What Aregbesola Told Me About Tinubu, Akande
FRIDAY, AUGUST 08, 2025 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025
Encomium As Family, Friends Celebrate Former Osun Speaker On Diamond Jubilee
Yusuf Oketola
FAMILY, friends of the former speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam have con nued to shower him encomiums as he marks his 60th birthday anniversary today.
Wife of the celebrant, Mrs Temitayo Salaam in an interview with OSUN DEFNDER described Salaam as a man of integrity, good character, who is deeply rooted in his values and faith.
According to Mrs Salaam, the former speaker is a man who believes so much in loyalty, adding that he encompasses what it means to be an Omoluabi.
She said: “Mr Najeem Salaam is a man of integrity, good character and a very contented person. He believes that nothing comes from man except from Almighty Allah. He believes that whatever would be in life would be and that des ny can only be delayed, it cannot be changed.
“My husband is a man that is deeply rooted in his values and faith. He loves the people of Osun most especially and wishes them good thing. We will travel some mes and he will see some notable things abroad and he will say I really want to do this for my people. That is a very interes ng factor and he is a man that believe so much in loyalty.
“We see a whole lot of poli cians will swerve and sway where like money is and where they feel they can gain a lot of things but he is not like that. He is a man that is loyal to every cause that he believes in to the highest order. He encompasses what is means to be an Omoluabi.
“Sixty is a great age. If God kept anyone alive to the age of 60 that is huge milestone and have seen him growing up also in mind and in intelligent. Sixty is a remarkable age and I pray he lives to see more years on earth. Yes, I will choose him over and over again because he is an excellent husband, a great father, not just his biological children but to every child he comes across.
•My Husband Is Deeply Rooted In Values, Faith – Wife •My father Is A Meeting Point, Full Of Empathy – Son •He Is An Exemplary Youth Ambassador – Oluseye
He doesn’t want anyone to go hungry and any child out of school because of money. He gives every child equal rights. Those are remarkable things about him.”
In his birthday message to his father, the eldest son of the former speaker, Mr Sherif Salaam described his father as man full of empathy and a rallying point for the people.
Sherif while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER pointed out that the celebra on is a way of giving li le bit of what Hon Salaam has been giving to people.
“He is my father, someone that has been guiding me all through and I have grown over the year to know him as someone that carries his people along. He values his community. He is someone that loves having people around him all the
me. This is his 60th birthday and I think this is the first me we are actually pu ng something as big as this together and also first me to also make him feel what you give can also return.
“As father, he has done so much for this family. Despite that he
is always out most of the me, he tries to create me for us. He tried to make sure everyone gets what they want at the right me. As a community leader, he is someone that despite any challenges he is facing, he always finds me to a end to his people. He sees himself
as mee ng point where everyone come together and not just coming together, he proffers solu on to issues facing the community.
“Hon Salaam is a man who values his own words. He wants to make sure people see him as someone that say yes and he will nev-
Teachers’ Recruitment: Adeleke Must Refund N2,000 Application Fee – CDHR Insists
Yusuf Oketola
THE Commi ee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Osun State has expressed disappointment over the ac on of the state government to replace qualified teachers with Ad Hoc, calling for refund of the N2,000 applica on fees by the applicants.
This follows an announcement by the state government to deploy N1,750 Imole Youth Corps to classrooms across the state to replace the 5,000 awai ng teachers shortlisted for the 2024 teachers’ recruitment exercise.
The announcement was contained in a press release by the spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed last Wednesday.
Recall that the Osun Government had in February 2024 embarked on the Teachers’ Recruitment exercise but the process remains inconclusive ll date.
The successful applicants a er their interviews in September 2024 are yet to receive appointment le ers
from the government despite successive assurances.
Meanwhile, Olawale in the release blamed financial constraints for the con nued delay in the recruitment process. He pointed out that the deployment of the Imole Youth Corps is part of measures to address personnel shortage in some schools and to prepare ground expansion of teaching personnel in a cri cal subject area.
But CDHR in a state-
ment by its state chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu called for addi onal compensaon for the undue hardship caused by the state government, adding that the deployment of unqualified youth corps members to classrooms must be halted.
“The Osun State Government must immediately issue appointment le ers to all successful teaching and educa on officer applicants. The government must re-
•Adeleke
fund the Two Thousand Naira (₦2,000.00k) applica on fee to each applicant and pay addi onal compensa on for the undue hardship caused by the osun state Government Under the leadership of Sen. Ademola Adeleke.
“The deployment of unqualified youth corps members to classrooms must be halted immediately. An independent inves ga on must be ini ated into the handling of the funds generated from the recruitment exercise.
“The CDHR views the current state of affairs as an unforgivable betrayal of trust and a gross viola on of the right to employment, fair treatment, and access to quality educaon for students in Osun State.
“We will mobilize all legal and civic measures, including protests, li ga ons, and public advocacy, to ensure that this fraudulent act is not swept under the carpet. Governor Adeleke must act now or be held responsible for the connued decay in Osun’s educa on sector.”
er renege on that yes. He wants to make sure that people see him as a man of integrity. He is full of empathy and gives everyone sense of belonging. I believe this sixty years birthday is a way for us a community to give a li le bit of what he has been giving to people. We hope this birthday will come with so much hope, blessings and would not be the last,” he said.
Reflec ng on his rela onship with Hon Najeem Salaam, Ogunborn poli cian, Akeem Oluseye described him as an exemplary youth ambassador who always shows genuine empathy.
According to Oluseye, the celebrant was there for him during the challenging moment of his poli cal journey. He disclosed this in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday.
The statement reads: “Hon. Salaam has truly been an exemplary youth ambassador. I was first introduced to him through his younger wife, who happens to be my sister. Our bond grew stronger through our shared passion for polics.
“During a challenging period in my poli cal journey when I faced setbacks and was short-changed by poor leadership, he showed genuine empathy. In his own though ul way, he supported and encouraged my aspira ons. His kindness and belief in me will always be appreciated”
•Mrs. Temitayo Salaam•Mr. Sherif Salaam•Hon. Akeem Oluseye
The Impasse In Local Government System: Where Does Osun State Go From Here?
THE impasse in the local government system has go en completely out of hand. Local governments are not mere adornments; they are cri cal elements in a democracy. In developed countries, development starts from the grassroots, with local governments handling essen al services like:
- Culverts
- Primary educa on - Dispensaries/Primary health centers
Without a strong foundaon, there can be no meaningful progress. Unfortunately, local governments are being viewed through the lens of tac cal poli cal convenience, which is unacceptable. Those involved in produc on are aware of the excrucia ng costs of non-func onal local governments, including stalled processes due to unavailable permits. This has far-reaching consequences for Osun State’s development, and poli cians should take note.
We are not exactly sure of how remunera ons, pensions, and health insurance have been affected, but the local government workers are the people who are feeling the pinch, because they, more than anybody else, will know how and where the shoe is pinching them, and they must insist on their democra c rights that the local governments must begin to func on again immediately.
The NULGE, the trade union of the local government workers , must now be put on the front border. They have to insist that this situa on is untenable and is affec ng their membership, as well as affecting the principles of local government autonomy and the right of the people in the local government and the world to be given the benefits of de-
“We are not exactly sure of how remunerations, pensions, and health insurance have been affected, but the local government workers are the people who are feeling the pinch”
mocracy.
We call upon NULGE to now stand up and affirm that Osun State must have properly func oning local governments, because this absurdity has gone on for too long, and it actually raises a ques on mark on their own effec veness as a union. Just as unions such as the Associa on of University Teachers have been effec ve, NULGE must now take it upon themselves to insist to all the contending poli cal forma ons and par es that they cannot trample upon local government autonomy for self-serving purposes and for immediate poli cal calculaons and gains.
We must all call upon NULGE to perform what is now a clear historical duty and put an end to this charade. We call upon the government of Osun State and we call upon all the major poli cal par es and interested groups in Osun State to now rise up and insist that func oning local governments must be restored. We do not have proper sta s cs in Nigeria, but the effect on well-being by not having func oning local governments is devastating. We call for an end to this impasse immediately.
Najeem Salaam At 60: A Diamond On His Diamond Anniversary
By Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
Iam most pleased to write this tribute to a friend, a dependable ally and a democrat, Right Honourable Najeem Folasayo Salaam, on the occasion of his 60th birthday. Sixty years is a remarkable milestone signposted with diamond, a rare and very precious jewel signifying wisdom, beauty, strength and enduring love. This is indeed what Honourable Salaam is to me and our poli cal and ideological tendency.
He was the Speaker of Osun House of Assembly during our two term progressive administra on in Osun. He also served as Execu ve Director, Nigerian Communicaons Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) under the Muhammadu Buhari Administra on. In both assignments, he dis nguished himself for diligence, integrity and selfless service. He was an integral part of our people-centred administra on that shot Osun to unprecedented height, giving legal teeth to our programmes and making good laws for the governance of the state.
“He
was an integral part of our people-centred administration that shot Osun to unprecedented height, giving legal teeth to our programmes and making good laws for the governance of the state”
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In all these years, he has stayed the course, firmly loyal and commi ed to progressivism, good governance and service to God and mankind. He is ebullient, indefa gable and solid like the Rock of Gibraltar. His so and amiable visage masks a core of steel. He’s uncompromising on his convicons and incorrup ble. As he marks this special occasion, on behalf of my family, I join the progressive family and wellwishers to wish him the best birthday ever, in good health, happiness and joyous exerons. Power is responsibility!
4 Interview
What Aregbesola Told Me About Tinubu, Akande – Salaam Recounts As He Clocks 60
Dr.
Najeem Salaam, a political scientist and former speaker, Osun State House of Assembly (2011-2019), in this special interview to mark his 60th birthday, spoke to YUSUF OKETOLA on politics, governance and his journey in the last six decades. Excerpts:
•Aregbesola and Salaam exchanging pleasantry
HOW do you feel a aining 60th birthday anniversary on earth?
Just like a normal human being, when you are growing, you should be happy, and you have so many reasons to thank your God for all that he has done for you over the years. When I look right, le , front and back, I have cause to glorify his holy name for being what he is to me. God has been so wonderful, kind and merciful to me in my journey of life up to this moment. I am very happy and it is a happy moment for me; I thank God for that, for giving me the grace to witness six decades on earth.
This is uncommon grace. Not everybody has the opportunity to grow and clock sixty. People die before a aining such age while some die at birth. How does life look like losing both parents at a tender age?
When you lose your parents at a tender age, your history may not be even complete because you depend on hearsay from the people around. I have a sister who is 55 years old now. My mom died when she was nursing her, while my father died in December 1976. So, from 1976 ll date I do not have both parents. For people who do have parents, it is God that takes care of everybody.
Our parents are powerless without the support and mercy of God. But at the same me, there is blood a achment from the mother, especially, and the father that every child wants to enjoy even when you are old. How will it be if my father and mother are alive to witness their child growing to this level and the celebra on of this day.
It saddens my heart always when I remember them but I keep thanking God for giving me the life I have. Maybe if I have them, I may not be where I am today, I don’t know. And if I want to joke with people, I will say perhaps, losing the two at that age is a reason I am where I am today because they kept on praying for me that they are here and not leaving me. That is another way to console myself about their demise.
It is a mixed feeling for me that I do not have the opportunity to give back to them the sacrifice of the mother carrying you for nine months and the efforts of the father for that short period. And what has become general, when you a ain a ceertain posi on in life, you will like to show off your parents, celebrate them and showcase their faces. But I don’t have that opportunity. Nevertheless, I am happy that God made me the way he wants me to be.
“We denied ourselves a lot of things that the parliament will always want to make money from. But we have the legacy on ground”
During your tenure as the speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, you made some remarkable records, yet some people s ll see the house under you as a rubber-stamp of the execu ve. What can you say to this claim?
You know the system of governance in Nigeria is a borrowed one, and the theory of separa on of power does not say each arm of government should fight other arms. In theory, what we learnt is a kind of water ght separa on between the arms of government. We work together and do other things together. People will say anything, insofar you are not at the floor of the house, raising your voice that you are about to impeach the governor and figh ng the governor or any of the execu ves openly. That is what people call rubber-stamp. I keep on saying that if the execu ve complies to governance norms, the system should not be unnecessarily ruffled.
The role of the house is to peruse the budget from the execu ve and oversee governance. If the execu ve did not go out of all budgetary provisions for the year, there is no way you can offend the house. Secondly, there is the need for the house to check how funds are being allocated for projects and know how solid the projects are.
There was a me I sent my members to check the 10-Kilometres roads constructed in all the local government areas in the state. I instructed them not to take a dime from any of the contractors so it won’t be as a form of bribery because if we are there today, we won’t be there tomorrow. The legacy we built will be there forever. We are not in the house today, but if we have compromised on the
quality of the roads for the people, it will be haunting us today. My team went as far as checking the depth of the road to know how many inches deep they were. We did all these things to ascertain if the execu ve complied with what was specified in the budget and within the context of the project they are doing, I don’t think there should be issues.
Then there were instances we would see the execu ves and frown; we did that behind the scenes. Insofar they s ck to provisions of the budget and cons tu on, there is no need for unnecessary rancour in the chamber. What people expect is to have commo ons in the house. No, that is not the essence of democracy. Democracy is to bring dividends to the people.
I have instances that I can refer. It happened to our colleagues in Eki State; if our people want to be sincere with it. There was a me where both the execu ve and the state assembly members were at loggerheads. For months, the governor of the state ensured assembly members could not assess the house. In fact, we hosted them in Osun for them to sit here as parliaments. What did they gain? If you ask them today that if they have the opportunity of going back to the house, they will not do that kind of a thing. They will tell you there is nothing they gained. One, they cannot checkmate the excesses of the governor from afar. They could not even assess the judiciary for oversight func ons.
It is good to be in the house, see things and correct them on how to do it. If that is what people call rubber-stamp, I am afraid if we can have a be er Osun house of assembly that I presided over. We put in our best. Most we denied ourselves a lot of things that the parliament will always want to make money from. But we have the legacy on ground.
Let me say this, the governor of the state then, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had been rela ng with the house of assembly members before he became the governor of Osun. He knew the way to relate well. He has not for once gone beyond boundary. He respects the other two arms of government.
Of course, the control that the execu ve has makes it look like the house is rubber-stamp all over the country. The reason assembly members fight the execu ve mostly is because they want to get money from the governor. The people of the state will not even know that it is their resources that is suffering for it.
There was a report done by Society now on March 16, 2017, that former governor Rauf Aregbesola and now the Na onal Secretary of African Democra c Congress (ADC) annointed you as his successor. How true is this?
WE are now in 2025. So, it has never happened. I don’t know how they got the report. Even if he wants me and there is someone superior to him that said “no! This is the way I want it” and he complied and obeyed him. There is nothing he could do. Whether he wanted
What Aregbesola Told Me About Tinubu, Akande – Salaam Recounts As He Clocks 60
it, I do not know. Ogbeni is someone that respects the leadership of the party a lot, especially the persons of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande. I went to him around that me to seek his blessing for my ambi on, but he told me to go and meet Baba Akande and Asiwaju that it was their interest that would prevail. He said he was just their errand boy. I don’t know what research study somebody might have conducted but this is what I have heard from him “Go and meet Baba Akande and Asiwaju”, that they are the one to show him the direc on. At the end of the day, that was what played out. His interest did not count. He listened to his leaders, I guess you all know the story today.
Who is Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to you. What can you say about his style of poli cs and governance?
If you want to say things about Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, a 300 pages of book cannot be enough to exhaust his poli cal capacity and sagacity. He is a man that is well talented and respects the rule of law. He loves his people and the state. If Aregbesola should have his way, what he plans for Osun is to turn it to Dubai. In him, I see a man that is very loyal to the people he believes are his leaders. This is the man I know that served all the leaders that he believed in, the likes of Asiwaju, Baba Akande and even the late sages, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Bola Ige. Even in death, Rauf Aregbesola s ll respects them ll today. Rauf is a one-in-a-million man people would love to work with everyday. Every encounter with him is a sort of poli cal science lecture; you have to go with your pen and paper to listen to him. He reads widely. That experience shows very much.
mee ng. Unfortunately, Ribadu could not join us that night but Masari was with us. We started the mee ng around 8pm and ended around 3am. The likes of Kolapo Alimi, Salinsile, Gbenga Akano and others were there. That day, some agreements were reached but the other party did not fulfil ll date. What else can we do? It was a er that we read on the pages of newspapers and blogs that they had expelled us from the party. They didn’t talk to us and later accused us as the cause of their failure a er losing the elec on. How could that be. Someone that you didn’t talk to. Several efforts were made which later turned to wasted efforts.
As we have seen in the case of Rivers State during the last crisis between the minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Governor Siminalaye Fubara and the Lagos State House of Assembly crises, President Tinubu had to intervene. Did he make any personal efforts in se ling crisis within the Osun APC?
If at all he made any effort, it was onesided, not our side and effort to just get out of the party. The president cannot claim not to know what is going on in Osun. Had it been he put half of efforts he put into Rivers State on Osun, Osun State will not be like this. But I think it is a game played by some people, I think, he has interest in.
In poli cs, I have seen him as someone who does not like anything that will tarnish his name. He did not value material things. All of us see the way he was before leaving the governor seat for eight years. He didn’t look like a governor for those of us that want to believe in him. As at that me, he was the poorest governor in Nigeria that I knew. Some of his leaders knew that and there is nobody that will say this is what he did in office that was very wrong. That is why he remains one of the very few ex-governors not on the radar of government angra agencies like EFCC or ICPC.
I am not saying every other person under him cannot perform things but direct from Rauf, there is no way and up ll today with what is going on in Nigeria today, if Rauf has any skeleton in his cupboard, they will try a lot to implicate him because he has always been a careful poli cian and he doesn’t value what other poli cians value while in office. He is a very contended man. He priori se service to humanity above self-aggrandisement. All other things poli cians do around, Aregbesola doesn’t do them. He is a man full of energy.
I know that all the people figh ng him know him well more than I do. They know what he can do and what he has done. They know what extent he can go and what he will never do in life. Poli cs is just a funny thing that when it happens people say a lot of nega ve things about you. They leave the posive side of you completely as if it never happened. When Aregbesola entered the poli cs of Osun, the poli cal environment changed. People now know what poli cs is all about. A lot of narra ve changed and lives of so many people changed as well.
Aregbesola is a fighter; he doesn’t look back when he believes in a cause. He will pursue it to the end no ma er what happens. It started from the me he became the governor. He fought for three and a half years. How many people can withstand that kind of stress? It is Rauf Aregbesola that God used to change the progressive structure in Osun State. He introduced general par cipa on in Osun State and taught us how to mobilise from the unit level to the state level.
As a former speaker and an important figure in Osun poli cs, did you tried to reconcile the warring par es within the All Progressives Congress (APC) before you le the party?
There are so many efforts that have turned out to be wasted efforts. Firstly, we did not join any party before now. We are just there talking to our people and people that don’t want to see us as well. It got to a me before 2022 elec ons that I addressed the press, dissolving all the structures and said that we should go back to the APC to work for the same party. What we heard therea er was that anybody that wanted to join the party should go back to his ward as a new member as if we were never members. We kept on watching them.
Aregbesola himself was in Osun State when we received him back when he finished his tenure as the Interior Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in June 2023. Openly, at Freedom Park, he sought forgiveness from whoever thinks we have offended them. But nobody listened to us. There was a par cular moment that I should not forget, President Tinubu sent some people to Aregbesola in Abuja. Fortunately for me, I was in his office that par cular day. Then, he asked me to be part of the discussion. In the long run, I told Ogbeni that this ma er is not about him. It is about the people of Osun State. If these people mean business and need good reconcilia on, they must go back to our people in Osun State. I told him if he take any decision there, it would bounce back on him and it will not be good for him. They all agreed with me that day.
The present Na onal Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the former Na onal Welfare Secretary of the APC, Mr Ibrahim Masari, myself and Ogbeni were in the room. They declined coming to Osun, but sent message to all stakeholders. Everyone assembled at Abuja for the crucial
“Rauf is a one-in-a-million man people would love to work with everyday. Every encounter with him is a sort of political science lecture; you have to go with your pen and paper to listen to him. He reads widely”
What does the future hold for Dr. Najeem Salaam in poli cs. Our readers will like to know if you have interest in Osun 2026?
The people of Osun will determine that, but I am ready to serve in any capacity people want me to serve. I leave my fate to God and believe so much in the power of the people of the state. They are the one to say go this way. I am not someone who doesn’t have ambi on. But I only look up to God for direc on, then do what the people of Osun State want. It is the people who see things. We are very ready to serve them in any way.
What is your advise to the people of Osun ahead of the 2026 elec on in the state?
Not only in Osun, it is Nigeria. Things are getng worse day by day. For some people who can s ll afford three daily meals, some cannot even afford one now. It is not the country that is bad, it is the leadership that is very wrong. They feel less concerned about the welfare of the ci zens of this country. Things are ge ng worse.
We appreciate the President giving out dollars to the Super Falcons, but is it possible for the president to men on the equivalent of that amount and announce it on na onal television that he is giving them N150,000,000 each. Is it not a criminal thing for us to be spending in dollars within the country? It is even more pathe c that such an aberra on and absurdity is being commi ed by the man at the apex of affairs of the country.
We should be thinking about the people. We are not saying no to apprecia ng the players, but there are two major things that are very wrong there. My advice to Nigerians, and especially Osun people is this, they should shine their eyes and think deeply. N10,000, N50,000 on elec on day does not cover the suffering of four years. If the country is like this for the first term, we can think of what second term will be.
How did you get the name ‘Iwaloye’ and is it a nickname?
It was given to me by one elderly woman from my mother’s side. People think it is a nickname. No, it just became relevant recently. I have always had the name. You know the people of the yesteryears they see a lot of things. That is the name the woman called me ll she died. She did not know me with any other name. Oluomo was the tle given to me by the Ogiyan of Ejigboland a er comple ng the eight years in office as the speaker. I think it is a way of apprecia ng me that I didn’t disgrace them. Oluomo tle has never been given to anyone in Ejigboland before me. Oluomo is a chie aincy tle. The two are my name and tle.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 08, 2025 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025
Osun Monarch Warns Against Land Grabbing In Ilesa
Yusuf Oketola
THE Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, has restated his stance against land grabbing, calling on the police to maintain neutrality pending judicial rulings on land disputes within Ilesa and surrounding areas.
Owa Haastrup gave this warning during a courtesy visit by the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to his palace in Ilesa.
The tradi onal ruler also emphasised the need for law enforcement to avoid par ality in resolving ma ers involving contested government lands.
The monarch disclosed that Ilesa recently came close to unrest following a dispute between the Leven s
Founda on and a private individual, which was only averted by his swi interven on.
Osun Chief Suspended Over Viral Poisoning Video
Kazeem Badmus
THE Ijesa Sports Club in Ilesa, Osun State, has suspended one of its members, Chief Gbenga Ajibade, who was alleged to have poisoned a young man for allegedly stealing his corn.
The Director of Social and Publicity of the club, Kenneth Opebiyi announced the suspension in a statement on Wednesday.
In a video watched by OSUN DEFENDER, a man who was said to be the suspended chief was seen giving the young man a liquid substance.
The suspect who spoke in Yoruba language in the video was heard telling the young man, “I will not do anything to you, once I give you this milk, you
can go.”
But since the video went viral, ne zens have called for proper inves ga on and punishment for the chief.
According to the statement, the execuve commi ee of the club held an emergency mee ng on August 6, 2025, over the issue.
Following a majority decision, “the committee agreed to suspend Chief Ajibade pending the outcome of ongoing police inves gaons,” the statement noted.
The club stated that it would ini ate its own disciplinary process after the conclusion of the external inves ga ons.
Ijesa Sports Club emphasized its commitment to upholding the values of jus ce, community respect, and accountability.
The club reiterated that no individual’s actions should bring shame to the instituon or undermine the dignity of others.
“The city of Ilesa, known for its peacefulness, would have been embroiled in chaos but for our quick ac on,” he said.
He explained that land-related misconduct had increased toward the end of his predecessor’s tenure, a ribu ng it partly to the predecessor’s failing health.
Owa Haastrup stated that certain individuals were laying claim to public lands through dubious asser ons and undue influence.
He urged the police to act justly and transparently in all cases.
“Some of these people flaunt connecons with senior law enforcement officers to jus fy their unlaw-
Cultural Memory In A
ful ac ons.
“Let me be unequivocal about my abhorrence of criminal conduct for financial gain at the expense of the larger society.
“It is important that the Police High Command and the lower cons tuent units operate above board in manners that are impar al and equitable,
Digital Age: What Will Our Children Forget? Art/Culture
IN the heart of Yoruba land, under the thick folds of ancestral knowledge and vibrant oral history, lies a ques on echoing louder than ever: What will our children remember of us? Or more troubling s ll—what will they forget? In this fastpaced digital age, where childhood now includes screens before speech, the concern is no longer abstract. It is urgent. Across Osun and much of Nigeria, the transmission of cultural values—from language, folklore, proverbs, drumming pa erns, to rites of passage—is increasingly disrupted. Once passed from grandparents under moonlit compounds or during long evening walks, these intangible treasures now compete with cartoons, global TikTok trends, AI-generated voices, and American-accented anima ons. While digital technology offers learning, convenience, and exposure, it also risks erasing the memory banks of
culture that hold our identy together. Cultural memory is not just about remembering fes vals or dressing in asooke on special occasions. It is how we understand who we are, where we come from, and how we relate to our world. It includes how we name children, bury the dead, se le disputes, or even greet elders. Yet, in many homes today, children are more fluent in foreign slang than in Yoruba gree ngs. Some can code or swipe screens but cannot recite basic family oraon. And it’s not their fault. It is a reflec on of what the modern world celebrates— and what it ignores. Digital life has blurred genera onal boundaries. Many parents and teachers now spend more me online than telling stories or reinforcing na ve languages. Educa onal systems further reinforce foreign curricula with li le integra on of indigenous knowledge. How many schools in Osun today teach about the ori-
and seen by all to be so,” he said.
The monarch also called for the crea on of addi onal police divisions, especially in the Oriade local government area due to popula on growth and inadequate security coverage.
“I feel constrained to inform you that we have not been adequately provided with police presence,” he noted.
In his response, CP Gotan assured the Owa Obokun of the police’s readiness to maintain peace in Ijesaland and denied any involvement in the ongoing Leven s land issue.
“I never gave any order to any party to build on the land. I have no contact with the par es,” he clarified.
Gotan expressed apprecia on to the monarch for his role in preven ng escala on of the land dispute and noted the importance of tradi onal ins tu ons in conflict resolu on.
of the
val or the myths of Oranmiyan?
How many encourage students to explore their lineage beyond a surname on a result slip?
The danger is not that children will forget how to cook amala or sing oriki— but that they may never even know they were supposed to. That in itself is the quietest form of cultural exnc on.
Yet, it is not too late. Culture is adaptable, just as it is enduring. We must begin to digi ze our tradi ons, document our elders, and teach culture with the same seriousness we assign to coding or STEM subjects. A local history podcast, a digital library of Yoruba proverbs, a TikTok page that teaches bata dance—these are possible bridges between heritage and modernity. Families too must make the deliberate effort. A WhatsApp family group is
fine, but how about using it to share folk stories, family histories, or na ve riddles? Let grandparents speak Yoruba to grandchildren—even if imperfect. Let naming ceremonies retain their depth, not just hashtags.
As a people, we cannot afford to outsource our history to algorithms. If our children grow up knowing more about Spiderman than Sango, or quo ng Hollywood scripts over family idioms, the problem is not in their phones—it is in our silence.
In this digital century, cultural survival must become a deliberate act. Not of nostalgia, but of necessity. Our cultural memory must not be another casualty of progress. Let this be a wake-up call—before the scrolls of our iden ty are wiped clean by the next so ware update.
•Faces at the launching of “Echoes Of My Journey” writen by Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, Osun NUJ Chairman, held the press Centre on Wednesday
Photo: Shola Aderinto
gin
Olojo Fes
Ballon d’Or 2025: Nominees For Best Goalkeepers Confirmed [Full list]
THE nominees for the Men’s Yachine Trophy award for the best goalkeeper in the men’s game has been announced ahead of the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony in September.
The nominees includes Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG) and Alisson Becker (Liverpool and Brazil).
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Donnarumma is the favourite for the award a er winning the UEFA Champions League with PSG last season.
The winner of the award will be announced in September at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris next month.
Here is the list of the nominees for the award:
Alisson Becker (Liverpool and Brazil)
Yassine Bounou (AlHilal and Morocco)
Lucas Chevalier (Lille and France)
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid and Belgium)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG and Italy)
Emiliano Mar nez (Aston Villa and Ar-
gen na)
Jan Oblak (Atle co Madrid and Slovenia)
David Raya (Arsenal and Spain)
Matz Sels (No ngham Forest and Belgium)
Yann Sommer (Inter Milan).
Barcelona’s Captaincy: De Jong Now Biggest Candidate To Replace Ter Stegen
BARCELONA midfielder
Frenkie de Jong is now the biggest candidate to replace MarcAndré ter Stegen as the club’s captain, as reported by The TouchlineX via (@ fansjavimiguel).
This comes a er the Netherlands interna onal recently emerged among four contenders for the club’s captaincy.
Ter Stegen is no longer the captain of Barcelona Football Club.
It was widely reported on Wednesday that the LaLiga champions have withdrawn the club’s captain armband from Ter Stegen ahead of the new season.
Just last week, the Blaugrana were considering removing Ter Ste-
News
gen’s captaincy. This follows a er the German was not included in the Barcelona squad that traveled to Asia for their preseason tour. Ter Stegen had decided to undergo surgery for his back problems. He will be out for three months and will miss some matches for Hansi Flick’s side in the new season.
APC, Osun Govt Clash Over Adeleke’s Whereabouts
Kazeem Badmus
THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of abandoning his post and leaving the country for over two weeks without informing the public or formally handing over power to his deputy, Kola Adewusi.
The APC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi on Thursday in Osogbo, described the governor’s prolonged silence and unannounced departure as abnormal.
The party also raised concerns about the leadership vacuum in the state.
“It is disheartening that a governor can abandon his statutory du es by sneaking out of the state for over two weeks without deeming it fit to inform the good people of the state.
“That Governor Adeleke could have the brazenness to jus fy his unannounced absence from the state for that long not un l he was smoked out and compelled to disclose his whereabouts is a corporate insult on the sensi-
bility of the people of the state.
“The reason advanced for the governor’s abscondment by his spokesman that it was because of the prepara on for the wedding ceremony of his nephew, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido, in the United States of America, was puerile and unthough ul which could only ooze out from the mouth of a confused state chief execu ve who knows next to nothing about his expected roles as a state governor.
could abscond from the country for over two weeks running because of his nephew’s wedding ceremony, for how many months would he abdicate his constitutional responsibilities if it were to be B-Red, his son, that is ge ng married?
ment on Tuesday obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, dismissed the APC’s statement as poli cal mischief.
Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson revealed that the governor had not taken a formal vacaon since assuming office in November 2022.
“It is pathe c that the governor is neither worried nor bothered that his state which its Na onal Union of Local Government Employees(NULGE) has been on a needless sympathy strike for the governor for over six months could resort to frolicking in the foreign land under the guise of prepara on for his nephew’s wedding ceremony.
“The situa on in Osun State today is more worrisome as the
state is in a state of iner a as the state execuve, Governor Adeleke and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, His Right Honourable Adewale Egbedun, who threatened the life of the tradi onal ruler of his town, the Alashi of Ashi, last week in a viral video recording, had both sneaked out of the state at different mes.
“The State Secretary of the Government(SSG), Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye too is also in Dallas, Texas, United States of America for an event by the na ves of Osogbo in the diaspora.
“The reason given by Governor Adeleke for
abandoning the state for over two weeks running that he was a ending to the prepara on of his nephew’s wedding anniversary was horrendous, obnoxious and an insult on the sensibility of the people of Osun State.
“We know Governor Adeleke to be a dancer and was not known to us before yesterday that he stated his flimsy reason for fleeing the state is that he has added an event planning job to his por olio of the state chief execu ve and selfappointed state commissioner for works in which his visible impact is at its lowest ebb.
“If Governor Adeleke
“All the right-thinking members of the society should condemn this lackadaisical a tude of Governor Adeleke to governance, a er all, he applied for the job,” the APC queried.
The statement added that ques ons about Adeleke’s whereabouts had become widespread in public places, motor parks, and commercial buses across the state.
But Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, had earlier confirmed that the governor had travelled to the United States to a end the wedding of his nephew, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido. Rasheed in a state-
“Governor Adeleke le Nigeria for the United States via the family’s private jet a few days ago for the wedding of the global music icon, his beloved nephew, David Adeleke,” Rasheed said.
He also extended an invita on to the APC to a end the wedding celebra on or join virtually.
“His Excellency is invi ng the opposi on party to share in the joy of the Adeleke family.”
Rasheed assured the public that the governor remains in constant contact with his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, who is supervising government ac vi es during his absence.
“The governor has again chosen to make this trip a short one so that he can return promptly to a end to crucial state func ons,” Rasheed added.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 08, 2025 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025 VOL. 20 NO 33 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
LEADERSHIP in Africa has long been a subject of great discourse, shaped by a history of resilience, struggle, and transforma on. From the legacies of precolonial governance to the complexi es of modern democra c systems, the African leader’s role is deeply intertwined with the con nent’s development. Leading with purpose in Africa demands not only a clear vision but also a profound sense of responsibility to the people, ins tu ons, and future genera ons.
As the con nent con nues to navigate economic challenges, poli cal transi ons, and social transforma ons, the ques on remains: What does it truly mean to lead with purpose in Africa? And what are the core responsibili es of an African leader in this era?
The Burden of Leadership. Leadership in Africa is not just about holding power; it is about service, vision, and legacy. The concept of leadership across African socie es has historically been rooted in communal well-being rather than individual ambi on. Tradi onal African rulers were custodians of the land and protectors of their people. Their leadership was deeply connected to values such as jus ce, accountability, and collecve progress.
However, in many modern African states, leadership has o en deviated from these values. The abuse of power, corrupon, and poli cal instability have plagued many na ons, leading to disillusionment among ci zens. This reality calls for a renewed commitment to purposeful leadership—one that priori zes the needs of the people above self-interest. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.”
Leading with purpose requires African leaders to see themselves not as rulers but as custodians of their people’s hopes and aspira ons. Their success should be measured not by personal wealth or tenure in office but by the tangible improvements in their ci zens’ lives.
Core Responsibili es of the African Leader
1. Visionary Leadership and Economic Growth
A leader without vision is like a ship without a rudder. Africa’s leaders must culvate a long-term vision that drives economic prosperity and industrial growth. While many African na ons are rich in natural resources, true leadership lies in ensuring these resources benefit the people rather than enriching a few.
Countries such as Rwanda have demonstrated how visionary leadership can transform a na on. Under President Paul Kagame, Rwanda has priori zed digital innova on, infrastructure development, and governance reforms, posi oning the
“Leaders must strengthen democratic institutions, ensure the independence of the judiciary, and protect the rights of citizens. By fostering an open government, where citizens have access to information and decision-making processes, leaders can rebuild trust and legitimacy”
PERSPECTIVE
By
MATT OLU OLOWOKERE
Leading With Purpose: The African Leader’s Responsibility
country as a rising economic force in Africa. The lesson here is clear: purposeful leadership focuses on sustainable economic development and empowerment.
African leaders must take responsibility for fostering economic policies that promote entrepreneurship, a ract investment, and reduce unemployment. They must support local industries, empower youth through skills development, and create an environment where innova on thrives.
2. Good Governance and Accountability.
Leadership without accountability breeds corrup on and weakens ins tuons. Many African na ons struggle with governance challenges, where mismanagement and corrup on drain public resources. Transparency and accountability
STRIKER
should be at the core of leadership. Leaders must strengthen democra c ins tu ons, ensure the independence of the judiciary, and protect the rights of ci zens. By fostering an open government, where ci zens have access to informa on and decision-making processes, leaders can rebuild trust and legi macy.
Good governance also involves appoin ng competent individuals to key posi ons rather than engaging in nepo sm and favori sm. Merit-based leadership ensures that the best minds contribute to na onal development, driving progress across all sectors.
3. Inves ng in Educa on and Human Capital Africa’s greatest asset is its people. With a rapidly growing youth popula on, the con nent’s future depends on invest-
ments in educa on, research, and skill development. A leader with purpose must priori ze educa on reforms that equip young Africans with the knowledge and skills needed for the 21st century.
Countries like Ghana and Kenya have made significant strides in expanding access to educa on through policies such as free primary and secondary schooling. However, challenges remain in the quality of educa on and the alignment of academic programs with market needs. Leaders must champion educa onal policies that not only increase access but also enhance relevance and global compe veness.
4. Championing African Unity and Collabora on
The concept of “Ubuntu”—I am because we are—emphasizes the interconnectedness of African socie es. True leadership in Africa transcends na onal borders; it requires collabora on among na ons to address shared challenges such as trade, security, climate change, and health crises.
The African Con nental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a step toward economic integra on, but its success depends on poli cal will and leadership commitment. Leaders must foster regional coopera on that enables African economies to thrive collec vely rather than compete destrucvely.
Addi onally, Africa must amplify its voice on the global stage, advoca ng for fair trade policies, debt relief, and equitable access to vaccines and healthcare. Purposeful leadership ensures that Africa is not merely a passive player in global affairs but an ac ve and influen al force.
•Read full article on www.osundefender.com
Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above
The Wages Of Alienation
“ HOW e take concern me?” is one of the popular sayings of the typical Nigerian. Another prominent one, a selfish prayer, is “however much they sell it, may God just provide me with the means.” These are signs of loss of hope in social processes and tendencies towards self-help in pursuit of “happiness” largely to the detriment of others. We forget that no man is an island in the society and the consequences of individual disposi ons and ac ons, even at the family level, inevitably reverberate all around the community and the na on at large.
Arriving at this nega ve, self-centred temperament did not happen in a day. In summary, government not based on taxaon but almost en rely on oil money is basically the cause. Government ought to be based on taxa on on the produc ve efforts of its empowered ci zens at the local government level, which is supposed to be the founda on of state and na onal government. Two factors, the discovery and explora on of crude oil and military rule that centralised the federa on into a unitary state, did devasta ng damages to democracy and produc vity. The civilian elite, dominated and redesigned by the military juntas, became reliant and selfsa sfied to centrally collect the oil rent money and simply distribute to selves and spend as they wish at the federal, state, and local government levels.
Whatever projects they deem fit to
throw around in their “magnanimity” are seen as “government” projects: government schools, government roads, government stadia, government transformers, government houses, government this and government that; there is neither sense of ownership by the ci zens (as individuals or as community). Oil money was used to execute them and not taxes from people’s produc ve engagement. The oil money is not seen as proceeds from the explora on of our common patrimony, oil money belongs to government and not the people; and the elite sustained that false narra ve.
A er military rule, their civilian twins – along with fellow military brass now in flowing robes – ins tuted a democracy based on a cons tu on that retains all the elements of unitary and dictatorial rule in which THE PEOPLE (men oned three mes in the popular defini on of democracy) are removed from having a voice in determining government policies but reduced to mere voters in pre-manipulated elec on processes. The end result remains the same as under military rule, with only the grace of absence of naked brutality.
THE MAJORITY can be subs tuted for THE PEOPLE in defining democracy. However, the import remains the same. The majority in any society remains the workers, students, women, children, ar sans, farmers, traders, etc – the masses in gen-
eral. The elite who are the most connected, exposed, successful, educated and rich cons tute a minority whose interests also ma er BUT WHOSE INTERESTS HAVE NOW BEEN TURNED TO THE DOMINANT INTEREST against the spirit and le ers of democracy. The clear outcome is underdevelopment and na onwide distress. Democracy, however disfigured, s ll offers the best opportunity for THE PEOPLE to redress the social contract of Democracy. Of course, widespread poverty and ignorance make the goal challenging indeed. Nevertheless, organisa ons of the masses need to wake up from their slumber and take on the challenges of redefining democracy – in form and content. The wages of aliena on are increasing poverty and ignorance with consequent escalaon in crime and violence to the proporon of insecurity challenges worse than even what is being witnessed today.
Only a return to true federa on (in which every federa ng state is autonomous with what it owns); ci zen producvity on a massive scale; and taxa on for governance by a government elected truly by the majority; can restore prosperity and guarantee law and order. Only then can we say bygone to the days of ethnicity, religious bigotry and all forms of extremism and, as a genuine FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, finally realise the goal of our na onal mo o: unity and faith, peace and progress.
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, Off Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State. All correspondence to the Asst. News Editor, YUSUF OKETOLA, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefenderhq@gmail.com