Osun Defender Online Version Of March 22, 2024

Osun Food Inflation Highest In South-West -Report

Continued from page 1

Meanwhile, residents of Osun had for months been complaining bi erly about the sudden hike in the prices of food items, sta ng that foodstuffs and other essen al commodi es are on the high side.

Reac ng to the report on Wednesday, a former Chairman of All Farmers Associa on of Nigeria, Osun state chapter, Mr ….Araokanmi, has a ributed the infla on on food items to the challenges facing farmer.

Araokanmi said farmers in Osun have been le to their fate, saying Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administra on has not been suppor ng farming or assis ng the farmers in anyway.

According to Araokanmi, the challenges will no doubt reflect on the prices of food item and other commodi es.

He lamented that prices of farming inputs and materials have skyrocketed, saying that the cost of farming will determine price of farm produce.

The ex-AFAN chairman also complained about the high cost of ren ng some farm equipment such as tractors, plough, submi ng that the cost of producon will determine the market price of any good.

He maintained that farmers spent lot of money in sustaining their farms before harves ng me.

Araokanmi said: “I’m a cocoa farmer; I also grow cassava, yam and fruits. We are facing degrees of challenges due to the fact that government is not suppor ng us. The amount we use in ren ng farm equipment and buying chemicals is alarming. That would definitely have effect on food prices. But if the government is suppor ng us with chemicals and other farm tools, the price of food will fall.

“We have lands to cul vate and plant more foods but we have li le resources to bring tractors and plough the land. We plead with the state government to help us. The government has not been suppor ng farmers in the state.”

•Govt Not Supporting Farming – Ex AFAN Chair •Adeleke Doing Everything Backward – Guber Aspirant

Speaking with the medium, a grain farmer in Olaoluwa local government who iden fied himself simply as Alhaji Arowosedo noted that the government needs to address farmers/ herders clash issue in some of the rural areas in Osun, saying that is contribu ng to low produc on of food in the state.

Arowosedo called on the state government to provide support for

farmers and also put in place adequate security in farming areas in the state.

He said: “Herders are destroying our farms; the government should cri cally look into that. We need more security in farming areas. The government should also support farmers by providing or subsiding farm inputs. We will definitely factor in what we expended on our farms when it is me to

sell the farm produce.

In his reac on, to the sta s cs by StanSense, an economist in the state, Prince Kanmi Ademiluyi, noted that the infla on figure shows that successive governments in Osun have not done much in agriculture sector, saying the ministry of agriculture is contestable.

Ademiluyi called on the state government to engage more on mechanised farming and put

up storage facili es for surplus food in Osun.

He chided the state government for pu ng more money in building flyovers in the urban areas while neglec ng the rural areas.

Ademiluyi said: “In terms of land mass, Osun is remotely urbanized state in the SouthWest. The sta s cs by Stan Sense shows that successive governments in the state have not done much in agri-

Thursday

Osun Lawmaker Calls For Creation Of More State Constituencies

THE lawmaker represen ng Irewole/ Isokan State Cons tuency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim, has demanded that more cons tuencies be created from the exis ng cons tuencies that have more than one local government.

Ibrahim said the Assembly has been shortchanged with the number of cons tuency seats allocated to it.

Raising a ma er of Personal Explana on during the plenary on Monday, Ibrahim stated that the shortchange came up due to the pro-

visions of Sec on 91 of the 1999 Cons tu on of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to Ibrahim, the crea on of more state cons tuencies will not only increase representa on and ease governance, but also bring governance closer to the people.

He said” “Subject to the provisions of the Nigerian Cons tu on, a House of Assembly of a State shall consist of three or four mes the number of seats which the State has in the House of Representave.”

Ibrahim subsequently advanced that based on

the fact that Osun has nine federal cons tuencies, the assembly is entled to between 27 or 36 State cons tuencies.

Also, the member represen ng Boripe/ Boluwaduro Cons tuency, Hon. Femi Popoola, in his submission, disclosed that he had earlier raised the ma er in the 6th and 7th Assembly with no result in sight.

Popoola urged that the ma er be given the necessary a en on it deserved.

Also, lawmakers represen ng Ede North, Ifelodun and Atakumosa East and West State Cons tuencies aligned with Popoola and Ibrahim’s submissions.

A mo on was therea er moved and second-

ed on the ma er. The mo on held that spli ng of four State Cons tuencies of Osun State be forwarded to the Na onal Assembly and its Commi ee on the review of the 1999 Cons tu on.

OSUN DEFENDER recalled that the people of Irepodun/Orolu had in the past approached a Federal High Court in Osogbo to demand spli ng of the Cons tuency.

The court granted the plain ffs’ prayer on the spli ng of the cons tuency in 2019, but the Independent Naonal Electoral Commission (INEC) appealed the judgment.

The ma er is s ll pending at the Appeal Court in Akure.

culture sector. The state ministry of agriculture is contestable.

“The state government needs to engage more in mechanised farming. They should also put up more storage facili es. We should ask ourselves how many tractors do we have in the state. They should increase the number of tractors we have in the state to assist farmers.

“We are experiencing this infla on because many of rural roads in the state are deplorable.

“Instead of was ng money building flyovers in the urban centres. Why can’t the government focus more on the agriculture sector and rural areas. According to the World Bank, 1km of road in the rural area has 10 mes mul plier effect on state economy and prices of agricultural commodi es.

“The amount farmers are ge ng tractors are high. Also, good provisions should be made for perishables items. Osun Government should invest in market woman dealings with perishables. A good storage facility should be made available for perishables goods.

“The state government should set up a commodity board. They will buy farm produce and distribute it to the market while they would store some. That will stabilise food prices in the state.”

In his own reac on, the gubernatorial candidate for Young Progressive Party (YPP) at the 2022 Osun governorship poll, Dr. Ademola Bayonle, berated Governor Ademola Adeleke for not giving the agriculture sector a priority, saying 2% of the en re 2024 budget was allocated to agriculture.

Bayonle in a post on his X account (formerly Twi er) said Adeleke’s administra on is more interested in given large percentage of the budget to his allies.

He wrote: “How is Osun state working on recovery? For 2024 (personnel+ recurrent + capital) expenditure, Osun “the agrarian” state budgeted less than

•Continued

Yusuf Oketola

•Customers stranded over their inability to withdraw cash at the Automated Teller Machine point of a commercial bank, along Gbongan Road, Osogbo, on

Photo Shola Aderinto

OSUN is in the news again. The state of the virtuous/living spring is nega vely leading other South-West states in food price infla on.

A report by Sta Sense, a data company, shows that Osun State is number one in terms of food price infla on in the South-West with 33.32 per cent and sixth na onwide with 39.72 per cent.

The reason for this abysmal performance is not farfetched. For a very long term, agricultural development has not been in the front burner in Osun State. In the opinion of a stakeholder resident in Osun State, “The last me Osun had anything close to an agricultural policy was during the Aregbesola era....I at least remember Aregbesola’s broiler out grower/off-taker programme wherein government gave inputs to farmers to raise broilers and bought the mature birds from them.”

The Oyetola government did not have a fierce agricultural development policy. My apologies if that sounded a bit harsh, but the handlers of the state’s agricultural policies then (if there was any) did not exactly have any business being in charge of the state’s Agricultural Development Policies. They didn’t seem to know anything about the sector.

Today under Adeleke, Osun does not seem to have any interest in agricultural development. We want to build bridges, tar dual carriage roads and even construct underpasses that we have no need for.

But, how do we plan to feed the close to 5million human beings

TBy Kazeem Olalekan

As it is today, reckless mining ac vi es are ongoing on Obafemi Awolowo University land. Some parts of the staff quarters of the university are seriously affected by the ac vi es of miners. I am very careful in referring to them as “illegal miners” because, in response to this interven on, they might come out with cer fica on that was given to them by the Federal Government.

I also don’t want to assume that what is being witnessed in OAU today is the case that some “powerful Nigerians,” as stated by Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake, are the ones spearheading the reckless mining on OAU soil. At least, the university management will not just sleep, wake up, and then sanc on the ac vi es of miners on the university soil, which is Federal Government land.

Meanwhile, it is necessary that we evaluate what we are in for if this criminal act con nues on our soil. One of the primary concerns associated with illegal mining is its devasta ng impact on the environment. Unregulated mining opera ons o en involve the use of harmful chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, which are used to extract minerals like

Tackling The Root Cause Of Food Price Inflation

present in our State? With asphalt?

This is a sad reflec on of the misinterpreta on of the process of development, not just in Osun State but na onwide. Too much emphasis is placed on vanity and white elephant project such as flyovers and underpass.

On the contrary, what is needed is to go back to the structural defect which has led to mass poverty and high food price infla on.

All of the above was foretold well over half of a century ago in seminal works such as Renee Dumont’s 1962 classic “False starts in Africa”.

Unfortunately, nothing has changed. Indeed, we have become a classic study in the “Development of Underdevelopment”. This phrase itself was coined in the 1960s.

Governor Adeleke has an historic task to mount a fightback. The main emphasis must be placed on the transforma on of agriculture from subsistence farming to a com-

“

The hallowed halls of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) could become another casualty of unchecked greed. Under the current administra on, reckless mining opera ons are gnawing away at the university’s staff quarters, a blatant disregard for the sanc ty of learning. We urge the Bola Tinubu government and our tradi onal rulers to act swi ly”

gold and lead. These chemicals can leach into nearby water sources, contamina ng rivers and groundwater and posing serious health risks to both humans and wildlife (students and staff in this case). The indiscriminate use of heavy machinery and explosives further exacerbates environmental degrada on, causing deforestaon, soil erosion, and habitat destruc on.

Furthermore, illegal mining contributes to other environmental problems, such as air and water pollu on, which can have widespread repercussions for human health and livelihoods. In addion, these ac vi es threaten biodiversity and disrupt delicate ecological balances.

The invasion of OAU land by reckless miners calls for an urgent and very serious debate on the future of educa on in the country. It is unimaginable that a university such as OAU with a func oning Department of Geology will be caught in the web of the ac vi es of reckless miners. Such

mercial framework.

This will follow in his step of the regional government of western Nigeria in the early 1950s when the coopera ve bank was established as well as farm se lement and agricultural processing zones were established.

Governor Adeleke must now focus in his fightback on the construcon of rural roads as well as the establishment of a state commodi es exchange. The two ini a ves are interwoven.

A commodity exchange will ensure minimum farm-gate prices for the farmers, this will lead to an increase in produc on leading to achieving the economies of scale needed to bring down food prices.

In addi on, a commodity exchange will ensure the availability of storage facili es across the value chain. It will also ensure that cold storage facili es solar powered are install in the urban markets. This will cut waste of perishable food

“What’s needed is an overall plan for the modernisation of agriculture in Osun State which will include the provision of long-term credit to the farming communities. An enabling environment must be provided to attract foreign and local investment into agriculture in Osun State leading to even export” commodi es to near zero.

What’s needed is an overall plan for the modernisa on of agriculture in Osun State which will include the provision of long-term credit to the farming communi es. An enabling environment must be provided to a ract foreign and local investment into agriculture in Osun State leading to even export.

Agriculture today is a huge interna onal business and not a past me. Modernisa on of the process ma ers. For example, The Netherlands which is size of Eki is the second largest exporter of food after the United States of America in the world.

It can be done but the effort must start from the base such as issuing Cer ficate of Occupancy to farmers so they can have access to credit. The small things ma er.

We urge Governor Ademola Adeleke to see the disturbing figure quoted as a spur to pu ng the revival and the moderniza on of agriculture on the front burner.

ac vity defeats and insults the purpose for which the university was created. Ordinarily, the university should be witnessing groundbreaking research on how the country can leverage our minerals to solve the challenges of the na onal revenue shortage, instead of par cipa ng in archaic and environmentally dangerous mining acvi es. That is pure economic sabotage!

A grave ill of private and reckless mining of collec ve resources will definitely endanger society in terms of security. Reckless miners are dangerous capitalists who neither care for society nor explore global environmental standards. In fact, a peep

into their ac vi es at OAU staff quarters will leave jaws dropping because no global environmental standard is being observed at this mining site on the OAU campus. As it is, the Nigerian government is seriously not producing but plundering and selling off the natural resources of the collec ve.

Unless the de is turned, the hallowed halls of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) could become another casualty of unchecked greed. Under the current administra on, reckless mining opera ons are gnawing away at the university’s staff quarters, a blatant disregard for the sancty of learning. We urge the Bola Tinubu government and our tradional rulers to act swi ly.

Imagine a scenario where, if these “illegal” mining ac vi es flourish, the serenity and safety of OAU will be a distant memory. The environmental damage could push Osun State beyond a pping point, mirroring the ecological devasta on witnessed in Zamfara.

Let us not allow our “Ivory Towers” to crumble under the weight of neo-liberal exploita on. We must act now to halt these cruel ac vi es and ensure OAU remains a beacon of academic excellence for genera ons to come.

Again, Adeleke’s Contract Award Sparks Rumpus

Kazeem Badmus

GOVERNOR Ademola Adeleke has again been accused of neposm on the contracts awarded by his administra on.

The Governor’s brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke, and interna onal hip-hop star, David Adeleke, popularly called Davido, were alleged to be beneficiaries of a N50bn contract in Osun State.

This is coming barely a week a er OSUN DEFENDER’S report that the Governor awarded N10.6bn contract to an inacve company owned by his kinsmen.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) accused Adeleke of conver ng the running of the state “into his extended family enterprise where probity, accountability and openness are not required”.

APC, in a press statement signed by its Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, on Tuesday, accused Adeleke of awarding roads and flyovers contracts to Dr. Deji Adeleke and musician David Adeleke through inacve companies.

The party called on the an -gra agencies to immediately move their opera ves to Osun in order to halt what it described as “reckless mismanagement of public funds” under the present administra on.

The opposi on party noted that Adeleke has violated 2015 Public Procurement Law, disclosing that companies founded by the incumbent Deputy Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Akinyode Oyewusi were also awarded contracts.

“To state that Governor Adeleke has converted the running of the state into his extended family enterprise where probity, accountability and openness are not required cannot be an overstatement”, said the APC.

The party further said: “Tongues are currently wagging in Osun State that the billionaire brother of

Governor Adeleke, Dr Deji Adeleke and his son, Mr David Adeleke a.k.a. ‘Davido’ are interested par es in the touted mulbillion naira road and flyover projects, using inac ve and inexperienced companies to front for them.

“The financial injecon through the supposed infrastructure is being circumvented and cornered by the Adeleke family, using the business names of Dr Deji Adeleke and the juvenile lawmaker from Ife North State cons tuency of Osun State.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) in the state has debunked the allega ons that Dr Deji Adeleke and his son were beneficiaries of any contract awarded by the state government.

PDP urged APC to stop seeing the Adeleke family in the image of former governor Gboyega Oyetola “whose members of family have no known source of engagement outside government.”

The party, in a statement signed by its chairman, Hon Sunday Bisi, said Adeleke did not violate any procurement

law and never turned the government affair into a family issue.

Bisi said unlike Oyetola and his men who allegedly looted government quarters and illegally carted away government vehicles when leaving office, the current administra on has been prudent in its spending. He said: “We first

want to vehemently deny allega ons that the state government violated the state procurement law. It is an unfounded allegaon. We also denied a defamatory allegaon by Soko Lawal that the Adeleke family is loo ng the state treasury through contract awards.

“We affirm that the state government

is not only complying with extant laws but prudently deploying available resources to develop the state infrastructure. Mr Governor is a leader of due process, rule of law and fear of God.

“Oyetola and his men looted government quarters and illegally carted away government vehicles. Like I said in my state-

Flood: Group Charges Govt On Dredging, Clearing Of Drainages

AKazeem Badmus every part of the state is dredging the streams and rivers and clearing of drainages.

Civil Society group, Centre for Social Jus ce and Public Protec on (CSJPP), has called on the state government to be proac ve in preven ng flood related disaster in the state ahead of the full blast of the rainy season.

According to CSJPP, a major effec ve way of preven ng flood in

The group said some drainages in Osun, especially Osogbo, the state capital, have been blocked by debris and needed to be cleared to allow for free flow of water.

In a statement signed by the Coordinator of the group, Mr

•Mayowa Adejonrin, Comm. for Environment

Akin Akanji, the group noted that it is evident, with the rainfall that occurred during the weekend in some areas in Osogbo, that without necessary steps being taken, the state might witness flood due to the blockage of the drainages.

The group urged the state government to look into the expansion of drainages and streams across the state, just as it appealed to residents of the state to desist from dumping refuse inside drainages.

“The state government not to wait un l there is flooding before taking necessary steps. Residents also owe it a duty to assist the government in safeguarding lives and property, by desis ng from unhealthy pracces”, said the group.

The statement which was made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday

reads partly; “It beholds on the state government to be proacve and make sure rivers, streams and drainages are cleared.

“Most of the drainages in the state, parcularly in Osogbo, the state capital, have been blocked by refuse dumped by residents of the state.

“Also, some drainages needed expansion so as to accommodate the level of water passing through them.

“As a group, we hope the state government will do the needful and not wait ll disaster happens before it takes steps. The government must rise to the occasion now.

“What happened during the rainy period last year should be a lesson to all of us and the government should as a ma er of urgency look for ways to prevent such occurrence this rainy season.”

ment on Monday, we did not probe the mul -billion naira fraud and loo ng by the former governor because we are interested in rescuing our dear state.

“It is public knowledge that the Adeleke family are enterprising, with several known businesses in Nigeria and abroad. The Osun APC should stop seeing the Adeleke family in the image of that of the former governor whose members of family have no known source of engagement outside government, cornering almost everything to themselves including prin ng jobs at the secretariat while it was at the helm.

“There is no established link of any of the companies to Dr Deji Adeleke or his son, David Adeleke (Davido).

“We understand the perilous situa on of the Osun APC but we expect them to at least be reasonable in the quest to manufacture lies.

“We take the reckless accusa on of the Osun APC as a failed strategy to drag the serial investor into their shameless rhetoric and we enjoin the public to totally discountenance this irresponsible blackmail a empt by the feckless opposi on

•The immediate-past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, exchanging pleasantries with the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, at a National Dialogue, themed: “Lawful Procedures for Actualising a People’s Constitution for Nigeria,” organised by The Patriots, in honour of Prof. Ben Nwabueze, in Lagos

APM Chairman Calls For Deputy Speaker’s Resignation Amid Misconduct Allegation

Titilope Adako

THE Chairman of Allied Peoples’ Movement in Osun State, Mr. Wale Adebayo, has asked the Deputy Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Akinyode Oyewusi, to resign from office, for allegedly breaching the Code of Conduct.

Adebayo, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, said Oyewusi breached the code of conduct by allegedly being a significant stakeholder of a company while he is s ll the deputy speaker of the assembly.

The former Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) stated that Raregeode, a company owned by Oyewusi was awarded a contract for the construc on of 44-span bridge across Osun

River and dual 2-span bridge across Erinle river at a financial cost of N3,937,072,827.00, as revealed.

Maintaining that the CCB act is clear and unambiguous on such ma ers, Adebayo said: “The law

says a public officer shall not engage in or par cipate in the management or running of any private

He said he was deeply troubled by revela ons regarding the deputy speaker’s

Residents Query Govt’s Commitment To Healthy Living Over ‘Dirtiness Of Osogbo

Kazeem Badmus

RESIDENTS of Osogbo have lamented what they described as the unbecoming dirty condi on of the state capital, querying the commitment of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administraon to healthy living.

The residents noted that major roads, especially market areas in Osogbo, were becoming an eyesore, adding that heaps of refuse were being dumped daily on the median of the roads without prompt evacuaon by opera ves of the Osun Waste Management Agency.

They accused the state government of exhibi ng ‘I don’t care attude’ on the dirty nature of Osogbo, as it has refused to address the situa on.

Some residents who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER urged the government not to allow the state capital to slide into a dirty city, saying the standard of clean and healthy environment which Governor Ademola Adeleke met should be maintained.

The residents, however, chas sed some people li ering and dumping refuse on the roads, saying such pracce is uncivilized and should be discouraged.

They tasked the

government to enforce s ffer penalty for the people that engaged in such prac ce, saying those li ering the roads, refused to stop because there is no penalty for violators.

They urged the state government to see environmental cleanliness as a priority, adding that the state House of Assembly should also come up with a law that would prevent people from indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the road.

A resident of Ataoja Estate, Osogbo, Olamiju Adebanjo, who spoke with the medium at the popular Igbona market on Tuesday, said environment and sanita on sector in the state needed urgent a en on.

Adebanjo who spoke in Yoruba language noted that places like Igbonna, Ayetoro, OgoOluwa and MDS were always dirty with traders dumping refuse indiscriminately on the road without anybody ques oning them.

She said: “If you pass through Igbonna on Wednesday morning before the refuse collectors come around, you will always see heal of refuse. It is always an eyesore. I don’t know how people will be le unques oned to do whatever they like.

“What I find difficult

to answer is that; are those in government not seeing what is happening and the dirty state of Osogbo? It has never been this bad.

“From Ayetoro to MDS, to Ogo-Oluwa, everywhere is too dirty. And if not for the waste management officials who do come to pack the refuse, the situaon would have been indescribable.

“The state government should rise and take the cleaning of our environment seriously. Our lawmakers should also make a law that would give punishment for those li ering our environment,” he said.

Another resident, Olabisi Adeyemo, said the Ministry of Environment needed to come up with a solu on to the dir ness of the state capital.

According to her, “The Commissioner with his team needs to come up with a soluon on how to tackle this menace. It is embarrassing that the state capital is as dirty as this.

“I don’t know what their limita ons are but whatever they are, the state Governor needs to help the ministry to tackle it. Most of the markets in Osogbo are too dirty and it has a direct impact on the health of the residents who mostly visit the market.”

Meanwhile, OSUN DEFENDER has observed the absence of most of the trucks being used by the state government to evacuate refuse on the road.

The medium noted that majority of the vehicles were no longer func oning.

Findings revealed that the vehicles were faulty and had been abandoned at a mechanic workshop in the Aisu area of Ede, Osun State.

It was gathered that only a one of the trucks is serving the Government Secretariat, Abere and the en re Osogbo,

a development that led to the delay in packing refuse by the waste management officials.

A worker with OWMA, who does not want her name in print because she was not authorised to speak, told the medium that it was becoming difficult for them to clear all the refuse in Osogbo due to the shortage of truck.

The worker noted that most of the waste evacua on vehicles were no longer roadworthy and needed to be replaced while addi onal ones should be bought to make the work easier.

alleged involvement in opera ng a company, against the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

The 2023 Osun Central Senatorial candidate of the APM said: “There’s no doubt that he (Oyewusi) used his influence as deputy speaker of the House of Assembly to ensure the contract was awarded to a firm he has interest in.

“The deputy speaker has breached one of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and not fit and proper to con nue to hold that office, a gross violaon of public service rules involving contract influencing.”

“He can only deceive the gullible with his rhetoric. The truth is, he used his office to secure a project for Raregeode Company Ltd which he founded.”

Adebayo said Oyewusi’s ac on is a breach of Sec on 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, which deals with the conflict of interest.

“The sec on emphasised that a public official shall not put himself in a posi on where his interest conflicts with his dues and responsibilies”, he stated.

Adebayo noted that Governor Ademola Adeleke should be blamed for awarding contract to cronies and associates, without recourse to extant rules.

Adeleke Moves To Change Osun State’s Logo

Yusuf Oketola

GOVERNOR Ademola Adeleke has wri en the Osun State House of Assembly, reques ng for approval to change the state’s logo.

The request was contained in a le er read by the Speaker of the assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, during plenary on Tuesday.

In the le er, tled: “Presenta on of the New Logo of Osun State Government for Approval”, Adeleke urged the assembly to fast-track the approval to make the new logo the official brand of the state.

The le er reads: “Further to the determina on of this administra on to redirect our dear state to a glorious path as well as

assume her respected posi on among the comity of states in Nigeria, I present to the Honourable House of Assembly the new logo of Osun Government (State of the Living Spring).

“The logo, State of the Living Spring, is the cornerstone of our iden ty which communicates who we are to the outside world.

“I, therefore, urge the assembly to fast-track every necessary legisla ve process on the new logo to make it the official brand of the Osun State Government.”

The speaker, a er reading the le er, urged the House Commi ee on Judiciary, Legal Ma ers and Public Pe ons to advise the House on the new logo.

Therea er, the assembly passed the Osun Senior Secondary Educa on Board Establishment Bill, 2023 for a second reading, while the lawmakers made amendments to the State Healthcare Development Board Amendment Bill, 2024.

•The 2001 H.N.D Alumni of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, in a group photograph with some officials of the insitution, after donating seven public address systems to the polytechnic business.”

•Adeleke

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024 - THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024

WE feel obliged to give a big thank to Almighty Allah, The En rely Merciful, The Especially Merciful Who counted us among those witnessing this unique season of the year, and earnestly praying to Him to spare our lives ll the end of the holy month and beyond.

Ramadan as great as it is, o en meets majority of Muslims in an awful state of preparaons to receive it. They are found as if getng ready for food ea ng compe on. They focus so much on the quan ty of foodstuff and drinks to be stocked for the month to the extent that the prices of commodi es before

Religion

By Sheikh Ibrahim Oladejo JUMAT SERMON JUMAT SERMON

By Sheikh Ibrahim Oladejo

every Ramadan soar. Whereas it is supposed to be the other way round, if the spirit of Ramadan is to be strictly observed. The rate of food consump on by Muslims is supposed to decrease considerably during Ramadan. A er all, one out of the three daily meals is designed to be omi ed. Sahoor, (a predawn meal) is not only permi ed but highly recommended for the Prophet (SAW) said: “Take sahoor, for indeed, there is blessing in so doing.” The lunch is completely omi ed while the breakfast should be as light as possible; taking some fruits at sunset on hearing the Adhan, (calling to prayer) preferably palm date if available, or water, or any other fruit in the absence of those two is equally good, followed by a light meal a er Maghrib (the sunset prayer). The Prophe c advice on feeding is: Never eat except when you are hungry and when you eat, never fill your stomach to the brim. Rather divide your stomach into three parts; fill the first part with food, the second part with water and leave the third part for the air.”

However, to a ain a high spiritual level in the month, one needs to dras cally reduce his or her feeding habit to the barest minimum, for if you eat too much you will have to drink too much and that will lead to sleeping too much and will eventually miss a lot in this month of abundant blessings about which the Prophet SAW said: “I wonder for three categories of people, someone who met his parents alive and fails to prosper through being kind to them, someone whom I, (Muhammad),am men oned in his presence and fails to invoke for blessing upon me, someone who witnesses Ramadan but fails to achieve the mercy of Allah and have an enormous share from His abundant blessings associated with the season.

Furthermore, The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan out of faith in

Welcome Oh

Ramadan (Part two)

Allah and seeking for His pleasure, such will be purified from all sins as if he or she is a newly born baby.”

Beside that, if he or she a er fas ng during the day follows it up with tahajjud (night prayer). especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan within which the night of power is located, according to the Prophet (PBOH), such person, by the end of the month would have added a complete eighty-three years and three months to his age. A fact deduced from Q97:3. In rela on to that, the mother

of the faithful, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her asked: “Oh Messenger of Allah! If I witness the night of power what sort of supplica ons should I be doing? He, PBOH answered: You should say: “ Oh Allah! You are The All forgiving You love forgiveness so forgive me my sins.”

A Muslim should keep himself busy spiritually throughput the ramadan. Muslims should work on how to move closer to Allah, increase in seeking Allah’s forgiveness, reconcile with those with whom you have rancor par cularly forgiving those who have offended you, draw a comprehensive metable for the glorious Qur’an recita on, studying and memorizing some of the chapters/verses,

listening to its recita on and for the beginners, learning how to recite it.

There will be no excuse for any Muslim what so ever to say he or she cannot read the Qur’an except for those who are mentally retarded and cannot even learn to read the language of their mother’s tongue. But if you can learn, read and speak English fluently, what is your excuse for your inability to read the book of Allah, about which The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever pronounces one single le er from the Qur’an has one reward. And each single reward will be mul plied by ten. He went further to say:

“I am not saying that Alif… Laam… Meem… is a le er but Alif is a le er on its own, laam is another one while meem is also a le er.” Any Muslim who is contented with his or her inability to recite the Qur’an in its original language is really missing a lot spiritually. Whereas, Allah The Almighty said: “And we have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember”

Daily azkaar (remembrance of Allah) should not be le out. Increment in showing kindness to the parents if they are s ll alive or even dead. The living parents should enjoy more from our benevolence by frequent visita on if they are close by or constant call if they are far away, financial support as much as possible. While the dead parents should always be prayed for, especially during our salaat (daily prayer). And visi ng their grave and pray for them, without seeking any assistance from them. For they are the ones in need of our assistance not the other way round.

•Sheikh Ibrahimd Oladejo Raji, Imaam Kosemani Jum’ah Mosque, off Iwo Ibadan Road, by Adetoro Shopping Complex, Mercyland Area, Dada Estate Osogbo, Osun State. irajoladejo1951@gmail.com

Traders Count Losses As Rain Wreaks Havoc In Iloko-Ijesa

Kazeem Badmus

RESIDENTS and traders in Iloko-Ijesa, a community in Oriade local government of Osun state, have lost proper es worth millions of naira to a heavy rainfall which wreaked havoc in the town on Monday.

That I was formerly known and addressed as ADEAGBO HAYISAT OMOTOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as JAMIU HAYISAT OMOTOLA

All former documents remain valid General public should take note.

The incident, OSUN DEFENDER gathered, had rendered hundreds of residents of the town homeless as they had to vacate their various homes which had been destroyed by the rainstorm.

The torren al downpour which reportedly lasted more than two hours was said to have resulted to flood which destroyed proper es and washed away foodstuffs.

According to a resident of the community, the flood affected commercial areas of Iloko-Ijesa, including Oke Adura.

The resident said Os-

owusi Muslim Commercial High School was also affected.

The principal’s office of the school and nearby residences were affected, according to the resident.

A newly constructed event center on Ilesa road also collapsed, and the Redeemed Chris an Church of God premises on Ayara Street and L. A Primary School in IlokoIjesam were also destroyed by the torren al

rain.

One of the affected traders, Florence Osunkeye, said most of her goods were submerged by the flood.

The Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe, while reac ng to the incident, sympathised with those affected by the calamity.

Ogungbangbe said: “I urge affected households and businesses to document the extent of

the destruc on through photographic evidence.”

Also, the state Commissioner for Cooperaves and Empowerment, Bayo Ogungbangbe has sympathised with the vic ms of the heavy rainfall.

The commissioner in a statement by his media unit, acknowledged the challenges the affected community would face, assuring the town of the government’s commitment to providing sup-

port and assistance.

Ogungbangbe who visited the town to access the damages done by the heavy rainfall, said relevant government agencies, would ac vely coordinate relief efforts to aid the affected residents of Iloko Ijesa.

“We’ll appeal to the government to mobilise resources to provide essen al aid, including food, and medical assistance, to those impacted by the calamity.”

Crisis Rocks Fed. University Of Health Sciences, Ila

Ismaeel Uthman

THE Federal University of Health Sciences, IlaOrangun, Osun State, is currently enmeshed in an internal crisis.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the crisis is between the management of the university and some staff of the College of Medicine of the ins tu on.

The crisis, according to sources, have led to the resigna on of senior medical lecturers of the college who were protes ng the alleged maltreatment of their colleague, Prof. Tijani Adekilekun, by the ViceChancellor of the University, Prof. Akeem Lasisi.

It was gathered that Adekilekun, the Dean of Basic Medical Sciences, had been queried and dismissed from service.

Adekilekun was queried for allegedly instruc ng students of other programmes in the university to move to the MBBS programme.

A copy of the query dated February 14, 2024 reads:

“The University Management has received informaon alleging that you, Prof. Ahmad Tijani-Adekilekun, Department of Anatomy, Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun instructed students of other programmes in the University to move to MBBS program and start receiving lectures there without any prior approval and knowing fully well that you do not have authority to give such direc ve(s).

“This ac on of yours is considered an act of serious misconduct.

“You are therefore requested to explain in writing within 48hrs of receipt of this query, why disciplinary ac on should not be taken against you.

“Your representa on should be routed through the Provost of your College.”

Adekilekun reportedly replied the query on the same day, in which he denied instruc ng any student to move to MBBS programm

He urged the school management to do a proper inves ga on and provide evidence to show that he gave such direc ve to students.

However, Adekilekun’s appointment was terminated two weeks a er replying the query, a development that sparked protest among medical lecturers of the university.

A copy of le er of termina on of appointment dated February 27, 2024 which was issued to Adekilekun by the Registrar of the university, Mr Kassim Babamale, reads: “I write on behalf of the Federal

•Management Sacks Only Anatomy Professor, Colleagues Protest

University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun to inform you that the University no longer requires your services forthwith.

“In accordance with your le er of engagement as a staff under probaon, the Bursar has been directed to pay you three (3) month’s salary in lieu of no ce upon submission of your ID card and other proper es of the University in your possession.”

Protes ng Adekilekun’s dismissal, the medical lecturers said the university management was not fair

to him, saying he doesn’t deserve to be treated in such manner.

In a le er addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the university, the lecturers said the college of Medical sciences needed Adekilekun’s service, saying he is the only professor of Anatomy in the college of medicine.

The le er dated February 27, 2024 reads: “On the 14th February, 2024, a query was issued by the Registrar to Prof. Ahmad Tijani-Adekilekun, Department of Anatomy, Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical

Sciences based on informaon alleging he asked some students to move between programmes without approval. The ac on was considered to be an act of serious misconduct.

“The query was responded to and the College is not aware of any other process ins tuted by the University.

“On the 27th February, 2024, he again received a le er a le er tled “Your Services No longer Required” from the Registrar. Just like the query issued to him earlier, the College

views this le er as an aberra on. This is because the person disengaged is the only Professor of Anatomy in the College of Medicine (COM).

“He has ac vely par cipated in the development of the MBBS curriculum as well as the curriculum of other programmes. He is the ini ator of 2 FUHSI specific and unique courses, BMS 101 (Basic life saving techniques) and ANA 102 (Introduc on to human anatomy). These unique courses are taught to all FUHSI students.

Osun Food Price Inflation Highest ...

•Continued from Page 2 2% (about 4.5 billion)of the en re budget (273.9 bn) for agriculture.

“You have given more (about 10billion) to the Oyewusi family-husband and wife, linked to the bridge contract than the whole Osun state (5.1 million people) for food.

“It’s even shameful to claim the marginal drop when we all understand seasonal fluctua on in food prices. And of the three states in the South-West with similar infla on rate, guess which one is s ll toping the chat?

“The priori es of your administra on are on bridges and tunnels, the rest of us can starve to death. We will wait for Imole

youth Corp, I hope all your family members will also enroll.

“So much of an agrarian state! Your drop is not dropping and your recovery is s ll in ICU.

“It’s heartless to say “without offering any soluon”, a kid of today knows that the problem we have is basic ameni es which food is 1. I have posted

about this several mes. The last me I men oned it, I stated about 10 reasons we need to focus on food.

“If DAB lies, Data don’t lie! The people of Osun are now buying food at the most expensive price in SW. Building bridge is not the solu on to that. There is no conges on in Osun that first principles can’t

fix. A state s ll using mini buses for god sakes!

“AND this is not about poli cs. Becoming a governor is a privilege, it is an enormous commitment. I do not pander to self-interest or poli cal party, it will be madness for me to know what I know and pander to poli cians. The state needs to grow period!

“For you, it’s never about the message, its always the messenger!

“If Adeleke makes Osun great today, I will be his fan for live. Your administra on is doing everything backwards.”

“He has anchored several faculty and departmental seminars and remains a valuable member of the COM. Currently; he is the brain behind the ongoing take-off of the anatomy programme because he invited all the other MBBS lecturers to join FUHSI. Despite the efforts at scou ng for the lecturers, these new lecturers were employed in the University.

“On behalf of the COM, we protest this ill-treatment of the Dean, FBMS in the following areas: Lack of verified reason for the query of the Dean - an allega on remains an allegaon un l proven and lack of proper administra ve channel for the query and the subsequent ac ons.

“The COM is in need of the services of the Dean and he remains a valuable member of the COM. The current classes in anatomy for 100 and 200 level students totalling more than 500 rest on his shoulders

The on-going con nuous assessment of students will no longer be possible without him. Other key func ons in COM and commi ees where he effec vely func ons will be greatly affected. He is a key member of the University community and he is key to the survival of the COM.”

The lecturers demanded for uncondi onal withdrawal of le er of terminaon of appointment and query issued to Adekilekun “because it does not reflect the posi on of the college, saying the allega on was not substan ated.

The le er was signed by Prof. Aishatu Ahmed Gobir, Dr Sunday Ogunsuyi Popoola, Dr Sarafadeen Kunle Salami, Dr Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar and Dr Babalola Waheed Olaide.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the college of medicine lecturers have withdrawn their services to press home their demands.

All efforts to get the reac on of the school management through the registrar proved abor ve as his phone number was not connec ng.

The registrar did not also reply a text message sent to his mobile telephone line.

•Wife of the Governor, Chief Mrs Titilola Adeleke presenting palliatives to women groups in the state last Friday, at the Local Government Service Commission Hall, Abere

Photo :Shola Aderinto

THE fundamental problem confron ng humanity all over the world is the refusal of the ruling elite of different countries to be commi ed to abridging the ever expanding gulf between the very few rich and the overwhelming number of poor people. Being rich here means availability of every necessary material thing one needs in life while being poor means lack of it.

Before going further, perhaps it is important to state what every human being needs on a regular basis, first and foremost. Every person on this planet Earth needs food and water, clothing and shelter, freedom and security. Once these necessi es of life are guaranteed, all other needs could follow. While economically produc ve countries have taken some measures to address the growing inequality but have not been able actualize it, it is a hell in unproduc ve or underdeveloped socie es. In Nigeria, for instance, about 1% wealthiest of its 200 million popula on control 80% of household net wealth with middle class withering away rapidly. According to Naonal Bureau of Sta s cs (NBC) 2020 reports, 40% of Nigerians - 80 million - live below poverty line. Meanwhile, the best resource any country could be blessed with is human being.

However, for that resource to be produc ve for the growth and development of such a society, it must be resourceful via quality educa on and skill acquisi on in all areas of life. It is quality of workforce that makes fundamental difference between developed and underdeveloped countries. Japan, for instance, is predominantly mountainous and prone to earthquakes. As a ma er of fact, about three-fourth of its land is mountain. This dis nc ve geology makes farming difficult as only 49,000 square kilometers (19,000 sq mi) of its 377,973.89 square kilometers (145,752.16 sq mi) territory is available for intensive culva on. Hence, agriculture contributes only 1% to Japan GDP but it is one of the largest and most developed economies in the world. As at 2020, Japan is the world second largest developed economy and a member of both G7 and G20. G7 is an informal grouping of seven of the world advanced econ-

Resetting Nigeria’s Development

“Qualitative Public Education for all, irrespective of status or background, is the surest way to empower people, reduce poverty and narrow the gap between the rich and the poor”

omies – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, United States, European Union and Japan. Di o for G20. It has high standard of living with highest life expectancy. Meanwhile, it has no major natural resources like oil and gas, gold and copper, coal and iron; it depends on imported raw materials and energy to run its economy. It is instruc ve to note that it is the largest importer of liquefied natural gas and coal and the second largest importer of oil in the world. Japan is able to a ain this feat not by prayers or magic but by real investment on its 125.88 million popula on who are well educated and skillful in all areas of life. This unique country has demonstrated that being blessed with natural endowments is one thing, having capacity to translate them into growth and development for be er life for the people is another.

Apart from the fact that Nigeria is massively blessed with innumerable natural resources like oil and gas, coal and gold, etc, it is blessed with sizable

popula on of over 200 million people. Again, it is blessed with clement weather as rain falls at its own me just as we have regular sunrise and sunset. Natural disasters like volcano, hurricane, earthquakes, etc are alien to us. Instead of these advantages transla ng to development and better life, they have become burden and brought mystery to majority while very infinitesimal propor on of the people live in abundance. To get it right and eliminate poverty in the midst of stupendous human and natural resources, governments at all levels must be commi ed first to free but qualita ve public educa on at the primary and secondary schools level and affordable ter ary educa on for all irrespec ve of background, status and religion. It must build and heavily invest on skill acquisi on colleges for the people. The so-called empowerment programmes being done by poli cians to bring people out of poverty is a subterfuge; they are designed to give token to the people but eventu-

ally rip them off by making huge money from them and pretend to love the people to con nually obtain their mandates for elec on or re-elec on. The ruling elite only pay lip-service to educa on. They have refused to fund public educa on but send their children abroad for qualita ve educa on. With excep ons of people like Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola when he held sway as a governor, most state governors in the past and now play poli cs with adequate funding of public educaon. The environments with which students are taught are not conducive for learning; the laboratories are eyesore; quality and adequate teachers are grossly lacking. Our schools are more of cer fica on than educa on. As long as this trend con nues, more Nigerians will con nue to wallow in extreme poverty which will lead to frustra on and then crimes in higher propor on. That explains geometric growth in the number of ritual killings, cyber crimes, armed robbery and other social vices cases on a daily basis as the frustrated see them as shortcut to success. Banditry, kidnapping and terrorism in North East Nigeria, especially, are not accidental; they are products of abandonment of children of the people tagged Almajiris who were out of schools and made to fend for themselves. Abandoned and out of school children of those days have become grownups with no educa on and skill but they must live and access necessi es of life. Where would they get it? Of course, in various crimes and social vices. The irresponsibility of these northern elite has become stubborn problems to everybody as nowhere is safe any long including military forma ons.

Although there are other programmes and policies that could reduce the poverty and the wide gap between the rich and the poor such as progressive tax, raising the income of the poorest workers, social security net, housing assistance, tax credits amongst others but the surest of all is huge investment in public educa on. Qualita ve Public Educa on for all, irrespec ve of status or background, is the surest way to empower people, reduce poverty and narrow the gap between the rich and the poor.