Osun Defender Online Version of August 27, 2021

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2021 VOL 16 NO 32

The Process, Challenges Of Creating State Of Osun By Ajiborisha Page 4

Osun APC Crisis Began Day Oyetola Became Governor – Salinsile Page 6

How We Provided Guided Intervention During #EndSARS Protests In Osun - Oluwaseun Page 5

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2 8 3 List Of Administrators And Governors Of Osun 1. Leo Segun Ajiborisha Aug. 1991 - Jan. 1992 2. Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke Jan. 1992 - Nov. 1993 3. Anthony Udofia Dec. 9, 1993 - Aug. 22, 1996 4. Anthony Obi Aug. 22, 1996 - August 1998 5. Theophilus Bamigboye Aug. 1998 - May 1999 6. Adebisi Akande May 29, 1999 - May 29, 2003 7. Olagunsoye Oyinlola May 29, 2003 - Nov. 26, 2010 8. Rauf Aregbesola Nov. 27, 2010 - Nov. 27, 2018 9. Adegboyega Oyetola Nov. 27, 2018 Till Date

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Traditional Rulers Shower Royal Blessings Page 2

•Stakeholders Celebrate State’s Progress, Offer Advice

Aregbesola To Grace Pa. G.O. Lawal’s Funeral In Ikirun Tomorrow

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2021

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News

Traditional Rulers Shower Royal Blessings Ismaeel Uthman

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RADITIONAL rulers in the State of Osun have offered their royal blessings for the state on her 30th anniversary, just as they rejoiced with the people on the feat a ained so far.

Osun was created from Oyo State on August 27, 1991 by the General Ibrahim Babangida-led Federal Government.

The tradi onal rulers, who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in separate interviews, unanimously agreed that Osun is developing and progressing as a state in line with the dreams of the founding fathers.

According to the tradional rulers, the state is s ll yearning for development as it is s ll not close to what the stakeholders’ desire.

Leading the tradi onal rulers, the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Oyedotun, maintained that Osun is no doubt a blessed state which is developing in spite of the meager resources available to the leaders.

Oba Oyedotun described the people of the state as peace lovers and ‘Omoluabis’ who value dignity.

He said: “I greet all the people of Osun on the 30th anniversary of the state creaon. We give thank to God for spearing our lives to witness today. Thirty years is not a joke in one’s life. We appre-

ciate God for what we have been able to do and achieve as a state and individually.

“I want to enjoin our people that we should all come together and stop figh ng ourselves. We should respect those who are in posi on of authority. We should con nue praying for them.

“Looking back to the last

30th years, the developmental level of the state has improved and I am op mis c that it will be be er in the years to come. The people of the state are peace lovers; we are all ‘Omoluabis’.

I admonish everyone in the state to con nue to embrace peace.

“If you observe, all the

insecurity issues in some parts of the country is not happening in Osun. The state is peaceful and we will connue to enjoy peace. I want to appeal to our people to support the government on the delivery of good governance for the progress of the state.

Speaking further, Oba

•The Deputy Editor, OSUN DEFENDER Newspaper, Mr. Ismaeel Uthman, in a group photograph with Mass Communication Students of LENS Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State, during their courtesy visit to the organization recently.

Do More For Nigerian Employees, Aregbesola Charges Indorama Management

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INISTER of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has charged the management of the Indorama Petrochemicals and Fer lizer Limited, Port Harcourt, to create a clear career path for their Nigerian staff through promo on, upgrade, conversion and advancement in their chosen fields.

Aregbesola, according to his Media Adviser, Mr. Sola Fasure, in a press release, made the remarks on Monday, when he paid a working visit to the industrial complex.

The Minister was guided round the complex, seeing the control room, the bagging and loading sec ons and the product display room.

Speaking at the end of the tour, Aregbesola noted that he was impressed with the level of investment and expansion of the company, commending the management for their contribu on to the development of the Nigerian economy. He however stated that Indorama needed to do more in employing more Nigerians to work at the facility.

He said: “If I was the Minister of Trade and Investment, perhaps, I would have applauded you and le this place, as the level of investment is quite commendable, but my role as Minister of Interior requires me to speak on the area that concerns me and which is paramount.

“You need to improve on the number of Nigerians in your employment. Of course, this is beyond the two-understudy required for each expatriate quota alloca on.

“Beyond that, a clear

path of progression must be created for staff who are already employed. If that is done and all laid-down procedures are followed, the Ministry of Interior will connue to deliver on its mandate of ensuring businesses and other interested corporate organiza ons get all required documenta ons.”

Earlier, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Manish Mundra, who led top management of the company to receive the Minister, stated that the aim of the firm is to make Nigeria the

largest petrochemical hub in Africa.

“We have over 700 companies in Nigeria sourcing their raw materials from our company. Beyond that, we restarted expor ng in 2016 to ECOWAS countries, South Africa, La n and North America. Our total export currently stands at two million tonnes per annum.

“At the moment, our staff include 155 expatriates and 1,055 Nigerians for the petrochemical plans alone. At the fer lizer plants, we have 177 expatriates and another

1,177 Nigerians in our employ”.

Mundra assured the Minister that Indorama will con nue to abide by all regulatory procedures laid down by both the na onal and sub-na onal authori es.

Other members of Indorama management that received the minister include the CEO of Indorama Fer lizer, Munish Jindal and Dr. Jossy Nkwocha, Head Corporate Communica ons and Special Adviser to the Managing Director.

The Minister was accom-

Symbol’s Quote

“Show kindness, love and generousity of spirit and of your substance to others’ needs. We must love our neighbours just like ourselves”

panied on the trip by the Director, Ci zen and Business Department of the Ministry, Barr. (Mrs.) Soyinka MoremiOnijala, Chairman, Ministerial Task Force on Expatriate Quota and Business Permit Administra on, Hon. Bola Ilori, Mr. Akin M. Adesina, Deputy Director, Inspec on and Inves ga ons, amongst others.

Oyedotun called on the people of the state to promote the culture and tradi on of Yoruba race, describing Osun as the spiritual capital of Yorubaland.

He said: “Tradi on is the founda on in which Osun state was built on and we tradi onal rulers are custodian of Yoruba culture. IleIfe, we all know, is the cradle of Yoruba race. If we look at Ila, Ilesa and others in Osun, they are ancient towns. We own the culture and tradion.

“Promo ng our tradi on does not stop us from being Muslim or Chris an. There is a clear difference between culture, tradi on and religion. I want to use this occasion to appeal to our people to promote our culture and tradi on. God bless Osun and her people. We shall connue to grow peacefully.”

In his anniversary message, the Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kelani Adekeye, appreciated God for keeping the state and her people safe in the last 30 years.

Oba Kelani said: “If you give birth to a child and he or she is celebra ng 30th birthday, that calls for celebra on because you are celebrating your own achievement.

Osun is 30 years of age. If you look back to who we are as a people and what we had in the old Oyo State, you will be convinced to thank God. “Osun is not retrogressing, we are moving forward.

The people of the state are also progressing individually and collec vely. God has •Continued on page 7

4 Killed As Gunmen Attempted To Free Suspects On Way To Correctional Centre

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NE gunman and three murder suspects have been killed during an ambush on a police vehicle conveying the suspects to Ilesa Correc onal Centre on Wednesday, a er court proceedings.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Magistrate Adekanmi Adeyeba of an Osogbo Magistrate Court remanded the three armed robbery and murder suspects, Olaide Adelu, known as Okiki (18), Tope Gbenga, known as Jenbe (22) and Opeyemi Obaniwa, a.k.a Omojoibo (22) in Ilesa Correc onal centre.

The suspects, the medium learnt, were being conveyed to Ilesa by the police when gunmen laid ambush on them at Osunjela, a community on Ilesa road.

Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Osun Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, who confirmed the incident, said the police van developed mechanical fault, forcing it to park beside the road.

Opalola in a press statement on Thursday said: “Around 3:30pm, Osun Police tac cal team’s vehicle, while taking some murder suspects to Ilesa Correconal centre, a er Osunjela river along Osogbo/Ilesa Road, developed mechanical fault.

“As the nearby mechanics

were working on the vehicle, four armed men emerged from Osunjela road on a motorcycle and a acked the Police team by firing sporadically in a bid to hijack the suspects.

“However, with the superior fire-power of the Police team, the hoodlums abandoned their motorcycle, three locally made guns; one pump ac on, two cut to size barrel guns with fourteen live cartridges.

“In the process, the three murder suspects sustained several degrees of injuries and later died at Asubiaro hospital in Osogbo and were deposited in the same hospital morgue. The hoodlums fled into the bush with bullet wounds.

“The police, in collabora on with the local security ou its; at the wee hour of Thursday, August 26, 2021 while combing the bush for possible arrest of the fleeing suspects, recovered the dead body of one of the a ackers with bullets wounds on his body “While searching his body, two live cartridges and a paper with incanta on wri en in Yoruba Language with the names of the perpetrators were found in his pocket. His corpse has been evacuated and deposited in the morgue.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2021

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Thirty Years On!

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T has being a long day journey full of twists and turns since the crea on of the State of Osun. Tremendous progress has been made but there are miles to go. Created like all the other states since nineteen sixty-six under military rule, the State of Osun has had its most invigorating period under democra c administra ons. Indeed, the struggles to validate the sanc ty of the cons tu onal process were a pivotal springboard for its most enerva ng advance across endeavours.

“This thrust was brought to the fore of state policies under past governments headed by Chief Bisi Akande and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. The ground norm set should be continued and indeed deepened. It clearly made State of Osun a pacesetter punching above its weight. ” Chief Bisi Akande and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. The ground norm set should be con nued and indeed deepened. It clearly made State of

•A Pivotal tripod Ajiborisa, Akande and Aregbesola.

While we praise the input of all the determining figures from the start, we must now face the future. A post COVID-19 future which will include facing a youthful demographic bulge must be based on a progressive thrust and a con nua on of the posi on stretching back to the progressive advance of the Acon Group under Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the fi ies that in order to make “life more abundant” the policies of a government must be inclusive, to ensure that no one is le behind and directed for the good of the overwhelming majority of the people and not just a few.

This thrust was brought to the fore of state policies under past governments headed by

Osun a pacese er punching above its weight.

It was very edifying for example that one of the most vigorous advances in social intervenon and welfare emanated from Osun. Widely copied within and outside the country, it did a lot for the self-esteem and image of the state as well as ensuring a tremendous social advance. Sustaining it is crucial, for it was demonstrably efficacious; throwing out the baby with the bathwater because of pe y largely contrived bickering will be disasterous. The opportunists championing such a course do not wish the state well and should have a rethink. We wish Osun State a happy anniversary and great decades of progressive consolidaon and development ahead.

Review & Outlook BY INWALOMHE DONALD Harassment Of Political Opponents And Osun 2022 Elections

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HE crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun is gradually reaching climax. Cases of harassment, in mida on, violence and incarcera on, which had been buried in the state in 2010, have resurfaced, sadly in the APC under the leadership of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola. It is high me we spoke truth to power. Governor Oyetola should retrace his steps.

The Governor should stop the harassment of members of the APC in the State of Osun and other poli cal opponents as we approach the 2022 Governorship Elec ons in the state.

It is clear that Governor Oyetola will rely on force and in mida on in an a empt to win elec on next year, since it appears he is no longer popular. Members of Osun APC must be allowed to express their wishes poli cally without fear of persecu on.

It is saddening that the Caretaker Secretary of the Osun APC, Hon. Rasaq Salinsile, former Chairman of the party, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi, former Commissioner for Works and Transports, Engr. Kazeem Salami, former Commissioner for Youth, Sports, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, former Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxa on, Barr. Gbenga Akano, two other members of the APC, Messrs Alaba Popoola and Azeez Adekunle were arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo

“The APC in Osun today is not only weak, but lifeless because of the avoidable crisis it was plug into by the Governor and his conflict entrepreneurs. However, it is not too late to retrace steps and chart a new course. The Governor needs help to free himself from the bondage of people who are appealing to his ego, fears and ambition. ”

on Monday on trumped up charges as a result of the crisis at the APC Secretariat during the si ng of the Ward Congress Appeal Commi ee on August 14. It is sad that Governor Oyetola is not mature yet to manage party affairs. The Governor is not at peace with himself because of the fear of losing the second term cket and elecon, and has resorted to figh ng dirty to clinch power to avoid the unpleasant experience of losing elec ons and losing relevance, and in fact losing everything.

The path of in mida on, harassment and violence being towed by the governor and his supporters will lead to a journey of perdi on for them, and if not careful, the APC. The APC in Osun today is not only weak, but lifeless because of the avoidable crisis it was plug into by the Governor and his Publisher – Moremi Publishing conflict entrepreneurs.

House Ltd. However, it is not too Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman late to retrace steps and (0805-121-2204) chart a new course. The Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa Governor needs help to Reporter – Yusuf Oketola Reporter – Kazeem Badmus free himself from the Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto bondage of people who Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere are appealing to his ego, OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing fears and ambi on.

House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite APC was lucky in Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, 2018, the luck might not State of Osun ISSN : 0794 – 8050 be there in 2022, espeTelephone : 0805-121-2204 cially when the progresWebsite : www.osundefender.com/index.php sives’ house has divided e–mail : osundefender@yahoo.com against itself. osundefenderbank@gmail.com All Correspondence to the above email Addresses.

•Inwalomhe Donald OSUN DEFENDER IS NOT AFFLIATED WITH ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER, writes from Osogbo, MAGAZINE OR ANY PUBLICATION WHATSOVER State of Osun

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2021

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Feature

The Process, Challenges Of Creating State Of Osun By Ajiborisha Major-General Leo Segun Ajiborisha (re red) is the first Military Administrator of the State of Osun, a er it was created on August 27, 1991 b y the General Ibrahim Babangida-led Federal Government. Ajiborisha ruled the state between August 1991 and January 1992. He recently spoke on the 30th Year Celebra on of the state’s crea on in a programme on Rave FM, a private radio sta on based in Osogbo, which was monitored by OSUN DEFENDER. Excerpts: JIBORISHA said he felt elated that the state he midwifed its crea on is 30 years old, commending the founding fathers of the state for their determina on in having a poli cal space of their own.

Ajiborisha said: “When I look back at the date when Osun was created, I get elated and happier that what we had as Osun State, which was just like a small town in developmental level, has grown up to be a full self-state in terms of development.”

Speaking on the challenges in running the state a er its crea on, the former military administrator said: Remember that from me immemorial, Osogbo, the state capital, used to be like the provincial headquarters and there were some li le quarters the previous governments which inherited the development from the colonial masters had been using.

“Therefore, when we got there, it was not easy. We had to sacrifice, do a lot of things. We had to leave a basic means of survival. We felt in our heart that we were doing these for posterity and the posterity is what we have today. Where I was living as the State House was a two-bedroom apartment. It was not rosy; it was something else. We just needed to sacrifice. And of course, one of the challenges was that we had to move over 20, 000 people - civil servants we inherited from Oyo State, who are Osun State indigenes - to Osun. The ques on then was: ‘where are we going to se le these people, in terms of office place to live?’ What we quickly did for accommoda on was to give them allowances so that they could get accommoda on. That quickly solved the challenge and some of them before the crea on of the state had homes in Osun.

“My Secretary to the State Government was living in the machine tools area. We

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The people of Osun State knew what they wanted - they wanted a state and they were ready to overcome all obstacles that would prevent them from achieving it.

•Major-General Leo Segun Ajiborisa (retired). were able to get one small building there.

He was living with four other Permanent Secretaries. Imagine that! We do close work around 11 to 12 midnight and we had to resume by 7am the following day.

We were virtually living in the bush, in the sense that once we started office, we ran from available space where we can create our needed buildings. And don’t forget that we had created a bank and the poli cians that were already on ground. Par cularly, we had the State Assembly that had been established. We did Gubernatorial Elecons, then the Presiden al Elec ons.

“A er the Gubernatorial Elec ons, we had to create space for the Governor and his Deputy. That was when we created the Government House. Where the Governor is living now is Phase 2, I created the Phase 1. I provided everything that the Governor would need with his office. I thank God. The people of Osun State knew what they wanted - they wanted a state and they were ready to overcome all obstacles that would prevent them from achieving it.

They were so suppor ve. So, I determined not to disappoint the people of Osun. I said to myself that posterity would not forgive me if I disappointed the people of Osun. I thank God for suppor ng me to do the little things I could do in Osun State.

On the role played by the founding fathers of the state, Ajiborisha stated: “The founding fathers, some of them have died now, were mee ng me. I had to cancelled several pre-arranged mee ngs, developmental mee ngs for their own sake. Anyme they came to me, even unannounced, I a ended to them because they own the state. But in terms of what the Government wanted to bring to them, they didn’t know.

We wanted to provide for Government administrators, legislators, civil servants we inherited and building offices. I said I was living in the bush. Someone who read Telecommunica ons Engineering, I became a

surveyor looking round the bush for available spaces to build houses, reading plans every me, discussing with my engineers on what to do. It was a bad experience.

He men oned the personali es involved in the state’s crea on, saying: “I can remember Chief Inaolaji Aboaba, my SSG then, Chief Abija of Works, who gave us the tractors to clear bush when the Federal Government in 1991/1992 gave us the instruc on to provide a space for the construc on of State House and House of Assembly. I remember we had quarrel between Ede and Osogbo on the ownership of the land where the Secretariat was sited.

“May God grant the late, Baba Kabiesi of Osogbo Aljanat Fridaus and the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. Both of them did a lot for the state. I salute the late Owa of Igbajo and the current Ogiyan of Ejigbo. They are fathers. They all did a lot for us during that me.”

Asked how fair Oyo was to Osun in the assets sharing then, he said: “Lest I forget, I did not pay more tribute to my people, the people in the communica ons world who came from Oyo to Osun to create Osun State Broadcas ng Corpora on, which started from Ile-Ife. They did very well.

Blessings to all of them.

Coming to assets sharing, the Federal Government did what they should do.

They formed a commi ee and scheduled three factors to be considered for the assets sharing between two states or local governments to be shared. The factors are: 1-equality of states, 2- popula on (you recall that Oyo State was in third posi on on the Federal Government popula on rank as at then. Osun popula on was very low.

I think they were just about 3million people.), 3- land mass (you can see in terms of land mass, Oyo State had the day.)

“So at the end of the day, the assets sharing formula was 55 to 45 percent in

favour of Oyo. I was appointed ini ally as part of the nego a ons team because they (Oyo) were unfair. They were selec ng machineries that were older for us. They even drove out our people from offices. They even asked Oyo indigenes that were married to Osun spouses out of their offices to go and join their husbands in Osun.

“I had to quickly call late Col. Adisa, my senior, who was the Military Administrator of Oyo State to call the situa on to order.

That was why I give kudos to our people in OSBC then, par cularly on our jingles. I was forced to write a le er to General Babangida on that issue. They refused to appoint Mama A nuke (late Jus ce A nuke Ige) as the Chief Judge and asked her to resume in Osun when the state had already had Ac ng CJ. But the Federal Government quickly gave her appointment in Abuja. At the end of day, we came out victorious. So, the challenges made us to work harder.

“We had The Polytechnic in Ibadan, with other satellite campuses, among which 2 were in Osun. We converted the two satellite campuses Iree and Ilesa to our own Osun State schools. We had Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso which was created a year before the crea on of the state. So, there was nothing to share among the two states. As at that me, none of the university’s property was here in Osun and if you wanted to share it, it can only be in terms of money. We would need to get good capitalist to make the value of the university and 55 of the cost would to Oyo and 45 to Osun. But we did not want to do that. We wanted to have what would be binding us together, like Cocoa House in Ibadan is binding all the five Oodua states together now. We were looking at the oneness of our people that me because it was poli cal delinea on that separated us.

Speaking on the takeoff fund and the alloca on of the state, Ajiborisha said: “The Federal gave us N30 million and Oyo State gave us N10million from the joint account we had over the years. Every month then, I think the alloca on Federal and state used to be about N52.1million.”

Ajiborisha said he would not abandon the state, even as he expressed disappointment on the a tude of successive government to him.

He said: “There is no how I would abandon the state that I pioneered its crea on. I am like a foster father. And don’t forget that my re rement during the me of Obasanjo was based on the fact that I was former military administrator in Osun. During the Aregbesola’s tenure, I was always invited to everything the state was doing.

And when the present Governor and Deputy came, I congratulated them as I always do. At mes I don’t get replies.

It is very painful. I lost a dearest daughter last year at the age of 39, everybody and the Governor of Osun heard about, but none of them wrote me a le er of condolence. It is painful when the people you suffered for just abandoned you. I don’t have money but I’m contented with what I have.”

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2021

Interview

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How We Provided Guided Intervention During #EndSARS Protests In Osun - Oluwaseun

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OMRADE Abosede Oluwaseun, popularly called Safety, is a former Special Assistant on Students’ Ma ers to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the State of Osun. In this interview with OSUN DEFENDER, he shares the roles he played, alongside other civil society leaders, during last year’s #EndSARS protests in Osun. Excerpts: #EndSARS protests had come and gone. What is your role in the said protests?

The #EndSARS protests started on October 8, 2020 in Lagos and other major ci es in Nigeria. It spread to Osun, with few youths from the Revolu on Now movement leading it. Within days, youths in the state, comprising mainly internet fraudsters (yahoo boys), who had had bad experience with the Police, par cularly officers of the Special An -Robbery Squad (SARS), started joining in the protests in droves, par cularly when the pictures of happenings in other states started surfacing online. They barricaded Olaiya Junc on, erected canopies, brought DJ to play music and totally prevented motorists from plying the route.

As me went by, some bad elements infiltrated them and an ini al peaceful protest gradually degenerated into an unruly one. For instance, on the eve of the 4th day of the protests, there were reports of phones and handbags snatching around Olaiya axis. Again, on the 5th day, a bus driver who was probably unaware of the barricade at the junc on was chased by some of the protesters un l he knocked a young girl down dead in front of the Zenith Bank, close to Aregbe bus stop.

All through this periodthe State Government kept mute but we have it on good intelligence that it therea er engaged the services of a popular transports union boss to disperse the protesters on the 6th day. A reporter of a private radio sta on, Rave FM was giving live report to his sta on when the protesters were being a acked on that day.The thugs carried out their assignment in dispersing the protesters but it boomeranged as the protesters were henceforth more emboldened, and they also brought in armed elements to counter them.At this point, the protest had taken a dangerous dimension,as it had become an armed protest, with protesters determined to con nue, as well as protec ng themselves from the state-engineered dispersal ini a ve. The Egbatedo boys, who had been having running ba le with the transports union boss’ gang, also took advantage of the situa on to be coming to the protest ground in search of the boss himself.

Up ll this stage, none of the tradi onal civil society groups that are usually involved in street protests in Osun, joined the #EndSARS protests. At that point, however, the leadership of the Civil Society groups in Osun resolved to embark on guided interven on through posi ve redirecon of the unpleasant path the protesters were towing.

This was borne out of the passion to keep the state safe and peaceful in support of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

What manner of ‘guided interven on?’

The leadership of civil society groups in the state, under the central leadership of Alhaji Waheed Lawal, held a mee ng to agree on some modus: viz, to check and end the tendency towards violence; refocus the protest to ‘endPolicebrutality’; and end the tendency towards disrup on of public order. Upon coming in, we needed to gain the trust and confidence of a few credible and recognised leaders of the protesters already in charge by assuring that we were with them. We mobilised our structures with disciplined instruc on that our involvement was to check the excesses of those already on ground. It worked out fine on the strength of our neutrality and goodwill among the contending forces.

Realising and acknowledging our interven on, most gang members of the warring groups ceased hos lity. The transport union boss actually sent emissaries to us to say

he was not part of the ini al a acks on the protesters and that he was in support of #EndSARS. At this point, we redirected the focus of the protest at the barricade to daily discussions and debates on Nigerian situa on andtheway forward, wherein notable cadres were brought into joining the discourse. Mind you, the contending mobsters never dispersed but merely hovered around and kept their distance from the protests venue, which we had substan ally normalised.

At this stage, Osun Government officials decided to begin interfacing with us. In fact, we invited some of them to the barricade to address protesters and all went well. At various stages of interface with them, we assured them the protests •Oluwaseun would con nue peacefully, but would not end un l the Federal Government addressed the demands of #EndSARS movement and a call off across the country.

But in spite of your interven ons, Governor Oyetola was a acked by the protesters when he came to address them.

This world is a global village. Videos and pictures of other states’ governors visi ng #EndSARS grounds to solidarise with protesters started surfacing. Osun protesters started asking why Governor Oyetola had refused to come and address them or send message of goodwill. Therefore, agita on for Oyetola appearance grew by day; although, it was more pronounced by Revolu on Now elements that have, by then, been relegated to the periphery of the venue along with cul sts, touts, fraudsters, etc.

The protest kept growing too but we started no cing strange faces within that periphery, some of whom publicly displayed guns and other dangerous weapon. On the day Mr. Governor chose to come, there was increase in the number of unknown faces around the vicinity of the protest ground and from our inves ga ons, it was not advisable for Mr. Governor to appear that day. We told some government officials interac ng with us and the security details to Mr. Governor who sought our opinion on the governor’s inten on to appear at the protest ground. The crowd of protesters had grown to amalgam of uniden fiable mob, and whereas we insisted on our advice that the atmosphere was not favourably disposed to Governor coming, the government officials interfacing with us decided to go with the sugges ons of some of their colleagues interfacing with some other leaders of the protest who were of differing opinion and insisted he should come.

Upon Mr. Governor’s appearance, we did everything to navigate the troubled water by joining others to welcome him from Alekuwodo to the protest ground. We informed some of his aides to brief him on what to say and slogan to use among others to win the heart of the protesters.

The first problem was the failure of the public address system brought by the government team; it was not loud enough to cover half of the ground. The Governor’s voice was also very low. With the breakdown of communica on, the situa on was ge ng tense and some people started abusing him. That was when the protesters were shouting ‘Sorosoke......’At this stage, we informed the Gover-

nor’s security team that the best thing to do was to create an exit route for the Governor to depart, as his vehicles and convoy were en rely surrounded by a chao c crowd.

They agreed and we mobilised our system to push back the unruly agitators and created a route via Old Fakunle Grammar School for Governor and his team to exit. When this didn’t work and the hooligans came to know what we were doing, we diverted to a small opening towards the Workers’ Drive, where the Governor and his team eventually exploited to manoeuvre out. Then hell was let loose, but the rest is history.Some suspects were arrested by the Police in connec on with the a ack on the Governor that day and other criminal ac vi es like loo ng, stealing, assault; among others crimes commi ed by the touts in the name of the #EndSARS protests. If I am not mistaking, the suspects should be up to 85 and they were paraded at the Police Headquarters in Osogbo some days a er.

Do you have any sugges on on future protests?

As a highly disciplined and progressive Civil Society group in Osun, the decision not to join the #EndSARS protest, un l the moment itdegenerated, was based on two considera ons: One, the impuri es of the #EndSARS protests itself, which eventually led to its fiasco; two, we were mindful of the tendencies of the Oyetola government, especially some of its key officials, to blame every disturbance in the state on Aregbesola’s followers. So, that absence of forthright guidance of the protests from the start created a vacuum filled and exploited for score-se ng and vested interests by Revolu on Now crowd, Yahoo Boys, hooligans, cul sts and gangsters. Nature, of course, abhor vacuum, and an otherwise noble protest, at least in theory, became rallying field for those elements. A cri cal analysis done by us and advised to government officials was that Osun protest ground was unique and unlike those of other statesand not a welcoming scene to the Governor; if that had been accepted, it would have prevented the ugly outcome. Government think-tank must develop capacity and u lise intelligence to relate with every development objec vely and specifically. Mind you, I can a ach names to all government actors I related with, and if they are sincere, they can verify all I’ve said here as accurate. Finally, for future protests, the people too must be courageous to take ownership of popular causes, and not allow derailment by nega ve and vested interest groups.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2021

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I

Religion

seek refuge in Allah from the devil the accused and I start in the name of Allah The Most Beneficent The Most Merciful. I testify that there is no any other deity worthy of worship save Allah, I also testify that Prophet Muhammad is His messenger.

May His benediction be upon his (Muhammad) soul, members of his household, his companions and those By who follow his ways till the Day when man will see that which his hands have sent forth, and the disbeImam Musa liever will say; I wish I would have been dust.

Oladapo Raji O you who believe! Fear Allah as he should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.

(Q3:102).

Da’awah Methodology What is Da’awah? Da’awah is an Arabic word which simply means call, However, in Islamic parlance, it connotes an act of inviting people to the fold of Islam. Or better still Islamic Propagation. Methodology on the other hand means sets of methods used in above. Now, let us scrutinize the verse in a way that spells out the working at something. Da’awah Methodology therefore means the intended methods. The verse mentions three different categories to sets of methods or ways or orderliness employed in inviting people be followed. The first one is wisdom; this is applicable to those who to the Islam hence; this topic “Da’awah Methodology” will dwell have faith in the lord to enhance their belief. The second category is on ways to call people into the fold of Islam. The caller/preacher is fair preaching, which is applicable to inattentive and fickle-minded known as Daa’I, which is derived from Da’awah. people; while the third category, argue with them in a way that is Conveying of Islamic message to the people is an obligatory act better, is applicable to the denial or rejecter of the truth. enjoined on every Muslim at all time. Not necessarily when one is All the categories stated above can only be sufficiently carried loaded with many knowledge it is an act /profession of all the mes- out when a caller follows certain protocols. Such as adequate knowlsengers of Allah right from prophet Nuh AS to the zeal of them Mu- edge of what he intends to put across, leniency and patience. On this hammad (SAW) Prophet Muhammad SAW was quoted to have even protocol Allah told the Prophet thus: “… And had you (Muhammad said: “ Convey to them, on my behalf, even if it is a verse, This tra- SAW) been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away dition stresses the importance of Da’awah. Equally, it is a directive from you …” Q3:159. from Allah to Prophet (SAW) and by extension to the mankind, to Also Allah said through His pious servant Luqman thus: “O my do that Allah says: “invite (mankind, O Muhammad SAW to the way son! Aqim-as-Salat (perform As-Salat_ enjoin (on people) Al- Maruf of your lord (i.e Islam) with wisdom and fair preaching and argue (Islamic Monotheism and all that is good), and forbid (people) from with them in a way that is better…” Q16:125. With this verse there- Al-Munkar (i.e disbelief in the Oneness of Allah, polytheism of all fore, it is imperative on all Muslims (male/female) to invite people kinds and all that is evil and bad) and bear with patience whatever to the way of Allah. It is an open secret that the devil too is striving befall you. Verily these are some of the important commandments to call people to his way. The devil and his soldiers are doing every- (ordered by Allah with no exemption). thing within their powers to dissuade people from the way of Allah It is pertinent to state here that calling to the way of Allah rethrough various means. Human being therefore needs extra efforts quires a gradual approach. That is why Allah legislates almost all the to wage war against this manifest enemy called Devil. legislations in a gradual manner. He also said: “there is no compulHowever in our attempt to carry out directive of our creator, sion in religion.” “Q2:256” a caller i.e (Daa’i) must possess some qualities to enable him/her The practical approach to this as employed by the Prophet carry out the duty adequately. Some of the qualities include the fol- (SAW) was the account given by Hazrat Mu’adh (RAA) he related: lowing: The Holy Prophet (SAW) nominated me as (Governor of Yemen) and 1) Adequate knowledge of what he intends to put across said: “bear in mind: a group of the people of the book (follower of 2) Must be a practising Muslim the revealed religions) will come to you therefore ask them to bear 3) Must be an upright, honest, trustworthy and God fearer. witness that there is no god save Allah and that I am His messen4) Must practise what he preaches ger. When they have accepted this, inform them that Allah has pre5) Above all must have wisdom and be methodical in his scribed for them five prayers (Salat) in a day and night when they presentation. accept this then tell them that Allah has made it compulsory for them The five above is what Allah means in Qur’an 16:125 quoted

JUMAT SERMON

Da’awah Methodology

Zakat (poor due) which will be realized from those who are wealthy among them, and will be distributed to poor persons among you, when they agree to this, do not take their best articles as Zakat. Fear the call of an oppressed person, because there is no barrier between the complaint of an oppressed person and Allah.”

The Prophet SAW equally stated the steps to be followed thus: (i) Hand (ii) tongue (iii) Heart in sequential order. He (Prophet) Says “whenever anyone of you sees anything disapproved (of by Allah) let him change it with his hand, or if he can not do that then with his tongue, or if he cannot do that then with his heart, through that is the weakest faith” Muslim Related it.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did not only say the above Hadith but demonstrated it with his actions in many ways. For instance he exhibited a high degree of tolerance when a villager discharged urine in the mosque. This made some people there, greatly annoyed, who got up in order to punish him; whereupon the Prophet (SAW) said: leave him and throw a bucketful of water over the polluted spot to clean it. You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them hard and difficult. Bukhari.

Likewise a caller must abstain from using vulgar languages as did by the Prophet (Saw) when he was assaulted and wounded by his people. Ibn Mas’ud (RA) relates: “ As if I am seeing the Holy Prophet (SAW) narrating the account of one of the Prophets of Allah (SAW) who was assaulted and wounded by his people: while wiping the blood from the face he prayed ‘O Allah! Forgive my people because they do not know. Bukhari & Muslim.

From the above it is discernible that the Prophet was a typical role model that a caller (Daa’i) must emulate in discharging his duty.

In fact in another tradition, he was categorical about the leniency of the message he brought He (Prophet) SAW says, Hadrat Aishat (RAA) related that the holy Prophet (SAW) said: where there is softness it beautified that thing and from what it is taken away it snatched its glamour.

It was on record that Umar ibn Khattab (RAA) places high premium on manners as an essential tool of calling people to the fold of Islam. He was reported to have said “Invite people to Islam through your manner” The last point I want to make here is Da’awah (call) through dialogue. Anybody that wants to use this method must be versed in the field otherwise he will end up in another faith.

In conclusion I admonish whoever desires to join the train of the preachers to equip himself with necessary knowledge to enable him do the job diligently.

May Allah make the close of our request to be Alhamdulillah Rabbil alamin.

• Imaam Musa Oladapo Raji The Chief Imaam of Telemu Land Ola Oluwa LGA, Osun State.

News

Osun APC Crisis Began Day Oyetola Became Governor – Salinsile Yusuf Oketola

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HE crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun began immediately a er the inaugura on of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in November 2018, said the Caretaker Secretary of the party, Hon. Rasaq Salinsile.

According to Salinsile, the crisis started when Oyetola began to mark some members of the party as archenemies a er his emergence as the Governor of the state.

Salinsile, who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview accused Oyetola of being the architect of the crisis rocking the APC, noting that the Governor started his administra on with polics of division and bi erness, which degenerated into the current crisis in the party.

The APC Secretary maintained that the crisis should not have been, but for the divisive a tude of the Governor, who took people that selflessly worked for his emergence as governor, in spite of s ffer opposi on, as enemy.

He concluded that the Osun APC is on the dangerous path to the 2022 Governorship Elec ons, remembering that Governor Oyetola won his elec on with less than 500 votes when the party was not

deeply in crisis as it is now.

Salinsile said: “Things have not been okay with the APC in Osun since Oyetola became Governor. The party’s crisis began immediately a er his inaugura on as the Governor of the state. The crisis started from the Governor; when he became to see some members of the party as his enemies. He started with bi er poli cs and introduced division into the party.

“The party that produced him started suffering since he became Governor of the state.

Let me also say that violence and all ungodly things that where alien to the progressive family have surfaced since Oyetola came to power, especially, very recently, when he started bringing in all manners of people who don’t share the ideals and ideologies of the progressive family into the party.

“Things have turned so sour for our dear party. It is very sad. Anybody who knows what we went through before the progressives got to this level would not toy with our success, because people say: ‘once beaten, twice shy’ and poli cs is very dynamic.

“The way and manner that we dealt with the opposi on in 2007 and the subsequent li ga ons for three-and-half years that gave us the victory in 2010, which we gallantly

•Salinsile defended in 2014 may not be possible again.

“The opposi on is wiser now and by next year, it would be 12 years that they lost power to us. The opposi on is not relen ng. With the way Governor Oyetola is disuni ng the party (APC), we should be very careful and prayerful.”

Speaking on his arraignment in court on Monday, Salinsile said: “I was invited by the Police through one of our lawyers to the State Criminal Inves ga ons Department on Monday, in connec on with the a ack on members of the APC during the si ng of the APC Ward Congress Ap-

peal Commi ee on August 14, 2021.

“I was alleged to have assaulted some persons during the process. The charges against me and others are conspiracy, assault, a empted murder and others. I made my statement to the Police and immediately a er that, myself and others, Biyi Odunlade, Lowo Adebiyi, Kazeem Salami and Gbenga Akano, who were also invited on same allegaons were told that we were going to be arraigned straightaway. And that was how we landed in court.”

Asked who the pe oners are, Salinsile said: “I don’t

know any of them. But I remember the names of one Ajetumobi and Aminat as pe oners. I learnt that Aminat is the Secretary of the Caretaker Commi ee in Osogbo SouthWest Local Council Development Area. I have never come across anyone of them.

“At this my age and with my status, somebody is frivolously accusing me of assault (which my children will never do), it is not a joking ma er.

I have never beaten anybody with cane in my life, not to talk of a acking somebody when I am closer to the grave. People could be funny. Anyway, this is poli cs. Poli cs is not meant for reasonable and responsible people alone. It is all-comers’ affair.

“The case is a show of irresponsibility. In actual fact, we should be the one to allege them because it was the Oyetola people that brought thugs to the APC Secretariat that day. They were led by one Akeem, who I invited to my office and ques oned why he would be doing that.

“He said because he wanted to see Ogbeni and Bola Ilori was preven ng him, and that we, Aregbesola’s people do not relate with or recognise him again. And because of that, he wanted to show us that he is s ll relevant. I told him to drop all those things.

I reminded him that if not for Aregbesola, he would have been a dead man by now because of his ailment. Ogbeni sent him out of the country for medical treatment.

“Some minutes a er he le my office, the thugs with ‘Oyetola 4+4 fez caps’ started attacking our people. They even brought out guns and started shoo ng. I was rescued by the officers of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps that day.

So, we should be the one to be accusing them.

“A reasonable person will query what the IleriOluwa people were doing at the party secretariat that day. They did not have any pe on. We were the pe oners invited by the Appeal Commi ee.

They were there because they wanted to cause problem and they started that by a acking APC members with TOP fez caps.

“The Governor is there; supervising brigandage, attemp ng to send people who helped him to get to office to prison as a payback for their commitment to the party, while he con nues to closely marry opposi on and trying to wage war against those who stood by him before, during and a er the 2018 Governorship Elec ons, star ng from Aregbesola, myself and others.

Anyway, God will judge him.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2021

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News

Osun A Complex Society, Difficult To Govern, Says Col. Bamigboye (rtd) Ismaeel Uthman

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former military administrator of the State of Osun, Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (rtd) has described the people of the state as vibrant, intelligent, making the state to be very difficult to govern.

According to Bangboye, who ruled the state between August 1998 and May 29, 1999, Osun is a complex society with every zone of the state demanding equal development.

Bamigboye spoke in a telephone interview on Tuesday in commemora on of the 30th anniversary of the state’s crea on.

He said: “I am feeling good and I want to congratulate the government and good people of Osun on the 30th anniversary of the State. I am glad that I am part of the history.

Osun went through me and I went through Osun.

“For our birthday, 30 years is no joke and I pray that Osun and her good people con nue to enjoy peace and progress.”

Speaking on his experience in governing the state, Bamigboye said: “I must confess, it was a complex situa on because a lot of things happened but I faced everything with prayers. To govern Osun state is not an easy thing. It is a complex society.

“Osun people are very vibrant, intelligent and all the segments are looking forward to equal development. That is some of my experience and it was on like that throughout my stay in Osun State.

“I was being told then by the people that ‘look, we struggle for the crea on of Osun State together, so the dividend should be spread across the en re state’. It was good but honestly, it was not easy. We thank God we are able to do the li le bit that we did.”

Bamigboye shared his experience on how he was able to restore peace and brought to an end the Ife/ Modake war, a ribu ng his success to God and determina on to succeed.

“It is by the grace of God and the power of prayer and my determina on to succeed because from the moment the announcement came up that I am being moved from Bauchi to Osun State, people are calling and wishing me well because of the problem around Ife/Modakeke then.

I thank God that we were able to do our bit then.

“When I resumed on August 12, 1998, I listened very well to the people of Osun and they were all asking me to do something about Ife/Modakeke issue.

We were able to restore

peace right from January 2, 1999, killings and arsons stopped and I was happy.

So, we thank God for our little achievement and I pray that peace will con nue to

reign in Ife/Modakeke in par cular.

“Call me a prayer warrior. I pray fervently for God to assist and put me through because it was

a big task and I say well, people have been trying their best before me and here I am now, God lead me and show me the way.

“I was happy when I was able to bring together the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Francis Adedoyin.

We spoke and prayed and we were able to achieve something.

Therea er, we started enjoying peace and good atmosphere in Ife/Modakeke axis.

Civil Servants Gulp 80-90% Of Osun Revenue - Oyinlola Kazeem Badmus

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•Two commercial transporters engaging in a fight around Fakunle Area of Osogbo, State of Osun, on Thursday.

Photo: Olushola Aderinto.

former governor of the state of Osun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has disclosed that 80-90% of the state revenue is being used to service the state civil servants.

According to Oyinlola, the resources le a er paying the civil servants is not always enough for developmental projects in the state.

Oyinlola made this known on Wednesday, while featuring on a pri-

Traditional rulers Shower ...

•Continued from front page 2

also blessed us with quality leaders who are visionary and development driven. As a person, I am proud of our achievement, though there is need to do more.”

Describing the people of the state as peace lovers, Oba Adekeye said Osun will con nue to enjoy peace because her people are easygoing and accommoda ng.

“The bedrock of development is peace and security and we have that in Osun. I need to say that we have that because our people are not trouble makers, they like peace and they are easy-going. We are known for peace and that is why non indigenes find it easy to se le down in the state”, he said.

Oba Adekeye lauded the past and present governors of the state for theirs various contribu ons to the development of the state, describing them as actualisers of the dreams of the founding fathers.

He specially commended Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for keeping faith with the people of the state in terms of socio-economic and infrastructural development.

The Oloyan prayed that Osun will con nue to enjoy peace, progress, harmony and tranquility, adding that both indigenes and residents of the state shall always have cause to thank and appreciate God for their stay in Osun as they will be divinely blessed.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the Olu of Ileogbo, Oba Abeeb Adetoyese Agbaje, said: “We are happy that

Osun has come of age with many tangible development to show for that. We thank God and the leaders of the state for pilo ng the affairs of Osun towards greatness.

“We thank God for his blessing on that state since her crea on three decades ago. We pray to God not to cease his blessing on the state, her people and government.

“I want to advise the people of the state to connue praying for development. The vision of the founding fathers has come to being and that is why we indigenes of the state are proud to be called Osun people.

“I enjoin the people of the state to con nue suppor ng Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administra on for delivery of dividends of democracy.”

In his anniversary message, the Chairman, Osun

Civil Socie es Coali on (OCSC), Comrade Waheed Lawal, noted that his assessment of the state’s development is likened to his personal growth which is appreciable and commendable.

Lawal said: “I came to Osun immediately it was created in 1991. Things did not start well. I passed through so many huddles, but thank God for who and where we are today. I am yet to a ain my desired status but I am not where I was years back.

That is development. This is the case of Osun too.

“Osun is developing; it might not be as we expected, but the state is not stagnant. I want to congratulate the people o f the state for the 30th anniversary of her crea on. I want to commend both the government and the people for their plans and sacrifices that have brought the state this far.

“There is need to do more on the part of government for socio-economic and infrastructure development. My advice is that the government should con nue to address the yearnings of the people and make their plights a priority.

Projects and programmes of the government should be people oriented and centred.”

Advising the government to be commi ed to eradica ng poverty, Lawal said programmes and projects that will create wealth in the society and absolve the unemployed youths should be of priority to every government, either now or in the future.

He congratulated Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the people of the state for the 30th anniversary, commending the governor for his laudable projects and interven ons since he

We’re Changing The Narratives In Osun – Oyetola

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HE Governor of the State of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that his administra on is changing the narra ve of Osun being a civil servant state to an economic viable one.

Oyetola who spoke in an interview with a state-owned media staon, OSBC, yesterday in commemora on of the 30th anniversary of the state crea on, said his administra on is determined to explore the poten als of the state to

make it great.

He said: “We are trying to diversify the economy of the state from the perceived civil servant to a buoyant one by exploring sectors like agriculture, mining and tourism.

In all those three sectors, par cularly mining, we are not doing bad.

“For the first me ever, we have investors coming from Canada and some other places to invest in mining in the state. What we see in other places is ar sanal mining, degrading the

environment. But we are looking for responsible miners and mining ac vi es.

“I can tell you that in a ma er of years, Osun will be able to live majorly on mining, while not leaving tourism and agriculture behind. We are working to ensure that agriculture remains the mainstay of our economy.

“We are changing the narra ve from a civil servant state to one that has a lot of poten als to be great.”

vate radio program ‘Frank Talk’ in Osogbo.

He said: “The civil service takes between 80-90% of the resources of the state. We had some near turbulent situa ons whereby at a point, I had no choice than calling a stakeholders mee ng to discuss how we want to run the state.

“If 40,000 people would consume ninety per cent of the resources, how will other ci zens enjoy the benefit of democracy and good governance?

“The only thing that would happen is retrenchment, but the effect of downsizing without the considera on of the people of the state might be counter-produc ve.

“To every civil servant, there is minimum of five to ten mouths attached to him or her. So, the effect of downsizing might outweigh the gain and a government cannot do that if it does not want to earn bad name.

“Together, with senior members of the civil service, we were able to engineer our way out and we kept the boat sailing ll the end of my tenure.”

Speaking on the anniversary of the state, Oyinlola said the state is moving in the right direcon and will soon a ain its desired height.

“In everything, we should give thanks to God. We may not have achieved what our expecta ons are for the state, but we are s ll exis ng and moving on.

“I think with serious hands in government, we can s ll con nue to do be er than we are.

Resources are limited in the state and in the absence of resources, no development will occur.”

“We must look for means of genera ng extra funds outside what we get from the federal government. That is what can take us to where we desire to be”, he stated.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2021 VOL. 16 NO 32 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

News We’re Changing The Narratives In Osun – Oyetola Page 7

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ONTENDING With Self-inflicted Barrage By virtue of being a member of Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni led Conven on/Extraordinary Na onal Convenon Planning Commi ee, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun has some power and influence over people nominated to oversee the last July 31, 2021 Ward Congress in the state. While the Governor and his IleriOluwa caucus of APC in Osun wanted a consensus arrangement, other caucuses like The Osun Progressive (TOP) were poised for elec on.

Osun Ward Congress Commi ee led by its chairman, Gbenga Egbeleye, did not bother to meet TOP leadership clamouring for elecon, nor did it visit major Local Government Areas to feel the pulse of the members; it only visited Ward1, Iragbiji, hometown of the Governor; Ila, hometown of Chief Bisi Akande; Igbajo, hometown of Prince Gboyega Famodun and Ward1, Ile-Ife, hometown of Sen. Iyiola Omisore.

Hence, there were congresses everywhere with excep on of Ila and Boluwaduro Local Government Areas. The IleriOluwa group boyco ed the congress on the basis that it already had a list of new leadership.

Meanwhile, Gbenga Egbeleye led Committee availed nomina on forms only to IleriOluwa caucus and ignored others which would be a technical knockout of other groups. Sensing this danger, TOP and other allied caucuses had to buy nomina on forms individually for their own faithful, directly from the Na onal Party Secretariat.

The outcome of the exercise was very visible to the blind – parallel congress, parallel leadership list.

He who pays the piper dictates the tune.

Egbeleye led Commi ee only reckoned with IleriOluwa leadership and that was what it handed over to the Buni led na onal leadership. Egbeleye Commi ee one-sided inclina on provoked protest le ers from other caucuses to the Na onal Secretariat. Hence, the cons tu on of Osun Ward Congress Appeal Commi ee led by Ambassador Obed Wadzain by the Na onal Secretariat.

On the 14th of August, 2021, the ghost APC State Secretarial came alive again with thousands of pe oners to meet with Ambassador Obed Appeal Commi ee and submit their pe ons. Having addressed the pe oners and assured them of fairness and jus ce, the commi ee began to treat case by case. Meanwhile, all along, the thugs with ‘Oyetola 4+4 caps’ had laid siege to the Party State Secretariat as early as 8:00am, trying to prevent and disperse party members and pe oners, especially those with inscrip on of TOP on their face caps from gathering but were overwhelmed by the massive crowd. By 4:00pm, the thugs had regrouped, shoo ng into the air and attacking the pe oners. Though, the Appeal Commi ee members were rescued unhurt, many pe oners sustained injuries from attacks unleashed by the government sponsored thugs. Interes ngly, police looked the other way with no single arrest made.

Instead, the police have begun in midat-

“Hard work, tolerance, cooperation and wooing opposition to ones side, having consolidated one’s house, is the potent way to electoral success.”

Rescuing The Soul Of Osun APC

Contending With Self-inflicted Barrage ing and indeed arrested some TOP leaders, charging them to court on trumpedup charges based on frivolous pe ons by some engineered people, among who is a woman of easy virtue. The Governor interceded to stop their trial that will inevitably expose the truth anyway.

Meanwhile, Local Government Congress is slated for September 4 and the outcome of the resolu on of the controversial ward congress will be the template with which it will be built. If the APC Na onal Secretariat could not resolve the ma er before then, Osun Local Government Congress may be postponed. If it is not postponed, other caucuses like TOP who felt cheated may head to court to halt the process or boyco the exercise as nothing can be built on nothing. Whichever way, it is such that apart from a fair resolu on of outstanding issues by the Na onal Secretariat, Osun APC is in self-inflicted crisis that has capacity to

STRIKER

consume it.

I am very familiar with ‘stooping to conquer;’ grandstanding to be defeated is alien to me. Governor Oyetola is the one who is ambi ous to come back as a governor for second term. Such a person should be tolerant and not be seen to be aliena ng and confronta onal. Opposi on to Oyetola’s ambi on within his party is very stupendous because of his aliena on and confronta onal posture. This is just one leg. Another is an average voter who is not a card carrying member but studying a tude and disposion of poli cal players in both the ruling and opposi on par es to determining who he votes in general elec on.

Except Oyetola knows what nobody knows, vote is a func on of number. How could the State Government at all, under his watch, arraign Elder Biyi Adelowo, immediate past APC State Chairman; Hon. Rasaq Salinsile, Caretaker State Secretary of the

party; Hon. Biyi Odunlade, immediate past Commission for Youth, Sports and Special Needs and a Chie ain of TOP who recently a er the Ward congress appeal hearing, survived an assassina on a empt and his property and home vandalised; Barr. Gbenga Akano, immediate past Assistant Chief of Staff; Engr. Kazeem Salami, former Commissioner for Works and Transport; Alaba Popoola, APC member in Ilesa and Azeez Adekunle before Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara for trumped-up charges, following their leadership roles in the ward congress appeal commi ee with the inten on to send them to correc onal centre, albeit the intervenon to now discon nue their trial? The Naonal leadership of the party itself, ahead of the congresses, directed that no grievances must be taken to court but should be appealed to the Na onal Commi ees; reason why TOP that had genuine case pe oned the Na onal Commi ee rather than the police, on the incidence at the State Party Secretariat.

A pest digs its grave, thinking it is wreaking havoc on its host. Although, no candidate has yet emerged, July 16, 2022 electoral examina on is fast approaching and any candidate that eventually emerges and chooses to relegate serious studies to the background but relies on chea ng (aka ‘espo’) is bound to fail. Hard work, tolerance, coopera on and wooing opposi on to ones side, having consolidated one’s house, is the potent way to electoral success. A cleaver physically challenged person does not perish in a no fied war. An elderly masquerade dances gently. A word seems to be enough for the wise.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

The Bandwagon Mentality (In light of the recent bandit attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy resulting in the killing of two of its officers and abduction of one; the events in Afghanistan; and the no-let assault on Nigeria and Nigerians by terror forces, we repeat the article below, perhaps the government will eventually listen and learn that ‘a stitch in time saves nine’)

T

HE list of things not going well for Nigeria as well as recommenda ons for pu ng them right are innumerable; right from child upbringing issues in the family, party poli cs, the very structure of Nigeria up to the running of the presidency.

The thousand miles journey to redemp on though, like every other journey, can only begin with a single step and then gain pace.

The front burner issue of existen al dimension today is the very survival of Nigeria.

Nevertheless, as a lesson for today and tomorrow, we need to comprehend and factor in the bandwagon frame of mind of the majority of Nigerians. In Nigeria, once anything comes into fashion, the cascade begins! Let us take just 3 examples: advance fee fraud/ internet scam, ritual moneys and banditry.

Every deadly menace starts small, and then festers when unchecked. The base of crime and punishment is the rule of law: ins tu ng clear deterrence and enforcing them without fear or favour. The problem in Nigeria is that fears and favours have become weaponised elite strategies that pervert the administra on of jus ce and weaken the policing and judicial systems- two great ins tuons responsible for ensuring law and order.

Although when Olu Maintain sang “Yahooze” produced by Puffy Tee and officially

released on October 27, 2007, the Sec on 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code on Advanced Fee Fraud has been in place for years, it highlighted the arrival of a new genera on of infamous scammers birthed by the internet age. Despite exis ng laws and clearly s pulated punishments, fear and favours and the weakness of the penal system allow it to grow in leaps and bounds un l nowadays desperado, decadent parents even procure laptops for and enrol their kids as “yahoo yahoo” appren ces in a bid not to be le out of scam money. Basic school kids will answer “yahoo boy” when asked what they expect to grow up and be! That is the bandwagon effect. It was eventually to infest and derange the SARS Structure and ins gate the caus c #EndSARS phenomena.

The onslaught against internet fraud in an age of youngsters imbued with quick, free-money mentality led to the so-called “yahoo-plus” rendezvous: seeking to supplement online scam with violent crime and ritual money engagements. Laws abound to deal with them all. However, ll date, not only did it not abate but wax stronger, and only recently, the craze search for female underwear spread like wildfire - the bandwagon effect! People arrested in possession of fresh human body parts s ll make news daily, as

our compromised policing and jus ce system remain crippled by fear and favours.

As par violent crimes, we mainly worried about Boko Haram throughout the Jonathan administra on but in its womb were already developing other nefarious “businesses,” which have li le to do with extremist ideology: ca le rustling, kidnapping and banditry. All born of terror and insecurity, they are nevertheless dis nct acts of criminality; this me mainly for the money-making - for whatever purpose.

A li le way back, the arrest of alleged Kidnap Kingpin, Evans (Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike), made the headlines and jolted the na onal consciousness to the new-fangled crime, the policing and judicial system, corrupt and prostrate through fears and favours, could not then make a scapegoat of him and a patent statement thereby that kidnapping and consequent acts of banditry will not be allowed in this na on! The opportunity was thrown away and ll date, the case remains a mess-inprogress, unresolved, and kidnapping and banditry, on the bandwagon, have become a daily nightmarish occurrence.

When crimes commi ed are not swi ly and spectacularly dealt with, with the full wrath of the law, the consequences are dare indeed – it results into the escala on of such crimes, no thanks to the bandwagon mentality on whatever ill comes into fashion. The harvest is self help by opportunists and vic ms alike and that is why we are where we are today.

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