FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 VOL 21 NO 72
Govt. Technical College, Osogbo Languishes Eight Months After Rainstorm
●As Alumni Cry For Help
•A section of the Government Technical College, Osogbo, blown off by rainstorm about eight months ago Shola Aderinto
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LMOST eight months a er a devasta ng rainstorm wreaked havoc in Osogbo, the concerned authori es are yet to fix the deplorable condi on of the Government Technical College, Osogbo,
as.many of the school buildings are in terrible condi on. Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that despite several appeals to the state government, buildings affected by the rainstorm remain unrepaired, while equipments in the buildings
are exposed to danger. This according to sources within the school has prevented prac cal training for students. A cross sec on of the old students of the school who spoke with the medium, expressed displeasure and sadness
over the state of their alma mater. “We feel neglected any me we pass around and see how the roof of
our school is s ll unfixed a er eight months. “It makes us feel like the present government doesn’t care about Tech-
Photo: Shola Aderinto nical Schools,” the alumni said “GTC Osogbo produced Engineers, ar •Continued on page 2
Resumption: Osun Parents Ooni Hosts New Osun Struggle With Rising Cost CP, Charges Him To Of School Materials Prioritise Peace P5
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Govt. Technical College, Osogbo Languishes Eight Months After Rainstorm •Continued from Page 1
sans and technicians who are working all over Nigeria today. To see it in this condi on is painful. Government should remember that technical educa on is the future,” An old student stated. A member of the Board of Technical and Voca onal Schools in Osun State, who pleaded anonymity, told OSUN DEFENDER that all efforts by the board to get the facility fixed have “proven abor ve” due to paucity of funds. The board member explained that the repair and renova on of all government technical colleges in the state was awarded to Skill-G during the administra on of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola. According to him, the Aregbesola administraon released ₦100 million to Skill-G in con nua on of the project and the contractor went on to carry out repairs in other technical colleges across the state. On why GTC Osogbo is yet to be fixed under the current administraon, the source blamed the financial situa on of the state. “What is making things difficult this me around is that the government of Governor Ademola Adeleke is experiencing paucity of
funds due to the crisis in local government,” he said.
He explained that the APC is in charge of the local governments
and “they are si ng on the funds, they are not releasing money to the
state government. So the state is using its own money to pay local gov-
ernment workers.” He added that the Secretary to the State Government and his team had inspected the college and provided tarpaulin to cover equipment. “We have made fran c efforts. But we believe that as soon as the government has access to funds they will repair it,” he said. Educa on stakeholders and alumni are now appealing to Governor Adeleke to priori ze the repair to save equipment worth millions and restore dignity to the ins tuon. “Technical colleges are supposed to produce the manpower for Osun’s industrial future. You cannot run effec ve prac cal training when workshops are covered and equipment are at risk,” the board member said.
Israel Oladele
Osun APC entered the elec on deeply divided, with some party members allegedly working against the interest of the party and its candidate. The elder statesman rejected a empts to hold the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, responsible for the party’s electoral set-
back, insis ng that the former Osun Governor made significant efforts to secure victory for the APC. Ogundokun, a former Na onal Publicity Director of the defunct Na onal Party of Nigeria (NPN) and former member of the 1978 Cons tuent Assembly and 1994 Na onal Cons tu onal Conference
alleged that certain APC members deliberately undermined the party’s campaign and worked in favour of Governor Ademola Adeleke. He likened the alleged defectors within the party to biblical Judas figures, arguing that their ac ons contributed significantly to the APC’s loss at the polls. According to him, Oyetola provided the leadership required during the elec on and demonstrated commitment, courage and a preference for peaceful poli cs. Ogundokun urged the former governor not to be discouraged by what he described as acts of betrayal, recalling that prominent poli cal figures, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo and former Oyo State Governor, Chief Bola Ige, also experienced opposi on and betrayal from people within their poli cal circles. The APC leader maintained that poli cal outcomes ul mately depend on God’s will, no ng that a empts by individuals to manipulate poli cal processes do not necessarily determine who eventually emerges victorious. He cited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergence in the 2023 presiden al elec on as an example of a polician who overcame significant poli cal obstacles before securing victory.
Ogundokun also expressed confidence in Tinubu’s chances ahead of the 2027 presiden al elec on, arguing that the President deserves another term based on what he described as progress recorded by his administra on. He urged Nigerians to assess the administra on’s economic and security policies before making their decision in the next presiden al elec on. He warned party members against what he described as campaign of calumny against Oyetola, insis ng that the former governor deserves apprecia on rather than blame for his role in the party’s campaign. Meanwhile, the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, was declared the winner of the August 15 Osun governorship elec on by the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission. Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who finished with 444,815 votes. The result le the APC with the task of reviewing its campaign strategy and internal structure as the party prepares for future electoral contests in the state.If you want, I can also make this more punchy and newspaperlike, with a stronger opening paragraph and headline designed for a news website.
•Image of the desolute barrack located at Oke-fia in Osogbo, capital of Osun State. That such an important landmark could be left unrehabilitated after eight months highlights Nigeria’s lack of planning and institutional deficit
Osun Poll: APC Defeat Caused By Internal Sabotage, Says Chieftain
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chie ain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, has blamed the party’s defeat in the August 15 governorship elec on on alleged betrayal and internal sabotage by some members. Ogundokun, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the
Man Arrested For Allegedly Killing Mother Over Family Farm
Israel Oladele HE Osun State Police Command has arrested a man iden fied as Taye Kasali in connec on with the alleged murder of his mother, Kudirat Kasali, at Bode Osi in the state. The suspect was reportedly arrested a er police inves ga ons into the disappearance of the woman and her son uncovered informa on linking him to the death. According to the command, the deceased was allegedly killed and buried in a shallow grave on the family farm. The Police Public Rela ons Officer in Osun State, Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed the development in a statement made available to the media. Ojelabi said the matter was ini ally reported at the Bode-Osi Divisional Police Sta on on September 1, 2026, following the disappearance of Kudirat and her son. He said police operaves subsequently commenced an inves ga on
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and, through intelligenceled efforts, arrested Taye on September 7 in connec on with the case. The PPRO said the suspect was taken into custody and interrogated, during which he allegedly confessed to killing his mother. According to the police, Taye claimed during interroga on that his mother had allegedly been referring to him as a mentally unstable person and had also threatened to lease out the family’s farmland. The suspect reportedly told inves gators that the farm was the family’s major source of livelihood and that his mother’s alleged plan to lease it became a major point of conflict between them. The police said Taye confessed that he killed his mother on August 31, 2026, allegedly using a machete to slit her throat before burying her remains in a shallow grave on the farm. Following the confes-
sion, inves gators reportedly took the suspect to the loca on he iden fied as the burial site. The remains of the deceased were subsequently recovered from the shallow grave, while the machete allegedly used in the a ack was also found and taken into police custody as part of the evidence in the invesga on. The development has prompted further invesga on by the Command as detec ves work to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged killing and determine whether anyone else was involved. The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, CP Ibrahim Zungura, has directed that the ma er be thoroughly inves gated. Zungura also ordered that the suspect be prosecuted a er the conclusion of the inves ga on, in line with established legal procedures. The commissioner assured members of the public that the police
would pursue the case and ensure that jus ce is served in accordance with the law. The Command further appealed to residents to promptly report missingperson cases rather than delaying ac on, stressing that early repor ng can assist security agencies in tracing missing individuals and preven ng possible loss of life. Residents were also urged to provide credible informa on about suspicious ac vi es to the police or other relevant security agencies to aid crime preven on and inves ga on across the state.
•Zungura
PEOPLE FIRST
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HE demand by the Civil Society Coali on in Osun State regarding the travel of the newly re-elected state Governor, Ademola Adeleke calls for a posi on. The Governor is exercising is cons tu onal right pertaining to freedom of movement. This cannot be challenged, however, clarifica on is in order about the issue of temporary transfer of power to his Deputy. This hiatus has become established over me. The President of the federa on himself is away for three weeks and we’re not aware that he has transferred power to the Vice President. There should be nothing wrong in transferring to one’s Deputy since the Deputy is not a usurper-wai ng! Doing so, should reinforce recep on that the country has a strong res tu onal framework. This is in itself confident building. We should not con nue like this. Furthermore, there is something disturbing about poli cal actors going abroad to have medical check-ups. This brings to ques on, the issue about what on earth they’ve been doing with their Health Budget? It’s very de- abroad for medicals. meaning that more than six This is a reversal of the situdecades a er gran ng of what a on immediately a er indeis now looking like flag inde- pendent. Nigeria ins tu ons pendence we’re s ll tro ng such as the University College Hospital, Ibadan were regarded “A president as world class. He therefore pora cavalier a tude that we should have de- trays have gone in the opposite diveloped a “Camp rec on. On the contrary, mediDavid” type resi- cal tourism should be earning currency. We must try to dential lounge in hardreverse the situa on whereby a resort such as are squandering hard-earn curObudu or Yakari rency. The economic consequencto entertain for- es of the neo-colonial mindset “abroad” is profound. It eign visitors and with indicates a lack of commitment to use as a holiday to sustainable development. For example, a poli cal es“refreshing” spot. tablishment in a Republic of State Governors Mexico developed aculpul in can also have their that country into world class resort. Aculpul was an own state lodges tourist inconsequen al place when scattered around the it was developed into a resort today brings in roughly resort for the same which 3 billion dollars annually into purpose” the country’s economy. The
tourists dollars per year. Resort such as this will also trigger investment in medical tourism facili es located in the resorts. It’s a win-win for the Nigerian economy, for employment genera on, the mul plier effect is huge. A president should have developed a “Camp David” type residen al lounge in a resort such as Obudu or Yakari to entertain foreign visitors and to use as a holiday “refreshing” spot. State Governors can also have their own state lodges sca ered around the resort for the same purpose. This makes more sense than the demeaning to the na onal image of constant junke ng overseas. This is a colonial mindset since the obsession with “abroad” never included Aburi in Ghana, Mobasa in Kenya or various tourist sites around Africa. The obsession with the colonial metropolis is straight out of the epic analysis of the psychological and poli cal ac vist, Frantz Fanon. In his mea culpa ‘Black Skin, White Mask’, Fanon using the tool of clinical psychology highlighted the destruc on of colonism of the self-esteem of the colonised. Fanon who amount of direct and indirect died in 1962 wrote is epic analemployment genera ng from ysis in the late 1950s. It is proaculpul is in the hundreds of foundly disturbing that the book thousand. This is a modern is s ll relevant ll today. Fanon pa ern hat a patrio c poli - described the dilemma of ersatz cal establishment should have black person who hobbled by emulated star ng from six or colonism indulge in self-aid and wishes to change is skin colour so decades ago. and assumed the skin colour of There is no earthly reason the colonial. the Obudu Ca le Ranch, Yakari The ersatz mindset propelGames Reserve and so forth ling the fric on with the abroad into high class resort bring- must end. We must regain ouring in hundreds of millions of selves confidence and use that to develop all aspect of economic. We OSUN DEFENDER must go back to the Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd. mindset of those Deputy Editor – Michael Bamigbola who fought for the Deputy Photo Editor – Shola Aderinto independence of NiDeputy Graphics Manager – Zainab Olalere geria, we cannot be Produc on Controller – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa gallivan ng abroad while the na on is OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing preparing l to celHouse Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, ebrate it’s 66th anOff Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State. niversary of what’s ISSN : 0794-8050 now looking like flag Telephone : 0809-301-9152 independence in a Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php few weeks me. Let e-mail : osundefenderhq@gmail.com us have a na onal osundefenderbank@gmail.com All correspondence to the above email addresses. rebirth!
Osun Civil Society’s Demands For Clarification
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Osun Civil Society Coalition Demands Clarification Over Gov Adeleke’s Trip To Europe Michael Bamigbola HE Osun Civil Society Coali on has demanded an immediate clarifica on from the Osun State Government on whether Governor Ademola Adeleke has formally transmi ed the powers and func ons of his office to the Deputy Governor, following the Governor’s announcement that he has le Nigeria for a vaca on in Europe. The Governor’s official statement, released on Sunday 6th September, clearly confirms that he has proceeded on vaca on outside the country and will also undertake medical examina ons during the period. A statement signed by the chairman and secretary of the coali on, Messrs Waheed Lawal and Emmanuel Olowu respec vely expressed concern on the current status of the state Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi since the Governor is on vaca on. The coali on said “While the Governor is cons tu onally en tled to proceed on vaca on, the coali on considers it necessary for the government to clarify whether the cons tu onal procedure governing the temporary absence of a Governor has been fully complied with. “Sec on 190(1) of the Cons tu on of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, provides that whenever a Governor is proceeding on vaca on or is otherwise unable to discharge the func ons of his office, he shall transmit a wri en declara on to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly to that effect. “The Cons tu on further provides that, un l such declara on to the contrary is transmi ed, the Deputy Governor shall perform the funcons of the Governor as Ac ng Governor. “In view of this clear cons tu onal provision, we therefore call on the Osun State Government to publicly confirm whether Governor Ademola Adeleke has transmi ed the required wri en declara on to the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly. “If such a declara on has been transmi ed, the government should make this fact known to the people of Osun and
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indicate when the transmission was made, in the interest of transparency and cons tu onal accountability. “However, if the required cons tu onal step has not been taken, we demand that it be done immediately and not later than the next 48 hours, so that there is no ambiguity whatsoever regarding who is cons tu onally responsible for the discharge of the func ons of the Governor while he is away from the State and country. “Our posi on is clear. It is a straigh orward demand for strict adherence to the Cons tu on and the preserva on of cons tu onal order. “The people of Osun State deserve certainty as to who is exercising execu ve authority at any given me. Government must not operate on assump ons, infor-
•Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II with the newly deployed Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura during his visit to the palace, yesterday
mal arrangements or administra ve convenience where the Cons tu on has expressly provided a procedure. “We therefore urge the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assem-
bly to also ensure that the cons tu onal requirement is respected and that the people of the state are not le in doubt about the status of execu ve authority during the Governor’s
absence. “We wish Governor Adeleke a peaceful vacaon and successful medical examina ons. However, personal goodwill towards the Governor cannot take precedence
over cons tu onal requirements. “The Cons tu on must be obeyed. The right thing must be done. And it must be done within the next 48 hour,” the coali on added.
Court Nullifies Osun Approval Of Lagbua As Fifth Aragbiji Ruling House Israel Oladele HE Osun State High Court si ng in Iragbiji has nullified the state government’s decision to recognise the Lagbua family as the fi h ruling house in the Aragbiji of Iragbiji chie aincy. Jus ce G.O. Lawal, in a judgment delivered on August 21, 2026, ruled that the state government lacked the authority to reopen and reconsider the findings of a 2010 Judicial Panel of Inquiry a er its recommenda ons had already been rejected by the government in 2013. The case, filed as HIR/3/2025, was ins tuted by representa ves of the four recognised ruling houses in Iragbiji Ajibode, Ogunmolu, Osungbemi and Arodoye against the Osun State Government and members of the Lagbua family. The plain ffs were Chief Salawu Fatai of the Ajibode ruling house, Chief Wale Oyedokun of the Ogunmolu ruling house, Prince Kola Afolabi of the Osungbemi ruling house and Prince Adeyin-
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•Aragbiji
ka Adebisi of the Arodoye ruling house. The dispute followed the decision of the Osun State Execu ve Council at its January 29, 2025 meeting to approve a previous recommenda on that the Lagbua family be recognised as an addi onal ruling house in the Aragbiji chie aincy. The recommenda on originated from a oneman Judicial Panel of Inquiry headed by Jus ce A.A. Aderibigbe, which was cons tuted in 2010 to examine issues rela ng to the chie aincy. The panel had recommended the inclusion of the Lagbua family as a ruling house. However, the four exis ng ruling houses argued that the recommenda on had already been rejected by the state government in 2013. They relied on a letter dated April 25, 2013, in which the government communicated its decision to the Lagbua family, as well as its publica on in Osun State Gaze e No. 7, Volume 23.
The plain ffs therefore argued that the government could not lawfully revive the rejected report more than a decade later without establishing a fresh panel and allowing all affected par es to present their posi ons. Jus ce Lawal agreed with the plain ffs, holding that the 2013 correspondence and its subsequent publica on in the official gaze e cons tuted a formal government decision on the panel’s recommenda on. The court rejected the defendants’ argument that the 2013 decision only amounted to a rejec on of the Lagbua family’s request and did not cons tute a rejec on of the Aderibigbe panel’s report. According to the judge, the sequence of events established that the government had received and considered the panel’s report before communica ng its decision to the Lagbua family. The court consequently held that the 2013 decision brought the proceedings of the Aderibigbe panel to a conclusion. Jus ce Lawal further ruled that if the Lagbua family was dissa sfied with the government’s 2013 decision, its proper legal op on was to challenge that decision in court rather than wait for a subsequent administraon to reopen the ma er in 2025. The judge also held that although the government has the power to
amend a chie aincy declara on, such an amendment must comply with the appropriate legal procedure. In the circumstances of the case, the court said a fresh panel of inquiry would have been required rather than relying on a report that had already been considered and rejected. Jus ce Lawal also found that the decision to revive and approve the old report without no fying the four exis ng ruling houses violated their right to fair hearing. The court warned that allowing successive administra ons to repeatedly reopen concluded decisions could create a situa on where the same ma er would remain permanently unse led. The judge noted that such a prac ce would undermine the need for disputes to eventually reach finality. Consequently, the five ques ons submi ed by the plain ffs for determina on were resolved in their favour. The court declared that the 2013 government decision rejecting the Aderibigbe panel’s recommenda on remained binding on the par es, including the Lagbua family. It further held that the Osun State Government had no power to issue or authorise another White Paper approving the same report a er it had previously been rejected.
The court also declared the reopening and reconsidera on of the panel’s report without proper no ce to the exis ng ruling houses and an opportunity for them to be heard illegal and contrary to the principles of fair hearing. Jus ce Lawal subsequently set aside the January 29, 2025 decision of the Osun State Execu ve Council which approved the recogni on of the Lagbua family as the fi h ruling house. The court equally nullified the consequen al White Paper through which the state government accepted the 2010 panel report and sought to amend the Aragbiji Chie aincy Declara on to include the Lagbua family. However, the judge dismissed or struck out the plain ffs’ claims seeking a perpetual injuncon and N50m in damages, holding that those aspects of the case had either been overtaken by events or were not sufficiently supported by evidence. The court ordered each party to bear its own legal costs. In his final decision, Jus ce Lawal held that the claims brought by the plain ffs against the defendants succeeded, effec vely restoring the legal posi on that existed before the state government’s 2025 a empt to recognise the Lagbua family as an addi onal ruling house.
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Resumption: Osun Parents Struggle With Rising Cost Of School Materials Shola Aderinto
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S schools across Osun State prepare to resume academic acvi es on Monday, parents and guardians are coun ng the cost of a new session as prices of textbooks and other educa onal materials have skyrocketed, triggering widespread anxiety among households. A market survey conducted by OSUN DEFENDER at Sta on Road, Alekuwodo, and Ayetoro areas of the state capital showed that prices of essen al learning materials have skyrocketed by between 60 and 100 percent compared to the last academic session. A parent, Mrs Deborah Adewale, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER lamented the hike in prices of essen al materials. According to Mrs Adewale, some items she bought at N50,000 last session now cost about N90,000. Also, Mr. Kehinde Aderibigbe, a civil servant and father of three, described the situa on as excruciating. According to him, “Government says children should not write in textbooks so that younger ones can also use them, but schools do not enforce it. A textbook I bought for N5,000 last session is now N9,000. For a parent with three children, it is a huge burden.” Also,, another parent, Mrs. Funmilayo Abidoun, a trader with two children in secondary school, said she had to borrow money to meet the demands of the new session. “Last session I spent about N35,000 on textbooks. This year, the same books are almost N65,000. Sales are not moving, but everything in the market is going up,” she lamented. The price hike, according to findings, cuts across all categories of school materials. Mr. Segun Adeo , a pe y trader, noted that even basic items have become unaffordable. Exercise books, mathema cal sets, and school bags have all gone up. Government should consider the poor masses,” he pleaded. Bookshop owners and publishers blamed the development on rising produc on costs and mul ple taxa on. A publisher, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The cost of paper, prin ng ink, and logis cs has tripled. Government taxes are also high. By the me we factor everything, the price you see in the market is inevitable.” On the issue of textbook
•The roof of a classroom building at Salvation Army School, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, damaged and yet to be repaired Photo: Shola Aderinto reuse, he explained that annual curriculum review makes it not prac cable. “Textbooks today are revised almost every year. The edi on a child used
in SS1 this session will be different from what SS1 students will use next session. That is why it is hard for siblings to reuse them now,” he added.
Reac ng to the development, the Chairman of the Osun State Nigeria Parents and Teachers Associaon (NPTA) , Mr. Moshood Fadare, absolved gov-
ernment-owned schools of blame. He said public schools in the state have con nued to comply with the policy of reusing textbooks to reduce financial
pressure on parents. However, Mr. Fadare expressed concern that some privately-owned schools were exploi ng parents by compelling them to purchase brand new textbooks every session. “We have it on good authority that certain private schools are using the purchase of textbooks as another avenue to make money. This is unfair, especially at a me when the economy is bi ng hard,” he stated. The NPTA Chairman urged parents to speak out and report erring schools to appropriate authori es for necessary acon. “Parents must voice out. The Government of Governor Ademola Adeleke is listening and is commi ed to making educaon affordable. No child should be denied learning because of greed by a few school proprietors,” Fadare said.
Constituents Threaten To Recall Senator Fadahunsi Michael Bamigbola
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OUTH groups and cons tuents of Osun East Senatorial District on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest over an alleged inci ng comment credited to the Senator represen ng the district, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, during the concluded 2026 Osun State governorship elec on, saying it is part of the process to recall him from the Na onal Assembly. The youths under the aegis of Coali on of Osun East Youths, and Concerned Ci zens, armed with placards with varying inscrip ons, in their numbers thronged the streets of Ilesa as they converged at Enuwa roundabout, marched through Isokun, Ilesa Market Square and terminated the procession at the gate of OwaObokun palace. Fadahunsi had denied the comments he allegedly made in a viral video during a protest staged by
•Fadahunsi
the All Progressives Congress against the alleged killing of their members, saying that it was doctored by the opposi on party to tarnish his image. Addressing newsmen on behalf of the protesters, Comrade Olorunfemi Olatunji explained that the protest was part of the recall process for Fadahunsi over the inci ng comment, ci ng poor representa on as one of the reasons for the protest. He scored the district Senator’s representa on poorly and berated him for an incisive statement made during the 2026 elec oneering period. According to him, “We, under the aegis of the Coali on of Youth and Students with Concerned Ci zens of Osun East Senatorial District, are opposed to the reckless statement made by our Senator before the elec on. “This protest is the first stage of our ac ons. We are recalling him back home. We are s ll going to Abuja. All the necessary legal ac ons to recall him have been prepared, and we will begin them in a few days. “We have filed the peon, and we are following it with ac on that his recall process will follow.” Also, the Chairman of the Na onal Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Akinbode Olakolupo, called for the immediate arrest of the lawmaker. He said, “We demand a transparent, impar al and credible inves gaon into all credible allega ons of incitement,
threats, killings and poli cal violence connected to the electoral process by
Senator Fadahunsi. “We urge the police and security opera ves
to put radical efforts together to recover illegal firearms from poli c
Ooni Hosts New Osun CP, Charges Him To Prioritise Peace
The Ooni assured CP •Calls For Collective Efforts Against Insecurity Zungura that the palace
Michael Bamigbola
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HE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has charged the new commissioner of Police in Osun State, Ibrahim Umar Zungura, to priori se peace and security in the state. The Ooni who is also the Co-Chairman of the Na onal Council of Tradi onal Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) gave the charge on Thursday when he received the new Police Commissioner, who paid a courtesy visit to him. The Ooni emphasised the need for sustained collabora on among the police, tradi onal ins tu ons, community leaders and other stakeholders to maintain peace and create an environment conducive to development. The Ooni’s posi on was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Media Officer, Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal, on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare. Welcoming the police boss, Ooni Ogunwusi commended him for making the palace one of his early stops a er assuming office, describing the gesture as a demonstra on of his commitment to working with tradi onal ins tu ons. The Ooni also acknowledged the security pressures that had confronted the state in recent months, par cularly during the pre-
elec on and post-elec on periods, as well as the transi on within the police command. “I want to thank you for your strong will and energy to come and pay homage ever since you resumed in Osun. We know that things are just calming down in Osun, from elec on to changing the CP, and handing over, trying to douse the tension, pre-elec on and post-elec on. You have been busy. We want to thank you,” the Ooni said. Ooni Ogunwusi stressed that peace remained essenal to the progress of any society, no ng that development could only thrive where there was stability and security. “We are just for peace and nothing but peace. We want good structure. Whenever there is peace, there will be development,” he said. The Ooni urged the new CP to work closely with responsible members of communi es, no ng that tradi onal and community leaders could provide valuable support to security agencies in iden fying challenges and addressing them before they escalate. “The truth be told, in every community, we have the good and the bad. If you work with them, they will lead you to the right path and they will let your work be so easy,” he said.
would remain available to support efforts aimed at maintaining peace and security in Ile-Ife and across Osun State. “This is your palace. Feel free to come at any me. Both Ife and Kano, they are home for you,” the Ooni said. The Ooni also reaffirmed the historical rela onship between Ile-Ife and Kano, no ng that the bond between his ancestors and the Kano Emirate remained strong. “There is a strong bond between my ancestors and the Emirate of Kano, and I want to tell you it is ge ng stronger ll date. Nothing can stop it; we will definitely con nue with it,” he said. Earlier, CP Zungura, the 29th Commissioner of Police in Osun State, expressed apprecia on to the Ooni for receiving him and explained that his visit was mo vated by the longstanding historical rela onship between Kano and Ile-Ife. The Kano-born police boss said he grew up hearing about the Ooni of Ife and later learnt more about the rela onship between the Kano Palace and the Ooni’s Palace. “I grew up in Kano knowing about Ooni of Ife. When I grew up further, I realised that there is a bold rela onship between the Kano Palace and Ooni of Ife Palace,” Zungura said.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026
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The Race And The Runners... 2027
Why I’m Contesting For Osun Central Senatorial Seat - Omigbodun Architect Goke Omigbodun is the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Senatorial Candidate for Osun Central Senatorial District of Osun State. A cleric in the Anglican communion and astute Architect, Omigbodun had held several political positions in the past. In this series of interview for contestants seeking positions in the 2027 general elections, Osun Defender’s Isreal Oladele spoke with Omigbodun and he bore his mind on sundry issues. Excerpts: geria.
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NTERVIEWER: How has it been on the campaign trail, and what would you say is the factor mo va ng the current poli cal happenings in Osun state, before and a er the governorship elec on? Arc. Omigbodun: It’s unfortunate that before and a er the governorship elec on in Osun State, it has transpired that what started before the elec on and con nued all the way through, was all about the buying and selling of the people’s conscience, buying the future of the people, buying and selling of votes. There were accusa ons and counter accusa ons between the major poli cal par es in the contest. Accord Party supporters alleged that the APC spent over 110 billion Naira, whilst the APC supporters claimed that the Accord Party spent more than 70 billion Naira buying votes. So, by the me you add those figures together, you have about 180 billion Naira that probably went into votes merchandising in the course of the elec on. Aside from that, there is also the unfortunate fact of so many killings. There was a lot of anxiety; people were afraid to go to events when the elec ons were close. For instance, I was being honoured at my alma mater, Obafemi Awolowo University at 65, from where I graduated when it was s ll the University of Ife in 1985, and the event was just a few days before the elec on. Of course I couldn’t a end because of the killings. I just went to quietly receive my award about two or three days ago. There had been many killings, and people were just trying to be careful not to be too predictable in their movements. So, buying and selling of votes during the elec ons as well as violence just before, characterised the Osun State Governorship elec ons. In all we can say that the will of the people has now been established, by returning Governor Adeleke for a second term. Interviewer: How do you foresee the senatorial elecon, that you are par cipa ng in? Arc. Omigbodun: Well, for me, I’m contes ng in the Osun Central Senatorial District on the pla orm of the Social Democra c Party (SDP). I have therefore been going around consul ng, campaigning, and in ma ng people with my plans and programs. It has been interes ng because people tell me, “You’ve spoken beau fully; in fact, you’re speaking our mind. We’re also impressed not only that you understand and speak Yoruba language fluently, you also understand our body language, and we’re confident of your competency in expressing our desires in very good English language when you get to the floor of the Senate.” But then they ask, “Are you going to give us some money too?” Smiles. That ques on keeps coming up, which tells me that there is so much poverty in the land, poverty in reality and a poverty mentality of those who believe that of necessity, they must sell their conscience, their votes, and also sell their future. But what I’m trying to do, and I’m not going to hide it, is let us all together work on that. Let’s bring as many voters as possible out. When we have many more people of integrity that come out to vote, we will ul mately outnumber those who would rather sell or buy votes, and eventually, we’ll have a good outcome, which will also be the will of the people. Take, for instance, in my Unit 2, Ward 2, Olorunda Local Government Area, where I voted during the August 15 governorship elec ons, there were 932 accredited voters, but by the me we finished the elec on, we had less than 230 votes cast altogether. So, where were the 700 odd other registered ci zens who were supposed to come out and vote? Those are the people I will search for and appeal to, encouraging them to come out to vote. The party that won in that unit scored 120 plus votes. So, if half of those 700 that didn’t come to vote had voted, we would have had mul ples of the winning vote as the
real winner! Olorunda Local Government has about 123,000 registered voters, but when the results were out, we had perhaps only about 43,000 voters that came out to vote. Where were the 80,000 other remaining voters? And that’s how it went in so many polling zones across the state! I hope this improves. In fact, I’m rela vely impressed all the same me, that Osun State presented perhaps the highest percentage of registered voters coming out to vote in the recent history of elec ons in Nigeria. We had about 42 percent voter turnout, as against the general turnout of just about 30 percent for the 2023 Presiden al elec ons all over Nigeria. So, if we have up to 60 or 70 percent of registered voters par cipa ng in the Senatorial elec ons in January 2027, I believe that I will win the elec on by God’s grace, as buying and selling of votes may be overwhelmed by voters with good conscience. Interviewer: How do you interpret the current issue of people going to court or not going to court about the just concluded governorship elec on in Osun State? Arc. Omigbodun: Well, honestly, I don’t know what happened, but I’m interested in events unfolding. I would be able to take a more deliberate posi on on that in the near future, when more facts are in the public domain. But I listened to the radio this morning, and I heard one of the APC lawyers saying that they didn’t send anybody to file any ma er before any Tribunal to challenge the outcome of the just concluded elec ons In any case, either it is withdrawn or thrown out, the ma er could also have been filed by someone outside of the APC mischievously, because I heard the APC lawyer said that among those that filed the case were people associated with the Accord Party. So it is quite possible that some Accord Party lawyers also wanted to embarrass the APC as a whole by making them appear ridiculous in the eyes of the public interested in Osun State poli cs and government affairs! Interviewer: What will be your projec on for the presiden al elec on, as at today? Arc. Omigbodun: The truth of the ma er is that as I am interested in the Presiden al elec ons, so am I interested in my bid for the Senate. I pray that the SDP Presiden al Candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo would win. However, every Senator must be ready to work in the Na onal Assembly, irrespec ve of whoever emerges as the president. I will be willing to work with whoever emerges as President because my business in going to the Senate is trying to give a new direc on for poli cs and governance in Ni-
It would be about trying to lobby other Senators and ar cula ng the best direc on towards good governance in Nigeria. I hope to provide such an ar culate voice that will let everyone understand what direc on we need to go for restructuring of Nigeria, perhaps through a new Cons tuon. A lot of the issues in this country will be resolved when we restructure the polity. The Nigerian President is too powerful; the Nigerian federal government has too much to grapple with as outlined in the Exclusive Legisla ve list. We should have the federa ng units having more power to do a few more things. The federal government should sa sfy itself with issues of territorial integrity of the en re country. It should be interested in currency and Interna onal Affairs. A lot of issues with educa on, infrastructure, and health should however be handled at the State or Federating Units level. Again, irrespec ve of whoever emerges as President, I will seek to pursue a bill that would become a law that would ensure we have tui on-free educa on at all levels in this country, up to a aining a first degree or Higher Diploma! Interes ngly, for now, we have Sec on 18(3)(b) of the Cons tu on of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in operaon, which indicates that as far as possible, free educa on should be provided for all ci zens of Nigeria up to the first degree or higher diploma level. Now, I have made up my mind by the grace of God that if I get to the Senate, I will seek that the sec on of the cons tu on be amended to make it jus ceable and mandatorily ac onable! As presented in the Cons tu on for now, anybody who doesn’t want it to happen will tell you it’s not possible. But Free-Tui on for University undergraduates is pracsed in Ghana. And if ci zens of Ghana have tui on-free educa on up to the first degree level in their public Universi es, why can’t we have that in Nigeria? And when I listened to the Managing Director of NELFUND on television a few days ago, he was quo ng figures, and I’m sure there was a slip of the tongue in what he said. He said, “We’ve had 100 million beneficiaries,” when I know as a fact that we don’t even have up to 5 million students in all ter ary ins tu ons in Nigeria, both private and public. But I take that as a slip of the tongue. He s ll menoned figures of about 355 billion Naira having been disbursed as students loans, and I can bet far ahead into the future that it may not be possible to have more than 5% recovery of those loans. Those so-called NELFUND loans are as good as grants and are being par ally facilitated. Even with my calcula on, I discovered that with about 12.5 billion Naira every year, we can have basic tui on-free ter ary educa on because I calculated and projected up to 5 million students, and let’s take an average figure of 250,000 Naira as tui on fee per student, which varies, it could be a li le bit lower or higher in a public university or Polytechnic and the total of everything is about 12.5 billion, and, yes - we can afford it! What I am going to push as a Senator is, rather than deceiving ourselves that we can recover some NELFUND loans, we should just have a tui on-free system for our ter ary ins tu ons. We may let students see how they can feed themselves, because in any case, if they didn’t come to school, wouldn’t they feed themselves? And we should see how much of educa onal media can also be provided for them, having only a few more books for them to procure on their own for their academics. As a student of the then University of Ife between 1980 and 1985, I enjoyed virtually free educa on. If I remember very well, I was only paying Student Union dues of four Naira in a whole year, 75 Naira for accommoda on, and about 40 Naira worth of meal ckets for feeding per month with good nutri on.
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Sports
Ballon D’or 2026 Coach Of The Year Nominees: Spanish Supremacy As Luis Enrique, Mikel Arteta And Luis De La Fuente Lead Johan Cruyff Trophy Shortlist Ibrahim Abdullahi
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RANCE Football has officially revealed the shortlist for the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year awards, highlighting the tac cal masterminds who defined the last season. The nomina ons for the Johan Cruyff Trophy are heavily dominated by Spanish talent, reflec ng a golden era for the na on’s coaching exports across Europe’s top leagues. Luis Enrique finds himself back in the spotlight a er another sensa onal year in the French capital. The Paris Saint-Germain boss, who took home the award in 2025, is now aiming to defend his crown a er leading the Parisians to a second consecu ve Champions League tle. The Johan Cruyff Trophy, first awarded in 2024 to Carlo Ancelo , recognises managers whose superior tac cs and innova on produce the most significant success on the pitch. Enrique’s tac cal flexibility and ability to manage a star-studded squad through the rigours of European knockout football have once again placed him at the front of the pack. Joining Enrique on the men’s shortlist is Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who finally ended the Gunners’ long wait for domes c supremacy. Arteta brought Premier League glory back to north London for the first me in 22 years, narrowly missing out on a double a er falling to PSG in the Champions League final. Comple ng the Spanish con ngent in England is Unai Emery, who con nues to perform miracles at Aston Villa. Emery led the Villans to Europa League glory last season and secured a remarkable fourth-place finish in the Premier League to ensure Champions League qualificaon for the Birmingham club. On the interna onal stage, Luis de la Fuente remains the man to beat. Having finished third in the 2024 rankings following Spain’s European Championship triumph, the veteran tac cian has seen his stock rise even further this year. De la Fuente oversaw a historic campaign as La Roja roared
to success at the 2026 World Cup, proving that his possession-based
system remains the gold standard in the modern game.
Standing as the sole non-Spaniard on the men’s shortlist is Bayern
Munich boss Vincent Kompany. The Belgian tac cian is in the hunt for his first Coach of the Year nod a er steering the Bavarian powerhouse to a commanding Bundesliga tle. Under his watch, Bayern sha ered all- me
Bundesliga goal record by ne ng an astonishing 122 goals last season. The ba le for the trophy reflects the current power shi in European coaching, where Spanish ideologies are being successfully implemented across various top-flight environments.
Gabriel Jesus Equals Brazil Legend Rivaldo As Former Arsenal Star Reveals
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Did Tottenham Tarnish Thomas Frank’s Reputation? Reasons For Ex-Brentford Boss Remaining Out Of Work
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HOMAS Frank impressed many Premier League observers at Bren ord, but then suffered a 38-game flop as head coach of To enham. He has been out of work since severing es with Spurs, but Clinton Morrison has explained to GOAL why the Danish tac cian’s reputa on has not been tarnished. He is expected to return to the dugout at some point in the not too distant future. Frank made his way to England in October 2018. He would spend the best part of seven years with Bren ord, taking in 317 games at the helm - with the Bees becoming an established top-flight ou it under his stewardship. His stock soared, courtesy of some fine transfer business and man-management skills, with To enham sounding an SOS call in the summer of 2025. Frank agreed to cross London and succeed Europa League winner Ange Postecoglou. Spurs were, howev-
er, stuck in a serious rut and brought Frank’s eightmonth tenure to a close in February 2026. They would, with reins being passed from Igor Tudor to Roberto De Zerbi, ul mately stumble their way to another 17th-place finish a er surviving a serious relega on scare. Frank cannot, and should not, be blamed for those struggles as even the likes of Pep Guardiola would have struggled to get a tune out of To enham at mes. When that suggeson was put to Morrison, the former Bren ord striker - who was speaking in associa on with Freebets. com, the source for be ng sites reviews - told GOAL: “I think Thomas Frank, when the right job comes available, Thomas Frank will be back in management. “I think the job he’s done at Bren ord is outstanding. He went to Tottenham. It was difficult. The whole situa on was difficult. He couldn’t get a tune out of that group of
players. So yeah, it was super hard for him. But I think Thomas Frank will be back in football when he’s ready and when the right job offer comes. “I actually thought, before Palace brought in Pierre Sage, I thought they might have gone down that road for Thomas Frank. Because the two clubs are kind of similar - Crystal Palace, Bren ord. “I think Bren ord recruit ever so well, though. And their recruitment is outstanding. But I think Thomas Frank is a good manager. So I think he could get back into management. He’ll be wai ng to see who slips up and who’s not started the season well and who loses their job. And then he’ll be back in football.”
ABRIEL Jesus enjoyed a memorable home debut for Barcelona, marking his Camp Nou bow with a goal in a 5-1 Champions League victory over Feyenoord. The former Arsenal forward matched Brazilian icon Rivaldo’s record in Europe’s elite compe on a er ne ng just minutes a er coming off the bench. A er the match, the 29-year-old opened up about the emoon of fulfilling a lifelong dream in front of a packed stadium. Barcelona con nued their blistering form in the UEFA Champions League with a commanding 5-1 victory against Feyenoord at Camp Nou. Raphinha bagged a double alongside spectacular strikes from
Karim Adeyemi and Lamine Yamal, while Gabriel Jesus capped off the empha c win late on. Making his second appearance following his transfer from Arsenal, the 29-year-old was introduced from the bench in the closing stages for his European debut with the Blaugrana. Within moments of stepping onto the pitch, the Brazilian striker met a cushioned cross from Yamal to glance a header into the net with his very first touch at the stadium. The quickfire strike prompted Jesus to unleash his trademark celebra on before the home crowd, capping off a dominant performance from the Catalan giants on Europe’s biggest stage.
News
CSO Backtracks On UNIOSUN VC’s Tenure Extension Michael Bamigbola HE Coali on of Civil Society Organiza ons for Good Governance (CCSOGG) has withdrawn its earlier objec on to the proposed extension of the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Prof. Odunayo Clement Adebooye, saying the move now has a clear legal basis under an amended law governing the ins tu on. The coali on, in a communiqué issued a er what it described as extensive consulta ons and an independent assessment of developments at the university, said its ini al opposi on was based solely on concerns over the legal framework surrounding the extension. It said its subsequent review of the ma er established
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that the Osun State House of Assembly had amended the relevant provisions of the UNIOSUN law, giving the Osun State Governor discreon to extend or decline to extend the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure in accordance with the amended legisla on. According to the coali on, the legisla ve amendment has fundamentally changed the legal context of the controversy. “The legal uncertainty that informed our ini al objec on has now been addressed,” the group said, stressing that the issue could no longer be regarded as an arbitrary extension outside the law. It added that Prof. Adebooye’s current tenure remains valid and is expected to expire in January 2027, mean-
ing the proposed con nuity does not involve a situa on where an expired tenure is being unlawfully prolonged. The coali on maintained that the key considera on should be whether the ac on is supported by law, whether due legisla ve processes have been followed, whether there is a legi mate public-interest jus fica on and whether the official concerned has demonstrated the competence and performance required to merit con nuity. Beyond the legal queson, the CSOs commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for what they described as significant investment in UNIOSUN, saying the administra on’s interven ons have contributed to the expansion and transforma on of the university.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 VOL. 21 NO 72 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
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ORMER Vice-President A ku Abubakar has described the federal government’s “much-publicised” increase in federa on account alloca on commi ee (FAAC) disbursements as an “illusion”. A ku, presiden al candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, his media aide, said the higher naira figures have not translated into greater purchasing power or improved living standards for Nigerians. He said the increase in FAAC alloca ons must be viewed against the depreciaon of the naira, infla on, declining purchasing power and moun ng debt. According to Agora Policy, FAAC disbursements rose from N4.43 trillion in the first half of 2021 to N18.72 trillion in the first half of 2026, represen ng an increase of about 322 percent. “The disbursements stood at N5.53 trillion in H1 2022, N6.76 trillion in H1 2023, N13.46 trillion in H1 2024 and N17.43 trillion in H1 2025 before rising to N18.72 trillion in H1 2026,” Agora policy said. ‘BIGGER NUMBERS DO NOT CANCEL SMALLER VALUE’ However, A ku said the rise in nominal alloca ons should not be mistaken for an improvement in the country’s economic fortunes. “The arithme c is brutal. In 2019, FAAC distribu on was approximately N7.85 trillion, worth about $25.6 billion at the prevailing exchange rate,” he said.
Ballon D’or 2026 Coach Of The Year Nominees: Spanish Supremacy As Luis Enrique, Mikel Arteta And Luis De La Fuente Lead Johan Cruyff Trophy Shortlis
PERSPECTIVE
BY ATIKU ABUBAKAR Atiku: Higher FAAC Allocations An Illusion, Haven’t Made Nigerians Richer
“By 2025, FAAC had risen on paper to approximately N21.9 trillion, yet its dollar value had fallen to roughly $14.6 billion. “So while government parades almost three mes as many naira, the underlying dollar value is more than 40 percent lower.” A ku said the figures amounted to “money illusion”, arguing that the deprecia on of the naira and rising infla on had eroded the value of the increased alloca ons. “That is not an economic
“You cannot batter the currency, allow inflation to ravage purchasing power and then wave bigger naira figures before Nigerians as evidence that the country has become richer. Bigger numbers do not cancel smaller value”
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miracle. That is money illusion,” he said. “You cannot ba er the currency, allow infla on to ravage purchasing power and then wave bigger naira figures before Nigerians as evidence that the country has become richer. Bigger numbers do not cancel smaller value.” The ADC presiden al candidate said the effect is evident in the purchasing power of Nigerian workers, ci ng the minimum wage to illustrate his argument. According to A ku, N30,000 was worth roughly $83 in 2019 and about $65 by May 2023, while the current N70,000 minimum wage was worth about $53 at an exchange rate of N1,320 to the dollar. “Think about that: the number wri en on the worker’s payslip has risen from N30,000 to N70,000, but its dollar value has fallen from about $83 to about $53,” he said. “That is Tinubu’s money illusion in its simplest form. The figure in your hand is bigger, but the value in your pocket is smaller.” ‘IF FAAC IS BOOMING,
WHERE IS THE BOOM?’ A ku said the real test of an economy should be what government revenue can purchase and the obliga ons it can meet, rather than the size of figures announced after FAAC alloca ons. “If FAAC is truly booming, then where is the boom?” he asked. “Where is it in the price of food? Where is it in transport? Where is it in electricity, healthcare, housing and jobs? Where is it in the purchasing power of salaries?” The former vice-president also ques oned why states remain heavily indebted despite what he described as unprecedented FAAC allocaons. A ku called for greater scru ny of government expenditure, including tax concessions, import waivers, revenue exemp ons, duplicated projects and abandoned projects. “You cannot defend concessions for the powerful, tolerate waste within government and then suddenly become an apostle of fiscal discipline when ordinary Nigerians ask for relief from unbearable living costs,” he said. “Fiscal responsibility that operates only against the poor is not reform. It is cruelty dressed up in economic grammar.” He said Nigerians experience the economy through the prices of food, transport, school fees, medicine and other necessi es, rather than through government sta scs or FAAC communiqués. “Nigerians do not eat FAAC figures. They do not pay school fees with percentages. They do not buy medicine with press conferences, and they do not enter buses with government charts,” he said. “They live in the real economy, and the real economy is measured by what their money can buy.” The ADC presiden al candidate said higher FAAC allocaons should not automa cally be equated with prosperity when purchasing power remains weak and government liabili es remain high. •Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria is the Ptesidential candidatye of African Democrtic Congress (ADC).
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, Off Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State. All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, MICHAEL BAMIGBOLA, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefenderhq@gmail.com