Osun Defender Online Version of June 18, 2021

FRIDAY, JUNE 18 - THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 VOL 16 NO 22

Osun Politician Seeking LG Caretaker Chair Appointment Duped N2.6m

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politician s e e k i n g Caretaker Chairmanship appointment in one of the local governments within Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, Mr. Rasaq Salami, has been duped of a sum of N2,680,000.

Salami, according to investigations

by OSUN DEFENDER, was duped by a set of people who fraudulently offered him political and spiritual assistance to ensure that he was appointed as the Caretaker Chairman for his local government.

However, the Osun Command of the Nigeria Security

•Mr. Sola Oladeinde SDP Chairman

•Sunday Bisi PDP Chairman

•Prince Gboyega Famodun APC Caretaker Chairman

and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested one Mrs. Omolara Solanke, who was said to be a contact person to the people who allegedly duped Salami.

According to a press statement by the Spokesperson of the Osun NSCDC, Mr. Daniel Adigun, Solanke conspired

with five other suspects, took Salami to a town in Ekiti State where the sum was obtained from him.

The statement said the suspects fled after collecting the money from Salami.

“After several failed attempts to get in touch with the fraudsters, Rasaq

lodged a complaint with the anti-fraud unit of the corps in Ekiti State, where investigation into the alleged crime began.

The anti-fraud unit of NSCDC, Osun command, was contacted to track the suspects.

“In the process, Omolara Solanke was apprehended.

The NSCDC boss in Osun State, Commandant, Emmanuel Ocheja, through the antifraud unit, handed over the suspect to the Ekiti Command of the corps for further investigation and possible prosecution”, said the statement.

Osun 2022 Gov’ship Page 2 Election Race Begins •We May Present Candidate – SDP •We’ll Win With Over 150,000 Margin, No More Inconclusive Poll - PDP •APC: We’re The Party To Beat Elegbedi Accused Of Destroying Multi-Million Naira Worth Farm Page 4 Produce

Lamentations Over Deplorable ItaOlokan/Oke-Ayepe Road Page 4

FRIDAY, JUNE 18 - THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021

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News

Osun 2022 Gov’ship Election Race Begins Ismaeel Uthman

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HE race for the 2022 Governorship Elections in the State of Osun has begun.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released timetable for the elections.

According to the timetable, INEC will issue Notice of Election on February 15, followed by collection of Form EC9 (formerly CF001) and EC9B (formerly CF002) for the election by political parties on February 16, 2022.

Also, the timetable indicates that between February 16 and March 12, 2022, political parties are to conduct their primaries and resolve disputes that may arise from them.

Public campaigning will take place between April 17 and July 14, while the elections will be held on July 16, 2022, according to INEC. Speaking on the timetable, the Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state, Mr. Sola Oladeinde, said INEC had given enough time for the preparations to the 2022 Governorship Elections.

Oladeinde stated this just as he said the SDP might present its governorship candidate in the election.

He said: “Our door is widely open; people are free to join the SDP and they are always welcome. We want to give room for people to ventilate their aspirations. We want people to contest every political office.

“Governor Oyetola’s attitude and relationship with us will determine whether we will work together or we are going to have our own candidate. On the continuation of our coalition, members of the SDP that love APC have gone to join the party; those who do not like APC are still with me. And more people are joining us every day. We cannot say that we will not present candidate for the Governorship Elections.

“We are looking forward to have a credible candidate because SDP is the only existing progressive party in Nigeria now. Those APC calling themselves progressives are not; because APC is a mix-

ture of conservatives and progressives. We are trying to resuscitate the SDP. “We are working towards having credible candidate for the Osun Governorship Elections in 2022.”

Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr. Sunday Bisi, said the party had been preparing for the Governorship Elections before the release of the timetable by INEC. Bisi said PDP would win the 2022 Governorship Elections with over 150, 000 votes, declaring that there is not going to be room for inconclusive election again.

He said: “We are set for the election. We even want the date to be closer than that. We are prepared for the election and that is why you see us embarking on tours across the local governments in the state.

“We have been encouraging eligible voters to go out for the

•An overloaded commercial bus spotted on the street of Osogbo in violation of known traffic and haulage regulations yesterday.

Captured by Olushola Aderinto

Continuous Voters’ Registration exercise.

We have been telling people that are and above 18 years old, those who have misplaced their PVCs and those whose PVCs have got damaged and others to register during the CVR exercise. We are making adequate

preparations for it.

“Our party primaries are coming. INEC has given us guidelines and we will follow them. We are set for the primaries and it is going to be hitch-free. We are not banning any member of the PDP from contesting the party’s ticket. Those who are

interested to contest should come out and contest.

“We are sure and confident of victory in the 2022 Governorship Elections. There is nothing like inconclusive election this time around, we are going to defeat APC with over 150, 000 votes.”

Osun To Receive 2nd Phase Of COVID-19 Vaccines In August – Isamotu Niyi Olasinde

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HE Commissioner for Health in the State of Osun, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, has hinted that the second phase of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines might be delivered to Osun in August this year.

Isamotu stated this just has he encouraged people who had received the first jab of the vaccines to make themselves available for the second jab which is ongoing.

According to Isamotu, the State Government of Osun is ready to receive the second phase of

the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines anytime the Federal Government begins the distribution.

The second supply of the vaccines might be delivered to the Federal Government in July.

The State Government had on March 05, 2021

Symbol’s Quote •Dr. Isamotu

“Love for one’s country is undoubtedly a good trait that imbued people with a sense of loyalty and a desire to coexist peacefully with one another, regardless of religion, political affiliation and cultural background”

received 64,240 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the Federal Government.

The vaccines, according to Isamotu, were meant for frontline workers which include journalists, health workers and security personnel and some strategic leaders only.

According to Isamotu who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday, the second phase will be for the generality of the people in the state, assuring that every resident of the state will be vaccinated.

Isamotu urged the residents of the state to continue to use face masks, wash their hands frequently and continue to maintain physical dis-

However, the All Progressives Congress in the state said it has nothing to fear on the 2022 Governorship Elections, maintaining that it will coast to victory.

The Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Wole Adunola, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER said: “Our party is today unarguably the most formidable political party in Nigeria. This is evident from the gales of defections from different political parties particularly our main rival, the PDP. “You will notice that these defections into APC are not restricted to other states of the federation alone, we are having our share in Osun.

“We have maintained and consolidated on the coalition we formed during the 2018 Gubernatorial Elections, led by one of the most formidable, heavyweights, and experienced politicians in Osun, Otunba Christopher Iyiola Omosore.

“By the laudable achievements of Governor Adeboyega Oyetola in many sectors, we have earned the trust of Otunba Omisore and thousands of his followers across the state; they have all formalised their membership as APC members.

“Alhaji Adeoti, our former SSG who defected on the eve of the 2018 Gubernatorial Elections and ran on the platform of ADP is back, including thousands of his supporters. Just last week, we received influential members of the opposition parties in Edeland.

“The essence of this background is to tell you that we have continued to build a formidable platform for any electoral challenge in the state. Politics is a game of number and if the election is held today, as a party, we are confident of victory.

“I want to tell you that as progressives, we are much disciplined. I am confident that at the appropriate time, all the perceived internal wrangling in our party shall be resolved and we will work in unison to protect our party and government. I want to tell you that nothing will affect our electoral victory come 2022.

“We are confident of victory. With the sterling performance of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola across all levels, nothing will affect our victory.”

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, JUNE 18 - THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021

Review & Outlook

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BY TONY ADEMILUYI Mobilising The Voters Aregbesola’s Wise Intervention

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OLITICAL action and the translation of theory into practice in a democracy begins with the registration of voters.

Registration of voters where you have real political parties should go hand - in - glove with voter education.

Voter turn out is an indication of the health of a democracy as well as the acceptance of its institutions. The record of turnout of voters in the present republic since 1999 leaves a lot to be desired which is putting it mildly. For example the 1959 pre - independence national election had a turnout of 75%, the plebiscite on the 1963 Republican Constitution saw an astonishing 84% turnout of registered voters. It is unacceptable that after half a century of billions sunk into education and public enlightenment, we are nowhere near reaching half of these figures. The average turnout of voters in the present republic since 1999 as of the eleventh of March, 2019 is 49.78%. Cynics regard this suspiciously as an overestimate.

Whatever it is, it is not a demonstration of a virile democracy.

Turnout not only indicates the virility of a democracy, they should be a part of the political calculus. It is an acknowledged fact that the current President of the United States Joe Biden will have been deprived of a legislative majority without the two Senate seats his party won in the state of Georgia. They won the two seats because of the massive, imaginative registration efforts carried out years before polling day.

“The average turnout of voters in the present republic since 1999 as of the eleventh of March, 2019 is 49.78%.”

Other examples abound. Registration of voters is crucial.

The new registration which kicks off on the 28th day of this month is an opportunity for the political parties to sort out their own internal contradictions. It is also a veritable mechanism vital for the youthful demographics to intervene. The youths and the marginalised such as women, the disabled and so forth can only redress their perceived imbalance by demonstrating their electoral clout, as this is the only way to impact meaningfully on the polity. All avenues of the old and the new media must be used to mobilise new and potential voters. We are aware that in France a youthful now president Macron used the mobilisation of new voters as the handy weapon to win the presidential election.

Everyone must use this new vista to reinvigorate and deepen our democracy.

Osun’s Steady March To A Welfare State

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O say that the State of Osun under the leadership of Governor Gboyega Oyetola is steadily moving to a welfare state is to basically state the obvious.

This is a statement of fact, given the way the governor has made the people the centre of his administrative policies since assuming office in November 2018.

To confirm the veracity of this statement however, it may be germane to look at the definition of a welfare state so as to see if the above assertion about Osun under Oyetola is correct or not. A

welfare state has been defined as “a government in which the state protects and promotes the economic and social wellbeing of the citizens, based on equal opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for citizens unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions of a good life”.

Given the above definition of a welfare state, juxtaposing it with the nature

of governance in Oyetola’s Osun the opening statement of this piece cannot be said to be incorrect. Retrospectively the steps the governor has been taking so far since assuming office have been in tandem with what obtains in a typical welfare state. This is no exaggeration but a statement that could be backed by empirical evidence as visible on ground. A few examples will suffice here to buttress my position.

Read the full letter on www.osundefender.com

•KOLA ODEPEJU is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on public affairs.

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have never been an admirer of the Minister of the Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. In my humble opinion, he was a gargantuan disaster when he governed Osun State by plunging the state into avoidable debts with his joke of ‘socialist’ and ‘welfarist’ programs that turned his people into mendicants. He failed to utilize the agrarian opportunities in the state which has what it takes to effectively compete with Benue State.

Rather than think up strategies of how to export food items from there to the rest of the world and earn foreign exchange, he justified his needless borrowings and owing of the salaries of civil servants as well as pensioners by blaming a shortfall from the Federation Account. Did his people keep faith with him for three sturdy years at the courts and election petitions tribunal between 2007 and 2010 to hear asinine excuses?

However, for the first time I whole-heartedly agreed with him land that when he denounced the secessionist activities of the apologists of the Oduduwa Nation largely spearheaded by Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho, Professor Banji Akintoye etc. He said: “My most important message for this gathering is to let you know that those advocating for the Yoruba nation are fools and ignorant of the consequences of their action. Nigeria is the reason the Western nations respect the Blackman globally.

“Maybe these secessionists did not know that if any crisis or war happens in Nigeria now, its fallout will linger for another 50 years. So we must guide this unity jealously. Although things are not perfect yet, I believe we should

rather advocate better government rather than agitate for secession.”

Secession is an ill wind that blows nobody any good and it will only throw up an avalanche of challenges that may consume the fragmented new nations.

Sunday Igboho’s claim to fame was his expulsion of some alleged criminal Fulani elements in Ibarapa. This earned him heroic status so much so that he became one of the most important non state actors in the entire Yoruba land.

Many states beckoned on him to help ‘liberate’ them from the yoke of the blood thirsty Fulani herdsmen. Not satisfied with his status as a Yoruba liberator, he wanted more especially as

“An Oduduwa nation like I opined above isn’t the solution to the challenges in the south west as the Yorubas are not as homogenous as people believe. There is still the ugly trend of discrimination based on the part of Yoruba you come from ”

an unsuccessful GoFundMe campaign had been done by some of his fanatical supporters on his behalf in the Diaspora. He became a champion of the Oduduwa Nation and has been organizing rallies in support of it all over the south west. He even plans to hold the mother of all rallies on June 12 – the nation’s democracy day.

An Oduduwa nation like I opined above isn’t the solution to the challenges in the south west as the Yorubas are not as homogenous as people believe. There is still the ugly trend of discrimination based on the part of Yoruba land that you come from. An Egba man holds an Ijebu man in suspicion despite the fact that they are from the same state. There was the Ife Modakeke crisis which consumed hundreds of thousands Publisher – Moremi Publishing of lives despite their beHouse Ltd. ing neighbours with lot Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman of intra marriages. There (0805-121-2204) is the current fierce agiProduc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa tation for an Ibadan state Reporter – Yusuf Oketola by the people of Ibadan Reporter – Kazeem Badmus who feel marginalized in Oyo State. That hoPhoto Journalist – Olushola Aderinto mogeneity that is a key Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere attribute of nationhood OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing is lacking in Yorubaland House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite to make an Oduduwa Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, nation successful or even State of Osun viable.

ISSN : 0794 – 8050 Telephone : 0805-121-2204 Read full article on Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php www.osundefender.com e–mail : osundefender@yahoo.com •Tony Ademiluyi is the osundefenderbank@gmail.com Co Founder of The Vent All Correspondence to the above email Addresses.

Republic – www.thevenOSUN DEFENDER IS NOT AFFLIATED WITH ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER, trepublic.com and wrote MAGAZINE OR ANY PUBLICATION WHATSOVER from Lagos.

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, JUNE 18 - THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021

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News

Elegbedi Accused Of Destroying Multi-Million Naira Worth Farm Produce Kazeem Badmus

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N entrepreneur, Mr. Abiodun Oladapo, owner of Opeoluwa Integrated Farming Resources Limited, has accused the Elegbedi of Egbedi, Oba Azeez Muideen Olaniyi of destroying farm produce worth millions of naira on his acquired parcel of land in Egbedi, Egbedore Local Government Area of the State of Osun.

Oladapo also alleged Oba Olaniyi of sponsoring thugs to harass him on the land in a bid to grab it from him.

The entrepreneur, in a petition sent to the Iwo Area Command Officer, on May 28, 2021, stated that he purchased the land outright from the Oloba family of Oloba Compound in 2013 after using the land freely for some years.

A copy of the petition obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads in part: “Our client is the owner of a vast expanse of land measuring approximately 12.676 hectares, having purchased same from the Oloba family of Oloba Compound, Ede, in 2013.

Our client took immedi-

•Wife of the Governor, State of Osun, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola, addressing a cross section of women during the National Prayer Session on Security held at State of Osun Government House, Osogbo, on Wednesday. ate possession of the said land and has over the years, exercised acts of ownership on the land.

“In 2018, the land, together with some other parcels of land however became a subject of dispute in a suit pend-

ing at the High Court of Justice, Ede Judicial Division with suit No. HED/22/2018 wherein the Elegbedi Ruling House instituted an action against the Osun State Government, the Egbedore Traditional

Council and I, among others.

“Sometimes in 2019, the incumbent Elegbedi, who had not been appointed at that time, sponsored hoodlums to harass me with dangerous and harmful weap-

ons. A petition was written to the Commissioner of Police reporting the illegal and unconstitutional harassment and threat to the life of Pastor Timothy Akinsanya, who is in charge of the land.

“The Commissioner

Climatic Conditions Impeding Mass Production Of Onions In S/W – Expert Yusuf Oketola

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N Agriculture Extension expert, Mr. Samson Adesanya, has explained the rationale behind low production of onions in the South-Western part of Nigeria.

Adesanya said the climatic conditions of the South-West do not favour massive cultivation of onions like that of the Northern part of the country.

According to Adesanya, who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in an exclusive interview yesterday, South-West is more of rain forest agroecological zone, which does not support planting of onions in commercial quantities.

He said: “In Nigeria, onions are grown mostly in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Sokoto, Plateau, Bauchi and Kebbi states. In 2012 alone, an estimate of about 240,000 tonnes of green onions and 1,350,000 tonnes of dry onions were produced in Nigeria.

“Soils of these areas in the North are mostly low in nutrients due to low

organic matter contents, which gives them higher advantage, compared to the South-West.

“We all know onions and how they are highly demanded in the market, but everybody thinks onions only grow in the Northern part of Nigeria.

I want to tell you that onions actually grow in the South too.

“In the South-West, onions grow in Osun, Oyo and Ondo states.

But as we all know that South-West is more of rain forest agro-ecological zone of Nigeria and that is affecting the commercial production of the commodity.

“There is a local production in the SouthWest, but we all know that onions are mostly grown in the Northern part of the country in general.”

Adesanya further stressed that if there is

blockage of onions from the North, it will definitely affect it price here in the South because of the high demand here.

He said the Northern states have a greater advantage when it comes to production of onions because they have all it takes due to their climatic conditions and other things which make the massive plantation of onions possible compared to the South-West.

The agriculture expert opined that the problem attached to the low production of the commodity in the South-West is because farmers are not being encouraged to do more.

Adesanya said the government needs to encourage the farmers by providing cultivable land, adequate funds, and necessary equipments for the large-scale production of onions.

Lamentations Over Deplorable Ita-Olokan/Oke-Ayepe Road Idris Idowu

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OTORISTS and residents of ItaOlokan and OkeAyepe areas of Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, have expressed their displeasure over the deplorable condition of their road.

The motorists and residents accused the State Government of nonchalant attitude to rehabilitating the road, which they said had become a death trap for them.

The Ita-Olokan/Oke-Ayepe road, apart from being part of the major roads in Osogbo, also connects the state capital to Ilesa, and also leads to the Osun campus of

the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

The Baale of Orelope community, Chief, Kasali Lawal, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on the condition of the road, recounted many efforts taken by residents of the areas to get the attention of the government on the road.

Lawal said: “The road has become a huge problem for us in this area, and we have tried a lot to find solutions but to no avail.

“Most of us who have cars in the area are now adjusting our movements. For example, we can only move from here to Station Road once a day with our cars to minimize the damages the

road will inflict on our vehicles.

“We contacted so many political office holders, which include the former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Akintunde Adegboye, but nothing has been done on the road till now.”

The community leader disclosed that some individuals had also tried to reconstruct the road, but were denied permission by the government.

Also, Mr. Uzain Olatoke, a commercial bus driver, while speaking with our reporter, said some mini-bus drivers have stopped plying the road because of the bad condition and fear of havocs it could cause to their vehi-

cles.

He said: “There have been so many tragic accidents which have involved loss of lives and have also done lots of irreparable damages to the vehicles plying the road.

Just last week, there was an accident involving a Toyota Corolla and a mini-bus, which resulted to serious damages of the vehicles.

“Some commercial bus drivers have stopped plying the road already and very soon, if nothing is done to rehabilitate the road, no commercial cab will come to this area again.”

Olatoke called on the Federal and State governments to quickly see to the rehabilitation of the road.

of Police, through the Iwo Area Command, arrested the hoodlums and warned them to desist from their illegality, while they patiently await the decision of the matter which is presently in court.

“To the surprise of our client, on the 28th of May, 2021, the Elegbedi again mobilized hoodlums who came fully armed with bulldozers to bulldoze and destroy the farm produce worth millions of naira on the land.

“The representative of the Hunter Guard of Nigeria in charge of the security of the farm, upon noticing the enormity of the damage, reported the incident and was instructed by his office to visit the scene and stop any further destruction on the land.

“Upon his arrival on the land, he met with the Elegbedi who confirmed that he actually instructed the men to carry out the destruction of the crops on the farm, and that nothing whatsoever could stop the said destruction.

“It is our position, Sir that the Elegbedi has no justification whatsoever to unlawfully enter into our client’s land and destroy the crops thereupon in the face of the pendency of a suit in Court.

“Sir, our client is a law-abiding citizen who would not want to take the laws into his hands.

The cat of the Elegbedi if left unchecked could result into chaos and break down of law and order.

“Hence, the urgent need for this petition and the call for you to use your good offices to wade into the matter and ensure that the culprits are brought to book and charged for malicious damage, while ensuring that no further damage is done to our client’s property on the land pending the determination of the suit before the High Court”.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the Police have invited the monarch and was detained on Monday at the Area Commander’s Office in Iwo. Oba Olaniyi was granted bail on Tuesday with a plan to arraign him at Ede Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

But the monarch failed to appear in court on Wednesday and his telephone number was said to be off when called.

FRIDAY, JUNE 18 - THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021

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Life Style Of Borrowed, Expensive Wedding Gowns, Attires TEMITAYO FAREMI of OSUN DEFENDER reports that sizeable number of brides in Nigeria do not buy the wedding gown they wear on their wedding days. It was discovered that the affected brides borrow the wedding gowns for their ceremony. This report presents the view of some members of the public on why brides borrow or wear expensive wedding gowns.

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By TAYO FAREMI

EDDING is a ceremony in which two people are united in marriage.

Religiously and traditionally, marriage is the basic and most important event in joining a male and female together officially as husband and wife. Marriage is a lifetime contract, while wedding is just a day programme. But some people, most especially, young ladies going into marriage, attach great importance to weddings than marriages. It is right and deserving to probe why are they doing so. Is it because they want their wedding days to be colourful and make the events a talk of the town?

In her view, a pastor, Mrs. Tayo Aderinola, said: “Some ladies borrow wedding gowns because they are too expensive and they cannot afford to buy them. Instead of looking inferior among their peers, such ladies opt for borrowing their (expensive) wedding gowns. Some of them also believe the wedding gowns are just for a day, as they could no longer wear them after the wedding. So, (in their thought) instead of expending huge amount of money on a wedding gown just to be used for once, they prefer to borrow the gowns to save their money.

“However, borrowing a wedding gown is not good. It is advisable just to cut your cloth according to your size. Wearing of expensive wedding gown is a choice. Some people do that for show off.”

Speaking on the matter, a stylist, Mr. Sunday John, said: “Wearing of expensive wedding gown is based on choice. Some borrow gowns because they think after the wedding the gowns will be useless.”

Miss Elizabeth Olalekan who resides in Osogbo, said: “Some borrow wedding gowns because they cannot afford new ones and some think it will be useless after their wedding. For those wearing expensive gowns, they do so because they can afford them and want to celebrate the day because it is only once in a lifetime.”

•Mr. Sunday John

•Miss Adegbesan Rukayat

•Miss Waliyat Adekola Expressing her view, Miss Waliyat Adekola, self-employed, said: “Some people borrow wed-

ding gowns due to lack of money and besides, some do that because they feel they are to be used for just a day. Some brides buy expensive cloths because they have saved enough for it. To me, it is mostly done by ladies to impress their friends. Sometimes, it is usually done out of pressure. As for me, wedding is wedding. The most important thing is to have a happy home”.

According to Miss Aminat Ajao, “Some brides borrow wedding gowns and other costumes because they cannot afford to buy them for themselves and they don’t want their weddings to go on low key. So they think borrowing those materials is the best option to make their wedding days colourful, while some put on expensive wedding gowns because they are capable of getting them and some wear because they want to do showoff”.

•Miss Elizabeth Olalekan According to Miss Rukayat Adegbesan, “A lot of people, especially we Nigerians, want to impress those around us. We want people to know we have money. Some people want to impress themselves and their loved ones and also shame their haters and enemies; so they go extra mile in getting expensive wedding gowns to appear fulfilled.

Those who borrow wedding gowns sometimes run into debts all in the name of showoff and it affects their post-wedding lives which makes them to suffer in the early stage of marriage.”

•Miss Aminat Ajao In her view, Miss Taiwo Akanni, said: “Some borrow wedding gowns because getting new ones will be stressful for them, while some wear expensive gowns because they want to get attractive and do showoff.

But we have few people that wear expensive wedding gowns because they have the financial means.”

•Miss Taiwo Akanni

FRIDAY, JUNE 18 - THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021

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seek refuge in Allah from the devil the accursed and I start in the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. I also testify that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is His Messenger. May the benediction be upon his soul, members of his household, his companions and those who follow his ways till the last day.

Say O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have

Religion (4) Taking a FIRM DECISION not to commit such sin in future.

(5) The repentance must be TIMELY: i.e. when it is acceptable, this is divided into two; general and specific.

The general one is the repentance a sinner makes before the sunrise from where it used to set. Any repentance after this is not acceptable.

Allah says; “The day that some of the signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a person to believe then, if he believe not before,

JUMAT SERMON By Imaam Raji, Musa Oladapo

transgressed against themselves by committing evil deeds and sins. Despair not of Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly He is oft Forgiving Most Merciful.

This discourse would not have come at any other time better than this, when various degrees of sins are being committed every moment unabated. And if truly we are seeking the countenance of Our Creator, we must put an end to wallowing in sins. Allah (SW) our Creator honours and prefers us to other creatures.

He gives us reasoning faculty that makes us to excel above other creatures. But alas! What we are doing is contrary to the expectations of Allah, and then we still expect His mercy to be in abundance, whereas mercy and blessing of Allah are not given to sinners and perpetrators of evil acts.

Allah (SW) is happy when a servant repents to Him, because He was created by Himself and created other things for the benefit of mankind. He (Allah) has made the heavens and earth and whatever therein of service to the mankind. Even the angels whom we believe to be closer to Allah, Allah still makes them to be subservient to mankind by charging them (angels) to guard mankind at all times. As a result of this uniqueness of mankind, he has succeeded in having a manifest enemy (satan) or devil who always wishes to distant mankind from Allah. He (devil) always provides paths that will lead him (mankind) to distant him from Allah. In fact in most cases, he (devil) will make the path attractive and adorable for his perceived enemy to follow because his happiness lies in that. Should somebody fall prey to his trick, he rejoices at this type of situation, because he considers it as part of his score card over the mankind.

Let Us Turn To Allah In Repentance If however, a servant turns to Allah in repentance, the devil became annoyed because he regards it as a loss, but he will still strive harder probably such person can still be in his shackle. It is our duty therefore to do everything humanly possible to free ourselves from this avowed enemy. If a servant returns to His master confessing his misdeeds with moody appearance, there is every probability for the master to change his anger to pleasure and punishment to reward.

Nevertheless, my esteemed readers, sincere repentance has five conditions that must be in place before Allah accepts it. These will be explained in brevity: (1) Repentance must be SINCERE for the continence of Allah, without any atom of showoff or because of worldly gain. If it is otherwise, such repentance is not accepted. Allah says: “So, call you upon Allah making worship pure for Him” (Quran 4:14).

(2) Showing of REGRET over one’s misdeed: This must reflect on him of being sober and blaming his soul for the sin he has committed.

(3) Total REFRAIN from such sin: This is necessary because if he persists in repeating the same act, it appears as if he does not take Allah serious or his repentance could be likened to being sarcastic. This type of repentance lacks sincerity of purpose and it is not accepted.

nor earned good (by performing deeds of righteousness) through his faith” (Quran 6:158). “The signs of your Lord” in the verse was interpreted to be rising of the sun from the west (where it used to set) by the Prophet (SAW).

The specific one is the repentance that one makes when one is dying, this is not acceptable for Allah says; “Allah only accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and foolishness and repent soon (i.e. afterwards). It is they whom Allah will forgive and Allah is Ever all Knower, all Wise. And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says; now I regret, nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them we have prepared a painful torment” (Quran 4:17-18). Any repentance makes during the time of death is not acceptable.

You will all recall that Pharaoh made the same attempt but Allah turned it down. Allah says; “till drowning overtook him, he said, I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He (Allah) in whom the children of Israel believe, and I am one of Muslims” (Quran 10:10). Listen to what Allah says thereafter “Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before and you were one of the Mufsiduun (evil doers, the corrupter)” (Quran 10:91).

With this last condition, it is pertinent to encourage ourselves and stress the need to flee to Allah in repentance because of our being shortsighted in nature, only Allah knows what the future holds for us.

Read full article on www.osundefender.com •Imaam Raji, Musa Oladapo is the Chief Imaam of Telemuland, State of Osun.

Crime

Couple Arraigned For Assaulting Police Officer, Wife Yusuf Oketola

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HE Police on Wednesday arraigned a couple, Quadri and Omolola Ademola, for allegedly beating up a police officer and his wife in their residence.

Both Quadri and Omolola were said to have invaded the house of Inspector Femi Ogunade, where they allegedly assaulted him and his wife, Bola Ogunade with sticks and stones.

According to the charge sheet, the couple and others at large committed the offence on May 23, 2021, adding that the victims sustained injuries on the back.

It was gathered that the couple and other suspects at large attacked the policeman because he was among the team that arrested one Ahuwa, an armed robbery suspect who happened to be their relative.

The charge sheet stated that the accused persons and other accomplices damaged

some properties valued N145,000 during the chaos.

But, the defendants pleaded not guilty to

the allegations levelled against them.

Defence counsel, Kehinde Adepoju, prayed the court to

admit the defendant to bail on a liberal term, promising that they would not jump bail as reliable sureties

will stand for them.

However, Magistrate Adeyeba Adekanmi admitted the defendants to bail

in sum of N25, 000 and one surety each.

The case was adjourned till July 8, 2021 for hearing.

Electronics Dealer Convicted For Travel Agent Arraigned Over 1m the record, the convict is pleaded not guilty to the Travel Scam Burglary, Stealing a first time offender and charges levelled against has also promised not to

A

42-year-old electronics dealer, Tope Matanmi, has been convicted by an Osogbo magistrate’s court over house breaking and stealing.

Matanmi was convicted by Magistrate Dr. Olusegun Ayilara, after pleading guilty to a fourcount charge bordering on burglary, malicious damage and stealing.

The convict, an electronic dealer who owned a shop in Ondo State, according to the Police, did break into the house of one Abiola Oladejo, where he damaged the window burglary and also cast away some household items.

According to the charge sheet read in court, some of the household items stolen by Matanmi are: one generator valued at N132,000,

one 32 inches television valued N90,000, a home theater speaker valued N40,000 and some jewelries, the worth of which were unknown.

Police prosecutor, Mr. Abiodun Fagboyinbo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the convict committed the offence on May 19, 2021 at about 10:30pm at Oroki Estate Area, Osogbo.

The offences, according to Fagboyinbo, contravened Sections 509, 412, 451 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

Defence counsel, Mr. D.D. Adegbola, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy on Matanmi, having pleaded guilty to the fourcount charges.

Adegbola said from

commit any crime again, disclosing that the Police has recovered all the stolen items.

Speaking in the court, the convict said it took him three days to move the stolen items from the house he burgled, disclosing that he first took away the television on the first day and came back on the third day to take the generator away on motorcycle.

Ruling on the matter, Magistrate Ayilara told the Police prosecutor to do more findings on the electronics shop the convict claimed to possess in Ondo to ascertain whether other products in the shop were stolen items or not.

The Magistrate however adjourned the case till today, June 18, 2021 for pronouncement on jail term.

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OLICE authority in the State of Osun has dragged a 36-yearold man, Samson Ogunmekan, before an Osogbo magistrate’s court over N1, 020,000 travel scam.

Ogunmekan, a resident of Isara Remo in Ogun State, according to the Police, defrauded one Saheed Yusuf on the pretence of procuring United Arab Emirates (UAE) Visa and ticket for him.

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, Ogunmekan and others at large committed the offence sometimes in the month of January 2019 at Agunbelewo Area, Osogbo.

The accused person was arraigned on a fourcount charge of conspiracy, fraud, felony and stealing.

But Ogunmekan

him.

Defence counsel D.D. Adegbola prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on a liberal term, saying that the accused person was presumed innocent until the contrary is proven.

Objecting the bail application, Police Prosecutor, Inspector Elisha Olusegun said it took the Police a lot of stress before Ogunmekan was apprehended, praying the court not to release him on bail.

Olusegun said the accused person was arrested through electronic means, stating that the defendant also has a similar case at another magistrate’s court in Osogbo.

However, the presiding magistrate, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara admitted the defendant to bail in sum of N1,000,000 with two sureties.

PEOPLE FIRST

Sports

FRIDAY, JUNE 18 - THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021

7

AC Milan Sign Fikayo Tomori Sergio Ramos To Leave Real Madrid After 16 Years From Chelsea On Permanent Deal Kazeem Badmus

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ERGIO Ramos is set to leave Real Madrid after 16 years as the club announce a “farewell” news conference for their long serving captain on Thursday.

Ramos joined Real from Sevilla in 2005 in a record deal for a Spanish defender and has made 671 appearances, scoring 101 goals for the La Liga club, winning five league titles, two Copa del Reys, four Champions Leagues and four Club World Cups.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest central defenders of his generation, Ramos has won 22 trophies at the Santiago Bernabeu and memorably scored a 93rd-minute equaliser in the 2014 Champions League final when Real beat rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1 after extra time to win their 10th European Cup (La Decima).

It was during the 35 year old time in the Span-

ish capital that he also won the 2010 World Cup with Spain along with back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

However, injuries have taken their toll in the most recent campaign as he played just 21 times as Real lost out in the title race to city rivals Atletico while also going out at the semi-final stage of the Champions League.

The 35-year-old struggled with muscle injures and a knee problem that required surgery, mean-

ing he only played once since March - the 2-0 Champions League semifinal second-leg defeat to Chelsea on May 5.

It also meant Ramos missed out on Spain’s squad for Euro 2020 as manager Luis Enrique opted to select no Real players in his squad.

Ramos will be a free agent when his contract expires at the end of June with both Manchester Clubs and PSG rumoured to be interested in signing him.

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Insecurity: Mrs. Oyetola, Other Women Intercede For Divine Intervention

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OMEN in the State of Osun on Wednesday sought God’s intervention on the insecurity challenges plaguing the state and the country.

The women, led by the Wife of the Governor of the State of Osun, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola, interceded for divine help in battling the challenges.

In her address at the event, Mrs. Oyetola, who is also the Chairperson of the Southern Governors’ Wives’ Forum, said the prayer session was part of the contributions of the Nigerian Governors’ Wives’ Forum to make the nation great again.

She said, “The problem of insecurity has continued to assume various dimensions and they are dimensions which affect every aspect of our daily living.

“This development has raised concerns for every Nigerian. This is the reason why we of the Nigerian Governors’ Wives’ Forum (NGWF) have resolved to have this country-wide programme of prayers.

“We all need to ap-

IKAYO Tomori’s permanent transfer to AC Milan from Chelsea has been confirmed, with the defender signing a contract till 2025.

The 23-year-old who has been on loan since January helped the Italian giant qualified for Champions League by finishing second in Serie A. Milan agreed a £25 million permanent deal clause with £5 million in potential add-ons as part of the move that brings to an end Tomori’s 16-year association with Chelsea, who he joined at under8s level.

Milan confirmed the news in a statement on Wednesday, saying: “AC Milan is delighted to announce the exercising of the option for the per-

manent transfer of Oluwafikayomi Oluwadamilola Tomori from Chelsea.

“The English defender, who made 22 appearances and scored one goal over the last season, will continue to play with the Club until 30 June 2025.”

Chelsea also released a statement, adding: “Chelsea is grateful to Fikayo for his contributions at the

club, from youth level to men’s first-team squad, and wishes him the very best in his future career.”

Tomori made 15 Premier League appearances during the 2019/20 season under the management of Frank Lampard as part of the young group of players tasked with getting Chelsea through their transfer

Christian Eriksen To Be Fitted With ‘Heart Starter’ After Euro 2020 Collapse

News

Idris Idowu

F

proach the almighty God to urgently change the direction of events in our nation to make us all great again.”

Mrs. Oyetola admonished Nigerians to change their approaches and behaviours towards the issue of nationhood and affairs of their communities, states and the country as a whole.

She said: “It is also pertinent at this juncture to call on each one of us to begin to change our approaches to issues of nationhood.

“We must start the

cause of the behaviour change, let us change our attitude in relation to one and other, in relation to community affairs, in relation to our states’ affairs, and in relation to our national affairs.”

In attendance at the event held at the Government House, Osogbo were women from across religious beliefs, wives of top government functionaries and political appointees, women in politics, market women association, among others.

HRISTIAN Eriksen will be fitted with a defibrillator implant after suffering a cardiac arrest in Denmark’s Euro 2020 opener against Finland, the national team doctor has confirmed.

The 29-year-old Inter Milan midfielder had to be resuscitated on the pitch at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen after slumping to the ground during the first half of his side’s 1-0 Euro 2020 Group B defeat to Finland on Saturday evening.

Providing an up-

AKINTUNDE LEAH IDOWU

•Kafayat Oyetola

That I was formerly known and addressed as ADEWALE LEAH IDOWU now wish to be known and addressed as AKINTUNDE LEAH IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

date on his status on Thursday, Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen said: “After Christian has been through different heart examinations it has been decided that he should have an ICD (heart starter).

“This device is necessary after cardiac attack due to rhythm disturbances.

“Christian has accepted the solution and the plan has moreover been confirmed by specialists nationally and internationally who all recommend the same treatment.

“We encourage eve-

rybody to give Christian and his family peace and privacy in this time”.

Earlier this week, Eriksen released a statement thanking fans for their support.

It reaad “Hello everyone, Big thanks for your sweet and amazing greetings and messages from all around the world.

It means a lot to me and my family.

“I’m fine – under the circumstances.

I still have to go through some examinations at the hospital, but I feel okay.

CHANGE OF NAME RAJI KHADIJAT JUMOKE That I was formerly known and addressed as RAJI KHADIJAT with old phone number 08141789830 now wish to be known and addressed as RAJI KHADIJAT JUMOKEwithnewphonenumber 08146418950.All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

TIAMIYU SAKA OLAIDE That I was formerly known and addressed as SAKA TIAMIYU OLAIDE now wish to be known and addressed as TIAMIYU SAKA O L A I D E . A l l former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

Crime

FRIDAY, JUNE 18 - THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 Archival materials are important, especially, those that come from primary sources, who in many cases are participant observers, even more so.

For The Record, we are restating the observation of Hafsat Abiola-Costello, an Harvard-trained economist daughter of the pivot of the democratic struggle, Bashorun MKO Abiola. Behind the scenes such as the ones made here are crucial in the construction of historical insights.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on becoming the governor of the State of Osun on the 27th of November, 2010 prioritised the acknowledgement of the vitally important day on which the path-breaking June 12, 1993 Presidential Election was held as Democracy Day. This was done the following year (2011) in the State of Osun. What is just now coming into the public sphere is the concerted efforts made by Ogbeni Aregbesola to institutionalise the day as a National Day of democratic observance by vigorously and persistently, albeit unsuccessfully, lobbying the then President Goodluck Jonathan to achieve this objective. This is why history matters, in this case crucial as we have to keep the torch of liberty perpetually burning with constant reminders.

H

AFSAT Abiola-Costello, daughter of the winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, Chief Moshood Olawale Abiola, has said that her family cannot forget the roles played by Nigeria’s current Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in ensuring that honour comes the way of her father eventually.

Abiola-Costello said that long before President Muhammadu Buhari came in as the President of Nigeria, Aregbesola, who was then the Governor of Osun, SouthWest Nigeria, had embarked on what she described as a one-man campaign team which pressed for recognition for Abiola as winner of that election and indeed to be recognised as a former President.

Speaking from Brussels, Belgium, during a virtual colloquium tagged: Africa: Interrogating the Leadership Question, organised by Proumou Media Consulting, the Harvard-trained Economist said Aregbesola raised the issues with the then President Goodluck Jonathan who however expressed fears that there might be backlash if he recognised Abiola.

Abiola died on July 7, 1998 after years of incarceration, sequel to the annulment of his electoral mandate in 1993.

She said: “There was a story that one of my siblings told me. You know that recently, President Muhammadu Buhari honoured MKO, but Ogbeni had been working on it. He had a one-man campaign on this issue for a very long time.

Couple Arraigned For Assaulting Police Officer, Wife

VOL. 16 NO 22 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

For The Record Aregbesola And The Vital Role To Immortalize MKO

“And well before President Buhari was President, when we had President Jonathan, Ogbeni also approached Jonathan to make an appeal that MKO be honoured.”

•Hafsat Abiola-Costello.

And well before President Buhari was President, Ogbeni had also approached President Jonathan to make an appeal that MKO be honoured.

“I cannot remember which of my siblings told me this, but the sibling told me that they sat with President Jonathan and President Jonathan asked: “What do you think should be done and how do you think it should be done?” And Ogbeni offered his thoughts and President Jonathan said do you think it is possible because he had some concerns about backlash. So, it

STRIKER

was not something that was carried out eventually.”

In 2018, President Buhari at a public ceremony honoured the late business mogul by declaring that henceforth, the country’s Democracy Day would shift from the previous May 29 to June 12 in honour of the late politician.

Praising Aregbesola, Hafsat AbiolaCostello said the Minister is one of her favourite Nigerian political leaders.

She added: “Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is one of my favourite people. I like his simplicity because when he was Governor of Osun, I used to visit him and I observed that his life had some simplicity about it.

And his wife, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola would tease me, saying it was because she was raised in the North.

“And truly as my mother (late Kudirat) would say that people from SouthWest who are raised in the North have

Page 6

a different acculturation, gentleness, and openness to other people.

“I don’t think Ogbeni was raised in the North but he is very much happy with poor people and it makes you to admire and love him.”

The Founder of Women in Africa also recalled that it was not only her father that Aregbesola was serious busy trying to immortalise, she said even before then, the then Governor of Osun had demonstrated passion in the construction of what is now Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun in Lagos when he served as the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure.

She said: “I want to thank Ogbeni for neither forgetting my dad, nor my mother. You know that road, the Kudirat Abiola Road, Oregun in Ikeja. He was the Commissioner for Works in Lagos State and was responsible for that road. And this time around, I remember Jamiu (Abiola) told me that he would go to that road around midnight and find Ogbeni there with the workers getting the road fixed and ready. So, I just want to thank Ogbeni for the many steps he has taken to honour MKO and Kudirat Abiola.”

She said that the most important thing that could be done to honour the memories of those who fought for democracy as against military rule is to ensure that democracy works for the poor people.

She concluded: “And it may be much more than that, the many steps you have taken to make sure that the democracy they gave their lives to fighting to achieve in Nigeria actually makes difference in the lives of poor people. I think that is really the most important thing that could be done.”

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

How Difficult Is Doing The Right Thing?

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HERE is no doubt that if Nigeria is to survive, we must all agree and restructure into a true federation, and soon at that!

However, before the rebirth (or crumble, God forbid bad thing - a la OBJ) there are policy decisions, as clear as daylight, that can simplify our dangerously complex situation. Why the Presidency and Mr. President find them difficult to initiate bogs the mind. It makes one wonder who are the strategic thinkers and solution-finders, the proactive think-tank, of the Presidency.

Are there even any?

Let us, for instance, take the grave insecurity situation in Nigeria, from genesis till date.

It developed in stages from two separate component matters: religious extremism/terrorism and farmers/herders communal clashes localised around Borno, Plateau and Benue states.

Those matters have become interwoven today but before they so became, what did the governments directly in charge of all apparatuses of state do to prevent the mushrooming? Little next to nothing and the little actually done only tended to fuel the conflagration.

Two governments have been challenged the most in recent history by the above phenomena; the six years PDP Government under Goodluck Jonathan and the 6 years APC government under Muhammadu Buhari. Before them, the greatest enemies known to the state were the Niger Delta militants, which threat was brilliantly simplified (but eventually mismanaged) in the amnesty programme initiated by President Shehu Musa Ya’Ardua. If the Jonathan government that inherited no more than that plus budding Boko Haram - as far as insecurity is concerned - is alleged as clueless and corrupt, what is to be said of a government of progressives that rode in on the wave of the change mantra and

so much popular goodwill that for the first time in Nigeria’s history, an incumbent government at the national level was swept away?

Even leaving aside the APC manifestos and campaign promises, the question to ask is: what happened to creative thinking for innovative solutions, considering the calibre and pedigree of the managers at the disposal of APC, its Federal Government and National Legislative majority, however slim? Cattle ranching and animal husbandry is no rocket science and is not new in Nigeria. Rather than a recourse to the provocative and ill-fated Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) policy, a simple historical check would have shown the APC Federal Government that large-scale cattle ranching is as old in Northern Nigeria as the time of Amalgamation (1914), anchored by African Ranches Limited, a subsidiary of a Liverpool firm that later became part of the United African Company (UAC); and ranching was widespread all over the Western and Eastern Regions as well, from Saki all the way to Obudu!

Several papers have since been written on the challenges that drove them into near-oblivion, key of which is simply archaic governance and retrogressive elite disposition over the decades.

What does it cost a progressive government to change that disposition?

Striker once quoted from a recent Food and Agriculture Organisation’s publication “World Cattle Inventory: Ranking of 209 Countries,” and said that “the world has about 1.468billion cattle with Brazil as leader (211,764,292) followed by India, China and United States of America in that order. Nigeria is in 14th position with 20,000,000 cattle, with Ethiopia, Sudan and Tanzania ahead of us in Africa (54m, 41m and 24m cattle) in 5th, 7th and 11th position respectively. In none of the leading or less-

er countries, Africa and beyond, is there any issue about cattle rearing leading to social crisis, much else violent crimes and human killings, except in Nigeria!”

If Federal Government led by the APC had done the needful in its first two years, having the mushrooming terrorist menace at the back of its mind, cattle rustling and farmer/herders clashes would not only have been stamped out or reduced to barest minimum, animal husbandry would have transformed into a multibillion dollars economic sector providing millions of job along the value chains.

Once rustling and communal clashes are stemmed, there would be no hiding place for terrorism except to be dealt with as what it is -terrorism. Today, terrorism has a fancy cover in cattle rustling, which led to arming cattle herders, which led to brazing illegal occupation of farmlands and forests by terrorist (masquerading as bandits using herders as cover), which led to wanton violence against inhabitants (kidnapping, arson, etc), which led to secessionist agitations in the South-West and escalated it in the South-East, which has now led us to almost a failed state status and a grave threat to democracy and nation’s survival.

Almost all Nigeria’s statesmen and interest groups have condemned the baffling lethargy of the government and irresponsible indifference, and even complicity of some key state actors. Solutions – short-, medium- and longterms are daily provided from several quarters - from former presidents to newsprint columnists. The mind-boggling question, while waiting for actions from a progressive party and a progressive President, before it is too late, is: how really difficult is it to simply do the right things?

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