Osun Defender Online Version of April 23, 2021

FRIDAY, APRIL 23 - THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021 VOL 16 NO 15

APC Chieftains Express Worry Over Insecurity In Osun Page 2

Osun Dep. Gov. Assures JUSUN, NBA Of Financial Autonomy Implementation Page 6

1 Arrested, 3 Injured As Herdsmen Attack Village In Osun

Page 2

Why LAUTECH VC Was Suspended Page 2

•Removal Illegal - Unions

By Ismaeel Uthman

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•Professor Michael Ologunde, suspended LAUTECH VC.

ONTROVERSIES have continued to trail the suspension of the ViceChancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Prof. Michael Ologunde

by Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

Ologunde was asked to step aside by Makinde for some allegations which were not made available to the public.

The suspension was conveyed via a letter signed by the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology, Mr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye last Friday.

However, his removal has been generating controversies in the university, while some people have been probing why the VC was suspended.

OSUN DEFENDER observed that Ologunde’s suspension has sent jilters down the spines of Osun indigenes, who circumstances have trapped to remain in LAUTECH after the dissolution of the joint ownership of the institution.

Some of the workers perceived the VC’s suspension as a pointer to the fact that the Oyo State Government is no longer ready to accommodate Osun indigenes working in the university.

Ologunde is an indigene of Ajagunlase in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun.

However, investigations by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that Ologunde had been having a running battle with Governor Seyi Makinde since January this year

over the running system of the university.

Makinde accused the VC of inciting the unions on campus to go on strike to demand for the payment of their eight months’ outstanding salaries and allowances, having shown readiness to pay N8billion to State of Osun in respect of the separation of joint ownership of the institution.

On February 20, 2021, Makinde had stated on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) that “LAUTECH is meant to be a citadel of learning. Now that the ownership issue is resolved, we can focus on making it one. So it can also contribute to the economy. We have achieved what could not be achieved by previous administration from the same party.

•Gov. Makinde “The Governing Council of LAUTECH will be in place in the next one week. I believe that very soon, they will be up and running. The current VC instigated the unions that if Oyo State has N8bn, they should have used the money to pay outstanding salaries.

“If this was a military •Continued on page 5

NFF Affirms NNL’s Judgment On Osun United’s Points Restoration, Banishment Page 7

FRIDAY, APRIL 23 - THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

2

News

APC Chieftains Express Worry Over Insecurity In Osun

By Niyi Olasinde

populated by APC stalwarts and members who were invited to celebrate the birthday of a honourable member. So, the whole event, the birthday party and the attack was that of APC. What could have provoked it? Have we gotten to a point in

APC whereby differences will be settled through assassination?

“If we do this to ourselves, who says the opposition PDP cannot latch onto it and deal with us severely? We refer to some intra-APC attacks that have happened in recent times and we wonder if we have morality to still refer to the PDP as the nest of killers that we use to describe them.

“It is these dark spots in our state security, hitherto known as the haven of peace, that we want to humbly request your honour’s quick response that will return us to our top-notch peace situation. We are approaching elections and insecurity will be a challenge difficult to contain if we don’t nip these seemingly little things in the bud.

“We suggest that it will be necessary to ensure that the security breaches are investigated and perpetrators brought to book so as to forestall a repeat. The case of Olateju will be good enough a case study to use in that regard.”

gathered that the gunwielding herdsmen were entering houses and bringing out residents for abduction before the hunters in the village engaged them in gun duel.

Three of the hunters sustained gunshot injuries, while the attackers fled into the bush when they could no longer bear the gun pressure.

The first building entered by the herdsmen when they arrived, according to residents of the village, was damaged with bullets.

However, the attackers were unable to abduct anybody, as their operation was voided.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola said one suspect, Salisu Sulaiman, has been arrested in connection with the crime.

According to Opalola, the suspect was arrested on Wednesday, adding that police are on the trail of other suspects.

She said, “gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked Koka vil-

lage in Obokun LGA and attempted to abduct some villagers.

“Consequently, villagers/hunters mobilised and engaged the hoodlums in a firefight and liberated themselves.

“The Police drafted officers to join the locals, cordon and search operation with operatives.

Effort is ongoing to apprehend fleeing culprits.

“Three villagers/ hunters sustained bullet wounds during rescue operation. The victims were responding to treatment at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.

“One suspect, Salisu Sulaiman (18), has been arrested on the matter on Wednesday and the police are on the trail of others.”

OSUN DEFENDER had in its March 19 March 25 edition exclusively reported that some strange herdsmen have found their way into the State of Osun through communities that border Osun with Kwara State.

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OME stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun have expressed their worries over the trend of insecurity in the state, calling on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to address the issue as a matter of urgency.

The APC members, under the aegis of Osun Progressives Top, said it was concerned over security breaches like kidnapping, violent clashes among cult groups, killing and attacks on villagers, among others which have dominated the news space in the state.

According to the group, in a letter sent to the governor, the disturbing events of insecurity were already having some corrosive effects on the lives of the people who always think they can go to sleep with their two eyes closed.

Noting that the security condition of the state was deteriorating, the APC stalwarts recalled that Osun had consistently been ranked within the first three positions in Nigeria since 2017 in peace index by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

They specifically drew the attention of the Governor to a recent attempt on the life of Mr. Olateju Ishola, a nephew to the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, by some hoodlums in Osogbo, calling for a probe of the incident.

Signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the group, Alhaji Azeez Adesiji and Mr. Sadiq Olajide respectively, the letter reads: “We need to put on record that you, as the then Chief of Staff, described by your predecessor as the “engine room” of his administration was part of what brought about that success.

“It is however disturbing that the activities of hoodlums, thugs, miscreants, cultists etc. have been on the increase of recent.

“As members of the party in power, we are disturbed that the Governor has been subjected to direct attacks on a couple of times, which were not just capable of harming him, but could also claim

•Members and workers Of Osun Ambulance Services lodging their grievances to Hon. Comminsioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, during a peaceful protest against alleged injustice of the O’ Ambulance management, held at State Secretariat, Abere on Monday. : Photo: Olushola Aderinto his life.

“We must put on record the heroic efforts of the Governor’s personal security team in warding off such offensives, but we are of the opinion that the gargantuan security architecture of the Governor could do

better by being proactive and prevent such ugly incidents.

“The March 28 attack on the Personal Assistant to your predecessor, who is the current Minister of Interior, Mr. Olateju Ishola, gives us reason to feel sad and we are afraid

of what may be coming.

By his account, which we believe your honour must have read, he declared it was an assassination attempt on him as declared by the victim himself.

“The curious issue in his narration was that the venue of the attack was

1 Arrested, 3 Injured As Herdsmen Attack Village In Osun

By Ismaeel Uthman

F

OUR weeks after OSUN DEFENDER reported the presence of ‘strange cattle rustlers’ in the State of

Osun, some herdsmen have invaded Koka village in Obokun Local Government area of the state, shooting three people in a failed attempt to abduct the villagers.

The herdsmen, who were said to be about eight in number, reportedly invaded the village around 11:30pm last Sunday, April 18, 2021.

OSUN DEFENDER

Symbol’s Quote

“A safe, secure and prosperous country cannot be built without the support of traditional institutions.”

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, APRIL 23 - THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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By Niyi Olasinde The $2.1bn Question! LAUTECH: Debunking s a result of daily oil theft like an anti-(fiscal) stimulus. Reckless Executive Gaffe

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under the watch of Presi- This should be avoided. For as dent Goodluck Jonathan the celebrated economist, John PDP-led administration and Maynard Keynes, pointed out crash in the price of crude oil in his path breaking work, “The internationally; about 23 states Economic Consequences Of The were unable to pay workers’ Peace”, shrinking the money supply at a time of ecosalaries. In fact, by June 2015, states “Recouping the said nomic downturn owed 6 months loan at this period will lower overall salaries. The new will kill the states as it output leading to government of will depress demand, mass unemployPresident Muham- lower output and cer- ment. For a fragile such madu Buhari had tainly lead to layoff in democracy as ours, the conto bailout the states sequences will be with $2.1billion the public sector” from Liquefied Natural unpalatable.

With the ensuing violence and Gas proceeds and intervention fund between N250billion and criminality across the land which N300billionfrom Central Bank have badly affected economic as soft loans to enable states stimulants, recouping the said loan navigate out of the financial at this period will kill the states quagmire. This bailout was a as it will depress demand, lower repayable loan scheduled by output and certainly lead to layoff Debt Management Office with in the public sector. Even without it, Kaduna State has already laid the CBN. However, the Governor of the off 4,000 public sector workers.

Central Bank of Nigeria should Retrenchment will further lower pause and reflect on the planned already diminished purchasing deduction of the $2.1billion loan power, leading to contraction from allocations due to the states. in the private sector and the layThe deductions fly against con- ing off of private sector workers temporary economic thinking which may drag us to a terrible viand the responses worldwide to cious recession cycle fraught with the novel COVID-19 pandemic. grave uncertainty and danger.

A new national democratic Across the globe, governments have adopted expansionist agreement must be worked out monetary and fiscal strategies between the Federal and state to contain the retractions in eco- governments, including labour nomic activities caused by the and the private sector for a susshutdowns to ameliorate the tainable development programme pandemic. Nigeria should not at a time like this and projecting to a period when this deduction be an exception.

What is on offer appears could start.

Safeguarding Our Schools In Osun Dear Editor, S abduction of school students by bandits across various states is on the rise in the country, it is pertinent for the State Government of Osun to be proactive in putting measures in place for safeguarding our schools from invasion by bandits, who could come under the guise of herding in the state.

It is not far-fetched a fact that herders in recent times have been penetrating into different communities in Osun to cause chaos to the residents of various areas. The aftermaths of such invasions usually come

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with killing of innocent lives, destruction of farmlands and damage of immense proportions to properties.

In this connection, the bad eggs among the herders could come in at anytime and go away with our students under the guise of herding.

In the wee hours of Wednesday, there was report of a kidnap case which happened in Kaduna State, where bandits kidnapped some students of

a private university, among other numerous ones from different schools across the state.

This should sound a wake-up call for all state governors in the South-West where we are recently, especially those states experiencing farmers/herders’ clashes and kidnap of innocent citizens to put all necessary machineries in place to prevent indiscriminate abduction of our students and other residents of our indigenous communities in the South-West.

•Read full article on www.osundefender.com •Salisu Fatimoh writes from Iree.

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HE Ladoke Akintola University of ing and equity in handling the affairs of the Technology (LAUTECH) started in institution for well close to 30 years that the the late 1980s as pet-project of the joint ownership lasted.

Part of the agreements were that the old Oyo State as panacea to identified shortfall in capacity to meet admission hospital cum medical wing of the institution should be domiciled in Osun, specifineeds of teeming youths of the state, seeking entrance into universities. Prior to its cally in Osogbo and that the name of the institution itself should be changed to imestablishment as Oyo State University of Technology (OSUTECH), the figures of the mortalise the memories of one of the promstate’s admission-worthy indigenes who inent sons of the old Osun Province and gained admission into universities were last Premier of the defunct Western Region, dwindling dramatically, becoming more Late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.

Recent claims by a situational governand more unimpressive and the percentage became consistently poor year after ment or its representative that Osun failed or fainted in its obligations at any stage year. The presence of two federal universities: University of Ibadan and the Obafemi during the collegial marriage of ownership of the institution represent fiction, adroit, Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in the old Oyo state could not assuage the deficiency and yet unconscionable lie and cheap blackimbalance in meeting the admission needs mail. The falsehood becomes more of a conspicuous libel and deliberate sabotage of the state’s young school leavers.

On meticulously set agreements, the in an attempt to run down an administration which leadersprouting u n i v e r s i t y “How else could one interpret ship ruled conscientiously and with operated for about three the claim that the immediate utmost sense of reyears before past administration defaulted to sponsibility. How August 1991, the tune of N8.2 billion? Is that else could one interpret the claim when Osun was carved a sound rationale for ceding an that the immediate out of Oyo institution with net-worth of past administration defaulted to State.

Upon that landmark N106 billion for a pittance of the tune of N8.2 billion? Is that a event, stake- N8billion?” sound rationale for holders, comceding an instituprising foundtion with net-worth of N106 billion for a ing fathers drawn from the two emerging states and their military administrators: pittance of N8billion?

Throughout the joint ownership tenColonel Leo Segun Ajiborisa (Osun) and Colonel (later Major-General) Abdulkar- ure, none of the governors who ruled Osun eem Adisa (Oyo) set new agreements bor- ever dragged foot in fulfilling the state’s dering on a joint ownership of the institu- obligations in the bargain. Not even Prince tion, which comprised joint management Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was suspected and funding, proportional/equitable em- to have initially hatched the plot with his ployment cum admission figures as equal counterpart, Otunba Christopher Alaoowner-partners, co-visitorship (later rota- Akala to discontinue the joint ownership.

The reality on ground as to the enortional visitorship) by the state’s helmsmen and other details which took care of fund- mous and limitless bounds of the State of Osun’s loss from the process of ceding the institution’s ownership to Oyo should not push the incumbent government officials Publisher – Moremi Publishing to shift the blame where it House Ltd. does not rightly belong.

Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman Early the lifetime of (0805-121-2204) Governor Oyetola adminProduc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa istration, the position of the Reporter – Yusuf Oketola government had been that Reporter – Sodiq Yusuf the state never defaulted in Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto its financial commitment to Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere the institution. The Oyetola OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing administration, in its reply to a frivolous statement House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, credited to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State upon State of Osun his coming on board green ISSN : 0794 – 8050 in 2019, made it clear that Telephone : 0805-121-2204 the immediate past AregWebsite : www.osundefender.com/index.php besola administration fule–mail : osundefender@yahoo.com filled the state’s obligation osundefenderbank@gmail.com fully to a fault.

All Correspondence to the above email Addresses.

OSUN DEFENDER

OSUN DEFENDER IS NOT AFFLIATED WITH ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER, MAGAZINE OR ANY PUBLICATION WHATSOVER

Read full article on www.osundefender.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 23 - THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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News

Osun Dep. Gov. Assures JUSUN, NBA Of Financial Autonomy Implementation

By Olaitan Eledahun

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EMBERS of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) yesterday held a protest rally for the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary and parliamentary arms of government.

The workers started their rally at the High Court, Oke-Fia and marched to Customary Court through to Federal High Court, opposite the State of Osun House of Assembly, Osogbo.

Armed with placards and banners that contained words expressing their views on judicial and parliamentary autonomy, the workers vowed to continue their indus-

trial action until their demand is met.

The convoy of the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Benedict Alabi, ran into the pro-

testers who refused to give way for the five vehicles.

They blocked the convoy with placards and banners as the se-

•The protest in picture.

T

HE Gboleru Ruling House in Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government of the State of Osun has said that it is waiting for the directive of the government for nomination of a candidate to fill the vacant stool of Akinrun.

Mr. Abimbola Toki, the spokesperson of the ruling house, which is said to produce the next Akinrun, said they were making preparations and arrangements aimed at ensuring a peaceful selection of a candidate within the ruling house for the exalted position.

Toki, in a press statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, said he spoke with the Council Manager of Ifelodun Local Government, Mrs. Eunice Adedeji, who told him that the council was also waiting for the directive of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on the stool.

Quoting Adedeji, Toki said: “Akinrun is a first class stool in the state and for this reason; a careful and due processes need to be followed so as to ensure fairness.”

Reacting to a claim by the Adesekan family of Gboleru Ruling House that it is its turn to produce Akinrun, Tooki stated that the family has never been a member of the ruling house.

According to Toki, no part of history of the Gboleru Royal House can be attributed to Adesekan as a member of the family.

He said: “Gboleru migrated from Ile-Ife and settled at Igbo Irele from where he moved to Oke Agbon as final settlement place till date.

“Gboleru became a threat to others around him at that time be-

cause he gave birth to many sons who were automatically potential kings. They reasoned that if all the sons of Gboleru should become king one after the other, their own chances of becoming king would be delayed or become very remote.

“They therefore, conspired against Gboleru and started killing his sons, one after the other, with poisoned cane during Egungun festivals.

“The elders investigated the killings and discovered that the mass death of Gboleru’s sons was caused by those who are envious of Gboleru and his many sons.

“This made Gboleru and most of his family members leave Oke Agbon. While some of them settled at Ile Odofin, some settled at Oke Afo, while the rest stayed back at Oke Agbon till today. All the Gboleru children from these three locations still do things together till today as one united family.

“In fact, while Oba Kolawole was on the throne, he relocated his first son, Olatunji, to take possession of Oke Afo’s settlement and that’s how Doudu compound came into being.

“It has never been part of history that any of Gboleru’s sons settled in Ile Sekan. Therefore, no descendant of Sekan family has ever been part of Gboleru’s history and we have never had anything in common.

“The real children of Gboleru and any other person of royal blood don’t carry Irele’s calabash during the traditional Irele annual festival and it is a known fact that daughters of Sekan family have carried the calabash seven times before the late King Adedeji stopped the yearly Irele Festival.”

The convoy later managed to escape at the Petrol Station close to the State Government Secretariat, Abere, when the vehi-

Photo: Olushola Aderinto

Akinrun Stool: Gboleru Ruling House Awaits Govt’s Directives On Nomination

By Yusuf Oketola

curity details implored them to give way.

The protesters refused to give way, forcing the convoy to move with the protesters.

Reacting, a member of the Adesekan family, Prophet Gabriel Oyetunji, dismissed Tooki’s claim, describing it as an unfortunate venture that will neither yield him and his benefactors any positive dividend, nor promote the integrity and sanctity of the esteemed stool of Akinrun of Ikirun.

According to Oyetunji, facts on Royal lineage remain facts and cannot be changed by ‘millions of Tooki’s distorted and cooked story.

Oyetunji said: “It is strange to note that somebody of Tooki’s age would be talking of how our two babas; Baba Popoola and Baba Solaro became friends about 150 years ago so authoritatively as if he was there. This thus demonstrates how desperate Tooki is in perpetrating falsehood.

“The present patriarch of Adesekan Compound, Baba Sule, who was once interviewed about four weeks ago by OSUN DEFENDER is competently equipped to educate the likes of Tooki besides tapping into other authorities.

“The past patriarchs of Adesekan Compound including Pa. Emmanuel Oyetunji, otherwise known as Baba Solaro, who answered the call of Almighty God at a ripe age of 120 in late 1980s, are not the subject of current circumstances, though Baba Solaro’s records are indisputably well known within and outside Ikirunland.

“Tooki should therefore, be aware that his unfounded and cooked story is not worth dissipating energy on, and Adesekan Compound is not prepared to go on the path of distortion of history.”

cles entered through the first entrance of the filling station and exited through the second gate to boycott the protesters.

Addressing the protesters at the entrance of the State Secretariat, Abere, the Deputy Governor said: “I commend you for the way you conducted yourself during the protest.

“On the issues raised, we are a lawabiding state. The Governor believes in the Rule of Law and that is what we stand by, your demands are what we will implement.

“Osun State is committed to implementing whatever decision on this autonomy of the judiciary. We don’t have a problem in implementing what the law of the state says.”

Jubilation As Iloko-Ijesa, Ekusa Get New Traditional Rulers

•Owaloko-elect, Prince Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe.

I

NDIGENES and residents of Iloko-Ijesa, a community in Oriade Local Government of the State of Osun, were in jubilant mood following the approval of a new traditional ruler for the town by the government.

In similar vein, the people of Ekusa in OdoOtin Local Government Council area of the state could not hold their joy as a new Elekusa has been appointed, too.

The State Government has approved the appoint-

ments of Prince Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe, as the new Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa; and Prince John Omotoso Makanjuola, as the new Elekusa of Ekusa.

Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, disclosed this after the State Executive Council meeting on Monday.

Ogungbangbe’s appointment came after a keen contest that lingered for nine years, following the demise of the former

Owaloko, Oba Oladele Olashore, on June 1, 2012.

The stool of the Elekusa of Ekusa had also witnessed legal and traditional tussle since 2010, sequel to the death of the previous Elekusa, Oba Joseph Adeleke Araoye from Osabunmi Ruling House on July 10, 2010.

Commenting on the appointments, Egbemode said: “The appointment of the two monarchs takes effect from Monday, April 19, 2021.

“This is another move by the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola at ensuring peace and tranquility in communities where there had been legal and traditional battles over vacant royal stools.

“With these appointments, the tussles of nine years in Iloko-Ijesa and 11 years in Ekusa have been laid to rest, following elections of the candidates by the kingmakers in their respective communities and ratification by the State’s Executive Council, chaired by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

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Why LAUTECH VC Was Suspended •Continued from page 1 regime, he would have been fired. But we run a government based on the Rule of Law. I said let the new Governing Council come in and let them do their job and they will investigate and do the right thing.”

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Makinde was also unhappy with Ologunde for not supporting his plan to make LAUTECH a multi-campus university.

Makinde had, after the dissolution of the joint ownership of the institution, reportedly told the VC that he wanted to make the university a multi-campus institution, in response to which Ologunde said that he lacked the power to do such.

Makinde, according to sources in the Agodi Government House of Oyo State, would have sacked the VC but took caution, following a reported threat from Ologunde to seek redress in the courts of competent jurisdiction if he was unjustly removed.

However, Makinde, in an attempt to outsmart the VC, asked him

to step aside instead of sacking him, to allow the Governing Council of the university to investigate the allegations levelled against him.

According to some workers in the institution, the VC would not be reinstated, saying that he had been eased out of office permanently.

But both the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), LAUTECH branch, have jointly condemned the suspension of the VC. SSANU and ASUU stated that Makinde acted ultra vires, as he does not have the power to suspend the VC. The SAANU members, after an emergency meeting on Sunday, condemned the idea of sacking Ologunde, arguing that only the university’s Governing Council can remove the VC and not the Governor or the Oyo State Ministry of Education.

The communiqué issued at the end of the meeting reads: “LAUTECH is not an appendage of the Ministry of Education, Science &

Technology, Oyo State or the extension of the Office of the Hon. Commissioner of Education, Science & Technology but rather a statutory body that has its establishment laws as may be amended.

“The laws of the university did not give power to administer the university to the Commissioner but rather the Governing Council.

“The power to appoint and terminate staff appointments is resided in the Governing Council and not the Visitor or his proxies, including the Commissioner of Education, Science & Technology. The University enjoys autonomy in Nigeria, Oyo State inclusive.

“The ‘step-aside’ directive is considered hasty, cumbersome and incongruous to the order that brought in the current principal officers of the university on February 14, 2019, and should be reversed in the name of equity, fairness and good conscience. It also negated the position of His Excellency on LAUTECH as said during his radio and television broadcast of Saturday, February 20, 2021.”

Also, ASUU in a press

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News

Fresh APC Membership Registration May End Tomorrow In Osun

By Yusuf Oketola

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fresh round of registration and revalidation of membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which started on Tuesday as directed by the National Secretariat of the party, might end tomorrow, Saturday.

According to the Publicity Secretary of the APC in the State of Osun, Comrade Wole Adunola, the registration started Tuesday with the arrival of materials and members of national committee on the exercise.

Adunola, in a press statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, called on members of the APC in the state to embark on aggressive membership drive to increase the lots and fortune of the party in future elections.

Adunola explained that if the party could have or added over fifty per cent of eligible vot-

ers in the state as members; it would make any future electoral exercise in the state easy and a walk-over for it.

He said: “We want to inform members of the public that our party’s registration exercise has commenced across all

the local governments in the state, in line with the national leadership extension directive.

“All the needed materials have been made available across all the LGs in the state, and I want to state clearly that there is enough

registration materials.

Hence there is no need for hoarding by any section of the party”.

Adunola implored the people of Osun; particularly those who align with and believe in APC ideology to use the opportunity to for-

malise and get themselves registered.

APC had stopped the registration and revalidation of membership after the due date announced by the National Secretariat, but the decision doesn’t go well with

some old members of the party and willing Nigerians that want to join the party, forcing it to extend the exercise again.

The registration exercise is expected close tomorrow Saturday, April 24, 2021.

Police Rescue OSCOTECH Students Abducted By Gunmen In Ilesa

By Niyi Olasinde

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25-year-old student of the Osun State College of Health Technology, Ilesa, Rukayat Bayonle, who was abducted by gunmen on Tuesday in Ilesa has been rescued by the Police.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Bayonle was abducted at Olomilagbala area, Ilesa by about five gunmen who invaded her hostel and took her to

•Olokode.

the bush around 5pm.

However, Bayonle was later rescued by

the Police three hours after her abduction, according to a release by

Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command.

Opalola, in the release made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said: “Upon a distress call that the victim was abducted, the Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, drafted a combined team of Police Tactical Unit, JTF and other security outfits on a rescue mission of the abducted girl.

“The security opera-

tives on an unrelenting rescue operation of the victim, followed suit in the bush to do a thorough combing; and at about 0525 hours of same day, 20th April, 2021, within the space of three hours, police and local security men rescued her unhurt.

“The Commissioner of Police urged members of the public to be vigilant, support and collaborate with the police in the fight against all forms of criminalities.”

FRIDAY, APRIL 23 - THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

6

“

Religion

THE earth revolves around the sun and rotates round its own axis. The rotation of the earth causes day and night. The part of the earth which faces the sun experiences daytime; whereas, the part away from sun gets no sunlight and hence, the night.”

That is an undisputable scientific fact. Now the By question here is: which one comes first, the day or Sheikh Ibrahim the night? Of course the day! Because we count the day before the night. But according to the Quran, Oladejo Raji reverse is the case. It is the night that goes before the day. In about 21 places in the Glorious Book where night and day were mentioned respectively, it is always the night that comes first.

Allah says: “And He is who has put the night and the day in succession, for such who desires to remember or who desires to show his gratitude.” Quran 25:62. Even, despite what we are made to believe that the day comes first, we all notice that the a.m. period of the day precedes the p.m. In Latin, meridian means noon fantastic experience no one can imagine except those who have the while ante is before, thus, a.m. stands for before noon while p.m., taste of it! Similarly, taraaweeh is the first companion of Ramadan post meridian is afternoon. to depart at the end of the month followed by sahoor (pre dawn The question again is which one comes first? ‘a.m.’ or’ p.m.’ meal), then the fasting and lastly, the iftaar (fast breaking) about and which one is compatible with the teaching of Qur’an. The which the prophet said: point I am trying to drag home is the enormous benefits packed “For every fasting person there are two joys; a joy when it is for mankind during the night for those who care. Ranging from time for breakfast and a joy when he meets his Lord. Oh Allah! a rest acquired through sound sleeping, and the opportunity to Though we are yet to experience the second type of the joy behave tete-a-tete with the Lord of the mighty Throne. The Messen- cause we are still living but we always have a taste of the other joy ger of Allah (PBOH) said:“Our Lord (glorified and exalted be He) after each breaking of fast. May we be blessed to receive the accudo descends every night to the lowest heaven next to the earth mulated joy reserved for us the day we meet You, Oh Allah”. during the last third segment of the night, and proclaims!“Who At this juncture, we may need to shed a bit light on this teris calling upon Me that I may answer him? Who is begging for minology: something so I may grant him? Who is seeking for My forgiveness Qiyaamullayl, taraaweeh and tahajjud. The entire trio denotes so that I may forgive him”. The Hadith is narrated by Bukhariy. non-obligatory prayers offered during the night. Literally, the Coupled with that, Ramadan moves in a convoy of prominent first one means standing up for prayer during the night hours. entourages and associates. While the fasting occupies the day So, every prayer offered after Ishai prayer and before dawn is Qitime, there are other various wonderful activities that take place yaamullayl. Taraaweeh is also a qiyaamullayl but specifically ofduring the nights. One of the prominent associates of Ramadan fered during the nights of Ramadan. While tahajjud is the prayer fasting is taraaweeh. It is the one that heralds the arrival of the offered in the latter part of the night all the year round. Except former. On sighting the crescent of Ramadan after sunset on the during Ramadan when tahajjud may connote extra prayer offered last day of Sha’baan, the next thing is preparation for Taraaweeh after taraaweeh. that comes up anytime after Ishai prayer throughout the night. In We mentioned earlier that Ramadan was prescribed in the secfact, fasting itself will not kick off until hours after we have been ond year of Hirah and that the Prophet (PBOH) witnessed only enjoying the company of Taraaweeh and other related activities, nine Ramadan during his lifetime. The Mother of the faithful, warming up to embark upon Ramadan fasting which will majesti- Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that: “on one cally show up at dawn and extend till the dusk for twenty-nine or of the nights of Ramadan, the Prophet (PBOH) came out in the thirty days consecutively. What a nice period of a lifetime! What a middle of the night, he met a small number of the companions in

RAMADAN SERMON

RAMADAN AND TARAAWEEH

the mosque he gathered and led them in a beautiful and extraordinarily lengthy prayer. On the following night, he repeated the same thing with a larger number of the companion who heard the news from those who participated in the previous night. The third night followed with much larger congregation.

“When it was the fourth night, the mosque was filled up to the brim, they excitedly waited for Him (PBOH) to come out but they never saw him till when it was time to perform the dawn prayer the following morning.

“On completion of the prayer, he praised Allah and addressed them thus; ‘I deliberately declined to come out for the prayer last night out of fear that it might be ordained as obligatory upon you; And that might be a burden on you and my Ummah”.

That was how The Messenger (PBOH) put it on pause till the end of his life after having laid a foundation for it”.

Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) during his reign as the successor never revived it. When Umar bin Khattaab was appointed as the second khaleefah, he reintroduced the abandoned sunnah because the fear that it might be made compulsory did no longer arise, since the Qur’anic revelation had been terminated shortly before the demise of the Prophet (PBOH).

Gathering a large number of people for night prayer started right from the Prophetic era but was suspended for the reason mentioned in the part one of this sermon. The first Caliph, Abu Bakr, (may Allah be pleased with him) maintained the stand of the Messenger of Allah and never revisited it; but the commander of the faithful, Umar bin Khattab revived it during his reign.

Despite that it was technically suspended, the companion used to gather themselves in small multiple groups to offer the qiyaamullayl in the mosque, choosing one of them to lead, especially those who were endowed in terms of Qur’anic memorization and recitation. The Caliph decided to unify the various groups under the leadership of one Imam, so he appointed Ubayy bin Ka’ab to lead them. Hence, the beginning of what is today known as taraaweeh. The number of raka’ts recommended by Umar was twenty; during which long verses were recited, and that led to having a short break within the prayer, after each two or four raka’ts. Hence, the term Taraaweeh which linguistically means “interlude,” was adopted.

Read full article on www.osundefender.com •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

Campus News

Water Scarcity Hits OAU As Tests, Examinations Begin dents’ Affairs and demanded an explanation for the scarcity of water.

Residents of a female hostel, Alumni Hall, said they had been experiencing water scarcity since the beginning of the semester, adding that they have to fetch water from Awo Hall or some other places.

According to Helen Adesanya, “the Awo Hall porters, once in a while,

By Yusuf Oketola

S

CARCITY of water has hit some halls of residence on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, resulting in stress and series of complaints from the students.

OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered the scarcity of water had been persisting in some hostels since the commencement of the semester, while others just began to experience it few days ago.

Most affected halls are Alumni and Awolowo halls of the school, where students are lamenting that they have to queue for water during their tests periods.

Some students of Awolowo Hall, who spoke with the medium yesterday, under condition of anonymity, said, “There has been scarcity of water on the campus for several days now.

The most affected are Alumni and Awo halls, where water has been scarce for the past four days.

“When water is eventually pumped, it is not sufficient for the residents of one hall, talk less of others.

“We have to queue at the borehole for hours in the hope that water will be pumped even during test periods.

“This water problem appears to have greatly affected the activities of students

deny us entry. Every student in this university knows our plight as female students.

Due to the sensitivity of the female body, we need water to maintain hygiene and because of this scarcity, life has been difficult here.”

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, disclosed that the University is on top of the situation.

Olarewaju maintained that the school is still supplying

water to the hostels and will continue to do so until the situation improves.

He hinted that OAU is embarking on upgrading of some facilities in the school’s water scheme and that very soon, things will be better than it was before.

The PRO urged the students to exercise a little more patience, as things will get back to normal within a short space of time.

OSPOLY: Students Call On Mgt. To Address Lecturers’ Misconducts, Extortion

By Our Reporter

S •OAU students on queue for water on campus. as we are unable to do our basic chores”.

A student of the Awo Hall, Charles Okokhuele, expressed optimism that the water scarcity will be resolved soon, saying that the students were going through a difficult period because

there was no students’ union to fight on their behalf.

According to him, if there was a students’ union in place, something urgent would have been done because hundreds of students would have marched down to the Directorate of Stu-

TUDENTS in the Office Technology Management Department of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, have called on the management of the institution to rescue them from what they called inappropriate increments and extortion by their lecturers.

The students, who notified the OSPOLY management on the alleged extortion by the lecturers through a letter pasted in all the lecture rooms on campus yesterday, warned the institution on looming crisis if a drastic step is not taken on the matter.

Among the alleged misconducts of the OTM lecturers, as contained in the letter, were arbitrary increment in laboratory fee from N1, 000 to N2, 000 and compulsory payment for generator since 2018 till date for all final

year students.

The students also reported delegation of duties to a lecturer who they said was not competent; a development they said had subjected them to extortion.

They also accused one Mrs. R.A Akande of assaulting students during shorthand class, ‘despite her awkward lecturing skill’, claiming that they have evidence to prove their case as they are not in secondary school.

According to the students, one of the lecturers whose name was given as Mr. Farinloye was also found of condemning their projects in order to extort them.

But the Head of the OTM Department, Dr. Mrs Abosede Ademiluyi, when contacted, dismissed the claim of the students, saying that they were acting out of grievances.

Ademiluyi said that the letter circulated by the anonymous

students came just a day after the increment of the laboratory fee.

She reiterated that the increment was approved before it was announced to the students which, according to her, did not go down well with the aggrieved students.

In his reaction, President of the OTM Department, Mr. Adeyemi Adetunji said that the HOD had explained reason for the increment of the fees which they all agreed to.

Adetunji further said that all other allegations in the letter are blatant lies.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that all the students’ stakeholders in the department have been summoned by the HOD and the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Alhaji M.A. Raimi to present those behind the SOS letter for possible sanction.

PEOPLE FIRST

Sports

FRIDAY, APRIL 23 - THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

7

NFF Affirms NNL’s Judgment On Osun United’s Points Restoration, Banishment Stories by Yusuf Oketola

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has affirmed the decision of Nigeria National League (NNL) that restored the three points of Osun United in the victory over Vandrezzer FC in the week 4 encounter of the ongoing NNL. The football governing body also approved the return of the Omoluabi Giants to their home ground, Osogbo Township Stadium, after playing three matches at their adopted home, Ilorin Township Stadium, where they lost two consecutive home games, following the banishment for breaching COVID-19 rules.

Recall that Vandrezzer FC of Lagos, after being defeated 2-1 in the week 4 fixtures at the Osogbo Township Stadium, instigated the banishment of Osun United to Ilorin while they equally prayed NNL to be awarded three points of the game or ordered for a replay at a neutral venue.

However, their

prayers were turned down by the NNL after carefully studying reports of the match which vindicated Osun United.

Not satisfied with this, the boastful “Lions of Naija” appealed NNL’s judgment to the

apex football governing body in Nigeria, which summoned Osun United and Osun FA to appear before its Organizing and Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday, April 2, 2021.

Delivering the judgment in Abuja, Chair-

man NFF’s Organizing and Disciplinary Committee, Mr. Musa Amadu and the Secretary, Mrs. Queen Otarakpo, after listening carefully to both sides, affirmed the decision of NNL that restored the points and cancelled the

banishment after Osun United have honoured three home matches at the Ilorin Township Stadium.

The NFF O&D then advised Osun United and Osun FA to, in their remaining home games adhere strictly to the

Ahmed Musa To Miss 80% Of Away Games For Kano Pillars

K

ANO Pillars’ new high-profile signing, Ahmed Musa, is set to miss over 80 per

cent of the team’s away matches as the second stanza of the Nigeria Professional Football League

begins April 28, 2021.

The announcement of the Super Eagles’ captain as Pillars’ new signing elicited excitement among fans of the domestic league, but OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the former Leicester City forward told the club’s management in clear terms that he would not be available for away games.

Chairman of the club, Surajo Yahaya, confirmed that although the player would be available for every home fixture, he would not be part of most of their away games.

“Ahmed Musa is a big player and at the moment we know the economic situation of the country and the bad roads in some regions. He is going to hon-

our all our home matches and if there is an available flight in the state we have an away game, then he is going to attend.

“He did not say that he is totally going to be unavailable for our games on the road, but he is going to attend those matches by flight, but for the games that are close by, like a game at Kastina or Bauchi, he is ready to go.

But we need to provide good facilities for him,” Yahaya added.

With the revelation, Musa is expected to make his debut for Pillars on May 5, when the Sai Masu Gida welcome Enyimba.

He will miss the team’s next two games against Warri Wolves and Plateau United respectively.

News

Oyetola Inaugurates Committee To Redefine Mineral Resources Sector

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HE State Governor of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has reiterated the commitment of his administration to setting the state on a path of effective economic management.

Oyetola stated this on Wednesday while inaugurating the Osun Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIRENCO) at the Governor’s Office, Abere.

According to Oyetola, the committee is part of his administration’s efforts towards lifting the state out of economic misery.

He said the appointment and inauguration of the committee are in line

with the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act 2007, which empowers the committee to oversee the regulation of the entire mining operations in the state and to discuss and advise the Minister of Solid Minerals on matters affecting encroachment, trespass, security, social unrest, pollution and environmental degradation of any land on which any mineral is being extracted as it relates to all licence holders within the state.

The nine-member committee has Prince Omolade Binuyo as Chairman.

Other members of the Committee are the Federal Mining Officer, Mr. Abim-

bola Oyediran; representative of State Office of Natural Resources, Mr. Alake Kolawole; representative of State Ministry of Lands, Mr. Oluseyi Falope; representative of Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel, Comrade Olatunji; representative of Ministry of Environment and Sanitation, Alhaji Baderinwa Abideen; representative of Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Adebisi Ayodele; representative of Surveyor-General, Mr. Abioye Ayodele; and representative of Federal Ministry of Mines, Engr. Isaac Ojo, who will serve as the Secretary of the committee.

Oyetola noted that the

Why LAUTECH VC Was Suspended •Continued from page 5 statement issued after its congress on Monday said the development violated the provisions of the University Miscellaneous Act as amended, 2020 and the University conventions.

The statement, which was jointly signed by the Chairman, Dr. Biodun Olaniran, Ph.D and Dr. Toyin Abegunrin, Secretary, reads in part: “If there is any perceived

misdemeanour on the part of any officer appointed by the law in the University, due process according to the law must be followed to address such.

“The union acknowledges the power of the Visitor to hire and fire on one part and that such power is premised on the recommendation of the Governing Council according to the extant

laws; “As at today, the Governing Council has not been properly constituted in line with laws of the University.

“Our union therefore, requests that, to maintain industrial harmony on campus and the ongoing restoration of the image of the University, the above resolutions should be considered with the necessary urgency.”

initiative is a clear indication that the administration is committed to erecting a solid structure for driving resource-blessed economy, delivering resource boom and avoiding resource curse.

The governor further added that the committee is inaugurated as a step towards sanitising the state’s resource climate and resolving the extant challenges being faced on the mining sites and the affected communities.

Oyetola, who lamented the excruciating challenge of environmental degradation arising from palpable illegal mining activities in the state, said the decision to set up the committee becomes necessary to curb the menace.

He called on members of the committee to live up to their responsibilities of redefining the sector for the betterment of the state and the citizenry.

He said: “While we recognise that the exploration and exploitation of solid minerals are on the Exclusive Legislative List of the Federal Government, we must also note that we have been faced with the excruciating challenge of environmental degradation arising from lack of envi-

ronmental and ecological literacy on the part of the local communities, coupled with irresponsible and unprofessional mining by both licensed and illegal miners.

“The starting point for remediating this situation is for you to educate and sensitise the people on ecological literacy through town hall and media interventions.

“In achieving these tasks and ultimately setting Osun on the path of effective resource management, we have assembled men and women of character, relevant skills and experience.

“Without any doubt whatsoever, the tasks before you as members of this committee are onerous and sensitive as they are related to the security and welfare of Osun people, which the 1999 Constitution says are the primary purpose of government.

“As the eyes and the ears of government, I charge you to carry out your responsibilities, which are a call to duty, with the highest sense of purpose, responsibility and efficiency.

“I implore you as experienced professionals and elders, to employ peace management, conflict resolution and diplomatic skills and competencies to manage the thorny issues arising from mineral exploitation.

rules of COVID-19 and ensure that they give orientation and serious warning to their fans to steer clear of pitch invasion, assault or attack on officials as this will attract further strict punishment.

With this development, Osun United will behind closed doors host FC Nilayo of Abeokuta at the Osogbo Township Stadium on Saturday, May 1, 2021 in the week 12 encounter CHANGE OF NAME ADEBAYO SEFIYAT TOYIN That I was formerly known and addressed as AJU TOYIN now wish to be known and addressed as A D E B A Y O SEFIYAT TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADEKOLA MUILI TUNDE That I was formerly known and addressed as ADEKOLA TUNDE now wish to be known and addressed as ADEKOLA MUILI TUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

YINUSA OLAIDE ABDULLAHI That I was formerly known and addressed as YINUSA ABDULAHI now wish to be known and addressed as YINUSA OLAIDE ABDULLAHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

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

MRS. ADEBAYO ADEIFE OLAWUMI

That I was formerly known and addressed as MISS. ADENLE ADEIFE OLAWUMI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEBAYO ADEIFE OLAWUMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, APRIL 23 - THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

VOL. 16 NO 15

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

Water Scarcity Hits OAU As Tests, Page 6 Examinations Begin

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AST week, Governor Godwin Obaseki lamented on the fiscal state of the Nation, that Nigeria is in financial trouble stating, “when we got FAAC for March, the Federal Government printed additional N50-N60 billion to top-up for us to share.” The Edo State Governor alleged that about N60 billion was printed by the Federal Government to augment March 2021 allocation to the Federal Government, states and local councils. Although, Mrs. Ahmed Zainab, Minister of Finance, has made frantic efforts to deny the allegation, her utterances at denial reveal that all is not well with the economy. She, for instance, raised the need to improve “our revenue to enhance our capacity to service not only our debts but to service the needs of running government on day-to-day basis.”

Perhaps, in its desperation to raising funds without preparedness for production and productivity, the Federal Government is seeking refund of $2.1billion, being the bailout it gave the states in 2015 from the proceeds of Liquefied Natural Gas in addition to between N250billion and N300billion intervention funds from CBN as soft loans to states to enable them pay workers salaries as 23 states were owing at least 6 months workers’ salaries by June 2015 as a result of daily crude oil theft in Nigeria and crash in the price of crude oil internationally. It is instructive to note that crude oil sales accounts for about 70% of government revenue and 95% of foreign exchange and this has been the situation ever since, despite lips-service of economy diversification by successive regimes. Already, the governors are crying foul that coughing out the bailout will sniff lives out of the states as they do not presently have the financial stamina to refund especially considering the COVID-19 economic downturn among others.

As part of its efforts to raise funds, the Federal Government through the Debt Management Office (DMO) has placed saving bond of N150 billion subscription for the public for April 2021 with 5.522% for a two-year bond(April, 2023) and 6.522 for a 3-year bond (April 14,2024). FG Bonds are debt securities (liabilities) of Federal Government issued by DMO office for and on behalf of FG. Very recently, ex-CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, said Nigeria external debt to total revenue increased from 8% in 2011 to 400% in 2020. He said, “This will have placed federally collected revenue in 2011 at $55.5billion. Meanwhile, debt at that time was $5billion, so we had an external debt to external revenue of about 8% in 2021. By 2020, we have an external debt of about $33.4billion but all revenues in 2020 were about $8.3billion, moved from 8% to 400% between 2011 and 2020.”

But these are just economic crises that could be resolved if we get our acts well. As things stand today in Nigeria, there are numerous social problems that will not only allow resolution of economic crises but worsen them with capacity to consume the country. In fact, it is a miracle that the country has not disintegrated as all the indices of failed state live with us. Despite the fact that the ruling elite have stuck to free rent oil money alone and refused to key into mechanised farming among other creative ventures that will make life better for the people, spate of insecurity and criminality have worsened the degenerate situation as subsistence farmers whose produce used to do some balancing in the economy have been barred from farming by Boko Haran terrorists who kill them in their farms and herdsmen who destroy their farmland and produce and more often, kill them and rape their women. This has made the food prices skyrocket with food inflation now at 22.95%, according to National Bureau on Statistics.

Can Nigeria Recover And Bounce Back?

There are reports of gunmen attacks and kid- Monday 5th April, 2021, dozens of armed men invaded Owerri Correcnapping for ransom every day. Between December “Men will eat men, so tional Centre with some explosives to blast the 2020 and April 2021, more than 600 students have to say; children will building around 2am and been abducted in North- become orphans and set free 1,844 inmates in custody.That very day, West Nigeria for ransom.

In Kaduna State alone, many will become refu- the State Police command more than 3,000 people gees while some of the was also attacked with all suspects freed from dewere killed or abducted by criminal gangs in 2020. ruling elite will negoti- tention before setting the place ablaze. The followAs this piece is being prepared, 39 students abduct- ate their way to other ing day, gunmen burnt Ehime Mbano Local Goved from Federal College countries” ernment Area Divisional of Forestry Mechanization in Afaka, Kaduna, are yet to regain their freedom Headquarters. On that very day, policemen and and their abductors threatening to kill them and formations were attacked.

Again in Anambra on Monday, 19th April, marry off the women among them if N500million ransom they request is not made available on 2021, Zone 13 Police Headquarters was attacked time. More worrisome is the ensuing insecuri- by gunmen with 2 policemen killed and 3 others ty and criminality in the South-East region. On while the building, vehicles and motorcycles be-

STRIKER

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longing to police officers and others within the premises were burnt. On Wednesday, April 21, two police officers on duty were killed with several injured and Police Station burnt when Gunmen, again, attacked Divisional Police Headquarters in Adani in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Aggregate of all these problems is a pointer to the failure of the ruling elite in taking bold steps to harnessing stupendous human and natural resources we are endowed with. Instead, they steal the rent money from oil which is not even enough again. Unlike their forebears who personally benefited immensely but cultivated and nurtured our resources for growth and development, this contemporary set of ruling elite are desperately bleeding the system to death without recourse, which is responsible for long decades of unemployment, poverty, frustration and hopelessness - a veritable source of attraction to crime and criminality to the very poor people whose ambitions and future have been ruined by policies and programmes of the ruling elite. Since they have given up hope, they are easily attracted to various crimes as life is meaningless to them in the first instance.

We are under siege as about 350million of 500million West Africa illegal weapon are said to be in Nigeria. Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder which could explode any moment. If quick measures are not taken, we could be overrun with Nigeria corporate existence crumbled.

If this happens, anarchy will reign; men will eat men, so to say; children will become orphans and many will become refugees while some of the ruling elite will negotiate their way to other countries. In the short- and long-run, except Nigeria recovers and bounces back, the bitter truth is that the poor will suffer more than they are suffering now.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

How Long? Not Long

HIS week Wednesday, a jury in the United States of America pronounced the Guilty Verdict on all counts on Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, a judgment widely applauded as a step forward, in the least, in continuing to address centuries-old questions of racial justice in the States.

How long? Not Long. That is the popular name given to the public speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr on the steps of the State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama in March 1965: “I know you are asking today, ‘How long will it take?’ Somebody’s asking, ‘How long will prejudice blind the visions of men?’I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because truth crushed to earth will rise again…

“How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever.

How long? Not long, because you shall reap what you sow.

How long? Not long…

“Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne, yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown standeth God within the shadow, keeping

watch above his own…

“How Long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice…”

It is a message of hope and universal relevance for those who struggle for the triumph of good over evil, especially in Nigeria where anti-democratic forces hide behind Democracy to perpetrate authoritarian rule. How else will an emissary of an elected President in a democracy haughtily come out to publicly dismiss, harass and even threaten constituencies agitating for self-determination!? Yes, Nigeria will not splinter, God willing, but it will not be due to egotistical posturing by domineering antidemocratic powers-that-be. It will be because the people will wake up in good time to unite for the very historical destiny that, in the first place, brought about the special birth of Nigeria for the sake of Africa.

The message that Nigeria’s unity is sacrosanct and should not be undermined can be passed in many other uplifting and responsible ways than utterly failing to address the basis for secessionist agitations and further fuelling those bases by dictatorial outbursts directed against those who see the present structure of Nigeria as a roadblock to Nigeria’s

development and Africa’s redemption.

Recently, John Nwodo led a team of elder statesmen to address and rapport with the leadership of the National Assembly and delivered a soulful and powerful message: a plea for urgent action to restructure Nigeria. Rather than concentrate on how to embrace history as its hero in at unprecedented time of danger, Garba Shehu, on behalf of his masters or not, was boastfully grandstanding in response to a critical national question, as if nations simply do not break up just because of the say-so of their taskmasters. It is the difference between genuine democrats and authoritarians, the difference between caring statesmen and careless errand boys for hegemony.

Nigeria will definitely survive long enough for Nigerians, the people, to wake up and, willy nilly, restructure the country for the greatness that it is destined. It is a time for heroism and popular organisations need to wake up to their historic responsibility of holding elected governments accountable to the people, for the delivery of the greatest good to the greatest majority, which in Nigeria today is impossible without a comprehensive restructuring.

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