chiluba, now power drunk, instigated the campaign to deport him to Malawi, where his parents were born. He got a court to actually order his deportation but this was overturned by the Supreme Court.

I have Kaunda and others to thank for the pan-Africanist ideology and legacy that my generation inherited from them. This makes it difficult for us to accept further partitioning of the countries created by Europeans in their Berlin Conference of 1884. Rather, we look forward to unification of the continent and the completion of the unfinished work of Markus Garvey, Awolowo, Nkrumah, Kaunda and others.

Adieu Kaunda! You came, you saw and you conquered. Your legacy will live on.

•Ogbeni Aregbesola is Nigeria’s Minister of Interior.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

Abiding By Principles and Rules, Solution To Chaos

T

HERE is hardly any other way, much else a shortcut, for nations to achieving peace and progress than faithfulness to established principles and rules of engagement. Principles are the fundamental ideas that serve as a foundation for any system and rules are the detailed regulations governing all manners of conducts within that system.

The penchant for sidestepping rules and principles (whenever it becomes a majority culture proliferated by the elite) is the catalyst and eventual nourishment for chaos. Nigeria was born and named a Federal Republic. Successive military interventions in our democratic origin, which we all condemned and fought to logical (and hopefully, final) exit, bastardised the Federal Republic into a unitarised, underdeveloped, traumatised, and now critically ailing child-man of a country. The sad fact is that the political elites who were collaborators with military juntas for 30 of our 62 years of independence have so become archaic and dictatorial in their mentality, that they lack the values, interest and commitment to return the country to its original destiny as a Federal Republic and catapult it to the true giant of Africa that it should be, and a major player in the committee of nations.

Politicians that were die-hard and longtime teammates of the military junta (and they are the most influential and powerful from years of connections and solidarity in looting Nigeria to malnourishment) pre-

tend to be democrats just like their erstwhile allies (now retired and donning traditional flowing gowns), who equally pretend that the leopards have changed their dictatorial skin-spots and become democrats. As fate unfortunately has it, it is two of the captains of the leopards that have been the Chief Commanders in charge for 14 out the last 22 years of sustained civilian rule since 1999; civilian rule that has refused to become true democratic governance.

What does democratic governance in a federal republic demand as inalienable principles and rules? Simple and commonsensical indeed! Adherence to the Rule of Law, where every citizen, whatever their status, is equal before the law; genuine federalism in totality; strict separation of powers between the executives, legislatures and judiciary; and the full guarantee of freedom and rights for all citizens and the third estate of the realm – the press. Once there are selective applications of the principles and rules as it pleases whatever powers-thatbe, everything is thrown overboard.

Consequently, the law and order apparatus comes up against all players resorting to self-help on account of lost confidence in the justice system of the state as the rule of might replaces the Rule of Law. Development is usually the major casualty of corrupted principles and rules of engagement. Human development indices nosedives into extreme negative and no degree of severity of deterrence

conceived for running afoul of the law is sufficient enough to prevent law-breaking.

Accordingly, many progressive thinkers believe that “a system of harsh criminal punishment is ultimately ineffective because it self-perpetuate crime and does not address underlying or systemic cause of crime.” For instance, it is far better to address youth unemployment and massive poverty by budgeting for and implementing large-scale, mechanised agriculture rather than budgeting heavily for security, more policemen, anti-riot equipments, guns and more prisons as crime-fighting strategy. Only the former guarantees drastic reduction in violent crimes by youths, the later doesn’t. Unfortunately, conservative and mean elites in politics would rather make quick money from crooked implementation of the later than the slow steady enrichment for all stakeholders that the former guarantees along with a peaceful society of law and order.

Having gone wrong for so long on the fundamental of fidelity to founding national principles and rules, as we brace up to wielding the big stick against all perceived “enemies of the state,” it is in the national interest for the political elites to simultaneously revisit the root causes of chaos and do the needful. It is the simple and lasting solution to rebuilding unity and faith to achieve peace and progress.

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

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

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