Osun Defender Online Version of November 19, 2021

Over 240,000 Residents Benefit From Osun Food Support Scheme - Oyetola

- Page Page 5

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021 VOL 16 NO 45

Ikonifin Residents Lament Medical Difficulty As Govt Hospital Abandoned Page 5

I Have No Link With Those Mining On The School Land – College Provost Page 7

Mega Schools: PMF Wants Govt To Account For Maintenance Fees Page 4

Thugs Attack Aregbesola’s Loyalists, Injure Two At Oranmiyan House - Pages Pages 2 & 4

•As Similar Attack Occurs In Ipetumodu

•The rampaging thugs during the attack.

No More War In Osun PDP - Bisi

- Page Page 4

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

2

News

Thugs Attack Aregbesola’s Loyalists, Injure 2 At Oranmiyan House Ismaeel Uthman

M

EMBERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who are loyalists of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola were yesterday a acked by armed poli cal thugs.

The hoodlums, it was gathered, invaded the popular Oranmiyan House, located along GbonganIbadan road, Osogbo, State of Osun, where members of the APC who belong to The Osun Progressives (TOP) caucus of the party were holding their weekly meeting, around 2:10PM with a black Siena space bus.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the thugs, who were armed with pump ac on guns, axes and cutlasses, started shoo ng sporadically right from the First Bank junc on to the front of the Oranmiyan house while they parked their vehicle on the other side of the road.

Some of the hoodlums, according to eye witnesses alighted and started beating members of the APC while others stayed in the vehicle to con nue the gunshots.

Two members of the party who are from Ward 3, Osogbo Local Government sustained injuries as a result of the stampede that occurred when people ran for safety outside the gate of the building.

However, there was no major casualty because the hoodlums were unable to gain entry into the gate, forcing them to quickly beat a retreat and fled in their vehicle.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that some officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who usually were at the weekly mee ng of TOP were absent yesterday.

The hoodlums were allegedly led by one Akerele from Isokan Local Government of the state.

This is coming four days a er the leadership of TOP had raised the alarm that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola led IleriOluwa group was plo ng to eliminate leaders and a ack members of the caucus.

Some members of the APC who belonged to TOP were also a acked at Ipetumodu, Ife-North Local Government of the State on Tuesday by hoodlums where they were holding their mee ng.

Addressing the press a er the a ack yesterday, chairman of TOP, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi, said he had no doubt that the thugs were sponsored by the IleriOluwa leaders who wanted to in midate members of the caucus.

Adebiyi said the a ack

was a confirma on of the earlier report made by the group that Governor Oyetola’s camp was planning to kill TOP leaders in a desperate move to silence them.

The former Chairman of the APC in Osun called on President Muhamadu Buhari to call Governor Oyetola and his people to order to avoid loss of inno-

cent lives.

He also challenged the security agencies in the state to live up to their responsibility of protec ng lives and property of the people of the state.

Adebiyi said: “The thugs believed to have been sent by the Governor Adegboyega Oyetola led IleriOluwa fac on of the party

invaded the weekly meeting of TOP around 2:10pm today. I was just addressing the caucus when the thugs started shoo ng.

This led to a stampede as APC members scampered for safety. Luckily for us, there were no major casual es as members ran into the main building for safety. But some of our people

were wounded.

“We need to state that officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who usually provide security for the weekly mee ng were not on ground. Because of the absence of the NSCDC officers, the IleriOluwa group sent thugs to a ack us.

One Tesleem Raji aka Ak-

•Al-Mubaraq Ayokunle Oladosu (middle), a first class (honours) graduate in Law (LLB) from the Lead City University, Ibadan; his parents, Alhaji and Alhaja Ademola Oladosu; Prof Bisi Ajala of the University of Ibadan (right); Alhaji Raheem Sanusi of Osun State House of Assembly, Osogbo (2nd right); Mr. Tunde Ogunremi (left) and Alhaji Gbadebo Salam of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abeokuta branch at the Lead City University’s 14th Convocation ceremony held in the University on Nov 14, 2021.

Residents Knock LG Boss For Issuing Quit Notice To NSCDC Kazeem Badmus

C

ARETAKER Chairman, Ede South Local Government of the State of Osun, Mr. Deji Agboola, has come under a ack for evicting officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) from their office building owned by the local

government.

Agboola had in a le er dated October 22, 2021, ordered the vaca on of the agency, sta ng that the property being occupied by the officers was meant for more useful purposes.

Some residents of the state have been reac ng to the quit no ce, saying that it is poli -

cally mo vated.

According to the residents, the LG boss is playing poli cs with the security of lives and proper es of the people.

They also called on the State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola to ques on the Chairman, adding that the primary concern of a government should be the security of

Symbol’s Quote

“I set my sight firmly on the promises the future hold and the opportunities that our great country can offer.

My aspirations are for Nigeria to be able to overcome its development challenges, and to become one of the top 10 economies in the world in the shortest time possible.”

its people.

An Indigene of Ede, Mr. Adedokun Olatunde, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, described the chairman as an opportunist who should be tutored on governance.

Olatunde said the decision of the chairman to evict the NSCDC officers has shown that the welfare of residents of his territory is not paramount to him.

He said: “I was just laughing when I read the no ce.

What can be more important than the safety of the people?

How will a leader joke with the security of lives and property of his people because of poli cs.?

“We all know the impact of NSCDC in our community and for someone to order them out shows the level of people governing us.

“The chairman has shown that he is not concerned with the security of his people”.

A Facebook user, Lamina Kamiludeen said the LG chairman is not worthy of the sit and needs to be ques oned by the state governor for his decision.

He said, “the chairman of Ede South needs to be quesoned by Governor Oyetola for giving quit no ce to NSCDC in the local government. “ If the number one ci zen of a local government can be playing poli cs with the security of his people, that person is not fit in that capacity”.

erele from Ile Esu, Ikoyi, in Isokan Local Government of the state allegedly led the thugs that a acked us here. That is the same guy that led the a ack on us during the state congress.

“Today’s a ack is coming three days a er we raised alarm that the IleriOluwa people have concluded plans to eliminate leaders of TOP and other members of our party. I released a statement three days ago that some of our leaders were to be assassinated in the state by the IleriOluwa group. Today’s a ack bears us witness that they are indeed a er us.

“We need to remind security agencies in the state that they are responsible for the safety of the lives and property of our people. They should not wait un l one of us is killed before they act on our pe ons and reports. We will officially inform the Commissioner of Police, the AIG Zone XI and the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on today’s a ack.

“This is a serious concern for all of us in the state. We have been holding weekly mee ngs for the past four months. We have not a acked anyone. We urge the President to intervene now. Why will the government be using thugs to a ack members of the same party openly in the a ernoon?

“On August 16, the same set of people a acked us at the party secretariat.

We were arrested and arraigned in court instead of the perpetrators of the attack. But the court set us free. During the state congress, they came to a ack us again and two of our members were shot. Two days ago, they a acked some of our members in Ipetumodu, Ife North Local Government during their mee ng. Today again, the same thing happened to us.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police to come and see what is happening in Osun.

Governor Oyetola’s led IleriOluwa group is a er our lives”.

One of the members of the APC, Abeeb Akinpade, who was at the mee ng during the a ack said the thugs came from Gbodofon road and started shoo ng at the junc on.

Akinpade said: “I was on the main road when we heard the first gunshot. I looked straight away and saw this black Siena space bus coming from Gbodofon side. Two guys from the vehicle were holding pump ac on guns and they sat at •Continued on page 7

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

3

Not On The Ball

M

INIMUM expecta ons have been met with Nigeria’s qualifying for the play - offs for qualifica on to play in the 2022 World Cup. This fixa on on the minimal is an issue. The qualifica on was obtained a er a dismal 1-1 draw with lowly Cape Verde. In the same period, the England football team was thrashing another minnow San Marino 10 - O. A country cannot achieve anything of significance if it is fixated on opera ng on the lowest common denomina on. Unfortunately, this is where we are across most fields of endeavour.

In the arena (the pun is deliberate) the underachieving has gone from tragedy into farce.

Football has always had a romanc allure in Nigeria. Unlike other Bri sh colonies notably India and the West Indies which got hooked on Cricket, Nigeria bought soccer hook, line and sinkers.

Star ng with the “Red Devils” in the 1940’s the na onal team now called the Super Eagles have

“Football is too serious in the Nigerian psyche to be left in the hands of the present effete crew.

“Wombling and fumbling”, has replaced the need for a strategic imperative with predictably disastrous results” hands of the present effete crew.

“Wombling and fumbling”, has replaced the need for a strategic impera ve with predictably disastrous results. The mind boggles as to how the present contrap on which can hardly be described as a team will perform if it qualifies in Qatar.

It is unambiguous evidence of minimum expecta ons that Gernot Rorh is managing the team.

If not for our appealing standards, the requirement for the job should if giving to a non-Nigerian,

Review & Outlook BY OLOWOGBOYEGA OYEBADE There Is A Power In Charge Have you read much about Albert Einstein (14th March 1879 – 18th April 1955), a German-born theore cal physicist, globally acknowledged to be one of the greatest physicists of all me? Is your hobby crising around the town with cars? Is your passion flying in air to places? Do you marvel at the wonders of engineering? Do you know we owe so much to Einstein? Do you know that his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2, which arises from rela vity theory, is dubbed “the world’s most famous equa on”? Do you know he received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics ? Do you know at 12, Einstein was already marked a genius?

Do you know at age 13, Einstein was introduced to Kant’s Cri que of Pure Reason, which at the me, was incomprehensible to ordinary mortals, but Einstein showed perfect understanding? With all his exploits in sciences, on 17th April 1955, Einstein experienced internal bleeding which had previously been reinforced surgically by Rudolph Nissen in 1948? As he was rushed to the hospital, do you know Einstein refused surgery, saying: “I want to go when I want. It is tasteless to prolong life ar ficially. I have done my share; it is me to go. I will do it elegantly.”

As propounded by Einstein, do you know “it is tasteless to prolong life ar ficially” as we are doing with the life of our na on in poli cs, economy and security? Are you aware that during the autopsy, the pathologist Thomas Stoltz Harvey removed Einstein’s brain for preservaon without the permission of his family, in the hope that the neuroscience of the future would be able to discover what made Einstein so intelligent before Einstein’s remains were cremated in Trenton, New Jersey, and his ashes sca ered at an undisclosed loca on? Where are brains of our forebears, the Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Zik of Africa, the Jeremiah Awolowos whose brains were removed by pathologist Thomas Stoltz Harvey for preserva on, in the hope that the neuroscience of the future would be able to discover what made them so intelligent and successful as a class of world leaders?

Are you a crea onist believer out there crushing about God? Have you read Einstein’s le er, a handwri en le er penned by Albert Einstein shortly before his death in 1954 where he said: “I don’t believe in God”? Do you know that an anonymous seller of the le er acquired

“The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation, no matter how subtle, can (for me) change this... ”

it from Bloomsbury Auc ons in London in 2008 for $404,000, preserved it in a temperaturecontrolled vault and placed the star ng bid at $3M? Can you believe that on 18th October, the le er was sold to an unknown online bidder for $3,000,100.00? What is in that le er? Do you know in the le er, Einstein touched upon such themes as religion, tribalism and his disbelief in a biblical God? Its excerpt cuts in: “...The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collec on of honorable, but s ll primi ve legends which are nevertheless pre y childish. No interpreta on, no ma er how subtle, can (for me) change this... For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarna on of the most childish supers ons. And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are also no be er than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything ‘chosen’ about them.”

Do you know that despite the religious disputa ons raised in the polemic of Einstein, in his wri ngs on the electrical power systems design and analysis, Einstein sublimely submi ed: “There is a power in charge somehow, in some way, pulling the strings.” Comrades! As far as the security, poli cs and economy of our dear country are concerned, do you know “There is a power in charge somehow, in some way, pulling the strings”? Do you want to Publisher – Moremi Publishing know more about that? Come House Ltd. along. Are you aware that AbuDeputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman bakar Malami, A orney-Gen(0805-121-2204) eral of the Federa on (AGF), said there is no going back on Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa the Federal Government’s deReporter – Yusuf Oketola cision to deduct $418 million Reporter – Kazeem Badmus from the 36 states’ accounts Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto to pay private consultants Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere for the Paris Club refund, and OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing stressed further that it was too House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite late for the governors to backGuarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, track on the indebtedness they State of Osun had earlier acknowledged and ISSN : 0794-8050 commi ed to pay? Can you see Telephone : 0805-121-2204 that Einstein was right to say: Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php “There is a power in charge e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com •Kanmi Ademiluyi, writes All correspondence to the above email addresses. from Osogbo.

OSUN DEFENDER

•The Nigeria National team 1949.

etched into and acted as a binding ethos in the na onal ethos. This has been beneficial for a country o en strafed with an iden ty crisis and in which the burning issue of the na onali es remains conten ous.

Football is too serious in the Nigerian psyche to be le in the

be management experience in a very top league such as Serie A or the English Premier League.

Whatever happens a er the World Cup, in 2022 we must begin anew. The en re process from bo om up must be reconstructed. The present has gone beyond embarrassing.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

4

News

Hoodlums Attack APC Members In Ipetumodu, As Council Chair Denies Involvement Ismaeel Uthman

S

OME members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ipetumodu, Ife-North Local Government of the State of Osun, were on Tuesday, a acked by hoodlums at a mee ng of the party.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the a ack came a er the Caretaker Chairman of the local government, Hon. Ayoola Adeyeba, stopped the APC members who belong to The Osun Progressives caucus of the party from holding inaugural mee ng of the newly elected execu ves of the party in the local government secretariat of the party.

It was learnt that Ayoola had around 9am, stopped the rental service providers from erec ng canopies at the Market Square, the venue to be used for the mee ng.

The council chairman was said to have insisted that the APC members would not hold the mee ng, in spite of the no fica on sent to the Police and Department of State Services.

When they could not hold their mee ng there, the APC members concluded around 2pm to hold their mee ng at the house of the APC Chairman in the local government, Kazeem Odedeyi.

However, Ayoola, his vice, Hon. Henry Afolabi and

other members of the caretaker commi ee of the local government allegedly led armed poli cal hoodlums to disrupt the APC meeting being held at Odedeyi’s house.

Ayoola was also allegedly accompanied by opera ves of Amotekun to supervise the a ack on the APC members.

About four members of the party including Messrs.

Akin Morakiinyo, Jimoh Yisa from Akinlalu, Eniola Adepoju, Prince Kehinde and the local government Chairman of the APC were a acked and injured by the hoodlums.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, Odedeyi, said: “We wanted to hold the mee ng last week but the Police and DSS said we did not inform them on me.

The Police said they wanted a five-day no fica on, so we could not hold the meeting last week.

“We sent le ers to both the Police, DSS and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on November 11, informing them that we would hold our meeting on Tuesday and they acknowledged the le er.

Surprisingly, I was informed around 9am that the council Chairman, Hon. Adeyeba Ayoola, did not allow the rental service providers to erect canopies at Market Square, Ipetumodu where we wanted to have the

•Representatives of Hon. Bamidele Salam, representing Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo constituency at the House of Representatives in a group photograph with Alawo of Awo, Oba Abdulrasaq Ajibade Abioye III during official presentation of 300KVA transformer to the community recently. mee ng.

“I went to the place and met the chairman and he told me that we cannot hold any mee ng because we did not inform him. We were dragging the ma er ll around 2pm and members of the party decided that we should go to my house to hold our regular mee ng.

“Few minutes a er the commencement of the

mee ng, the council chairman, his vice, Henry Afolabi and other members of his cabinet, in company of opera ves of Amotekun, brought thugs to a ack us.

The hoodlums were armed with din-guns, cutlasses, charms and clubs.

“They injured some of us. Mr Jimoh Yisa from Akinlalu town was beaten to comatose, fainted and

was rushed to Alubarika hospital, Ipetumodu, where he was resuscitated.”

When contacted, the council Chairman, Adeyeba denied leading thugs to attack the APC members, saying ‘no a ack took place’ at the mee ng.

Adeyeba who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday said: “How and

Mega Schools: PMF Wants Govt To Account For Maintenance Fees Sodiq Yusuf

A

socio-poli cal group, the Progressive Minded Forum (PMF) has asked the State Government of Osun led by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to account for the maintenance fees paid by pupils and students in public schools in the state since he resumed office in 2018.

The group in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday by its Coordinator, Comrade Sunday Oriowo, said while the state carries out its Structural Integrity Tests on the Mega Schools, it should also account for what it has taken from the students as maintenance fees.

Wondering why government has been silent on the monies received per term as maintenance fee in the last three years, the group said Governor Oyetola would go a long way in proving his integrity if he comes out to explain what the maintenance fees were used for.

The Progressive Minded Forum noted that the maintenance fee of N3,000 was increased to N6,000 per session in 2020, saying such amount would have significantly helped to correct the

issues no ced on the structures silently without genera ng public outcry.

It stressed further that the move to conduct Structural Integrity Tests on the mega school buildings is one out of many moves by Governor Oyetola to ensure that the legacy projects of former governor Rauf Aregbesola falls into ruins.

The group maintained that: “While we assert that it is the responsibility of a si ng government to inherit

assets and liabili es as well as take charge of projects executed by administra ons before it, it is a clear fact that the decision of Oyetola administra on to conduct the tests is part of renewed a empts to rubbish the legacies of his predecessor.

“It is visible to the blind that the incumbent government in its poli cs of hatred has neglected cri cal public infrastructure, especially the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osun Ambulance Serv-

ices, Osun Fire Service among others which are legacy interven on of the Aregbesola dispensa on.

“That said, another cri cal ques on which stakeholders need to ask now is what the N3, 000 maintenance fees collected from every student per session since the advent of the Oyetola administra on in 2018 was used for.

“Our findings show that ll date, the government has collected the levy which has been increased to N6,000

No More War In Osun PDP - Bisi Ismaeel Uthman

C

HAIRMAN of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) in the State of Osun, Hon Sunday Bisi has declared that there is ‘no more war’ in the party, saying it is now united.

Bisi said PDP has successfully reconciled aggrieved members and is now ready to dislodge Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the governorship seat.

The chairman spoke yesterday in an interview

with OSUN DEFENDER He said: “As you can see, the PDP is very peaceful and we have achieved a genuine reconcilia on.

All of us in PDP are now together and we are good to go.

“That tells you that we are one, solid and ready for the incoming elec on and I can assure you that we are going to defeat APC and the incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola with a wide margin by the grace of God. “We came into reconcilia on because we don’t want to con nue with this bad governance and for

that reason, we just have to reconcile ourselves.

“Poli cs is about sacrifice. We have don’t the needful. It is not about sa sfying anybody or giving money to someone but the genuine interest of the party.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that part of the reconcilia on move by the Osun PDP was the nomina on of Hon Soji Adagunodo as the South-West Na onal Vice Chairman of the PDP. Adagunodo’s nominaon was on Wednesday ra fied by the Southwest Zonal Execu ves of the party.

from each of the students in Osun public schools since 2020. However, there are ques ons to be asked on what has been the fate of the public schools infrastructure since this administra on took over “Did the government carry out proper maintenance on the facili es inherited from the previous administra on especially the schools? How much has the Oyetola government expended on the maintenance of public school infrastructure, especially the Mega Schools in the State?

“How much has been realised so far from the maintenance levies collected from the students? To what extent has the monies realised been impac ul on the quality of educa on in the state?

“We call on stakeholders in the state to join this quest for informa on and a clearer picture of the situa on of things.

“We hope that in the quest for genuine reconcilia on and progress of our party, APC, especially eight months to the governorship elec on, the government of the State of Osun needs to be mindful of the nega ve effects of current efforts at rubbishing the previous administra on.

why would I lead thugs to a ack somebody? What happened is that last week, the DPO informed me that some APC members wanted to hold mee ng and I told him I was not aware of the mee ng.

“On Monday, I was informed that same set of people wanted to hold mee ng and I asked the DPO that: ‘what is the signal you received from the state?’ He said he was instructed not to release any policeman for the mee ng.

That means there is no approval for the mee ng.

“I went to the venue of the mee ng and I told them that I was not aware of any mee ng. The person that led the APC members said they belong to The Osun Progressives fac on of the party. He insisted that the mee ng would hold. I told the rental service providers not to erect any canopy and they obliged.

“Therea er, this people started to hurl abuses language at me. They cursed me and called me so many unprintable names. They said I could not stop the mee ng. We later ironed things out.

“The person whose picture was being circulated as one of the vic ms of the a ack was armed with charms. That was why he was beaten. In fact, they have beaten him before I got there. It was not thugs that was beaten, but APC members.

“When some people wanted to beat Baba Akin Morakinyo. I took him in my car and drove him to the police sta on for safety. There were no thugs in Ipetu yesterday, I can tell you that.”

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

5

News

Over 240,000 Residents Benefit From Osun Food Support Scheme - Oyetola Kazeem Badmus

G

OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, has disclosed that his administra on’s Food Support Scheme had so far fed over 240,000 residents of the State.

Oyetola said the scheme has also helped to s mulate the economy of the State as local produc on of goods had been tremendously boosted to enhance the socio-economic ac vies of the people.

He made this known on Monday during the flag-off of the eight edion of the Scheme at Local Government Service Commission, Abere.

Oyetola, had in April this year, inaugurated the ‘Osun Food Support Scheme’ to mi gate the adverse impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on 30,000 vulnerable ci zens on a monthly basis.

Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, the Governor said his administra on has been gradually recording huge success in its fran c efforts to boost local food produc on, achieve food security and turn Osun to food basket of the South-West region.

He said: “This is the concept of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola who believes vehemently in the welfare of the people. As we all know, since the incep on of this administra on in the last three years, salaries and pensions are being paid regularly while health sector and road infrastructure are in place. In addi on to these ini a ves, the concept of Osun Food Support Scheme came which saw 30,000 vulnerable ci zens being given foods monthly.

“We know the foods given cannot last anybody for a month, but it is s ll a taste of dividends of democracy. We know that by the Omoluabi ethos prevalent in Osun, it is very difficult for a vulnerable who is given a bag of rice to eat it alone; a minimum of two or three other relaves will share from it.

“We are doing the 8th edi on this month and as we promised at the incep on of this scheme, the gesture will con nue. As it is, over 240,000 ci zens have benefited from this scheme. The number is obviously more as every beneficiary will share

with their neighbours and extended families.

We can’t therefore really quan fy the actual number of the beneficiaries.

“We are working hard to ensure that the food items get to the

targeted beneficiaries through the efforts of the distribu on commi ee. There is a list of beneficiaries with their telephone numbers and contact addresses.”

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Re-

gional Integra on and Special Du es, Mr Olalekan Badmus, commended the ini a ve which he said had made meaningful impact on the lives of the people.

According to him, the scheme has been

•Death trap at Prime area, Ofatedo, Egbedore Local Government.

designed with a view to effec ng meaningful impact and adding value to other sectors of the economy, par cularly the agriculture and small scale enterprises.

Badmus said: “This ini a ve has been very

Photo: Olushola Aderinto

Ikonifin Residents Lament Medical Difficulty As Government Hospital Abandoned Yusuf Oketola

R

ESIDENTS of Ikonifin, an agrarian town in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area of the State of Osun have lamented the abandonment of a Health Centre built by the Federal Government in the area.

The residents said they have no access to medical care as there is only a health centre to go when the need be.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered the abandoned healthcare centre which was built along Ife-Odan road, Ikonifin, was part of the projects executed across communi es in the state by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to a community head who prayed not to be named, no medical personnel or equipment was deployed to the health centre since comple on.

The community head said people in the area are not enjoying good healthcare service as they travel to other towns to seek medical a en on.

He said: “The project was carried out during the past administra on of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in which the contractor le work and abandoned

the place as a result of no tracking records. The project is not only in Ikonifin but across communi es in the state.

“The healthcare project is just like revitaliza on of 332 PHC projects carried out by the present government of Osun. The building is now a dilapidated structure, le abandoned without equipping it with medical facili es or personnel since the compleon of building.

“It has not been put to use since its comple-

on. It is just a waste of resources. The building needs general renovaon and health workers should be deployed to the place.

“The only alternave to the place is the healthcare centre at the local government. We are not enjoying good health service here. Our people travel to the nearest town to receive good medical a en on.”

The community Head disclosed that a an ambulance deployed to the abandoned health centre

•The abandoned health centre

by the Federal Government some mes ago was cornered as it was not presented to the hospital He added that some health workers from the local government were deployed to the health centre few years back, but were later withdrawn due to the deplorable condi on of the building.

He pleaded with the Federal and State Government on behalf of the people of Ikonifin to take swi ac on in pu ng the Health Centre to use.

impac ul and if you look at the total integraon of the process, you will agree with me that different lives have been touched through this programme. Apart from the products itself, we have people that are doing the layoffs and those that are doing the uploading and offloading as well as the distributors that we are buying the products from.

“So, you will see that it has touched different lives. As of today, we have different people that have come to pick these foods from different places.

“From what we have, the programme costs us an average of N100 million every month, and this is the 8th edi on. As it was emphasised before, our effort is actually on the impact on the people par cularly the vulnerable ci zens and poor of the poorest.

“We have taken a step further by improving on what we are presently doing to reach more people through well-coordinated efforts. We have done 210,000 already and with addi onal 30,000 today, it means that we have reached 240,000 beneficiaries and households.

“The beauty in this is that each of the households has minimum of two persons benefitng from the scheme on a monthly basis. We are also glad about the feedback being received from the beneficiaries as reflected in the prayers being offered to show their gra tude.

“We have the data and records of the beneficiaries of these foods and we do the random verifica on to confirm the receipt of the foods.”

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

6 A

Religion

LL praise is due to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon the final Messenger, His pure family, noble companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness until the Day of Judgment.

By To be obedient to parents and show kindness to them has been enjoined Muhammad along with the Oneness and WorshipAbdulalimi ing Allah Almighty in the Holy Quran, in such a manner that it appears that among human deeds, to obey parents and treat them with respect and kindness is next only to Worshiping Almighty Allah.

The status of parents in Islam is very high. We as a Muslim (and everybody) should give respect and love to our parents. Parents should be treated submit ourselves, in obedience and loyalty, before well at all times. This is a virtuous kind of act in our parents. Allah says: “And We have enjoined the sight of Almighty Allah. Parents and children on man (to be good) to his parents. In travail upon in Islam are bonded together by mutual obliga- travail did his mother bear him, and in two years tions. Allah says in the Holy Quran: “…No mother was his weaning. Show gratitude to Me and to thy should be harmed through her child and no fa- parents; to Me is thy final goal.” (Quran, 31:14).

The children must pray for parents saying, as ther through his child…” (Quran 2: 233). From the above-mentioned verse of Quran, we can conclude Allah teaches us in the verse: “…My Lord and Susthat Quran has made it obligatory for the child to tainer! Be kind and have mercy on them as they cherished, nurtured and sustained me in childtreat his parents with all grace and mercy.

Parents are the heaven and hell of the children; hood.” (Quran 17:24). From this verse, we came to we can clearly understand the meaning of this know that we must continue to pray for our parents sentence from the hadith of Prophet Muhammad even after they die. Such prayer will be regarded (PBUH). Someone asked the Holy Prophet (SAW): as a continuous charity as the Prophet (SAW), told “What right does parents have over their chil- us. As being grateful to Allah is a form of worship dren?” He answered: “They are your heaven and which earns divine rewards, it can, therefore, be said that being grateful to one’s parents also earns hell.” (Ibn Majah) It is obligatory for Muslims to show the uncon- divine rewards.

Our duties to our parents extend even after their ditional kindness, respect, and obedience to their parents. Just like it is beyond our means to fulfill death. One of the best ways to honor our parents the rights of Allah (SWT) and to thank Him for all when they are gone is by being kind to their friends.

His rewards in their integrity, similarly, we can Holy Prophet (SAW) said about it: “The best act of never thank our parents adequately for their efforts righteousness is that a man should maintain good which they have done for us. The only thing that relations with his father’s loved ones.” (Sahih Muswe can do is to acknowledge our shortcomings and lim).

JUMAT SERMON

Parental’s Right In Islam

In the Holy Quran, respect of parents is mentioned around eleven times. Allah has mentioned in every instance to recognise and to appreciate love and care that your parents gave to you. Regarding this Allah says” “And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents…” (Quran 29:8 & 46:15).

The Prophet (SAW) placed kindness and respect towards parents just after the prayer offered on time as the prayer is the base of Islam. ‘Abdullah Ibn Masood, said: “I asked the Prophet (SAW) which deed is most liked by Allah.

He (SAW) said: ‘Prayer offered on time. ‘I asked him: ‘Then what? He (SAW) said: ‘Kindness and respect towards parents.’…” (Al-Bukhari).

Allah mentions in the Quran that human beings must recogniSe their parents and that this is second only to the recognition of Allah Himself. In the Quran, Allah Almighty beautifully explained: “And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age (while) with you, say not to them [so much as] ‘uff’ [i.e., an expression of irritation or disapproval] and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say: ‘My Lord!

Have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.’” (Quran 17:23-24).

May Almighty Allah guide us to be respectful, loving and kind to our parents and so that we always stay humble and respectful regardless of the power, wealth, position and influence we may possess. Ameen!

May Allah make this sermon a beneficial one for me, the writer, the readers, and the entire Muslims.

And our last prayer, is praise be to Allah Almighty, Lord of the worlds.

•Sheik Muhammad Abdulalimi, is the Mudiru Ad-Da’wah Wal-Irshad, Obaagun, State of Osun.

Crime

Missing OAU Student Lodged In Hotel, Killed As Police Arrest Hotelier, Six Workers Ayomide Akano

M

R Timothy Adegoke, a Masters Degree student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, who was declared missing by the police and family on November 7, 2021, has been killed.

Adegoke’s corpse was reportedly exhumed by the police besides the hotel where he lodged when he came from Abuja to sit for his examina on at the OAU Distant Learning Centre, Moro.

Police Public Rela ons Officer, Osun Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, confirmed that Adegoke’s corpse has been exhumed, even as she refused to state where and when the exhuma on was done.

Adegoke was reportedly killed for ritual purpose by yet to be named suspects.

This is just as the police have arrested a popu-

lar business mogul and educa onist in Ile-Ife, Dr Raman Adedoyin over the death of the student.

Adedoyin, who is the Chairman of Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife, where Adegoke lodged was ar-

rested on Monday by the police. Six workers of his hotel had earlier been arrested in connec on with the killing of the student.

Opalola, the PPRO, said Adedoyin was arrested on Monday and

now undergoing interroga on.

A press statement signed by Opalola reads: “The Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode wishes to update the general public that, in ad-

di on to the six suspects earlier arrested, the hotelier was also arrested on November 15.

“He is currently in police deten on, undergoing interroga on in connec on with the

Court Remands OSPOLY Student Over Girlfriend’s Death Folashade Ariyo

A

N Osogbo Magistrate court has remanded a 19-yearold student of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Ma hew Adeyemi, in Correc onal Centre over the death of his girlfriend, Omowunmi Afolabi.

Adeyemi was accused of killing his girlfriend who was also a student of the ins tu on.

OSUN DEFENDER had earlier reported that Afolabi, a student of Mass communica on Department, died on October 30, 2021 a er visi ng her boyfriend, Adeyemi, popularly known as Randy.

According to the charge sheet obtained yesterday, Adeyemi commi ed the offence on October 30,

2021, at Koko area, Iree.

The alleged offence, according to the police, contravened Sec on 319(1) of

the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

The plea of the accused person was not taken because the Magistrate Court lacks the jurisdic on to try the murder case.

However, the presiding Magistrate, A.A Adebayo, ordered that Adeyemi to be remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre while the duplicate of the case file be forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecu on, Ministry of Jus ce, State of Osun, for legal advice.

The case was adjourned ll November 29, 2021 for men on.

case, while awai ng the autopsy report from the hospital.

“The CP reiterates the commitment of the state police command to ensure that jus ce is done, no ma er the personality of the person(s) involved in the case or how highly or lowly placed in the society, if found culpable.

Adegoke, an Abujabased student, had travelled to Ife on November 5 to sit for his examinaon at ODLC Moro, State of Osun, a er which he was declared missing when friends and family members could not reach him.

However, previous records of his hotel accommoda on, showed that the deceased had lodged at a Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife a couple of mes between October 22 and November 5, when he was declared missing.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

7

News

I Have No Link With Those Mining On The School Land – College Provost Kazeem Badmus

T

HE Provost, Osun State College of Educa on, Ilesa, Professor Kolawole Kazeem,

has disassociated himself from illegal miners who invaded the school land for mining ac vi es.

Kazeem said he did

Osun Lawmaker Condemns Shortage Of Medical Personnel In Ede General Hospital Yusuf Oketola

L

AWMAKER representing Ede South Cons tuency at the State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Olaniran Akanfe has condemned shortage of medical personnel at General Hospital, Co age, Ede. Akanfe stated that the unavailability of medical staff to a end to people who needed urgent medical a en on at the hospital has led to loss of innocent lives in the area.

The lawmaker made the complaint during the plenary session of the House on Tuesday.

He said: “I was briefed that few weeks ago, a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, collapsed due to an unknown ailment.

The student was rushed to the General Hospital, Cottage, Ede. Sadly, no doctor was on ground to a end to her and the lady died.

“Also, I was briefed on the sad incidence that occurred as one of the entourages of Ede East LCDA Chairman had an accident, one of his councillors who were in the entourage was seriously injured and entered coma, he was rushed to this same hospital, nobody was on ground to attend to the vic m.

“As a representa ve of this cons tuency, Ede South, I have taken the bull by the horn, I have informed the leadership of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, and the Commissioner for Health has been invited to appear at the Hallow Chamber to brief us over the ac vi es of our medical personnel.

“A responsive government must not take the welfare and well-being of its ci zens with levity”.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu is expected to appear before the House on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.

Narra ng her ordeal, a resident of Ede, Letoya Adebimpe, said: “I was a

vic m of the said Co age Hospital. My son was sick and he was admi ed; at around 10 to 11pm, no doctor or nurse was available to a end to us again, and my son was weak. I was helpless on that day. I walked round the hospital if I would see anyone, it was only admi ed pa ents that were around.

“I burst into tears. I had to call someone who came around to help me to Muslim Hospital. If not for his assistance, I don’t know what could have happen. They need to work on the staff there, they are wicked and heartless.”

not know anything about the illegal mining ac vies taking place on the school land.

This is just as the state government commenced inves ga on into the encroachment

of the school land by the miners.

Speaking with newsmen in Ilesa at the weekend, Kazeem said the state government panel and security agencies have iden fied school

officials culpable in the act, hence the decision to embark on a thorough inves ga on to determine the extent of the involvement of the officials.

•Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregebsola unveiling the newly remodeled Civil Defence , Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) Office complex in Abuja recently.

Osun Community Appeals To Govt. To Fix Bad Roads Kazeem Badmus

R

ESIDENTS of Iba in Boripe Local Government area of the State of Osun have called on the state government to assist the town in the rehabilita on of the roads which linked them with other neighbouring towns.

Some of the neighbouring towns include Inisa, Iree and Obaagun.

According to some

residents who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, the roads linking Iba with the aforemen oned towns are in bad shape and need urgent interven on.

An indigene of the town, Mr. Suliamon Adio, a farmer, disclosed that the poor condi on of the road affects farmers in the area as commercial transporters charge them high amount whenever they want to

transport their goods to the neighbouring towns.

Adio called on the state government to look into the suffering of those residing in the community and help alleviate their pains.

He said: “I want to appeal to the state governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola to help us in the rehabilitaon of the roads that link us with other communies.

“The roads that link us with Inisa, Iree and Obaagun are in bad shape and I believe as a ci zen of this state, we should be able to have access to good roads.

“As the governor is about to embark on the rehabilita on of more roads in the State, I urged those in power to remember us and not only see us as someone to run to whenever elec on me is coming”.

Monarch Calls For Unity To Thugs Attack Aregbesola’s Loyalists... from page 2 “Don’t forget that a Achieve Traditional Harmony •Continued the unclosed doors. They group, Human Rights Writ-

O

BA Faturo Adedeji Olaniran, the Loja of Iloja in Obokun Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun has called on the people to go back to the tradi on and customs of Yorubaland laid down over the years.

This is as he called on the people to exhibit a unity of purpose in all their undertakings in order to actualise a common goal.

The tradi onal ruler who maintained that unity of purpose is achievable, added that actualising this meant working for a common drive towards actualising tradi onal sovereignty as being clamoured.

He revealed that without unity, moving forward may be cur-

tailed, adding that the rela onship between the tradi onal ins tu on and the government must be enhanced.

According to him, “When I was nominated as the kingship candidate in my family, the other ruling houses gave their support and here I am today, I am the Loja of Iloja.

“The government supported us and gave their stamp of authority and even the Owa of Ilare Ijesa under whose jurisdic on, I fall into crowned me without any hesita on and he fully supported my candidacy.

“This translates to the fact that since the Owa Ilare supported my candidacy, then the state government is solidly behind my candidacy too.”

shot again at the First Bank junc on too.

“When they got to the front of the Oranmiyan House where we were holding our mee ng, they parked on the road and started shoo ng sporadically. Some of them came out with guns and axes. We ran into the main building as people scampered for safety.

“The thugs beat some people and used axe to destroy the canopy poles outside the gate. They could not gain entry into the gate just as they beat retreat and fled.

They drove along Ogo-Oluwa.

That was around 2:10PM. “I am surprised that the thugs came today when the civil defence officers were not on ground. There is connec on between the absence of the civil defence officers and the a ack.

ers Associa on of Nigeria, had last week accused the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, of using civil defence officers to protect his loyalists in the state.

There is no doubt, that the group was sponsored by the IleriOluwa people to harass the civil defence.

“The security agents should ques on the leaders of the group because they are in one way or the other connected to today’s a ack.

The group is no doubt working for Governor Adegboyega Oyetola. Why is it that there was an a ack on us when the civil defence officers were absent today? The group wants the security agencies not to provide us security again so that we can be open to a acks from its sponsor, IleriOluwa group.

The group needs to be invesgated.”

He added that apart from the menace of illegal miners, the school is also facing challenge of land grabbers because it has no perimeter fence to define its boundaries.

The provost said those accusing him of complicity in the illegal mining ac vi es are the bad eggs whom the system did not allow to dictate what they want again.

Kazeem said: “All the allega ons are not true.

The management is not involved in any mining.

We have been dealing with the issue of illegal mining even before I became the Provost and we have been doing everything to stop these illegal ac vi es. Above all, our school does not even have a perimeter fence, thereby, making it easy for someone to come and go at will.

“It is not only the miners that are the problems. We also have issues of land grabbers who are laying claims to the land of the college and we have been ba ling with these people. We stumbled on that when there was a protest le er that I collected N100m and that was already selling land of the college.

“But as God would have it, in the last couple of days, we were able to discover that there are some elements in the college who are actually involved in that kind of trade and the state government had already commenced inves gaon. The Police and other security apparatus are involved in order to fish out the bad eggs and see what we can do to stop this thing.

“I have never met those illegal miners in my life. It is just a propaganda and this propaganda was as a result of my efforts to sani se the whole system and I have done my bit to make sure that the system is reformed as much as possible.

CHANGE OF NAME

BUSARI ABDUL-LATEEF OMOTOSHO

That I was formerly known and addressed as BUSARI ABDUL-LATEEF TOSO. Now wish to be known and addressed as BUSARI ABDUL-LATEEF OMOTOSHO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021 VOL. 16 NO 45 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

Perspective

By Kanmi Ademiluyi

M

ILITARY interven on starting with the regre able events of January 15, 1966 completely derailed the natural evolu on of the poli cal process in Nigeria. The natural order of evolu on having commenced roughly seven or so decades hitherto. Restar ng the process has been in fits and starts and o en contradictory.

What we have today are in reality not poli cal par es as they have evolved through the turbulence, the twists and turns of modern mes stretching back two centuries but Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV’s) not based on defined philosophical let alone ideological ideals. On the contrary, they are set up and sustained as elec on winning forma ons and shi ing coali ons to a ain power and then decide how to drink from the trough.

The use of direct primaries is therefore a veritable weapon to be used to begin the much needed process of having real poli cal pares, an indispensable ingredient in a democracy. Kudos must be giving to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola that this democracy method of selec ng the flag bearer of a party was used when he reemerged as the party flag bearer for reelec on as governor of the State of Osun in 2014. Direct primaries proved efficacious in 2014 in the State so much that it was also used as the method to select Aregbesola’s successor, Adegboyega Oyetola, as the flag bearer of the party. Kudos must be giving for this consistency which should have been incontrover bly established as the opera ng model.

It should be the established framework because mass par cipa on by the members defines the modern poli cal party and is a bulwark in the protec on and defencee of democracy itself. It will be necessary to make a trawl in history not as a diversion but to emphasise what we once had when things were done properly.

We know from oral history, documenta on in the newspapers of an era as well sources such as Richard Sklar’s magnus opus “Poli cal Par es In Nigeria” that beginning from the 1910’ s un l military interven on that Nigeria had properly structured poli cal par es in every sense of the defini on as opposed to today’s SPV’s. The forma on and structure of the Nigeria Youth Movement leading on to later deriva ves such as the Borno Youth Movement, the Na onal Council of Nigeria and the Cameroon (NCNC), the Ac on Group, Northern Elements Progressive Union and so forth were rooted in mass par cipa on, structured or-

News Missing OAU Student Lodged In Hotel, Killed As Police Arrest Hotelier, Six Workers Page 6

Democracy And Direct Primaries ganisa on and definitely not on the whims, caprices and dicta on of an overbearing “godfather”. It is instrucve to emphasise that as real poli cal par es candidates emerged as party flagbearers through the democra c process of mass par cipa on.

The method of selec on used in the “Shadow Elec on “ the forerunner of today’s Americanised primaries was anchored on mass par cipaon. It encouraged mass mobilisa on which brought in with evangelical fervour new members and strengthened the party’s financial coffers. In this format strengthening the financial coffers of the party went hand

STRIKER

I

- in - glove with mass mobiliza on as well as voter educa on all three were interwoven. To vote in a shadow elec on required not just the payment of monthly party dues but also crucially evidence of minimum a endance of ward mee ngs. This is the only acceptable interpreta on of a poli cal party in contradis ncon to a mere forma on controlled by a godfather or special interests.

Poli cal par es are the bedrock of democracy and their performance reflects the thrust of the developmental stride.

Par es anchored on mass par cipa on should trigger off and indeed

“Parties anchored on mass participation should trigger off and indeed be the main drivers of development. The absence of this is why we appear to be trapped in “growth without development” as well as “the developed of underdevelopment”

be the main drivers of development.

The absence of this is why we appear to be trapped in “growth without development” as well as “the developed of underdevelopment”. This reflects in mass unemployment and very few benefits to the mass of the people and their families.

The case for direct primaries is incontrover ble. Only those averse to democracy are in opposi on to it. This is hardly surprising for they are reaping from the efforts of those who made sacrifices for the restora on of democracy. Mass par cipa on and direct primaries are the way to go.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

Politics With Bitterness

N an earlier instalment, this column extolled the great Kanuri, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim of Borno; founder and leader of Great Nigeria People’s Party (GNPP), one of the poli cal par es that par cipated in the 1979 general elec ons. He bequeathed to Nigeria the virtue and principles of Poli cs without Bi erness.

In this neck of the wood, great and upli ing ideas don’t sell, unfortunately. A long chain of historical misfortune – conquest and enslavement, colonial rule, military dictatorship, et al – have forged and imposed on us elite of indescribable lack of virtue that recreates the Nigerian world a er its own image. Thereby, rarely in his me and ll date have we seen poli cs played with the only lo y and jus fiable inten on: service to humanity.

Here, earlier, we said, “any set of ac vies that is targeted at decision making and invariably determines resources alloca on, status, power-rela ons and so on in any given group or community is nothing other than poli cs. This takes place right from the smallest human unit, the family, up ll the na on and the world community as a whole, which is why - believe it or not, like it or not - every man or woman is a poli cal animal except he/she is an outcast, as explicitly stated by Aristotle.

“Democracy in general, especially in Nigeria, involves poli cal ac vi es that lead to cons tu on of government: poli cal party forma on, registra on, internal elecons, elec on of candidates and contest against candidates of other poli cal par-

es in general elec ons at the three ers of government - Local, State and Federal.

Ordinarily, the ul mate end of these ac vies should be the common good - services rendered by those elected (and appointed) that lead to the be erment of the society, at whatever sacrifices of self demanded...”

Today, in most of Nigerian States, and Osun par cularly, toxic poli cs played with u er bile by persons in and out of government who seem possessed by devil-knowswhat spirit has taken over, which is such a shame, especially for a state that prides itself as the Source of the Yoruba (with all it connotes) and a state of the virtuous.

All persons of goodwill, whatever their engagement, and especially if they must be poli cians, must reckon with the words and spirit of the very first Hadith, “Ac ons are but by inten ons...” Inevitably, it means all ac ons shall be judged by inten on, which is why the Yoruba would say, “pele ni ako, o ni abo,” meaning “Sorry” can either be posi ve or nega ve. Dr. Mar n Luther King strikingly captured it, “compassion is more than merely throwing a coin at a beggar.”

The right thing to do must be done right with the best of inten ons. Accordingly, it is not simply what is done that comes to ques on but the inten on. The manner in which a thing is done, be it right, says a lot about the deed and the doer, some mes more significant than what is done.

Se ng out in poli cs with the meanest inten ons, desperately searching for the “right thing” to do to jus fy a vile act against persons and groups perceived as

“enemies” cannot escape scru ny and being exposed eventually for what they are, however much the ac ons are wrapped in “holy” cloak! Unfortunately, in the end, it is the family, community, society, the state and the na on that suffer in the hands of bi er, short-sighted, mean, self-centred, ego s c and desperate poli cs and poli cians.

Perfec on cannot be a ained on earth by any human or group. Accordingly, even what is achieved excellently with the best of inten ons s ll needs further improvement. For example, mankind moved from analogue phones, Nokia 3310 through Blackberry to iPhone 13 Pro Max today.

Therefore, reforms are great and change is permanent. The difference between reformism and revisionism is however in the inten on! Invariably, poli cs with bitterness leads to revisionism rather than reforma on, retrogression rather than progress.

How and when are we going to overcome and move away from destruc ve poli cs with bi erness? The answer clearly lies with the youth. Young people in polics (and dynamic and educated youths must enter poli cs en-masse) need purge themselves of anything other than the purest of inten on - the public good. Once so guided, all they need do is organise and strategise, and eventually save the na on from a genera on of toxic poli cal elites, festering like cancer, that have neither vision nor good inten ons, and are pushing our country fast to nowhere good.

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