Osun Defender Online Version of 3rd August, 2021

TUESDAY, AUGUST 03 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

A Person Going For General Election Should Not Be Afraid Of Internal Contest – Najeem Salaam Page 4

VOL 16 NO 29

Elegbeleye Did More Damage To Fragile Osun APC - TOP

Why IleriOluwa Camp Boycotted APC Ward Congress In Osun – Salinsile

Page 6

Page 6

Ward Congress Deepens Osun APC Crisis - Page Page 2

•Members Accuse Committee, INEC Of Bias •13 Injured In Osogbo, Iree, Ilesa

•Kayode Akinwale, victim in Osogbo.

•Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 04, Ejigbo Local Government, State of Osun, during last Saturday’s Ward Congress.

•Fatai Oseni, victim in Iree

Hijrah 1443: Osun Muslim Community Condemns Secession Agitations Page 7

TUESDAY, AUGUST 03 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

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News

Ward Congress Deepens Osun APC Crisis Our Reporter

places.

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Thugs Take Over Vo ng Centres In Osogbo

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HE Ward Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held on Saturday has totally exposed the sharp division in the progressives’ family in the State of Osun.

Parallel congress was held in majority of the local governments of the state by the group gunning for consensus, with excep on of Ila and Boluwaduro.

This is the first me the progressives’ family would resort to parallel congress, since the incepon of the Fourth Republic.

OSUN DEFENDER, which went round the state to observe the congress, noted that there was large turnout of party faithful and members who had gathered as early as 7am to elect the execuve members in each of their various wards.

But only a few places were free of skirmishes because of the unresolved mode that the congress would take.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who is a member of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Conven on Planning Commi ee (CECPC) and Caretaker Chairman of the APC in the state, Prince Gboyega Famodun, had insisted on using consensus for the Ward Congress.

The Caretaker Secretary and Deputy Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Rasaq Salinsile and Alhaji Azeez Adesiji and former Chairman of the party, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi also led other notable members of the party to demand for elec on modality for the congress.

However, members of the two camps, christened IleriOluwa group and The Osun Progressives (TOP), went for the congress on Saturday, even as the former boyco ed the exercise in majority of the wards where elec on was held, thereby resor ng to parallel arrangement to get through with their scheme.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that the Congress Commi ee, which announced its arrival on Friday evening at the Government House, Osogbo, only visited Ward 1, Iragbiji, the hometown of Governor Oyetola, Isedo Ward, Ila-Orangun, the hometown of Chief Bisi Akande, former Na onal Chairman of the APC, Igbajo, Famodun’s hometown, and Moore Ward 1, Ile-Ife, the hometown of Senator Iyiola Omisore.

The commi ee, led by the former Director-General of the Na onal Sports

•Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 10, Iree, Boripe Local Government, on the queue to cast their votes during the Ward Congress.

Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, did not visit any of the wards in Osogbo, Ilesa, Iwo, Ejigbo, Ede, or any other place.

Officials of the Inde-

pendent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) were not also at majority of the wards where the congress was held, even as they were accused of

bias in few of the wards where they witnessed the exercise.

Members of the IleriOluwa group boyco ed elec on in every ward,

on the ground that they had a consensus list of candidates to emerge as the APC ward execu ve, a development that led to chaos in some of the

Oyetola Commends NAPPS’ Impact On Osun Economy Yusuf Oketola

G

OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has commended members of the Na onal Associa on of Proprietors of Private Schools in the state for their immense contribu ons to the development of the state’s economy.

Oyetola, who described their impact on

the socioeconomic index of the state as significant, said their efforts in the area of engaging some unemployed individuals in their services can never be played down.

The Governor disclosed this through his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyin loye, during a meeting with the body at the Centre for Civic Engage-

ment, Osogbo.

Oyin loye noted that the proprietors had been partners-in-progress with the State Government, saying that their employed staff across board have in their own right complemented the state workforce, which by implica on, give some unemployed the pla orm to be par ally engaged.

He said: “Indeed,

Symbol’s Quote

“I laugh when they talk about me because they do not know I am from the street. I am a product of the popular forces; THE PEOPLE and I am part and parcel of them. I emanated from them and I am a product of their struggles”

those who are par ally engaged by the services of private schools, apart from taking a step out of the unemployed cluster, already have the leverage to achieve their potenals if fully maximised.

The proprietors have to be commended for giving thousands of people the opportunity to benefit from the fountain of their enterprise.

“This is in addi on to their quest to complement our efforts as a government, in the area of giving our children sound and quality educa on which would augment our literacy level.

“As a government, we would con nue to see the proprietors as partners in the state’s development, and stop at nothing in making policies that would give them an enabling environment to develop their respec ve ins tu ons.”

Earlier in her remarks, NAPPS President in the state, Alhaja Adepoju Kojusola, commended Governor Oyetola for his unique and people-centred governance, which has brought about tremendous development in all sectors of the state.

Adepoju however appealed to the government to con nue making policies as well as gran ng them value-added benefits which would bring about sustainable development to their respec ve ins tu-

OME armed poli cal hoodlums were sighted at Union Bap st Primary School, Odi-Olowo, Osogbo, which is the collaon centre for Ward 4, Osogbo Local Government of the state.

The hoodlums took over the centre where the congress was supposed to hold as early as 7am.

The school was not also open for the exercise, in spite of the large turnout of enthusias c members of the APC. However, the APC members held their congress with the aid of the Police, who provided security for them at the front of the school.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, one of the APC members, Mr. Isa Idowu Maruf, said: “Some of us got here (Union Bap st Primary School, Odi-Olowo, Osogbo), around 7am and we met these thugs smoking Indian Hemp. The school was also locked but members of the APC were trooping in, in large number for the congress.

“When we discovered that the thugs were increasing in number and threatening to a ack us, we called on the Police and they provided security for us. The thugs told us that they had instruc on from Governor Adegboyega Oyetola not to allow congress to hold.

“We waited ll around 12:30pm before we started the congress in the presence of the Police. The Police witnessed it and we gave them the results. We did not see any official from the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) ll that me.”

Similar thing was said to have also happened at L.A. Primary School, Oluode Aranyin, Ita Olookan, Osogbo, the vo ng centre for Ward 8, where some thugs had converged as early as 6am to prevent APC members from par cipa ng in the congress.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the APC members diverted the hoodlums’ atten on by going to another place.

According to some of the APC members, the hoodlums le the school, thinking that they would not come back.

The APC members said they came to the venue en masse to conduct their congress, which was witnessed

by INEC official and policemen.

Also, violence was recorded during the exercise •Continued on page 5

PEOPLE FIRST

TUESDAY, AUGUST 03 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

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Issue/Policy BY INWALOMHE DONALD APC Ward Congress And Post-Supreme Osun and Ekiti states Court Judgement “In thugs were used for the con-

The Third Wave Is Real I “The task of en-

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HE history of epidemics is well known by now. The pa ern of spread inevitably contains muta ons of the virus in an o en bewildering manner.

Since it is so predictable, governments should not have been caught unaware by the third wave of the no longer novel COVID - 19 virus.

Across the globe, there has clearly been a le ng down of guard as well sheer COVID fague. Not surprisingly the economic cost of containing the virus has come with a devasta ng price tag. Unfortunately, reality cannot be wished away. The third wave is here and it cannot be wished away.

At every level based on wishful thinking and COVID fa gue, there has been a lack of preparedness, the most alarming manifestaon been the repudia on of the threat of a relapse or surge by the public.

All that must change now and governments have to show the same comba ve vigour they showed a few months ago. The third wave is deadlier and the dissemina on of informa on by the government must drive home this point and reflect “the fierce urgency of now” to quote former United States President Barrack Obama.

The Federal Government has sensibly asked for extra budget alloca on to combat the new surge, the state governments should follow suit. It is astonishing that during what has turned out to be a false lull, we did not prepare for the inevitable muta on. For example, the building of oxygen plants across the six geopoli cal zones should have being prepped up,

lightening the public about the perilousness of the third wave is now key. The deniers must be confronted and defeated with the daunting statistics”

for even without a pandemic this is necessary anyway. It is rather awful that across the board, not much reflec on a er the first and second waves in order to fas diously prepare for the inevitable “fire next me”. Now the chickens have come home to roost and the fire is raging.

The task of enlightening the public about the perilousness of the third wave is now key. The deniers must be confronted and defeated with the daun ng sta scs. The present figures represent a clear underes ma on but they must be used to drive home the point that the crisis is existen alist.

Immediate policies must put the country on a war foo ng, with immediate, medium term plans in place to build oxygen plants and get them up and running. The current strike by resident doctors must be tackled as a na onal emergency; there is absolutely no margin of error. The strike itself should never have occurred if complacency and lack of foresight had not set in. The third wave is dangerous. It is an existen al crisis and must be confronted for what it is, a threat to na onal survival.

am worried by the narrow escape of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in retaining Ondo State and the broader implica ons of the pronouncement by the Supreme Court, par cularly, as it relates to the posi on of the Naonal Chairman of APC, Mai Mala Buni There is need for APC to approach Supreme Court for clarifica on on the judgement it delivered in the last Governorship Elec ons in Ondo State because of the confusion that followed APC ward congress recently. In Osun and Eki states thugs were used for the conduct of ward congresses. In Osun State, Governor Oyetola used thugs to hijack the process. The cracks on the walls of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, widened a ermath weekend’s ward congresses, across the country.

Some party stakeholders are in a fight-to-finish for the control of the party’s soul in many states of the country.

Following the intrigues that hallmarked the congresses, which claimed one life and injured many in Eki ; parallel exercises in Lagos and Ogun, and bickering in Akwa Ibom, Osun and Delta, among other states, the pro and an -Mai Mala Buni-led na onal leadership stakeholders, have returned to the trenches.

Facts have emerged on why the Supreme Court with a split decision of four-to-three on Wednesday endorsed the victory of Oluwaro mi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last Governorship Elec ons in Ondo State.

Four Jus ces, out of a seven-member panel, resolved on technicality that the pe on filed against Akeredolu’s

duct of ward congresses. In Osun State, Governor Oyetola used thugs to hijack the process”

victory was incompetent, because the Chairman of the Na onal Caretaker Commi ee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, was not joined as a party in the suit.

Jus ce Emmanuel Agim read the lead majority judgement, which was supported by Jus ces John Okoro, Lawal Garba and Tijani Abubakar.

The other three Jus ces, Mary Peter-Odili, Ejembi Eko and Mohammed Saulawa held otherwise in their dissenting minority judgment.

The candidate of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) in the elec on, Eyitayo Jegede and his party had challenged the competence of Akeredolu’s nomina on/ sponsorship for the elec on by the APC, claiming that the le er conveying his nomina on/sponsorship to the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) was incompetent, having been signed by Buni and others.

They contended that by the provision of Sec on 183 of the Cons tu on and Ar cle 17 (4) of the APC cons tu on, Buni acted unlawfully by being the Yobe Governor and serving as APC’s Chairman at the same me, and as such, the nomina on/sponsorship le er he signed for the APC, no fying INEC of the candidacy of Akeredolu and Lucky Aiyeda wa (as governorship and deputy governorship candidates) was void.

Jus ce Peter-Odili held that it was unlawful and a viola on of Ar cle 17(4) of the APC Cons tu on and Sec on 183 of the 1999 Cons tuPublisher – Moremi Publishing on for Buni to be serving House Ltd. as the Na onal Chairman Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman of the APC and the Gov(0805-121-2204) ernor of Yobe State at the Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa same me.

Reporter – Yusuf Oketola Jus ces Ejembi Eko Reporter – Kazeem Badmus and Mohammed Saulawa Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto agreed with Jus ce PeterComputer Graphics – Zainab Olalere Odili in upholding the apOSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing peal and dismissing the House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite cross-appeals by INEC, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, APC, Akeredolu and AiyeState of Osun da wa.

ISSN : 0794 – 8050 There is need to study Telephone : 0805-121-2204 and seek the interpretaWebsite : www.osundefender.com/index.php on of the judgement by e–mail : osundefender@yahoo.com Supreme Court. osundefenderbank@gmail.com

OSUN DEFENDER

All Correspondence to the above email Addresses.

OSUN DEFENDER IS NOT AFFLIATED WITH ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER, MAGAZINE OR ANY PUBLICATION WHATSOVER

•Inwalomhe Donald writes from Osogbo, the State of Osun.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 03 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

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Interview

A Person Going For General Election Should Not Be Afraid Of Internal Contest – Najeem Salaam Former Speaker of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam, speaks with ISMAEEL UTHMAN on the just-concluded Ward Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and issues arising from the exercise. Excerpts: they acted it.

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hat is your assessment of the Ward Congress held on Saturday?

We held the congress peacefully in my own area, Ejigbo and it was a successful one. The normal process as stated in the guidelines of the congress was followed to the le er. In all the wards in Ejigbo, we held elecon in the accredited places known to INEC and the party. The security agents and INEC officials were at the accredited places to witness the elec on and the turnout of people was impressive. Let me put it on record that some group of people who were clamouring for consensus could not come out on that day.

They were either at a beer parlour or some other places wri ng their consensus list. They boyco ed the elec on because they wanted to force consensus on the members. They said there was no elec on but consensus. Consensus is an agreement between people that are agita ng for something. The cons tu on allows consensus but you have to sit down and discuss and agree or disagree. In this case, there was never a me that anybody was called for a discussion and you want to force consensus on others because of power? It is not done anywhere. It is a fraud to force consensus on people where we have contestants. Even if it is only one aspirant that purchased form and shows interest in the same office your consensus candidate is interested in, the appropriate and legi mate thing to do is elec on. The law is clear on that.

However, reviewing the congress generally, the Congress Commi ee compromised and turned itself to a willing tool in the hand of the persons it wanted to work for. The committee members made themselves unavailable to members of the party, aside the Governor, the party Chairman and the people around them.

That is not fair. This is a party affair and not a family mee ng. I must say that if the people in government con nue to threaten our people because of the power they wield now, what happens tomorrow when those people will be needed and definitely, we need our people for the forthcoming elec on.

We found ourselves in this messy situa on because of the wrong doing of some people and there is no good internal mechanism to se le the crisis within the party. And I am afraid the crisis is ge ng escalated day-byday. The people in government are escala ng it without even caring about what happens to whoever!

Back to the Congress Commi ee, they came very late to Osun –few hours to the congress.

Of course, it is a rou ne thing for the committee to pay a visit to the Governor of the state.

However, the Governor and his camp were preparing for the congress, definitely there will be people around him. The people around the Governor were those that were gathered and presented as stakeholders. I am not saying those people are not stakeholders, but what about the other stakeholders in the party?

That means what they were doing was not a stakeholders’ mee ng. It was a courtesy visit to

•Najeem Salaam

the Governor, which is normal. You know even if they fix mee ng at the Government House, some people will not go there because they will be embarrassed and humiliated. What is the essence of having a party secretariat? The stakeholders’ mee ng supposed to happen within the premises of our party Secretariat. It was a stage-managed ac vity. Let me say that we are supposed to have equal rights of going to the Government House, but with the happening in the state, the people in government have their own people that can come to the place.

And people had been crying out on the suspicious move of the Congress Commi ee, and that of the officials who came to sell forms in Osun. Those that came to sell the forms were held hostage for almost a week – incommunicado! We could not call them, nor see them.

They were kept under surveillance. You could imagine the fate of a democra c party keeping people that are to sell forms away from the party members. Selling the forms is a best way to generate income for the party, but that the party was deprived of that opportunity.

The na onal body of our party cannot say it is not aware of what is really going on in Osun.

We expected a straight-line direc ve for the commi ee to “meet everybody “, but the commi ee did not. The commi ee only made itself available to the Governor’s camp within the party. We kept on calling the members of the commi ee but they do not make themselves available to us. So, we concluded that they had a script that they wanted to act and of course

“There was never a time that anybody was called for a discussion and you want to force consensus on others because of power? It is not done anywhere. It is a fraud to force consensus on people where we have contestants”

We will wait for what the Na onal Secretariat will say about it. Of course, there is an appeal committee and that is the first approach to take.

We will lay our claims and then present the irregulari es in the congress before the commi ee. We are hopeful on that.

What do you think is wrong with consensus?

If you ask me, I will tell you that this is not the first me that we are having a consensus arrangement in the state in our party.

Before 2014 Governorship Elec ons, there was supposed to be a congress for elec ng the party officers. We had an arrangement and nobody said no to that arrangement. Everybody agreed on consensus. Even at that, the Congress Commi ee that came from Abuja went to the party’s State Secretariat to hold a stakeholders’ mee ng.

But that is not the case now. The guidelines say: whenever you have an individual, a party member saying no to consensus, you have go to the field. It does not necessarily have to be a person of high status.

I don’t understand why somebody that is having an open elec on that cannot be stagemanaged in less than 12 months will be afraid of internal contest. You should be popular enough to contest within the party. If everyone that is gathering there and calls themselves the stakeholders knows that you are popular in their areas, why were you now shying away from contes ng? Why were your people not contes ng with people that are very poor at the grassroots? At least, you have money and the people do not have money, nor power.

What that tells you is that the grassroots people know what they are doing and are ready for contest. If you want to win an elec on, you must look for people at the grassroots. It is just a simple logic.

So, I don’t understand why the people in government should be afraid of having an internal elec on. And we have been clamouring for internal democracy in our party. Some of us believe in this kind of democra c se ngs, that is why we are clamouring for it. Let us try internal democracy in our party. Let us select those that are very popular in their various areas. We have people that are popular managing the ac vi es of the party in their areas, if we choose those people, we already know the result. But when you impose unpopular candidates on the people, you already know the result also too.

The congress, from the way it went, is a bad direc on for a party having elec on in less than 12 month.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 03 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

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News

Ward Congress Deepens Osun APC Crisis •Continued from page 2 in Ward 1, Osogbo, as members of the IleriOluwa group opposed the conduct of elec on for the congress.

It was gathered that the APC members who belong to TOP had large turnout at the ward to elect the ward execu ve, which they successfully did before some hoodlums a acked some of them.

The medium learnt that INEC official at the colla on centre refused to collect the result of the congress, even as the security opera ves that witnessed the exercise collected the results.

However, the congress was peacefully held at Wards 5 and 9, Osogbo, as Police and INEC official witnessed the exercise conducted at Salva on Army School, Alekuwodo and an open space beside Public Toilet, Ibokun Road, (Ile Epo Kajola Juncon) respec vely.

But some APC members said they were not allowed to vote in Ward 11, alleging that some hoodlums came to chase them away at St. Andrew’s Primary School, Oke-Baale, which is the Colla on Centre for the ward.

A er chasing them away, the APC members said some government officials came with security men and another batch of hoodlums and read a list of names of the people they wanted as party execu ve members at the ward.

Congress Disrupted In Olorunda

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HE congress was disrupted at Ward 8, Olorunda Local Government, Osogbo, as party members disagreed on modali es for the congress.

It was gathered that while some APC members agreed to consensus, others agitated for vo ng, forcing the local congress officials to leave the area a er fis cuffs ensued between two members at the scene.

In Ward 4, a member of TOP, Kayode Akinwale, was a acked and injured by hoodlums allegedly led by a member of the Caretaker Management Commi ee of the local government, Mr. Seun Ajewole.

The incident, according to eye witnesses, ensued a er some members of the party had announced a list of consensus candidates for the ward.

There was also gunshot, reportedly fired by an opera ve of Amotekun corps, to disperse the hoodlums in a bid to prevent the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chie aincy Affairs, Mr. Rasak Adeosun, from being a acked.

In the same Ward 4,

•Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 04 Irepodun Local Government displaying their Membership Card. members of the APC at- of Representa ves and a par cipate in the ward con- instructed to listen to the tempted to lynch an INEC Commissioner in Gover- gress in Ife Central and Ife IleriOluwa group alone, so official when she a empted nor Adegboyega Oyetola’s East Local Governments of they neither signed nor collected the congress results. the state. to read out a consensus list cabinet.

“The same thing hapOSUN DEFENDER learnt According to the APC of candidates given to her pened at L.A Primary that the APC members in by some leaders of the APC members, the two poli cians led the thugs that at- Ilare Ward 4 and Iremo School, Ajebamidele, Ward in the ward.

Ward 1, Ife Central, were 1, Ife Central. There was OSUN DEFENDER gath- tacked them.

The angry party mem- harassed by hired poli cal commo on there too.” ered that the INEC official Also, a former Commiswas brought to the Fire bers said: “We gathered hoodlums, who a empted Brigade, Atelewo, Osogbo, here to conduct our ward to chase them away from sioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism in the the colla on centres at Ilare the colla on centre for the congress and the process ward by some government was on before a House of Central Primary School, Il- state, Alhaji Sikiru Ayedun, Representa ves member are and L.A Primary School, said the INEC officials told officials. the APC members who gathWhen she got to the and a commissioner who Ajebamidele respec vely.

According to some ered at their various wards colla on centre, the INEC had been romancing cultofficial reportedly brought ists and hoodlums in Ilesa, members of the APC who in Ife East Local Governspoke with the medium, ment that they had instrucout an already prepared list came here with thugs. ons to listen to IleriOluwa “They ordered the the thugs who were led by of acclaimed winners of the congress and a empted to thugs to beat people on a member of the State Uni- group of the APC only.

Ayedun said elec on versal Basic Educa on, were read it out to the APC mem- the queue. They said there would not be congress in shoo ng and breaking bot- was held for the congress bers. and results for each of the But the party members the en re Ilesa West Local tles to scare people away.

The APC members said wards were handed over rejected her move and col- Government. We were unable to hold the congress they insisted on having elec- to officers of the Nigeria lected the list from her. on for the ward congress, Security and Civil Defence The medium gathered eventually, and there was that a former lawmaker no congress in the en re while a member of the Il- Corps. eriOluwa group, known as represen ng Olorunda local government” Odo O n APC Members In Ilesa East Local Gov- Olajolo, who led a fac on of State Cons tuency in the House of Assembly, Hon. ernment, where former the APC members said there Accuse INEC Officials of Wasiu Adebayo, rescued Governor Rauf Aregbesola would not be elec on.

A former Commissioner Compromise, Hail DSS, the INEC official from being hails from, elec on was held for the congress in for Youth, Sports and Spe- NSCDC a acked. cial Needs, Comrade Biyi of the 11 wards.

EMBERS of the All Thugs A ack APC nineConsensus was adopt- Odunlade, in an interview Progressives Conat Ward 10, which is with OSUN DEFENDER said: gress (APC) in Odo Members In Ilesa, ed that of the Speaker of the “Thousands of APC mem- O n Local Government of Stop Congress House of Assembly, Hon. bers gathered at Ilare Cen- the State of Osun have acN Ward 3, Ilesa West Lo- Timothy Owoeye and Ward tral Primary School, Ward 4, cused officials of the Indecal Government of the 11, where the Chairman of to vote for the candidates pendent Na onal Electoral state, armed poli cal the Caretaker Commi ee of their choice in the ward Commission (INEC) of comthugs a acked members of the Local Government, congress. But some thugs promise in the party’s Ward of the APC who gathered Mr. Lanre Balogun hails came and started harassing Congress. and in mida ng them. Our for the congress. from.

According to the APC According to the APC Findings from the field people were courageous members, the INEC officials members, the hoodlums by OSUN DEFENDER gath- enough not to be in midat- posted to some of the wards stormed Igbogi Town Hall, ered that while members ed. They waited and insisted in the local government, reIlesa, the colla on cen- of the APC who belong to that there must be elec on fused to collect the results tre for the ward around TOP held the congress at for the ward congress. of the party’s congress held “The Police and INEC in their presence and wit11:30am and disrupted the colla on centres, those offi cials were there too.

A the congress. of the IleriOluwa group nessed by officers of the Some of the people conducted their own con- member of State Universal Department of State ServicBasic Educa on, Olajolo es and Nigeria Security and a acked are: Segun Adeg- gress at other places. said there was an instruc- Civil Defence Corps. baigbe, Jubril Adejuwon, on from the state that Alimat Azeez, Mariam Ade- Commo on In IleThe APC members comshould not be elec- mended the DSS and NSCDC bayo, and one Abiodun.

Ife As Thugs Harass, there on for the congress. At officials for displaying proOSUN DEFENDER, APC the end of the day, we had fessionalism and fairness in which got to the ancient In midate elec on for the congress the conduct of the congress town around 12pm, met when the hoodlums le . members of the party Members HERE was commo on However, the INEC officials in Ward 7, 9, 14 and 15, raining curses on a servOyan. in Ile-Ife, as members told us that they had been ing member of the House The results of the elecof APC trooped out to

M

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on were collected by DSS and NSCDC officers, even as INEC officials refused to collect them.

Speaking with the medium, a leader of the APC in Oyan, Mr. Jide Zubair, said: “We held our congress in the presence of security agents and INEC officials.

Some hired poli cal thugs came and a empted to disrupt the congress but they retreated when they discovered that the party members were resolute and outnumbered them.

“Members of the IleriOluwa group were also at the colla on centre, St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School, Oyan and they could tes fy to the orderliness of our people.

“But we discovered that the INEC officials have been compromised. We held the elec on in their presence but they did not show interest in the congress. I went to them to ask why they put up such behaviour and they told me some people were not supposed to be at the venue of the congress.

The INEC officials came in company of six members of IleriOluwa group.

“I must commend the DSS and NSCDC officers for their professionalism. They followed the congress ll the end and they collected results.”

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the alleged bias of the INEC officials was general in the Odo O n Local Government.

Security Agents, Hoodlums Harass APC Members In Irewole

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EMBERS of the APC at Ward 6, 9 and 11 in Irewole Local Government were reportedly harassed by poli cal thugs, allegedly acting on the instruc ons of government officials, who wanted to ensure there was no elec on for the ward congress in the area.

Members of the APC who belonged to TOP group had gathered at Bap st Day Primary School, Iyana Egba, before the hoodlums stormed the place and harassed them.

It was gathered that similar thing also occurred at AUD Primary School, A le, which is the Colla on Centre for Ward 9, where the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji belongs.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that members of the TOP group of the APC were forced to conduct their congress elec on at another place in Ward 9.

However, the hoodlums could not successfully operate at Ward 11, as elec on •Continued on page 7

TUESDAY, AUGUST 03 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

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Why IleriOluwa Camp Boycotted APC Ward Congress In Osun – Salinsile Yusuf Oketola

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HE Caretaker Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, Hon. Rasaq Salinsile, has said that members of the IleriOluwa group of the party did not par cipate in the Ward Congress of the party held last Saturday across the state.

According to Salinsile, only members of the APC who believed in the ideology of The Osun Progressives (TOP) came out en masse to elect the execu ve members in their various ward.

Salinsile, who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in an interview yesterday, commended the APC members for their strong determina on to strengthen internal democracy in the party, saying they have demonstrated the will to deepen democra c process in the party.

He, however, accused the Congress Commi ee sent from the Na onal Secretariat of the party of bias, saying that they have been compromised

by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and Caretaker Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun.

The Secretary also expressed disappointment in Governor Oyetola’s inability to resolve the crisis within the party, saying such failure speaks volumes about his capacity.

Salainsile said: “The turnout of the people for the congress was very impressive. People turned out. In my own ward and many others in Iwo and across the state, APC members trooped out to vote because they know we are right in the sense that we do not support consensus in situa on where we have contenders.

“Consensus means agreement and the cons tu on of the party made it clear that once someone is not in support of consensus, there is no consensus. You look for another means. Members of the party turned up and voted in their various wards but INEC never came to the wards. None of the members of our Governor’s group par ci-

pated in the elec on because they were wai ng for consensus. They knew they would lose if they par cipated in the direct primary elec on.”

Asked on possible move of se ling the crisis in the party, Salinsile said: “I don’t think the Governor loves peace. If I were him, the issue would not

have degenerated to this level. What does it take to call all your people together? Are we not the people who voted him to become the Governor?

Is the governor’s seat a birthright? Is the Government House a royal house? Even if it is a royal house, people contest for it.

“We gathered our votes, laboured and suffered to get him there. He has disappointed a lot of Osun people, including his own party members.

This is not how to govern.

When you failed right from inside your house, what do you expect from outside, the general stakeholders and the elec-

torate? When you cannot call your own people, the closest to you, your party members to a roundtable and discuss what the issue is, that is a sign of incompetence.”

Making remarks on the conduct of the Congress Commi ee, the APC Secretary said: “The Congress Commi ee is an embarrassment in the sense that I never expected people of that calibre of the Congress

•(R-L) Secretary of The Osun Progressives (TOP), Hon. Adelani Baderinwa, Caretaker Secretary, Osun APC, Hon. Razaq Salinsile, TOP Chairman, Revd. Adelowo Adebiyi and former Commissioner for Local Governmennt and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Kolapo Alimi, at a pre-ward congress press conference held at Oranmiyan House, recently.

Elegbeleye Did More Damage To Fragile Osun APC - TOP Kazeem Badmus

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HE Osun Progressives (TOP), a caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, has rejected the claim of the Chairman of the Ward Congress Commi ee sent from the Na onal Secretariat of the party, Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye, that only those who purchased forms and passed through screening par cipated in the last Saturday Ward Congress.

According to TOP Chairman, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi, in a press statement yesterday, Elegbeleye has done more damage to the fragile Osun APC, describing him a liar and a big disappointment.

The statement reads in part: “The Osun Progressives rejects the white lie told by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Chairman of the Ward Congress Commi ee sent from the APC Naonal Secretariat, in the bid to cover the scam and sacrilege against democracy that they

called congress last Saturday.

“It is sad that the representa ves of the highly revered and reputable Na onal Caretaker and Extraordinary Conven on Planning Commi ee of the APC will descend so low to tell a bare-faced lie in order to cover the illegality they called Ward Congress.

“Elegbeleye said that it was only those who obtained forms that were screened and had congress conducted for and we say it is a white lie which defies all logics on its head.

“May it please Elegbeleye to tell the whole world where, when and who conducted the screening for 35 persons in each of the 30 Local Governments and one Area Office?

“It will be necessary too for Elegbeleye to tell the world, how he managed to screen the number of contestants running to several thousands, when his commi ee arrived Osogbo on Friday evening with the congress commencing in the morning of

Saturday, July 31, 2021.

What a liar!

“Elegbeleye will do well to tell the whole world and produce the list of those who supervised the Congress in each of the 332 wards other than the Governor’s group, IleriOluwa who were harassing and in mida ng hapless party members in most wards where elec ons were held.

“It is intriguing that Elegbeleye supervised a sensi ve assignment like the holding of Ward Congress without seeing or talking to the State Party Secretary who is the custodian of party documents and claimed that he had successful assignment.

“It is surprising that Elegbeleye, who on arrival in Osogbo met with only Governor Gboyega Oyetola and his loyalists inside the cosy atmosphere of the Government House and stayed the night in the 3-star Hotel in company of Senator Omisore and others would think ra onal human beings will listen to the scan-

dalous lie he told at a structured press conference this evening.

“The press conference aimed at changing the well-known iniquity commi ed last Saturday against democra c norms came dead on arrival and we tell him we are no fools that he may stupidly think we are.

“May we use this opportunity to tell the men of integrity running the party in Abuja to reject whatever fake report brought to them

by Elegbeleye, who obviously abandoned the assignment he was sent to do and colluded with Governor Oyetola and his group, IleriOluwa, probably on account of some lucre changing hands to do evil in the name of conduc ng ward Congress.

“Elegbeleye did more damage to the fragile image of our party than he met it with his mischievous misconduct of the Saturday ward Congress and we note that it is not in the party’s interest that he has acted.”

Commi ee to behave the way they did. What for? I am totally disappointed in them.

“The Congress Commi ee members are elecon umpires because they are part of the process.

Elec on process starts from their own contribuons, right from screening. The Congress Commi ee, INEC and security agencies are the umpires, they can make or mar elec on. The informa on we had was that the commi ee arrived Osogbo by Friday morning and were camped at the Government House.

“I told the press that the commi ee had been hijacked by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola. But in the evening of the day, the Chairman of the commi ee, Gbenga Elegbeleye, refuted my claim, saying that they just arrived the state and promised to organise a stakeholders’ mee ng and invite all of us. I had a chat with the commi ee on the need to invite every stakeholder of the party.

“We were expec ng his invita on or that of the Governor or party Chairman, but nothing came up. It was on the second day that we read it online that they held a supposed stakeholders’ mee ng at the Government House.

Also, throughout Saturday when the congress was on, we did not see the commi ee in the enre Osun West Senatorial District where I come from. Where were they?

“If the commi ee was to be fair, the Secretariat of the party is the most suitable place for a stakeholders’ mee ng. For your informa on, we have about 90 APC stakeholders in Osun. How many of them were invited to the kangaroo stakeholders’ mee ng they held at the Government House? That is to tell you that the commi ee was biased. I was not invited and scores of others were not too.

“Also, the INEC officials were biased, they were absent in 80 per cent of the wards. In wards where they showed up, they only came to carry out Mr. Governor’s instruc on to read out the consensus list from his own group. In the whole Osun west, I did not see any INEC official and nobody told me they came to his or her ward.”

PEOPLE FIRST

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Ward Congress Deepens Osun APC Crisis •Continued from page 5 was held in the Molarere Primary School, Ikire, in spite of the harassment and in mida on.

11 Injured As Violence Mar Exercise In Iree

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BOUT 11 members of the APC were reportedly injured during the ward congress in Iree, Boripe Local Government of the state.

It was learnt that violence marred the congress in Wards 9, 10 and 11, as hoodlums a acked members of the party who were on the queue, hoping to have elec on for the congress.

The medium gathered that the hoodlums were conveyed to each of the wards in two 18-seater buses.

Findings revealed that members of the APC who belong to the TOP group had an in mida ng presence at BHS, Nawair ‘Ud-Deen Primary School and Town Hall, Iree, the colla on centres for the wards.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the Divisional Police Officer for the area and the Area Commander, Zone 11 visited the colla on centres where they saw the APC members that were injured by the hoodlums.

Confirming the incident, a former Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr.

Kazeem Salami said: “We have three wards in Iree, Ward 9, 10 and 11. We have good numbers of TOP members there and I know that we have a violent poli cian in the town.

“In all the three wards, we have impressive turnout of people of ra o 500 (TOP members) to 20 (IleriOluwa). At Ward 9 and 11,

•Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osogbo Ward 5, displaying their Membership Cards during Saturday’s Congress. our people were orderly up when we were on the well, as there was no record same persons for same posions. and peaceful. They were on queue, to do an affirma on of violence or in mida on of “Elec on was held for the the queue wai ng for INEC of the consensus list.” members of the party. officials when they said the OSUN DEFENDER office of Secretary with TOP Commissioner for Local Successful Exercise monitored the exercise in having 83, while IleriOluwa Government and Chie ainAlusekere Ward 5 where group had 3 votes. For the ofcy Affairs, Prince Adeleke In Ifelodun, Ede the former Chairman of the fice of Youth Leader, TOP had Adebayo, came and said North LGs ward, Musliudeen Adeyemi, 86 votes while the IleriOluwa there should not be an elecHE congress was held handed over to the newly group had zero. For the office on, that the direc ve was peacefully in Ifelodun elected chairman, Mr. Aminu of the Women leader, TOP to have consensus congress Local Government Gasali in the presence of Po- had 115 votes while the Ileri“They said they rejected as members of the party lice and former Chairman of Oluwa group had nothing.

“The congress was disthat and insisted on elec- trooped out to elect their Ede North Area Council, Com. rupted by the aggrieved Ilerion. Later, I received calls ward execu ve members.

Mukaila Uthman.

Oluwa people, who insisted that thugs had been a ackAccording to a former ing them at the wards. I Commissioner for Informa- Congress Disrupted that the elec on should be discon nued for consensus. called the DPO for security on and Strategy, Mr. Adelani In Ifedayo “The same thing hapsupport. Later, the thugs Baderinwa, only TOP memHE ward congress was came to my own Ward 10 bers of the APC came out to disrupted in Wards 7 pened at St. Stephen’s Anand a acked us, but we had par cipate in the congress in and 8 and 10 of Ife- glican Primary School, Papa Area, Ora, the colla on concluded the elec on be- all the 15 wards of the local dayo Local Government. fore they came. government, a development According to a mem- centre for Ward 8 where “About 11 people were that gave incontestable vic- ber of the APC who spoke members of the IleriOluwa injured. The phones of tory to the group. with OSUN DEFENDER on group destabilised the elecon process. The story is the two of my followers were He insisted that there was telephone, the exercise had smashed on the ground by no parallel congress in the lo- commenced peacefully with same at Surajudeen Primary the hoodlums who thought cal government because the the TOP members winning School,Papa area, Ward 10, they were recording them. IleriOluwa group of the APC the Youth Leader, Women Ora-Igbomina.”

We reported the case at the did not par cipate in the ex- Leader and Secretary of Ward Ex-Osun Speaker, Police sta on. ercise on the excuse that the 7 before the congress was “Later, I heard the Il- leadership of the party had disrupted.

Salaam Faults eriOluwa people went to adopted consensus mode for The APC members said: Process, Accuses the colla on centres of the it.

“As early as 8:00am, we had three wards with the INEC In Ede North Local Gov- gathered at maternity centre, Commi ee Of Bias official who refused to show ernment, the congress went Isale Ola, Ora-Igbomina for ORMER Speaker of the Osun State House of the congress. Organizing offiAssembly, Dr. Najeem cials eventually showed up at 10:55am with security opera- Salam, alleged the Congress Commi ee set up by the ves on ground too. security level in Nigeria: “The IleriOluwa group na onal leadership of the Titling Towards Anarchy: canvassed for ‘consensus’ APC to oversee Ward Consizes unity, respect for the Islamic Solu ons.” religious and government Ac vi es lined up for while TOP members moved gress in the state of bias.

Salaam told newsmen in leaders. the celebra on includes, for proper elec on. The con“All the segments of Quran compe on which gress officials started the Ejigbo that the commitour government are called was held yesterday at the elec on process. In some cas- tee was only working with upon to have roundtable Secretariat of the group, es, the two groups presented the list presented to it by discussions with all the ag- Halleluyah, Osogbo and grieved units and a way for- Colloquium on the topic, ward towards a formidable “Curbing Insecurity in Niand united Nigeria. Break- geria: The Roles of Reliing up is not an op on.” gious Bodies” which will be The group also charged held tomorrow, August 4, the Federal Government 2021. not to relent on its efforts Other ac vi es include, in figh ng terrorism, kid- Jumu’at Service on August napping and banditry in 6, 2021 to hold at Osogbo the country.

Central Mosque, Oja-Oba, According to the group, Youth Forum, August 7, security is everybody’s 2021 where they will be business, calling on Nigeri- taught on how to proans to be security conscious duce liquid soap and body and assist the government cream, stakeholders meetin exposing miscreants and ing, August 8, 2021 and Himischievous elements in jrah lecture, August 9, 2021 the society. to hold at the Secretariat of The theme for Hijarah the group.

•Elegbeleye 1443 A celebra on is “In-

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Hijrah 1443: Osun Muslim Community Condemn Secession Agitations Yusuf Oketola

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HE Osun State Muslim Community has come out to condemn the acvi es of those agita ng for the breakup of Nigeria.

The Muslim body, in a press statement released on Sunday to herald Hijrah 1443, said Nigeria’s unity should be sacrosanct to every ci zen of the country.

1443 AH starts on Monday, August 9, 2021.

The Vice President 1 of the group, Alhaji Sodiq Bello, who read the press statement said: “The agita on to breakup Nigeria is uncalledfor. The federa ng units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should see strength in unity and consolida on of Nigeria forefathers’ achievements.

“Islam loves and empha-

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Governor Oyetola and not the one agreed to by party members.

He said members of the APC in his ward and across Ejigbo Local Government trooped out in their large numbers to par cipate in the exercise, while INEC officials were also available to observe it.

But the supervising commi ee members appointed by the na onal headquarters of the party were not seen anywhere at the polls, according to Salam.

The former Speaker wondered why those in government in the state were afraid of elec on within their party when they would be facing a general elec on next year.

Salaam, who is the Execu ve Director, Marke ng and Business Development of NIGCOMSAT, maintained that imposing consensus arrangement on the party was a deliberate a empt to force some loyal members out of the APC, a development which he said would be impossible.

He called on the na onal leadership to address the situa on to ensure that internal democracy and popular par cipa on are deepened in the APC. Reac ng to the congress, the Caretaker Secretary of the APC in the state, Hon. Rasaq Salinsile, said the parallel congress was held because members of the party do not support the consensus arrangement being forced on them

by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the Caretaker Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun.

According to Salinsile, it speaks volumes that a si ng governor is afraid of elec on within his own poli cal party, maintaining that the outcome of the ward congress is a sign of danger ahead of the 2022 Governorship Elec ons.

He bemoaned the Congress Commi ee sent from the APC Na onal Secretariat and INEC officials for being biased in the conduct of the congress.

The APC Secretary said the IleriOluwa group boyco ed the congress because they refused to par cipate in the elec on, but rather held a parallel congress where a consensus list was adopted.

Addressing journalists shortly a er the tour to some of the wards in the state, the Chairman of the commi ee, Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye, expressed delight at the way and manner members of the party conducted themselves.

Governor Oyetola also lauded members of the party for turning out in large numbers to elect new officers of the party at ward level.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 03 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 VOL. 16 NO 29 www.osundefender.com,

Oyetola Commends NAPPS’ Impact On Osun Economy

email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

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HAT transpired on July 31, 2021 in Osun at APC Ward Congress is unprecedented in the history of the state. For the first me, mass majority of leaders and members of the ruling party waged a tumultuous campaign and struggle of rejec on against the si ng Governor and his caucus in the party. For keen observers of events that culminated to the congress, it is not a surprise.

The first salvo was fired by the Governor and his caucus within the party.

Members of the Na onal Congress Planning Commi ee who brought with them nomina on forms were received by the Governor and the State Party Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun, who refused to carry along other party execu ve like the Vice Chairman, State Secretary and others. The forms brought were not distributed to the Local Governments or Wards for intending members interested in the ward leadership. They were only distributed to individuals in the Governor’s caucus – IleriOluwa. This development forced other caucuses like The Osun Progressives (TOP) to directly pay to the Na onal Secretariat and secure forms independently for other caucuses who were about to be short-changed. At this stage, the die was cast – other caucuses, apart from Governor’s own, were prepared for elec ons at the congress.

On July 31st, as early as 8am, members had trooped out en masse to vote at their various wards. Unfortunately, however, the minority IleriOluwa caucus - Governor’s group - did not prepare for elec on.

What it wanted was “consensus” anchored around its clique, which majority of members rejected. Lacking capacity to impose its will on the majority, some IleriOluwa members and sympathisers, especially the Commissioners and Special Advisers amongst other Governor’s appointees, used Amotekun Corps and hired thugs to in midate, harass and chase members away from vo ng to choose their leaders.

This act of misuse of security apparatuses is one of the reasons why some people are agita ng against state policing, despite the fact that we are long overdue for it. Debate on this is for another day, however. But there are 332 wards in Osun; how many wards congresses could they disrupt, especially when they are in the minority?

Apart from the Amotekun corps, some

“A tree does not make forest. It is only a cohesive party that can canvass popular votes before elections, defend its votes from being manipulated or stolen during elections and be committed to sacrifice everything to assure victory”

Rescuing The Soul Of Osun APC

Fallout From Osun APC Ward Congress INEC officials have been alleged of refusal to accept the results of elec ons in some areas by deferring to the Governor’s caucus ready-made consensus list. If these allega ons are inves gated and affirmed to be true, it is a dangerous signal for the 2022 Governorship Elec ons in the state.

Persuasion is the bedrock of par san polics to garner votes and support for policy decision. In its absence, violence and anarchy will hold sway. If the state cohesive power could be deployed against the majority of members of the seemingly progressive party instead of persuasion to

STRIKER

sway caucuses within the party over struggle for internal democracy, one can then imagine what will play out in the interparty General Elec ons, as nobody/party has monopoly of violence. This charade is an the cal to the tenets of democracy and par ally explains the overriding power of money and violence as against robust debates and issues-based campaign in our poli cs and polity.

Deceiving people is one thing; self decep on is a fast path to perdi on. Osun APC is suffering from epidural haemorrhage inflicted on it by IleriOluwa caucus.

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If it is not too late, Governor Gboyega Oyetola and his IleriOluwa caucus must quickly abandon braggadocio and self-deceit, return to playing by party rules and regulaons for level-contests if they believe they are popular or, if in self-doubt as they are, seek true reconcilia on with all aggrieved party leaders and members. A seasoned poli cian must be able to hold forth his/ her party first and aggressively woo other party members, even main opposi on, to his/her fold. It is incongruous for a governor to alienate his party Vice Chairman, State Secretary and other leaders only to be hobnobbing with the Chairman and some lesser officers.

A tree does not make forest. It is only a cohesive party that can canvass popular votes before elec ons, defend its votes from being manipulated or stolen during elec ons and be commi ed to sacrifice everything to assure victory. A governor earnestly seeking a second term would not ac vely partake in ac ons and inac ons that will polarise his party. It is against the rule. If the local and state congresses meet this messy situa on on ground, the caucus’ 4+4=8 mantra will not only be a farce but an illusion in delusion. As Yoruba will say: You’re not wanted in town but waxing song, if the song is ready, who will chorus it for you? A word should be enough for the wise.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

Between The Devil And The Deep Sea

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VERY sensible member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), like every right-thinking Nigerian, knows for sure that the recently conducted APC Ward Congresses across the country is an exercise in nullity in the light of the recent Supreme Court judgement in the case of Eyitayo Jegede versus Ro mi Akeredolu, as per the status of the Mai Mala Buni, the APC Caretaker Chairman and si ng (or is it absentee?) Governor of Yobe State. The Caretaker concept, ab ini o, is forever an aberra on in Democracy; it is alien to the APC Cons tu on itself.

For anyone who cares to remember, former Interim Na onal Chairman of the Party, Chief Bisi Akande, had condemned it since the beginning. Should the APC not tarry to do the needful, its Day of Judgement is right at hand and what a mighty fall that would be!

However, that is not the topic for considera on here, as the shenanigans and (mis)conduct of the Congress itself and its outcome is now an eyeopener for the party “leaders” with eyes wide shut.

The concern of this piece is how things could easily go wrong for an otherwise healthy poli cal party, state or na on, with brilliant men and women, simply on account of a bad leadership and consequent poor governance: the same thing that befell America on the then choice of Trump! Majority of Nigerians always fall short in exercising collec ve recall. Who remembers the last years in the Peoples Democra c Party’s 16 years (mis)rule, please? Nigerians had had it up to their necks and earnestly yearned for a change.

Space will not permit a chronicle of the Bad and the Ugly, without much of the Good.

Then, the grandmaster of Nigeria’s poli cs, the Jagaban Borgu and Asiwaju of Lagos, stepped in. Tinubu had been doing his homework well before then, and from AD to AC to ACN, he architected the construc on of APC as the history-making edifice that could, and did, send an incumbent president and party packing at the na onal level. Although some of the strategies and tac cs le much to be desired as far as progressivism is concerned, the inten on, principles, manifestoes and promises were simply grand enough to set the na on and its ci zens into frenzy.

Even, scep cs and those wary of the choice of leadership in General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), Prof. Wole Soyinka for instance, had to se le for the broke – anything but Jonathan and the PDP. There was nothing legi mate, illegi mate, legal or illegal that Jonathan and PDP didn’t do to truncate the “change.” So popular was the call that at a point, the people said even if Buhari did not have anything more than a NEPA bill or ssue paper, they are sa sfied with it as an educa on cerficate. Jonathan panicked and postponed the elec on from February 14, 2015 (Valen ne’s Day) - which Nigerians (in Yoruba) coined into Fe Buhari (Love Buhari) - to March 29; an agonising 6 weeks’ wait, yet Nigerians persevered and re-coined “Fe Buhari” to “March for Buhari.” A er the Orubebe and Jega drama on Judgement Day, a

joyous ci zen trekked from Lagos to Abuja to fulfil his pre-elec on promise, for God’s magnanimity in answering a na onal prayer. Buhari and APC were popularity exemplified!

Shockingly, everything started going wrong right from the Inaugura on ground on May 29, 2015, with the “I am for everybody and I am for nobody” speech and disposi on, and a President not bothered about choice of his Senate President, and “can work with anybody.” Shortly down the bad line, a ci zen was already naming his dog Buhari, and was promptly dealt with. Here we are today, all lovely campaign promises renounced, the party manifestos forgo en, party cons tu on, rules and regula ons repeatedly violated, and almost every ci zen dealt with – economically, poli cally and spiritually. The APC Na onal story is the same for Osun and most states but that is a story for another day.

Where do Nigerians jump for their redemp on in 2 years’ me? Not that there are no other places than the frying pan and the fire, the reality is that there are only 2 poli cal par es that have the ways and means to win at the big stage. Now that they are looking like six and half a dozen, as ever since alleged, it is up to All Progressives Congress MEMBERS (and the few PROGRESSIVE leaders le ) to reconstruct the paradigm in the light of a failed leadership. Nigeria cannot survive a vicious cycle of jumps from frying pan to fire, even as the disillusionment with the current governance has pushed it to the brink of catastrophe from which it is desperately trying

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.

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