Osun Defender Online Version of May 06, 2022

Residents Call On Govt., NGOs To Rescue Baby From Mentally Challenged Mother In Pg. 4 Ifon

Beware Of Vindictive Gov. With Fake Promises, Omigbodun Tells Osun Workers Pg.6

FRIDAY, MAY 06 - THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

VOL 17 NO 18

New Selection Process May Take Place On Akinrun Stool Page 2

•Gboleru Ruling House Warns Govt, Kingmakers Against Distortion

•Late Oba Abdulrauf Adedeji II

MARKED FOR REMOVAL

•A cross section of Gov. Oyetola’s campaign billboards erected by some government officials without the approval of O-SIGNAGE.

Photo: Shola Aderinto

Payment Of Salaries No Longer A Campaign Strategy - The Osun Masterminds

Pg. 2

FRIDAY, MAY 06 - THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

2

News

New Selection Process May Take Place On Vacant Akinrun Stool Sodiq Yusuf

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HERE are indica ons that a fresh selec on process might take place for the emergence of a new Akinrun of Ikirun, inves ga ons have revealed.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the controversial selec on process which produced Prince Yunus Olalekan Akadiri from Obaara Ruling House as the new Akinrun, has been cancelled, following protests and li ga ons from concerned indigenes of Ikirun.

It would be recalled that Akadiri was announced by six kingmakers of Ikirun as the selected candidate after a mee ng with some Ifelodun Local Government officials on Friday, November 19, 2021.

However, Akadiri’s selec on was rejected by stakeholders and indigenes of Ikirun, par cularly princes and princesses from Gboleru Ruling House which is originally supposed to produce the new Akinrun.

This was followed by an injunc on of a State High Court on Thursday, November 25, 2021, restraining the Obaara and Adedeji Ruling Houses from nomina ng candidate for the Akinrun throne, just like the kingmakers, local and

•Assistant Commandant General (ACG), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Zone J, Osogbo, ACG Adeyinka Fasiu, during the hand over of vehicles to NSCDC officers in Osun.

Photo: Shola Aderinto state governments were also barred from accep ng candidate from the ruling houses.

According to the gaze e, Gboleru ruling house was to produce the new Akinrun a er the demise of Oba Abdulrauf Olawale who was from Adedeji ruling house.

The State Government, based on the controversies on the selec on process of Akadiri and the li ga on

that greeted it, stayed acon on the appointment of a new Akinrun.

But some government officials who reportedly manipulated the kingmakers and local government officials on the selec on of Akadiri, have also been making move to ensure that their candidate is chosen in the new selec on process.

Gboleru Ruling House Warns Govt, Kingmakers

Against Distor on But the Gboleru Ruling House has warned the state government and kingmakers in Ikirun not to distort the history of the town and the chie aincy declara on guiding the selec on and appointment of Akinrun of Ikirun.

The family specifically declared that it is the turn of Gboleru to produce the next Akinrun of Ikirun, following the passage of the

late occupant of the stool, Oba Rauf Olayiwola Adedeji who hailed from the Adedeji ruling house.

In a press statement signed by the Head of the ruling house, Chief Lamidi Abefe and the Secretary, Prince Taju Adebisi, the family expressed worry on the ac ons of the kingmakers and some officials of the state government over the selec on of a new tradi onal ruler for the town.

Payment Of Salaries No Longer A Campaign Strategy - The Osun Masterminds Yusuf Oketola

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socio-political group, The Osun Masterminds, has charged candidates of poli cal par es par cipa ng in the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on in the State of Osun, to stop the usage of ‘payment of salary’ as a campaign strategy, saying the state has grown beyond ‘outdated messages’.

According to the group, any governorship candidate who is campaigning with payment of salary is a juvenile, urging the people of Osun to be wary of such person.

The group, in its April State of the State Address, said payment of salaries and allowances of civil servants is the right of the state workers, saying that the present government is respec ng the right and paying the State’s workers as and when due.

Signed by the Execuve Director of the group, Dr. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, the address which was made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday,

reads: It must be said that Osun has grown beyond the use of payment of salaries as campaign message and the people of the State must be wary of such poli cians who deliver such outdated messages.

“Salaries and Allowances of Civil servants being righ ully theirs, the present government is respec ng this right and paying the State’s workers as and when due.

“This is minimum standard and does not require any campaign promise to do. Any person aspiring to the office of Governor of the State who campaigns with payment of salaries, for example, must therefore be seen as not just juvenile, but also lacking in brilliant ideas to move the State forward.

“Our development discussion must presently be based on ideas that will transform Osun into an economically sustainable State that will create opportuni es for the dexterity of our youths and the social needs of every class

of society.

“Such developmental ideas need be communicated by every candidate before we can consider them worthy of support.

Governance has evolved way beyond tomfoolery, abusive songs and theatrical performances in the name of campaigns.

“We must listen a envely to all of the candidates and based on their ideas, we adjudge them ready for governance or not.”

The group urged all the candidates to have issue-based campaigns, and presenta on of ideas that will improve the fortune of the state.

It said: “By now, we expected that issue-based campaigns would have commenced through the mul farious channels available to candidates and their poli cal par es, but we are concerned that what we have had instead, is mudslinging, empty rhetorics, emoonal manipula on and bland promises.

“We urge our people to si the campaign mes-

sages they have been listening to, find that which indeed speaks to the development needs of our State and give massive support to that candidate who delivered the most prac cal message.”

Speaking on the security of the state, The Osun Masterminds, said the ac vi es of some policemen is inimical to the maintenance of law, order and peaceful coexistence in the State.

The group said: “On peace and security, we also must state that the ac vi es of some men of the Nigeria Police in the State at the moment is inimical to the mainte-

nance of law, order and peaceful coexistence in the State.

“We are aware of several cases of extra-judicial killing in the State and the seeming inability of the top echelon of the Police in Osun to call its errant men to order.

“We condemn all of these en rely and demand that if the State Government sees that it has become impossible for it to work with the present top echelon of the Police in the State, it must as a ma er of urgency, request the redeployment of the present Commissioner of Police.”

Abefe and Adebisi affirmed that the Gboleru ruling house was prepared to present candidate for the vacant stool of the Akinrun contrary to insinua on that the family was in disarray regarding the selec on process.

They insisted that the 1980 Chie aincy Declaraon guiding the selec on and appointment of Akinrun of Ikirun recognises three ruling houses which are Oba Ara, Adedeji and Gboleru, stressing that “a er the Adedeji ruling house that ruled last, it is the turn of Gboleru ruling house to produce new Akinrun.

“This posi on is sacrosanct and cannot be changed by either the kingmakers or the state government”, said the family.

The statement which was made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, in Osogbo, reads in part: “None of the three ruling houses can be ignored in respect of Akinrun stool. The arrangement was made, signed and approved during the reign of Oba Lawani Adeyemi. It is unfortunate that one of his descendants is now the brain behind the distor on of the history and record of the town.

“Those behind the distor on of the history of the town and the chie aincy declara on have only one goal and that is the destruc on of the good work of Oba Lawani Adeyemi.

“Oba Ara and Adedeji had taken their turns to occupy the stool of the Akinrun of Ikirun. Expectedly therefore, it is the turn of the Gboleru ruling house in line with the Akinrun chie aincy declara on which was signed and approved in 1980.

“It is per nent to state here the injus ce and unfaithfulness displayed by Ikirun kingmakers. Due to corrup on, the kingmakers have kept the people of Ikirun in total darkness.

“Where there is no truth, there won’t be jusce and where there is no jus ce, there won’t be peace. We therefore called on the kingmakers to allow peace to reign in Ikirun.

They should allow the next ruling house in the order of ascension to produce the next Akinrun of Ikirun.

The kingmakers should do the needful and redeem their image for the sake of posterity and history.”

The family also called on the state Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola to allow truth prevail on the Ikirun chie aincy ma er, just as they urged him to expedite ac on on the selec on and appointment of a new Akinrun of Ikirun.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, MAY 06 - THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

3

Review & Outlook

BY KANMI ADEMILUYI

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The End Of Empires

MPIRES eventually crumble and empire builders eventually come a cropper as the English will in tone. Empire building is part of the human composi on, both an emo onal need interwoven with and indeed an economic necessity.

Recent manouvers in Nigeria’s poli cal season as we countdown to the 2023 general elec ons make it impera ve to take a look at empires, the builders of empires and their longevity.

An o en stated, a empt to unravel the riddle comes from the English na onalist poli cian, philosopher and one- me cabinet Minister, John Enoch Powell. A contenous figure in his own way, Powell noted in his seminal biography of the statesman Joseph Chamberlain that, “All poli cal careers unless of course they are terminated in midstream at a rela vely happy juncture, they always end in failure. This is the nature of poli cs and poli cs itself is but a reflec on of the human condi on”.

Powell’s posi on gives food for thought and affected the calcula on of notables who refused to succumb to delusions of grandeur. One of them is Nelson Mandela.

In Nigeria, the delusion of the immortality of self-acclaimed builders of empires exercising the dictatorial prerogave of “godfather” is unraveling. In panic and confusion, scaremongering as well as abuse has replaced ra onal thinking. As a result, the godfather must be deified. In a mixture of authoritarianism and cul sm, divergence of thought can no longer be accepted.

“All political careers unless of course they are terminated in midstream at a relatively happy juncture, they always end in failure. This is the nature of politics and politics itself is but a reflection of the human condition” Within this context, a newfound battering ram is pressed into service from the lexicon: “Betrayer”. We are now told in a display of fear and psycho c dysfunc on that the right of independent thought and ac on is a symptom of “betrayal” of an everlas ng rela onship. The mindset is straight out of feudalism and has no place in a democracy. The age of master-servant rela onships and of indentured labour is over and will never come back.

The end of empire and the puni ve rule of godfathers is over. It has run its course and is inevitable as democracy deepens. Nigeria today faces on several fronts a myriad of existen al threats. We have to deal with them with the presenta on of a well-worked out program of social and economic reconstruc on. Such a program will require a na onal democra c agreement and is best implemented by those with the mindset of democrats and not delusional autocrats posing as godfathers.

The Need For Diversification Of Diversifica on is a corporate strategy in which a company acquires or establish a business other than that of its current product. Economic diversifica on can be defined as the shi toward a move varied structure of domes c producon and trade with a view to increasing produc vity, creating job and providing the base for sustained poverty-reducon growth. This ar cle states the need for diversifica on in Nigeria economy.

Economic diversifica on entails not just a transi on from reliance on a few commodi es, but also structural transforma on, by improving produc vity, growth and development in the country. It also facilitates the diversificaon of factors of produc on, trade and revenue through various dimensions.

But economic diversifica on cannot be achieved without first a aining high produc vity, and lack of infra-

Letter To The Editor structure is a major challenge to improvement on our produc on capacity, and by extension, economic diversifica on.

Poor transporta on system and frequent power outrages is jeopardizing the sustainability of exis ng businesses in Nigeria. This has led to increment in the cost of produc on with a resultant effect of rise in the price of commodi es.

Weak infrastructure also discourages foreign investment because of its economic disadvantages. No foreign investors will risk the dangers associated with insecurity, high price of energy, lack of water and poor transporta on system.

Nigeria being an exporter of oil and other mineral resources has executed a number

of import subs tu on strategies, including food import prohibi on but with no or little success. Various countries have successfully imposed ban on importa on on foods and drinks, but Nigeria, because of lack of poli cal will, corrup on and policy summersault, has not achieved any tangible thing in that regard.

As a country, we need to improve on our produc vity to achieve economic stability. We cannot achieve produc vity without regular power supply, good transporta on system, adequate security, promo on of local content, among others.

High produc vity will lead to economic diversifica on which is cri cal for a country’s long term economic growth, but Nigeria’s over reliant on oil revenue is not a prospects for long term stability.

Buoro Samuel Oluwanifemi is a Student of Mass Communication Department, Icon Universal Polytechnic Osogbo, State of Osun.

The Politics Of Poverty And State Capture

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E are in the season of poli cal jockeying and all bets are off.

With so much at stake, the hardpressed economy stunted with diminishing purchasing power will see a s mulus as spending on poli cal ac vi es revs up a gear. The relief will be temporary of course, but thank God for small mercies.

The real issue should be, “Where is the beef?” An inconvenient ques on, but poli cs in a country at our level of growth without development should ask for something more than vacuous u erances and just spending on “poli cs”. It is more per nent now at a me when the country is faced with existen al threats on so many fronts. The daily carnage of terrorists is directly linked and is indeed founded upon a distorted economic founda on. The absence of genuine, sensibly structured Development Plans to be used as a roadmap highlight this. Disturbingly, a forewarning of impending disaster had being foretold by the report of the judicial commission of enquiry into the Maitatsene riots in 1982.

Governments, both civil and military just ignored the warnings. The consequences of so doing are now dire with the country devo ng roughly 20% of its budget on military expenditure. The figure is not going to come down any me soon; on the contrary, it will go up because the root causes of the crisis is not been tackled. To paraphrase the elec on winning slogan of the Bri sh Labour party under Tony Blair, “We should be tough on terrorism, tougher s ll on the causes of terrorism”.

To be tough on the causes of terrorism requires both a rethinking of strategy and crucially the poli cal will. In a brilliant campaign in 1993, the late Bashorun MKO Abiola of much cherished memory captured the mood with his emphasis on saying a “Farewell To Poverty “. He meant it and certainly had the management nous and the intensity of purpose as well the commitment to have pulled off. Abiola’s manifesto was a reminder of the central thrust of the Ac on Groups 1950s emphasis on making “ Life more abundant “. They pulled

“The country is in dire straits. We must seek solutions by looking at the valiant efforts made in the past by reexamining the thoughts of people like Obafemi Awolowo, Abiola and Aregbesola. It means jettisoning the inadvertent (it is to be hoped) glamorisation of poverty as a political weapon. This must be discarded and replaced in this season with a clear Aregbesola styled “Alternative Perspective “ to break the chains of poverty by tackling the root causes”

it off with beneficial game changing effects which con nues to resonate.

Nearer to now Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola reignited the progressive thrust by placing the role of the state in beneficial social interven on at the center of the poli cal discourse. Aregbesola lived up to the posi on of the Italian poli cal philosopher, Antonio Gramsci, that the clear essence of poli cs is to shi the territory of the discourse in the direc on of one’s own posi on. Aregbesola redirected both thought and prac ce and has deservedly earned a posi ve place in history.

The country is in dire straits. We must seek solu ons by looking at the valiant efforts made in the past by reexamining the thoughts of people like Obafemi Awolowo, Abiola and Aregbesola. It means je soning the inadvertent (it is to be hoped) glamorisa on of poverty as a poli cal weapon. This must be discarded and replaced in this season with a clear Aregbesola styled “Alternave Perspec ve “ to break the chains of poverty by tackling the root causes.

Furthermore, the spectre of “State Capture” must also be confronted. The term State Capture originated from South Africa. It indicates the distor on of the state through the subservience of the superstructure of the state to the interests of individuals, special interests and groups. The end result of this is to act as a break Publisher – Moremi Publishing on genuine development, House Ltd. compe on and innovaDeputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman on. It has also become a (0805-121-2204) very alarming stul fica on and is now ac ng as a break Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa on the prospects of achievReporter – Yusuf Oketola ing sustainable developReporter – Kazeem Badmus ment in Nigeria. It must be Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto tackled.

Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere Finally, we must hope OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing that those who believe in House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite the progressive thrust must Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, adopt and rally around a State of Osun program of social and ecoISSN : 0794-8050 nomic rejuvena on rather Telephone : 0805-121-2204 than hauling brickbats.

Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php With popula on growth, e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com rates far outstripping ecoosundefenderbank@gmail.com nomic growth rates it’s me All correspondence to the above email addresses. to think!

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, MAY 06 - THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

4

News

Motorists, Commercial Motorcyclists Call For Completion Of ‘Ona Baba Ona’ Yusuf Oketola

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OME residents of Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun, have appealed to the state government to complete the construcon of the second phase of Oba Adesoji Aderemi East Bye Pass road, popularly known as ‘Ona Baba Ona’ to reduce accidents on the road.

The second phase of the road which is s ll under construc on from Tes ng Ground through Oke-baale to Ilesa Garage roundabout has been a major challenge to motorists plying the single lane road, findings reveal.

The East bypass is one of the major road networks built under the infrastructural revolu on of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administraon which was almost in comple on before the end of his tenure in 2018.

However, the comple on of the road has been foot-dragged since Governor Adegboyega Oyetola took the mantle of leadership in the state.

According to some commercial motorcylists and motorists, there have been series of accidents on the completed single-lane from Tes ng Ground to Shasa roundabout at Oke-Baale.

The motorists and commercial motorcyclists lamented that the Shaha roundabout has remained an accident spot for them because of the naviga on of vehicles to the single-lane heading to Ilesa Garage.

The second lane of the road, as observed

by OSUN DEFENDER, appeared to be in an abandoned condi on as flood is now eroding the dirt road.

Appealing to the state government, a motorist, Mr Wale Adewunmi, said it is important for the state government to complete the second phase of East Bye Pass to stop the carnage on the tarred side of the road.

Adewunmi stressed that comple on of the road will be an achievement recorded in favour of Governor Oyetola.

He said: “We urge the state government to fast-track the compleon of this road. There have been some recorded accidents on one side of the road which has been tarred. We are appealing to Mr Governor to complete the road before flood totally

damage the uncompleted part.

“The comple on of this road will be an achievement in favour of Mr Governor.

According to a commercial motorcyclist, Mr Sulaimon Olaosegba, the road is strategic to economic development of the state which make it necessary for the government to complete the other lane of the road.

Olaosegba noted that the road has a racted a lot of investments, saying business owners are trooping to the area on daily basis and houses were springing up in the area.

He said: “Ona Baba Ona has facilitated a lot of businesses into the state capital which shows its economic impact. There is no me you pass through the road that you won’t see any ongoing construcon of different buildings. This development makes it necessary for Osun government to embark on the full con-

•Okebaale-Testinground stretch of Osun East bye-pass. struc on of the second phase.

“We appeal to them

to look into this before rain fully commenced.

The abandonment of the

other side is of no use. A lot of accidents are happening on the completed

one due to the congeson of the road and difficulty in naviga ng the

Residents Call On Govt., NGOs To Rescue Baby From Mentally Challenged Mother In Ifon Yusuf Oketola

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ESIDENTS of Ifon, the headquarters of Orolu Local Government of the State of Osun, have sought the interven on of the State Govern-

ment and Non-governmental Organisaons in rescuing a li le baby from her mentally challenged mother.

The mentally challenged nursing mother who was simply iden fied as Kafilat,

•The mentally challenge woman with her baby.

is an indigene of Ifon and has been going around with her li le baby of about a year old.

According to Kafilat who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER incoherently, her family refused to take care of her when she developed the mental illness.

She claimed that her in-laws drove her out of her husband’s house to allow him marry another woman.

The baby, according to Kafilat, was named ‘Mobina’ by her mother who claimed that his original christen name was not revealed to her when he was born.

Kafilat pleaded for a proper medical care from concerned members of the public.

She said: “My family refused to give me proper medical atten on. My child and I were driven away from home by my inlaws. The baby name was not revealed to

me when I gave birth to him. So, I decided to name him ‘Mobina’. Some people want to take my husband from me.”

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, some workers at Orolu Local Government Secretariat said Kafilat has refused to release the baby to her family, accusing them of a emp ng to use the li le boy for money ritual.

Some of them who spoke under the condi on of anonymity said the state government supposed to have provisions for people living under such condi on.

They said leaving the poor boy at the mercy of a mentally challenged mother is detrimental to his well-being.

They noted that the past administraon of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola established a rehabilitaon centre at Ilobu to look a er such cases, where they rehabilitate des tute, train them and reu-

nite them with their families.

Some of them said: “The family of the woman has tried all they could to take away the boy from her mother but she is always accusing them of wan ng to use him for rituals.

The situa on now is beyond their capacity. The state government should intervene through the Ministry of Women and Children and Social Affairs.

“Nongovernmental Organisa ons can also be of help to the child. The illness of the mother can also be cured if given proper medical a enon. Some mes, she speaks well when she gained her sanity.

“We have a rehabilita on centre at Ilobu during the last administra on of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. This is where such illness was being treated. Hardly will you find people with this kind of challenge going around naked on the street.

FRIDAY, MAY 06 - THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

5

News

Osun JCC Berates FG Over Prolonged ASUU Strike Ismaeel Uthman

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HE Joint Campus Commi ee of the Na onal Associaon of Nigerian Students in the State of Osun has berated the Federal Government over the prolonged industrial ac on embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universi es (ASUU) which has paralysed academic ac vi es on public varsi es across the country for over two months.

According to the student body, it is sardonic, appalling and worrisome that Nigeria government had taken unquan fiable solace in sha ering, bastardising and degrading her educa onal system.

In a press statement signed by the JCC Chairman, General Secretary and the Public Rela ons Officer, Comrade Afeez Oyewole, Abeebulah Salaudeen and Sulaimon Adekanmi respec vely, the students said the FG’s lackadaisical a tudes towards the ASUU strike can be deduced from the presiden al

ambi on of the Minister of State for Educa on, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.

According to the students, it speaks volume that Nwajiuba could obtain the APC’s N100m nomina on form in the face of the ASUU strike and poor educa on system.

The students said the effect of the strike has been devasta ng to “university educa on” by watering down the quality of educa on in Nigeria, thereby compounding the problem of students’ poor academic performance, unnecessary academic period elonga on.

The statement reads, “It is no more news that the ongoing ASUU strike had reached 11 weeks, where no concrete reasonable plan has been put in place by the government on a proper way of pu ng an end to the strike, which speaks volume on how less important educa on is to the present day government.

“Any country that is ready to compete in

terms of general development with other countries of the world must put every mechanism in place to ensure ci zens are provided with qualita ve and sound educa on, which would, in turn, have a posi ve impact on the growth and development of such na on.

“It is sardonic, ap-

palling, regre ably and worrisome that Nigerian government had taken unquan fiable solace in sha ering, bastardising and degrading her educa onal system.

“This can be deduced from how the Minister of State for Educa on, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, purchased APC presidenal form worth a N100m

while the student community is s ll experiencing a retrogressive strike.

This can be described as ‘’ignoble and unpatrio c act.

“As student leaders, we understand perfectly that leadership is taking responsibility, not making excuses. A working federal government would never have any excuse

for incessant ASUU strike, as the government is also aware that the said strike does more harm than good to Nigeria’s educaon sector”.

The students called on the Federal Government to call for another nego a on with ASUU in a bid to put an end to the ongoing inglorious strike.

•Dr. Richard Akintunde answering questions from pressmen, after his consultation meeting with the people of Ede in his quest to represent Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency.

Group Urges Osun Govt. To Osun 2022: Accord, 7 Other Channel Erosion Paths Political Parties Plan Coalition Kazeem Badmus

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Civil Society group, Centre for Social Jus ce and Public Protec on (CSJPP), has appealed to the State Government of Osun to channelise erosion paths and clear debris on streams across the state in prepara on for a full blast of the rainy season.

According to the group in a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Akin Akanji, yesterday, the Nigerian Meteorological (NiMet) had predicted that Osun is among the states that will witness total rainfall during this year’s rainy season.

The group said in order to forestall flood as witnessed last year in the State, the government should as a ma er of urgency, commence dredg-

ing and clearing of erosion paths.

The statement reads in part: “As we are about to enter the full blast of the raining season, Center for Social Jus ce and Public Protec on wants to appeal to the State Government of Osun to as a ma er of urgency, commence clearing and channeling of erosion paths across the state.

“The State witnessed flood during last year raining season and a responsive government should not wait un l disaster occurs before doing what is required.

“The Nigerian Meteorological, NiMet has also predicted that the state will witness total rainfall this season and we see this as a signal to the concerned stakeholders to forestall flooding

in the state.

“Drainages that needed to be expanded should be giving priority and streams with debris should be cleared for free flow of water”.

The group also warned residents of the state to desist from dumping refuse inside drainages and erosion paths, just as it urged the government to sancon anyone found dumping refuse indiscriminately.

“The State government should take it upon itself to prosecute anyone found dumping refuse inside the drainage. Our people need to know that dumping refuse inside the drainage will cause flood and doing so will amount to sabotaging the government efforts”, the group added.

Yusuf Oketola

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HE deputy governorship candidate of Accord Party in the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on in the State of Osun, Alhaji Kunle Jimoh has revealed that seven other poli cal par es in the state have indicated interest in forming a broadbased coali on with the party.

Jimoh, who is the running mate to Akin Ogunbiyi, the Osun Accord Party gubernatorial candidate, disclosed this on a private radio political programme in Osogbo recently.

The re red civil servant stated that there was a possibility of other poli cal par es joining forces with

them, adding that with a determined force, victory will be achievable and the state will be liberated.

He said the alliance would further help its push to snatch victory from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jimoh was, however, silent on the names of the said poli cal par es.

He assured electorate and supporters of Accord Party that the party will be victorious in the July 16 gubernatorial elec on in the State.

The deputy gubernatorial candidate promised that if Accord Party wins the governorship elec on, all local governments in the State would be granted

total autonomy to deliver dividends of democracy.

“Also, our agenda is that pensioners in the state will receive their entlement as and when due under the Accord party government,” he said.

•Ogunbiyi PUBLICATION MRS. OLUWASANYA OLUWAKEMI GRACE That I was formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEDIRAN OLUWAKEMI GRACE but now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLUWASANYA GRACE OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

FRIDAY, MAY 06 - THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

6

News

Owoade Declares For Irewole/Isokan Constituency Seat, Assures Quality Representation Kazeem Badmus

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stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikire, Mr. Ademola Owoade, popularly known as ‘Eni Wa’ has declared his inten on to contest the 2023 Osun State House of Assembly elec on to represent Irewole/ Isokan State Cons tuency.

Owoade made his declara on on Tuesday in Ikire, headquarters of Irewole Local Government, at his birthday programme that witnessed large turnout of party chieftains, Na onal delegates of the APC, members and representa ves of major ethnic groups.

According to the APC stalwarts, his declara on was as a result of extensive consulta on with various Kazeem Badmus

T

HE candidate of the Social Democra c Party (SDP) in the July 16, 2022 gubernatorial elec on in the State of Osun, Arc. Goke Omigbodun, has warned workers in the state to beware of ‘a vindic ve governor with fake promises’ to curry their electoral favour.

Omigbodun, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER, yesterday, cauoned workers in the state on their choice of candidate in the forthcoming elec on, asking them not to follow or support a candidate who has refused to fulfil the campaign promises he made in 2018.

He said he has no doubt that workers in the state will have regrets if they believe the promises made by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola during the Workers Day, saying it is an empty promise to cajole the workers.

Oyetola had on Sunday announced the approval of seven major demands of the members of the Joint Labour Movement.

Parts of the approved

Owoade with other APC stawalts at his birthday programme.

stakeholders in Irewole/Isokan cons tuency, who include tra-

di onal rulers, leaders of Community Development Commi ee

(CDCs), Community Development Associa on (CDAs), traders’

unions and market men and women.

Speaking at the

event, Owoade disclosed that his declara on was in the interest of democracy, good governance and quality representa on for his cons tuents, seeking the support of the people for the actualisa on of his aspira on.

He said: “I decided to contest a er having a clear understanding and knowing that a legislator is purely elected to be er the lots of his cons tuent members. That is like giving me an official pla orm to carry out what I have been doing and would like to con nue doing it in a larger scale.

“I have adequately prepared myself to ensure a er being elected, with effec ve and skillful deployment of official means of lobbying, the rights and privileges of our cons tuents are not nego ated away.”

Beware Of Vindictive Gov. With Fake Promises, Omigbodun Tells Osun Workers demands include: immediate implementaon of the cash-backing of outstanding promoons for all categories of workers, 100% implementa on of Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Educa on Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS), immediate implementa on of 65 years rerement age for all categories of Staff in the ter ary ins tu ons and appointment of Permanent Secretaries in due course to put an end to the use of Coordina ng Directors in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

But Omigbodun maintained that the same governor had promised the workers promo on in 2018 without backing it up financially and has also refused to pay salary arrears as promised.

He said: “Osun people are red of fake promises by the outgoing governor. Osun People are red of deceit and lies. We should no more entertain lies as promises. When you tell

lies and call them promises, you are not only deceiving the people but you are deceiving yourself also.

“In 2018, this same people promised that the workers will be promoted, all that happened is that they were promoted on paper without being backed by any other ramificaon. That was about four years ago and now that we are about to go for another elec on, they have come with fake promises again.

“Things should begin to change now. For so long, people who ought to have been Permanent Secretaries were not promoted and the same Governor is now making false promises again.

“I sympathised with the workers who had to live with the previous fake promises and I want them to know that if they believe him on this also, it will turn out be like the other promises”.

Omigbodun berated the Governor for claiming that there is no

money to implement the promo on of the workers, claiming that the governor has been paying his party officials from Ward to the State level with the government money.

“The current administra on claimed there is no enough money to back those promises, then I asked them; where have you been ge ng enough cash to pay your own party people every month for the 389 wards in the State?

“That cash that you are able to generate by any means whatsoever is meant to back the promo on that was promised since 2018. It ought to have been used to back pension and gratuies. It ought to be used to back the employment of more people into the public service and to be spent on projects that will generate jobs for the youths”.

When asked how he will synergise with the workers when the leadership of the labour unions have openly endorsed Oyetola for second term, Omigbodun said the

leadership of the workers only endorsed Oyetola because of his vindic ve nature.

He said: “There are workers unions and there are workers. The leadership of the workers unions are different from the en re workers of the workforce. The leadership of the workers must be careful in all they do, especially recognising that the government of the day is very vindic ve.

•Omigbodun

“The government of the day will muscle anybody that dare speaks against what they believed in. So, if you find the leadership of the workers being very careful, it is because they know the vindic ve governor that they have.

“If you search their hearts, you will know who each of them is going to vote for and what is going to happen through the workforce”.

FRIDAY, MAY 06 - THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

7

Sport Eagles Star, Onyekuru Wins First Greek Title Kazeem Badmus

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UPER Eagles a acker, Henry Onyekuru, has won the Greek Super League tle with Olympiakos a er the Legends secured a hardfought 2-1 victory away at PAOK. The Super Eagles star had won trophies in Belgium and Turkey, adding another feather to his cap.

Onyekuru joined Olympiakos last summer, but it has been a tumultuous year for the former Monaco forward.

The 24-year-old has made just 14 league appearances for Olympiakos, and most of those

•May Leave In Summer have been as a subs tute.

In fact, since Onyekuru arrived in Piraeus, he has recorded only one goal and one assist in 27 appearances.

However, Onyekuru has cause to smile, as he is now a Greek Champion. Olympiakos secured a record 47th Super League tle a er their 2-1 victory at PAOK. And although he was not dressed for the game, he would s ll bask in the fact he now has a Greek tle in his cabinet.

Despite the success in Greece, the Nigeria Interna onal could s ll be

on his way out of Piraeus this summer, as he has been linked with the top Turkish clubs.

A

NTHONY Joshua has revealed he has devised a new game-plan ahead of his eagerly an cipated rematch against Oleksandr Usyk.

AJ surrendered his IBF, WBO and WBA tles last September, following a comprehensive defeat at

•Onyekuru

Maradona’s “Hand Of God” Jersey Sells For N3.8bn

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HE jersey that Argenna football legend Diego Maradona wore while scoring twice against England in the 1986 World Cup, including the infamous “hand of God” goal, was auc oned for $9.3 million (about 3,861,267,000.00), a record for any item of sports memorabilia, Sotheby’s, the sales company has said.

Seven bidders vied for the garment in an auc on that began April 20 and ended Wednesday morning.

Sotheby’s head of street wear and modern collec bles Brahm Wachter said in a statement a er the sale that, “This historic shirt is a tangible reminder of an important moment not only in the history of sports, but in the history of the 20th century.

“This is arguably the most coveted football shirt to ever come to auc on, and

so it is fi ng that it now holds the auc-

•Ocheja

on record for any he said. object of its kind,” The jersey had been owned by opposing midfielder Steve Hodge, who swapped his jersey with Maradona a er England lost 2-1.

Hodge, whose autobiography is tled “The man with Maradona’s shirt,” has for the past 20 years loaned the jersey to be on public display at the Na onal Football Museum in Manchester, England.

Joshua Adamant, Working Towards Usyk Rematch the hands of the former cruiserweight king.

Despite the damaging nature of the defeat, Joshua opted to trigger the rematch clause almost instantly and is likely to face the unbeaten Ukrainian, who recently le his wartorn homeland to begin his training camp in London at the end of July.

In March, Joshua confirmed that his assistant coach, Angel Fernandez, had been promoted in a change to his set-up and the pair have been busy devising a way to avenge last year’s defeat.

“The fight with Usyk, in my mind, was going for 12 rounds,” Joshua said, speaking at the Oxford Union where he gave a talk to students.

“That was my game plan because I thought I could compete with him

as a boxer. And I think he won two more rounds than I did. That’s how he became champion.

“So the goal now is to go back to basics and go for the knockout. I always feel, when I’m sparring or figh ng people, I actually see their spirit get dampened.

“Honestly, when you’re looking at this person directly in their eyes and watching their body, you can read the body and punch a er punch this person is slowly fading.

“Now when you’re boxing, the art of boxing is to hit and not get hit.

So, you’re kind of boxing to stay away. That’s not really my style.

“My style is to be up close and personal and make it difficult for the person. So that’s the game plan.”

•Joshua

Entertainment Davido Pays 100k Per Haircut - Aide “Are You Hired Assassins,” Clergy Asks

D

AVIDO’S logis cs manager, Israel has revealed that the singer shells out N100,000 for one haircut.

“100k per haircut. I better just dey without barbing ooh,” he wrote on Instagram.

The singer is notable for his exquisite and expensive lifestyle with investment in the best cars, apartments, jewelries.

With his net worth unconfirmed, the Osun-born Worldwide superstar recently sold out the 20,000 capacity 02 Arena in London for the

second me.

The singer recently through his father acquired

•Davido

a mul -million naira piece of land in Lekki to build his much an cipated dream mansion.

Ladies Who Dress Seductively To Churches

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LERGYMAN, Mike Bamiloye, has posed a ques on to ladies who dress seduc vely to church and then, dance sensually as well.

In his post he shared on Instagram, he asked if these ladies are ‘’hired assassins”.

He asked if they were not assassins if they dress to kill no ng that the purpose of the church is solely for worship and other inten ons.

•Bamiloye

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

News

FRIDAY, MAY 06 - THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 18 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

Owoade Declares For Irewole/ Isokan Constituency Seat, Assures Quality Representation

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OR the fi h number of me on 19th November, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari refused to assent Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law. The main problem for the declined assent was an a empt by the Legislators to expunge the provision of conduct of indirect primaries in the nomina on of par es’ candidates so that they could only emerge via direct primaries.

Put differently, Sec on 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010, being amended states: (1) A poli cal party seeking to nominate candidates for elec ons under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elec ve posi ons. (2) The procedure for the nomina on of candidates by poli cal par es for the various elec ve posi ons shall be by direct or indirect primaries.

Thus, the Na onal Assembly wanted to do away with indirect primaries. According to President Buhari, expunging indirect primaries provision and limi ng poli cal par es to direct primaries op on alone could be very prohibi ve and suicidal. For instance, conduct of direct primaries across 8,809 Wards across the country will be very expensive for the par es, especially nonmain poli cal par es; it will cons tute logis cs problems for INEC to monitor and create security challenges, as security agencies will be unduly overstretched for presiden al, gubernatorial and legisla ve posi ons. On this, if the truth must be said, Mr. President’s grounds were reasonable and logical.

In the process to retaining indirect primary and ins tu ng consensus arrangement, the execu ve unnecessarily foot dragged the signing of the bill into law. Meanwhile, there were other underlying explosives laden in the bill that Mr. President and his Minister of Jus ce and A orney General of the Federa on in par cular, refused to see for amends. For instance, they refused to a end to Sec on 84(12), “No poli cal appointee at any level shall be a vo ng delegate or be voted for at the Conven on or Congress of any poli cal party for the purpose of the nomina on of candidates for any elec on”; and (13) “Where a poli cal party fails to comply with the provisions of this Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for elec on shall not be included in the elec on for the par cular posi on in issue.”

This Sec on takes away so much from the execu ve and in fact, denies all its appointees their democra c rights to partake in the affairs of who becomes what in their poli cal party and forces them to abdicate their posi on if they intend to seek poli cal office. The President eventually signed the Electoral Law Amendment Bill into law on 25th February, 2022, barely a week to the expira on of the last window he had to sign as required by law of the land. Having assented to the 2022 Electoral Law, it now dawns on the execu ve to appeal to the Na onal Assembly to immediately commence a process to amending Sec on 84 (12) in par cular. Since members of the Na onal Assembly were elected and not ap-

“This month of May will be interesting as the primaries that will produce candidates for these elections hold this month and the outcome of those who eventually emerge as candidates of APC in the State and National Assembly will go a long way to shaping July 16 gubernatorial election direction.”

2022 Electoral Law Turbulence pointed, they are, in no way, affected by the provision. Li le wonder that a le er from the President to the Senate on 1st March, 2022, seeking amend to Sec on 84 (2) was thrown out on 9th March at its second reading and passage.

On 19th March, 2022, in suit FHC/MU/ SC/26/2022 ins tuted by one Nduka Edede of Ac on Alliance (AA) at the Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, presided over by Jus ce Evelyn Anyadike, the nullified Sec on 84(2) of the Act and ordered the A orney General of the Federa on to delete it from the 2022 Electoral Law. The Na onal Assembly has, however, frown at this development, insis ng that the court has no such power to dabble into the ma er and vowed to appeal the judgement.

This ensuing confusion largely informs why some Ministers who are appointees but seeking poli cal office in 2023 have refused to resign their appointments in line with the provisions of the original 2022 Electoral Law. They may, however, meet their waterloo at the party screening

STRIKER

level, as the party would most likely play safe should the Federal High Court Ruling authorising AGF to expunge the controversial Sec on 84(2) from the Electoral Law fails to eventually fly at the Supreme Court.

In Osun where there is a one-stand alone gubernatorial elec on in July 16, 2022, INEC metable for 2023 general elec ons, necessitated by the 2022 Electoral Law, has unse led the ruling APC. Before the metable delivery, the poli cal permuta ons and agenda of Governor Gboyega Oyetola and his men were to railroad every APC poli cian and poli cal office holder and seeker to concentrate on Oyetola re-elec on bid. Having secured 4+4 agendum, the next plan was to alienate and overrun every poli cian in the State House of Assembly and Na onal Assembly that has any poli cal leaning with Rauf Aregbesola and be replaced with Oyetola’s men as final poli cal relega on of the Minister of Interior in Osun poli cs. March 30th, 2022 statement from Mr Francis Famurewa, Osun APC East Senatorial

Pg. 6

leader is a tes mony to this asser on. It reads, “Sequel to the new metable released by INEC on the primary/emergence of candidates for the Na onal Assembly and State House of Assembly, the Osun East Senatorial officers met in Osu, Atakumosa West Local Government on March 4, 2022 and resolved the following: The INEC metable has unwi ngly put the party in a sensi ve situa on, which needs to be properly managed to ensure the success of the party in the July 16 gubernatorial elec on. The Oyetola 4+4 project is very much sacrosanct and should be the focus of all party members. APC members should not allow the new metable cum personal to make us lose focus of the bigger picture which is 4+4 agenda.”

But it won’t be an easy ride for Oyetola and his men. An a empt to overrun some areas, especially where the alleged Aregbesola men hold sway and are popular could have some backlashes that will jeopardise the so-called 4+4. The truth of the ma er is that the new metable has endangered 4+4 original agenda. Now, everybody is concentra ng his/her resources and energy to secure one posi on or the other, hiding under the banner of 4+4. How does a poli cal appointee who has resigned his/her appointment in agreement with the 2022 Electoral Law relegate his poli cal ambi on to background for somebody 4+4 personal ambi on? Who does that? Interes ngly, there’s a roadblock to movement of aggrieved party aspirants from one party to another as the 2022 Electoral Law has empowered INEC to have custody of all poli cal par es membership lists latest by 4th May, 2022. This month of May will be interes ng as the primaries that will produce candidates for these elec ons hold this month and the outcome of those who eventually emerge as candidates of APC in the State and Na onal Assembly will go a long way to shaping July 16 gubernatorial elec on direc on.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

The Democratic Get-Together

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HAT is the founda on of Democracy and its basic assumpon? Simple - the wishes of the majority should prevail. What are the wishes and common interests of the majority? Not far fetched at all - a roof over the head, clothes on the body, food on the table, educa on for children, good roads, access to health services and security to life and property. Freedom caps it all: freedoms of expression, movement, associa on, believe; which are rights equally accessible to all across gender, cultural, religious and poli cal divides.

Democracy is, therefore, not an end in itself. It is a means to achieving those stated ends. It is why democracy as a method of government is hailed as the best form of government on earth because of the goals, not because of the name. Democracy, however, does not operate itself, human beings operate it. Whether democracy works or not is, therefore, not the fault or favour of democracy, it is kudos or knocks to its operators.

Who are then the best sets of humans to operate democracy? They are called Democrats - those who believe in Democracy. So, before you judge the successes or failings of democracy anywhere, ask yourself, is it being operated there by democrats? If not, why do we expect that devils can deliver heaven? It is like handing over an independent country to

colonial masters to run and expec ng the prosperity of the na ves. How best do lions know as to taking care of lambs?

Fundamentally and personally, there is the need to ask ourselves “how much of a democrat am I”? Every good thing in the world begins with one person thinking it out and pu ng it into ac on. Considering the goals of democracy outlined in the opening paragraph, measure yourself on the democra c scale by simply judging how commi ed you are, in thought, disposi on and especially in ac on to the collec ve good and the prosperity of the majority - not just yourselves and your clique. That is how much of a democrat you are.

Democracy is ba ered when people who would rather run a slave camp hide behind its fancy name to pursue selfserving ends. Non-democrats come in several categories and are usually successful behind their masks and decepve make-ups. However, they generally do not believe in the universal equality of all ci zens before the law, nor do they believe in separa on of powers between execu ves, legislators and judiciary. For them, the execu ve is almighty and the other two arms are to be manipulated, punished or rewarded to the degree of their compliance. Non-democrats in those other arms too (legislatures and judiciary) understand very well, and make

successful careers out of “compliance” by scheming to eventually get to execuve posi ons. Non-democrats would have you know that they can guarantee “freedom of speech, but not freedom after speech”! If you feel it is a man’s world and that every man should be for himself and God should be for us all, you will make a poor democrat indeed.

Unfortunately, because of our long years under feudalism, colonialism and military rule, the majority of Nigerians, young and old, men and women, are non-democrats. They would rather lord it over others and have their ways and ends - woe be unto others! It is when these ordinary undemocra c Nigerians get to leadership of any organiza on that you now see the trait. Unfortunately too, only democrats can come together and form poli cal par es commi ed to democracy and make a success of running governments in a democracy. Their poli cal par es will be different only as per strategies and tac cs for achieving democra c dividends, conserva vely or progressively.

It should be clear what is to be done - a democrats’ get-together within all organisa ons, ins tu ons, poli cal par es; to rescue the organiza ons, ins tu ons, democracy and governance, and more importantly, to rescue the na on from clear and present danger of implosion.

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarnaty 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