Osun Defender Online Version of April 30, 2021

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 - THURSDAY, MAY 06, 2021 VOL 16 NO 16

Osun Experiencing Spillover Of National Insecurity – Brig-Gen. Adewinmbi

•Brig-Gen. Adewinmbi (Rtd.)

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•Says State Still Relatively Peaceful

Why Osun Commissioner Resigned

Page 2

Crisis Rocks Osun SDP, As Police Whisk Away Factional Chair Page 7

Int’l Passport: Aregbesola Declares Zero Tolerance On Touting Page 2

•Bustling commercial activities at the popular Akindeko market, Osogbo, State of Osun, as captured by our Photographer, Olushola Aderinto, yesterday.

Osun Residents Lament Hike In Foodstuffs Prices Page 7

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 - THURSDAY, MAY 06, 2021

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News

Why Osun Commissioner Resigned

By Niyi Olasinde

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HE State of Osun Commissioner for Federal Matters, Mrs. Idiat Babalola, has resigned her appointment, OSUN DEFENDER authoritatively gathered.

Babalola, according to sources, resigned about three weeks ago through a letter she forwarded to the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji.

Her resignation was reportedly discussed on Monday, April 19, 2021 at the State Executive Council meeting.

When contacted, Babalola confirmed her resignation to OSUN DEFENDER, saying, “yes, I resigned and that is not news.”

Asked why she resigned, Babalola said, “It is not yet time for me to talk. There comes a time when you just have to move on, and that is part of my resignation. I have moved on.”

However, Babalola’s resignation was greeted with mixed reactions from her political followers and

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s supporters.

Two of Babalola’s supporters in Ede claimed that she resigned because she was technically ren-

dered ‘redundant’ in the Oyetola administration.

According to the supporters who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, “Auntie Idiat was basically

frustrated out of the government because of her perceived loyalty to Ogbeni.

“Of all the cabinet members, she is the only one that was not given official car. Her

office was balkanised.

She was edged out in all official assignments in Abuja. She was not given any running costs. All her aides, except two among them, have been rude to her.

“All this has been happening for over two years without any step to address it from

.Mrs. Idiat Babalola

.R-L: Guest Speaker at the Symposium held as part of the weeklong Annual event of the Law Students’ Association, Lead City University, Ibadan , Kunle Adegoke, SAN; President of the Association, Al-Mubaraq Oladosu, Staff Adviser, Dr. Ola Oni (Left) Ag. Dean Faculty of Law, Dr. Oluyemisi Abimbola, presenting Award of Excellence to Barr. Bobo Ajudua, principal partner, BFA & Co Legal recently in the university’s premises.

Int’l Passport: Aregbesola Declares Zero Tolerance On Touting

By Ismaeel Uthman

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N a bid to sanitise activities regarding issuance of international passports, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has declared zero tolerance on touting, saying that no applicant will be made to pay illegitimate fees.

Aregbesola said security operatives will be embedded in all the passport offices across the country to detect and report any form of solicitations, inflation, extortion, hoarding of passports and any form of corrupt practices.

The minister stated this in Abuja on Thursday at a meeting with Comptroller-General of Immigration and Passport Officers and attaches in missions.

According to the former governor of the State of Osun, the Federal Government is turning round the entire passport application process in a way that is easy, seamless, transparent and will accord human dignity to applicants and fulfill citizenship integrity.

He noted that it becomes imperative to review the passport application process in order to offer excellent services to applicants, saying ‘no system is permanent or perfect, only the objectives are’.

Part of the review is that issuance and collection of passport will be done within six weeks, explaining that the timeline is to allow for enough time to investigate, verify and validate personal information supplied

by the applicants.

Aregbesola said: “It has become imperative, therefore, to review our operations and rejig our system, in order to be able to offer excellent services to our clients. No system is permanent or

Symbol’s Quote

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

perfect, only the objectives are.

“Therefore, I am declaring a zero-tolerance stance to all forms of touting. No applicant will be made to pay any illegitimate fees.

We are going to embed security operatives – seen and unseen – in all our passport offices.

They will wear body cameras. They will detect and report any form of solicitations, inflation, improper communications, extortion, diversion, hoarding and other corrupt practices.

“Those caught will be dealt with according to the law. An ombudsman will also be created for members of the public to receive complaints and reports on officers trying to deviate from prescribed guidelines and subversion of the process.

“We have created special centres for expedited services. These special centres will run on public-private partnership basis. This has already taken off in Abuja and 10 more will be opened in coming weeks as more of such centres will be opened •Continued on page 7

the Governor. So, she felt resigning from the cabinet will be honourable for her. You can imagine members of the cabinet calling her Judas. She was tagged a mole in the government, even when she showed enough convincing commitment to the Oyetola administration.

“These are few of what she was experiencing. There was a time that she was not allowed to enter the Government House on instruction. Her official duties were also delegated to another person of lower capacity and political status.

“Auntie Idiat is a big politician in Ede and we know the role she played in the emergence of Governor Oyetola before, during and after the election.”

But some of the Oyetola’s loyalists said Babalola resigned because of her appointment as the Chairman of Governing Council, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Ondo State.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, some sources loyal to Oyetola said, “Idiat Babalola obviously resigned because of the appointment given to her at the federal level. She knew she made the list of the members of the Governing Council of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo.

“So, she cannot keep two government appointments at the same time. That is why she resigned. Nobody frustrated her.

“She was appointed by Governor Oyetola willingly in the first place. Is it illogical to think that the person that appointed you will turn around to vicitimise you. The Governor would have sacked her if he had anything against her.”

It was however reasoned that ifBabalola had enjoyed her appointment in Oyetola’s cabinet, she would have held on to that rather than taking up board chairmanship appointment.

PEOPLE FIRST

Ananwureyi Ohine Joy

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 - THURSDAY, MAY 06, 2021

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BY ANANWUREYI OHINE JOY World Earth What Is To Be Done? Celebrating Day: Be An Earth Angel

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HE convergence of thought as half of Nigeria population has 1.7 well as conventional wisdom million police officers while Nigeria puts the country’s deteriorat- has less than 400,000. ing security situation on the front Fundamentally, a clear strategic reburner. With heightened anxiety na- view has to accept the practicality of devolution of the formations for optionwide, this is hardly surprising.

Senators and members of the House erational effectiveness. The case for operational control of of Representatives have asked the Presi- “For example, Egypt the Police at the state dent to “rise up to the with a half of Nigeria level is now incontrovertible. Nigeria is occasion” to save the country from being population has 1.7 mil- the only Federal state overrun and eventual lion police officers while that does not have this framework. Even disintegration. The respected Asiwaju Nigeria has less than the United Kingdom which is a unitary state Bola Tinubu has also 400,000” has devolved policing intervened, putting framework into over forth the position that the President needs “understanding and coopera- forty operating formations and has never had a nomenclature depicted tion” to terminate insecurity.

At a critical juncture in the life of a as Inspector-General of Police.

This is inevitable but it can only be nation, the question, “what is to be done?” must be answered urgently achieved with all deliberate speed as the crises are becoming existen- within the framework of a national consensus. Democracy, after all, tial.

The calls for massive recruitment into works best through conventions, the security services and the procure- consensus as well as on formal and ment of the necessary equipment in informal agreements. This we have reality state the obvious as no ration- to achieve quickly, for the situation al person will preach against such a is now beyond contrived bickering position.The critical practicality is and self pity. The urgency of the to work out the national democratic situation must be faced. agreement required for implemen- The second leg, having defeated tation as partisan divisions will ob- the enemies, is speedy rebuild of scure the real issues and slow down our social infrastructures that will make life meaningful for the mass speedy implementation.

To absorb more boots on the ground majority of the people who have will necessitate the redirection of lost hope in the system.Our people budget allocations to which Niger- must be productively engaged with ia’s ruling elite have hitherto shown national reorientation to serve our an aversion. Nevertheless, it has to land which must be seen in leaderbe done. For example, Egypt with a ship from the top down.

Life Is A Drama: Agitate It

Dear Editor, HEN it comes to drama, the ideal dramatist does not settle the matter, he agitates it, with the memory of it still lingering in the mind, and for which reason the Holy Scriptures say: “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to attend wedding at event centre”.

At the house of mourning, you are agitated. For instance, my father died at a time Babangida/Abacha proscribed the PUNCH, leaving most of us workers with little or nothing in the pocket. It was however, a blessing in disguise for me because I was within me, morally satisfied that I cared for him while he was

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alive. But his death at that period placed me agitated, that it was during a tough period we were struggling with dictatorship. He must be happy in heaven that his boy was still in the struggle. If he had died when I was swimming in money, probably I could have been another celebrity and chief mourner right in the centre of the “Aso-ebi” bandwagon, and could probably have felt satisfied within me (false self-righteousness) that after all, I have given him the most befitting burial and consequently

have no need putting the memory of him lingering in the mind.

What am I driving at? Our “Aso-ebi” instinct almost on everything, (from inauguration to naming ceremony; graduation to house fellowshipping; from valediction to chieftaincy and marriage and funeral ceremonies) account for why very few people are able to stand out in the crowd.

The culture of anonymity has so much stolen into the psyche of the average Nigerian that he is almost construing having a mind of his own as an unforgivable crime.

•Olalere Fagbola, Veteran journalist and ExBureau Chief of the PUNCH.

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remember the last line of my undergraduate project thesis; of course, my project thesis was on ‘Environmental Law’. It goes thus: ‘If we heal the earth, we heal ourselves’. Simply put, if we restore the earth, we are restoring ourselves.

Every year, the 22nd of April is set aside across the world to celebrate ‘Earth Day’. The objective of the day is to raise awareness about critical issues that the world is facing and pledge support to environment protection. According to earthday.org, Earth Day aims to build the largest environmental movement to drive transformative change for people and the planet. Indeed, Earth Day is widely recognised as the largest secular observance in the world. Wow! Undoubtedly, beyond all differences, the earth is what we all have in common. This year’s Earth Day with the theme; ‘Restore our Earth’, is the 51st Anniversary, after the first Earth Day was observed in 1970. The historic Paris Agreement, which is a necessary environment protection treaty, was signed on 2016’s Earth Day. Earth Day acknowledges our collective responsibility in promoting harmony with nature and the earth to achieve a balanced earth, which will meet our needs and that of future generations.

Basically, as humans, we need earth’s resources to live. Despite the clamour for adaptation and mitigation, this will not be enough to tackle environmental problems and their consequences. This is why this year’s Earth Day, themed ‘Restore Our Earth’ is to show that we can restore our ecosystem through natural processes, emerging green technologies and innovative thinking. The United Nations has rightly declared 2021-2030 as the ‘United

Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’.

What Can We Do To Restore The Earth?

As simple as closing the tap when not in use, or turning off the lights, these small actions which you might not see as a big deal, can make huge differences. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle; the 3 main Rs of environment sustainability is a good way to go.

All over the world, there is a growing neutrality of environmental policies which need to change and put the earth first. You can also restore the earth by donating to conservation initiatives, raising awareness about the need for environmental restoration, buying energy efficient appliances such as low watt bulbs, switching to alternative renewable energy sources such as solar energy, disposing refuse appropriately; because every litter counts, getting creative with up-cycling, eating less processed foods and going organic, planting a tree before and after you cut one down, reducing car emissions through car pooling and other sustainable means of transportation, and spending time with nature.

Emerging green or sustainable technologies, such as green roofs, sustainable energy generation technologies, electric vehicles, green computing, molten salt storage, biofuels, green architecture, green walls, plastic roads, plant based packaging and sustainable phones are good ways for slowing down global warming, reducing green house effects and restoring our earth.

Undoubtedly, we all have our part to play in restoring the earth because we live in it. We all have the power to bring about changes. Let us celebrate this year’s Earth Day by doing our bits for the earth.

We have only one earth.

Publisher – Moremi Publishing We all need a healthy earth, House Ltd. which is not an option, but Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman a necessity. Real earth day (0805-121-2204) starts when we all begin to make conscious efforts Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa to restoring our earth and Reporter – Yusuf Oketola making it a safer place. HuReporter – Sodiq Yusuf mans allegedly contribute Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto the most percentage to degComputer Graphics – Zainab Olalere radation; I have no doubt OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing that humans can also conHouse Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite tribute the greatest to Earth Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, Restoration. Make serving State of Osun the earth your first priority.

ISSN : 0794 – 8050 •Ananwureyi Ohine Joy is Telephone : 0805-121-2204 a Bachelor of Law graduate Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php from the Obafemi Awolowo e–mail : osundefender@yahoo.com University, Ile-Ife. She is a osundefenderbank@gmail.com lover of the environment and All Correspondence to the above email Addresses. loves celebrating international days. She can be reached OSUN DEFENDER IS NOT AFFLIATED WITH ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER, through ananwureyijoy01@ MAGAZINE OR ANY PUBLICATION WHATSOVER gmail.com.

OSUN DEFENDER

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30 - THURSDAY, MAY 06, 2021

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News

NGOs Petition NASS Over Death Of Policeman Allegedly Killed By DSS Operatives In Osun

By Ismaeel Uthman

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WO non-governmental organisations, Good Governance and Leadership Assessment Initiatives and the World Institute for Peace have jointly petitioned the National Assembly on the death of a policeman, Corporal Rauf Fawale, who was allegedly killed by some operatives of the Department of State Services in Osogbo, State of Osun.

Fawale, a policeman attached to Dada Estate Divisional Police headquarters, Osogbo was allegedly attacked by three DSS officers led by one Mr. David Olowoporoku on January 23, 2021 at a birthday party, in which he sustained injuries that later claimed his life.

The NGOs, in a petition written to the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja, by their lawyer, Chief Abdulfatai Abdulsalam, accused the DSS of preventing the officers who allegedly attacked Fawale from prosecu-

tion.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the petitioners appeared before the Federal of House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, yesterday to defend the petition.

The petition reads: “There is overwhelming evidence showing that he (Fawale) was attacked, assaulted and injured by three officers of the Department of State Services (DSS), Osun State Command and one of the three officers is by name Mr. David Olowoporoku.

“The attack by the three DSS officers led to a severe head/skull injury which caused his death on the 23rd of January, 2021 at the Brain And Spin Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State.

“There is a question that begs for answer and the failure to get an answer means a fundamental slap on the face of justice and Rule of Law in Nigeria, where are the persons who were seen and caught striking the base of

•.(R-L) Royal Father of the Occasion, HRM, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Aroyinkeye I, Orangun of Oke-Ila Orangun, Guest Speaker at the event, Prof. Olufemi Mimiko, former Governor of the State Of Osun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and other dignitaries during the Maiden Edition of NUJ Osun Council’s GUEST PLATFORM, held at the union’s Press Centre, Osogbo on Wednesday.

Photo: Olushola Aderinto their guns against the with the commission and the Director of the nous crimes, assault head of Fawale, which of the crime of murder agency in Osun Com- occasioning bodily inled to his death 23rd contrary to the criminal mand have refused to jury and murder to be January, 2021? act. hand over these three conducted by the In“We sensed that “There is over- officers to the Police spector-General of Pothere is a strong attempt whelming evidence for investigation and lice for the sake of justice, which is deserved by the DSS to bury the that Fawale was fatally prosecution. answer to this ques- assaulted by officers of “Now that the Di- by every Nigerian, our tion by not making its the DSS and that led to rector and the Direc- option is to pray for three officers who the his death. Surprisingly tor-General of DSS the intervention of the available overwhelm- and painfully, the Di- will not allow the in- House of Representaing evidence has linked rector General of DSS vestigation of the hei- tives.”

Social Diary Dr. Ogundele’s Golden Jubilee Dr. Olorunfemi Akinbode Ogundele, Specialist Community and Public Health Physician and Fellow of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP), celebrated his 50th Birthday last Sunday, April 25, 2021 at Ilesa with friends and well-wishers.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 - THURSDAY, MAY 06, 2021

Interview 5 Osun Experiencing Spillover Of National Insecurity – Brig-Gen. Adewinmbi Brigadier-General Bashir Adewinmbi (rtd) is the Corps Commandant of the Osun Security Network, codenamed Amotekun. In this interview with ISMAEEL UTHMAN, he speaks on the ongoing recruitment process into the Amotekun Corps, operations of the security outfit and security challenges in the state. Excerpts:

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OW far have you gone on the recruitment process into the Amotekun Corps and how many people applied?

We are still on the recruitment process. We have started screening the applicants. Actually, 50 application forms were given to each of the 30 local governments in the state. We printed 2,000 forms and we distributed them to the local governments in the state; and people turned out to collect the forms. We have started screening since Monday and two local governments are being attended to per day. The screening will come to an end by 12 or 15 of May. After that, we will shortlist successful candidates and move to camp straightaway for training. The training will not be less than three weeks duration.

Does that mean 2,000 candidates actually applied or you have leftover forms?

Less than 2,000 candidates actually applied.

The accurate figure of those that applied cannot be disclosed now but we distributed 50 to each of the local governments. That is what I can give you for now.

What will the training involve?

The training entails all what the corps members need to carry out their job effectively; and that includes intelligence gathering, tactics, Civics and ethics, report writing, minor combat, communication drill and all other things required to carry out their job successfully after training. Weapon handling will also be included in the training.

Amotekun has always been actively involved in anti-kidnapping efforts and restoration of peace to any troubled area in the state. What is the motivation behind your operations?

Yes, we are motivated. Security job these days should not be perceived as a rewarding job. Secu-

rity involves money but at the same time you must be committed in safeguarding your society, whether you are motivated or not. Once you are given the necessary logistics to carry out your work, you should not wait for any reward because you are protecting yourself, family, colleagues and the investments of the state. So, we should be able to do what we are expected to do, which is providing security to the state and that is the mandate of the Governor who is the Chief Security Officer of the state. And the Governor has given us the necessary support to carry out our duty effectively.

Some of the Amotekun corps, who are ad hoc members are carrying guns, which some people believe are not licensed. What explanations have you on this?

Amotekun is not working alone; we have other security outfits working with us, like O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Hunters and Vigilante groups. And they have their locally-made guns.

The guns they are carrying are those they use for hunting animals in the bush because they are hunters.

There seems to be rivalry between Amotekun and the Police. What is responsible for this?

There should not be any conflicts of interests between the Police and the Amotekun because we are working to achieve same objectives, same goal of securing lives and property in the state. There should not be any conflicts of interests in securing the state. Our focus is to secure the state, any other thing is not important and that is what is guiding our operations. So, there would not be any clash of interests. And more so, Amotekun is established to support the Police in enhancing community policing. We will manage ourselves. We have been working together in all our operations.

•Brig-Gen. Adewinmbi (rtd)

We worked together at Ilobu and Erin-Osun during the communal clash, also in Ikire and during all the kidnapping issues. So, we have been working together. I don’t see us having any clashes of interests. We will manage the situation; there is no doubt about that.

What do you think is responsible for rising insecurity in Osun?

I see it as a spillover effect of insecurity situation in Nigeria. What is happening is not peculiar to the State of Osun. Osun is relatively peaceful, compared to most of the states in the country. Look at what is happening in Niger and Imo states where they are attacking security structures and personnel. And if that is happening, Nigeria is drifting to a state of anarchy which should not be allowed to happen.

Most of these things happening are attributed to economic hardship, bad leadership, lack of interest to work on the part of the youths. Most of the youths are jobless and are doing things to aggravate security issues. We need to look into the way our youths are being brought up. We need to appeal to every family and society to look after the children, educate them properly and put them on the right path to know that there are things that should not be done. The issue of cultism has been on for a while, but it is escalating now. All these crimes taking place now have their roots from cultism. It is from cultism that the criminality graduates to bigger crimes. The bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, rapists, belong to one cult group or the other. The government is making efforts to crack down on all these through Amotekun. And I want to assure you that Osun will overcome the security challenge very soon.

What should people expect from Amotekun after the recruitment?

After the recruitment, the Amotekun corps members will be deployed to various local government areas to curb crimes and maintain peace. Amotekun will have zero tolerance for any act of criminality.

We have a standard operational procedure we will teach our corps members: how to deal with civilians, how to conduct themselves, how to maintain Amotekun’s integrity because this is the first time we will have a formal recruitment. So, we want to lay a solid foundation for Amotekun and we will have zero tolerance for any act of criminality. We are achieving these with the support of the Police.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 - THURSDAY, MAY 06 2021

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seek refuge in Allah from the devil the accursed and I start in the name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.

He whom Allah guides, he is the rightly guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find no Waliy (guiding friend) to lead him (to the right path).

I also testify that Prophet Muhammad is His messenger. May His benediction

Religion Umar(RAA), he states that some companions of the Holy Prophet (SAW) were able to see the Blessed Night among the last seven nights of the Month of Ramadan in dream.

On this, the Holy Prophet (SAW) remarked yours have confirmed the existence of the Blessed Night among the last seven nights of Ramadan. Therefore, anybody who seeks the Blessed Night should look for it among the last seven nights of the month of Ramadan.

RAMADAN SERMON By Imaam Musa Oladapo Raji

be upon His (Muhammad) soul, members of His household, His companions and all those who follow His way till the day of Judgment.

Just as the popular axiom says that whatever has a beginning must have an end. The month of Ramadan is gradually running to the end. And by implication, the two third (2/3) of it remains few days. Hopefully, you and I shall be among those that will witness the last one third (1/3) which is the pinnacle of it all. The Prophet had once described Ramadan period thus: the first ten days as mercy; it’s second ten as period of forgiveness and the last ten days as when Allah sets the fasting Muslim free from the hellfire. However, this should not be misconstrued to be an automatic ticket for one’s entry into the Paradise. There are some conditions that govern it. Even though Allah is Benevolent during this period, He still reserves the right not to forgive these set of people according the tradition of the Prophet: (1) Drunkard (2) Disobedient child to his Parent (3) He who does not keep good relation with his kith and kin (4) He who keeps malice. These sets of people will not enjoy that benefit.

Laylatul Qadr: Many translators have tried to give a concise meaning to the phrase in an attempt to convince readers of what actually Allah means by it. Some call it “Night of Power”, “Night of Decree”, “Night of Majesty”. All these are just a matter of semantics; it is only the original language (i.e.

Arabic) that can convey its real meaning.

Laylatul Qadr is just a single night that comes but once in a year. Allah says “Therein (the night) is decreed every matter of ordainments”, Quran 44:4. Every matter, i.e. the matters of deaths, births, provisions, calamities, etc. for the whole (coming)

Laylatul Qadr, I’tikaaf And ‘I’dul Fitr year as decreed by Allah. If you like, you can describe it as a night of stocktaking or night of budgeting. What makes the night so magnificent is the revelation of the Holy Qur’an therein.

The period of Laylatul Qadr could be further described as one of the seasons where the adherents of Islam realise a bumper harvest. Bumper harvest here does not mean what one realises from farm product but the mercy and grace of Allah that the period envelopes. Allah is so merciful that when the night is pointed at in the Qur’an as being powerful. Out of His grace, He gave the indexes in the Qur’an that lead us to discover the night of Power and that night is better than a thousand month. He says: “Verily, we have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) and what will make you know what the night of AlQadr (Decree) is?. The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (worshipping Him a thousand months i.e. 83 years and 4 months).

Therein descend the angels and the Ruuh (Jibril (Gabriel)) by Allah’s Permission with all Decree.

(All that night), there is peace (and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.” Quran 97:1-5 Even though, it is on record that a number of people claimed to have seen the night among the last seven nights in the hadith as reported by ibn

In another place in the Qur’an, Allah says: “We sent it (this Qur’an) down on a blessed night…”

Quran 54:3. With the two quoted references above, the night remains ambiguous and it should be so stressful to look for such if not for His mercy.

Allah then scaled it down to a particular month in the year. He says: “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)”. Quran 2: 185. Thereafter, the Prophet (SAW) further scaled it down to the last ten night of the month. When he was probed further by his companions, narrated

by Aishah (RAA) Allah’s messenger said: “Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan” - 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th.

Among what makes the period unique is the special attention paid to it by the Prophet. One He used to embark on a RETREAT in the mosque during the period. A number of traditions confirmed this. Ibn Umar (RAA) states that the holy Prophet (SAW) used to retire to mosque for devotion and abstention during the last ten days of the month of Ramadan (Bukhari and Muslim). Aishah (RAA), his wife also relates that the Holy Prophet (SAW) was regular in retiring to the mosque for prayers during the last ten days of Ramadan up to the last day of His life. After His (SAW) demise, His (SAW) wives continued the practice. Bukhari and Muslim.

•To be concluded next week •Imaam Musa Oladapo Raji is the Chief Imaam of Telemu, Ola-Oluwa LGA, State of Osun.

News

Ajegunle Tradesmen, Artisans Laud Oyetola

By Yusuf Oketola

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JEGUNLE Tradesmen and Artisans Association in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, has commended Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for his support to the association.

The Chairman of the association, Alhaji Kamorudeen Azeez, noted that the present administration had been magnanimous in attending to the needs of the traders and artisans in Ajegunle, saying that they all needed to praise the governor.

Azeez also expressed gratitude to Oyetola for providing financial support to members of the association whose shops were razed in 2015 and 2018.

He said, “We appreciate our Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola for his unflinching support to our association since he took the mantle of

leadership. We took the case of members of my association whose shops were razed in 2015 and in another fire incident which affected a whole building and adjoining shops in 2018 to him and he promised to support.

“To our surprise, the two sets of fire victims were given a sum of N5 million, which was shared equally.

“The government has also begun the construction of the Ajegunle access road,

through Dugbe Police Station to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, which formed part of the administration’s electioneering campaign promises. This gladdens our heart.

We have met the contractor and he assured that the road will be completed before the end of the ongoing Ramadan fast.

“We have outlined several things to the government, which the governor has promised to look into.

We need a very big

for the population of traders we have now.

With the current setup, about 2-3 traders share a shop which stresses the need for an extra space.

“We use this medium to pledge our full support toward the accomplishment of the second term ambition of the Governor.

We are fully behind him”. land area in the metropolis which would occupy us.

“The current space our people occupy in Ajegunle is small

Osun Burglars Arrested In Ogun

By Olaitan Eledahun

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HE Police in Ogun State have arrested four suspects: Nura Bashir, 20; Awalu Aliyu, 38; Shuaibu Abdul Rasheed, 25; and Abdullah Usman, 23. The suspects, who are alleged to have burgled a phone accessory shop in Ile-Ife,

the State of Osun, and fled to Ogun State, were arrested on Wednesday.

The arrest was made known by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, on Sunday in a statement.

According to the statement, “the suspects were arrested

following a report by one Gbenga Siyanbola, who reported at Mowe Police Station that while he was coming from the State of Osun and going to Lagos, his vehicle developed a mechanical fault somewhere around Mowe.

“While trying to rectify the fault, the four men suddenly

appeared from nowhere and dispossessed him of his Samsung phone.

“Upon the report, the DPO, Mowe Division, CSP Marvis Jayeola, detailed his detectives to go after the hoodlums.

“The detectives, after weeks of painstaking investigation, •Continued on page 7

CHANGE OF NAME MR. ISHOLA ROTIMI TEMIDAYO That I was formerly known and addressed as MR. OGUNTODU ROTIMI now wish to be known and addressed as MR. ISHOLA ROTIMI TEMIDAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OGUNJINMI ADESEWA MARIAM That I was formerly known and addressed as OGUNLADE OMOSEWA MARY with former Date of Birth, 02 - 05 - 1996 now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNJINMI ADESEWA MARIAM. With correct Date of Birth, 02 - 10 1998. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 - THURSDAY, MAY 06 , 2021

Sports

News

7

Osun Dep. Chief Whip, Ogunkanmi Crisis Rocks Osun SDP, Police Whisk Away Factional Chair Ismaeel Uthman Donates Jerseys To Ayedire FC our notification.

Yusuf Oketola

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HE Deputy Chief Whip, State of Osun House Assembly, Hon. Abidemi Ogunkanmi, has donated sets of jerseys to Ayedire United Football Club.

Ogunkanmi, on Tuesday, handed over the jerseys to the management of the team in Ayedire State Constituency.

Ayedire United FC comprises players drawn from all the football clubs in Ileogbo,Kuta,Oluponna and Okeosun, that make up Ayedire Local Government.

Ogunkanmi, while speaking to journalists at his constituency office in Ileogbo, said the gesture was to unite Ayedire State Constituency through sports.

According to him, “Sports is very essential for every human life, it keeps humans fit and fine and provides them with physical strength.

It has great importance in each stage of life.

“Sports is one of the viable tools that can be used to unite deferent tribes and entities across the country. So we all need to promote sporting activities in our communities in order to keep peace.

“Sports is a formidable force for good neighbourliness at the national level, positively contributing to the formation of national identity”.

He added that despite the tragedy Nigeria is facing, sports have always been a driving force, not only to unite Nigerians, but also as a tool to promote peace among all the diversities.

While reacting to the development, the Head Coach of Ayedire United Football Club, Akanmu Olusegun Michael, commended Ogunkanmi for his kind gestures to the Club so far and he used the medium to pray for him.

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RISIS seems to have engulfed the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the State of Osun, following the defection of its leader, Senator Iyiola Omisore to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that some leaders of the SDP have embarked on what they called ‘rebuilding effort’ to reposition the party ahead of the 2022 Governorship Elections in the state.

The medium learnt that the SDP leaders decided to form a new structure and totally take the party away from the influence of Senator Omisore.

Part of the move, it was learnt, was the selection of Elder Femi Awe as the Chairman of the party.

Awe, who has been organizing some members of the SDP, held a prayer session yesterday at Ajegunle area, Osogbo, State of Osun.

But the Police stormed the prayer venue and whisked Awe away.

The programme com-

•Oladehinde menced around 11:30am, as Christian and Muslim clerics led prayers for Nigeria, State of Osun and the party.

After a traditionalist offered a session of prayers, Awe was approached by some policemen in mufti who accused him of organising such a programme in public without informing security operatives.

However, Awe apologised and tendered the received copy of letter of notification addressed to the Police, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Eventually, Awe was whisked away in an unregistered black jeep

from the venue.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Awe was taken to the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Wale Olokode.

Secretary of the SDP, Mr. Azeez Musbau, said: “We had informed the Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on 14th of April 2021 about the programme.

“All the security agencies certified they received the copy but we are surprised that the Police came into the programme today and took away the chairman of the party even though we presented the copies of a letter that they received

“No matter the intimidation we are a strong party in Osun.”

When contacted, the Chairman of the SDP, Mr. Sola Oladeinde accused Awe of impersonation, saying that he is still the Chairman of the party in the state.

Oladeinde said: “I reported him (Awe) to the Police because he was parading himself as the Chairman of SDP in Osun to people. I am still the Chairman of SDP in Osun. Some of them thought I followed Omisore to APC, whereas I did not.

“I wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police to complain about Awe’s activities. We were together with the Commissioner of Police who helped us to settle the matter this afternoon (yesterday).

“The Police called our National Secretariat and it was confirmed that I am still the Chairman of SDP in Osun. Awe was warned from parading himself as the Chairman of the party at the Police Headquarters. I think we are fine now.”

Osun Residents Lament Hike In Foodstuffs Prices

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Olaitan Eledahun & Fatimoh Salisu

RIOR to the commencement of 2021 Ramadan fasting, there had been slight increment in the prices of foodstuffs across the states of the federation.

But the prices of foodstuffs skyrocketed immediately the Ramadan began about three weeks ago, according to traders in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun.

OSUN DEFENDER visited the popular Akindeko, Igbonna and Oluode markets in Osogbo yesterday for a survey on foodstuffs

prices.

It was discovered that a kongo of gari, which price was N300 before Ramadan is now being sold between N400 and N450.

The price of a kongo of rice, as at the time of filing this report, was between N950, N900 and N750 for foreign and Nigerian rice respectively. They were reportedly being sold at N800 and 700 respectively before Ramadan.

Also, honey, drum and white beans were being sold at N850, 800, 750 and N700 re-

•Continued from page 2 all over the country.

Our goal is to have one in each local government area, university campuses, institutions of higher learning and other relevant public places.

“A timeline for the collection of passport will be fixed for every application. This will be six weeks. This is to allow for enough time to investigate, verify

and validate personal information supplied by the applicants.

What we are driving at is the peace of mind that comes from assurance of certainty.

“If there are circumstances that will make the date to change, it will be communicated to the applicant one week before the collection date.

“Applicants will have no basis for fur-

spectively, against the former prices of N750, 700 and N600.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the Otun Iyaloja of Akindeko market, Mrs. S. Abidogun, said though the prices of foodstuffs were on the high side, people were still struggling to buy what they could afford.

According to Abidogun, the traders have no option than to sell the foodstuffs based on the supply prices, saying that what they bought determines what they sell.

Mrs. Abiodun Durowoju, who came

International Passport: Aregbesola Declares...

ther communication with officers, other than to complete their application process and leave the venue.

The date for the collection of their passports or any challenge to the application will be communicated to them. The technology for the efficient running of this system has been acquired and will be deployed.”

to buy foodstuffs at Oluode market, lamented the increment in the prices, saying that the economic situation of Nigeria and living condition of the people are worsening day-by-day.

According to Durowoju, the Federal Government needs to address rising inflation index, especially on the foodstuffs, saying that life has become more unbearable for the common people.

She encouraged the government to invest in and promote agriculture, noting that food should be least problem of Nigeria and Nigerians, considering the fertile land the country is blessed with.

Another foodstuffs buyer, Faith Adeola, said “I came to get some foodstuffs, but surprisingly it was not what I expected. Prices of things have changed beyond my budget.

I can only buy half of what I budgeted for.

The sudden surge in prices of foodstuffs is affecting everybody.”

However, a foodstuffs seller at Igbonna Market, Osogbo, Mrs. Anifat Aderogba said: “We are not to blame over the increment in the prices of foodstuffs.

The prices of what we buy determine what we are going to sell.

Nobody prays to run businesses at a loss.

We are not also happy with the way things are, because we are suffering together. Our sale is dropping be-

cause only few people could afford to buy the foodstuffs now.

“One thing that the government needs to do is to address the Boko Haram and insecurity issue generally.

People are no longer going to farm because of widespread insecurity. And our agriculture graduates are not farming. The government needs to promote farming so that food will be surplus.”

Osun Burglars Arrested...

•Continued from page 2

were able to trace one of the suspects to Ikire in the State of Osun, where he was apprehended.

“His arrest led the Police to apprehend his other three accomplices. Surprisingly, in the course of investigation, some other phones and accessories, which had earlier been stolen from the complainant’s factory were also recovered from the suspects.

“Preliminary investigation revealed

that the suspects had earlier burgled the shop of the same complainant at IleIfe in the State of Osun and that the case was reported at the ‘A’ Division, More, Ile-Ife. “Unfortunately for the hoodlums, their recent victim in Ogun State happened to be their earlier victim.”

The suspects have been transferred to the Osun State Police Command for diligent prosecution.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 - THURSDAY, MAY 06, 2021

VOL. 16 NO 16

www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

Osun Dep. Chief Whip, Ogunkanmi Donates Jerseys To Ayedire FC

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OVERNANCE is defined as the “structures and processes that are designed to ensure accountability, transparency, responsiveness, Rule of Law, stability, equity and inclusiveness, empowerment and broad-based participation.” It is “the exercise of power or authority by political leaders for the wellbeing of their country’s citizens or subjects.” It has to do with how government decision-making affects people. It is most about proper utilisation of society resources for the better living for the people; it is about exercise of power by political leaders for the wellbeing of the citizens.

According to Wikipedia, “Governance has been defined as the rules of the political system to solve conflicts between actors and adopt decision.” It has also been used to describe the “proper functioning of institutions and their acceptance by the public.” Government, however, is the exercise of political authority over the actions, affairs, etc. of a political unit, people etc. as well as the performance of certain functions for this unit or body. Simply put, it is the rule of society by a few people.

Nigeria has been very blessed with everything needed to be a great nation in Africa and the World. Apart from the immeasurable fertile land that can grow variety of cash and food crops at a mechanised level, its weather is so clement that rain falls at its own time, sun shines at its own period. There are no problems of natural disasters like Earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, Tsunami, Tornadoes, Tropical Storms, etc., except the ones manufactured by us like flooding mostly caused by indiscipline blockade of waterways by refuse dumps. We are so blessed that we have reserves of so many mineral wealth that we don’t know what to do with them. For instance, Nigeria has reserves of 42billion barrels bitumen with which 43 industrial chemicals, including crude petroleum could be attained; and research has demonstrated that they are suitable for road construction. In addition, we also have large deposit of limestone in Cross River, Ebonyi, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Balyesa, Benue, Borno, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Ogun, Ondo and Sokoto states and gypsum for road construction. Meanwhile, we spend so much to import bitumen for road construction despite that we have one of the largest deposit of bitumen and natural sand in the world domiciled in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Edo states.

We have large coal reserves with low sulphur content estimated to be at least 2billion metric tonnes. This coal is suitable for coke production for Iron and Steel Rolling Mills. Nigeria has the 7th largest of natural gas reserves in the world with an estimated 182TCF (Trillion Cubic Feet). We all know very much about our crude oil. Nigeria holds 37,070,000,000 barrels of proven oil reserves as at 2016, ranking as the 10th in the world. Although, crude oil sales account for 85% of Nigeria foreign exchange earnings, we rely on what Shell Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, Chevron Corporation and Statoil say they explore as we have no technical knowhow to explore and exploit our oil by ourselves. Moreover, we give out on a daily basis more than 6,000 prod-

Between Government And Governance ucts derived from oil and gas like petro- limited level, Second Republic, governance has given birth chemical feedstock, waxes, lubricating “the poor should buckle to government. The contemporary ruling oils, asphalt etc. as we could no longer up and down and be pre- elite have comprorefine but rely on im- pared to mobilise and mised the system to the extent that virtuportation of refined oil. This is equivalent struggle to get their own ally nothing works Life in Nigeria to handing out hun- true representatives again. has become “who dreds of thousands jobs to citizens of oth- with progressive orien- you know” and not “what you know.” er countries where we import refined oil. tation in government Production and productivity have been Interestingly, while for good governance” thrown into the backother countries of the world are setting deadline for ending ground. Everybody looks for money by use of fossil fuel for alternative energy, all means without commensurate work we are still very busy building and com- or services rendered why government missioning fossil fuel stations where we shy away from its responsibilities in all areas of life with the ruling elite stealing dispense our imported fuel for sales!

After the First Republic and to some money meant for development of the so-

STRIKER

ciety.

There are reports of 34 Nigerian exgovernors owning 71 choice assets, 13 Ministers owning 26 properties bought with looted funds in Dubai. Merit has been relegated to the background for other consideration. Cumulative of all these wasted opportunities to turn around our situation for better and continuous wastefulness by the ruling elite have brought us to where we are today.

In this month of April alone, it has been killings in Ekiti, Oyo, Zamfara, etc.; attacks and breaking of Correctional Centres and release of inmates; attacks of policemen and police command headquarters; kidnapping of University students and killing of five of them to pressure for ransom; attacks and killings in IDPs camp; hoisting of Boko Haram flag on our soil, etc. The level of anarchy and insecurity is so huge that nobody is safe any longer with the capacity to overrun Abuja, the seat of power, to the extent that the President has sought United States’ help in tackling the problem.

We must all cooperate together to getting out of this mess. Having survived this quagmire however, we cannot return to business as usual. The old system is senile and stale; it cannot move us forward again. The mass majority of the people who are the poor should buckle up and down and be prepared to mobilise and struggle to get their own true representatives with progressive orientation in government for good governance in a new and better Nigeria where decent living and working condition will ensue for the majority.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

Way Out Of The Woods

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Page 7

HE insecurity challenge Nigeria faces today as a result of failure of the government has not been witnessed since the end of the Civil War in 1970. We did not arrive here overnight, neither had there been scarcity of warnings about a collective flight to damnation, with the ruling elites as the pilots. Our journey to the edge of the abyss began, along with other mis-steps, with the self-centred misadventure of the civilian political class after Independence leading to equally self-serving military interventions and eventually into civil war. Unfortunately, the military brass never meant well for anybody other than themselves, not even for the military as an institution; their long stay (28 years of 61 years of independence) is the foundation of the wreckage of Nigeria.

The longest ever sustained stay of elected government in charge is 1999 till date (22 uninterrupted years). However, the damages done by the military big boys (rtd) and their grip over the system is such that they still call the shot till date. Examples are crystal clear: President and Senate President in the 1999-2007 periods and the incumbent President from 2015. In their days in direct charge, they nurtured a civilian collaboration constituency that they had always bequeathed the reign to whenever forced to “step aside.” That band of civilian collaborators with military government had imbibed authoritarian dispositions to such an extent that democracy is just a facade for carrying on (and being the direct beneficiaries) of the Nigerian lie - an authoritarian rule masquerading as de-

mocracy (demonstration of craze); a unitary system and command chain masquerading as federation; corruption-riddled elite system of privileges masquerading as a republic.

Hung on a mono-economic oil rental system hostile to other forms of productivity, a lack of interest and even hostility to education, modernity, science and technology, and the sustenance of the best of our traditional values, the collapse of industry and the economy was a matter of time, along with mass poverty and illiteracy. Just under former “military President” General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida alone (1985-1993), we witnessed the institutionalisation of naked corruption; the sowing of the seed of terrorism (bombing of ace investigative journalist, Dele Giwa); the suffocation of voices of conscience, the media and popular organisations; the destruction of Institutions, especially the Police and Secret Service; bastardisation of law and the judiciary; the destruction of the economy (Structural Adjustment Programme SAP, and submission to IMF); and the venal truncation of the will of the people in a political rigmarole leading to the annulment of the freest, fairest election ever in Nigeria.

The infamously ruthless Sani Abacha years followed until popular resistance and the Grace of God rescued Nigeria from the brinks. The last 22 years of unbroken civilian rule presented the opportunity for total overhaul of a system that held Nigeria down as a mere potential Giant of Africa. Sadly however, the retired military brass and their civilian collaborators that constituted the main chunk of the political elite have so much power

(ways and means) that the truly democratic elites among them are always smothered and relegated to the background. As such, democracy, federalism in a republic, diversification of the economy, promotion of functional education, development of infrastructure, even simplistic domestic refining of God-given crude oil - all remain anathema to the main elites across board; only the control of the sharing and looting of the oil rent proceeds matters!

The consequences of the ensuing poverty, joblessness, misery, illiteracy and the selfish exploitation of the religious and ethnic fault lines of the country,in the midst of plenty, are what we are witnessing today - a vast canvass of disorder. Historically then, how can we expect a way out of it provided by the very architects of the trials and tribulations, except a mere temporary reprieve and a continuation of the status quo? In our history, the people and their popular organisations, are the ones that always rise up to the occasion, along with the relegated but well-meaning, patriotic elites; buoyed by the progressive media. That was how it was in the Babangida and Abacha years until return to democracy. Indeed, democracy has brought the illusion of “government of the people, by the people and for the people” and took away the people’s vigilance, dulled the alertness and workings of the popular organisations, and left wide latitude for unabated bad governance.

If there will be a way out for Nigeria to reinvent itself, forge unity and achieve greatness for its people and all Africa, there is nowhere else to look, not the least at the authors of the problems, but to the people and their popular and grassroots organisations that need to wake up, come together, and hasten to the rescue.

Osun DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun.

All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, ISMAEEL UTHMAN, Telephone: 0805-121-2204, usmanismail001@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.

Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefemder@yahoo.com