Osun Defender Newspaper Online Version of August 06, 2025
THE governorship elec on in Osun State in 2018 was clearly going to be conten ous even before its incep on.
There had hitherto been in place an existing unwri en, informal agreement about a succession program, which, given the nature of Nigeria’s evolving democracy, was tailored to the fact that the Western Sena-
torial District should succeed the outgoing governor, who came from the Eastern Senatorial District. This is not an ideal proposi on, but democracies across the span of poli cal history have evolved to suit local cultures, norms, and tradi ons. As the management guru Peter Drucker is o en quoted as saying, ‘Culture will eat strategy for breakfast.’
This is the nature of democracy. In countries described as “Advanced Democracies,” much of the prac ce of democracy evolved around unwri en “Na onal (or local) democra c agreements”.
Despite what can only be interpreted as pressures from above, and in the spirit
•Continued on Page 3
Real Reason Behind Tinubu’s Clash With Aregbesola
Exposed: Real Reason Behind Tinubu’s Clash With Aregbesola
AOur Reporter the narra ve, portraying Aregbesola as a scruffy upstart in Lagos poli cs.
MIDST the growing misconcep on about the cause of the poli cal ri between President Bola Tinubu and his former associate, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, real reasons have emerged on what led to the frosty rela onship between the duo.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that in the last few years, the over three-decade rela onship between both par es has crashed, with the duo not working together for the 2022 governorship elec on in Osun and the 2023 general elec on.
While varied posi ons have been taken on the ma er, many followers of President Tinubu have described Aregbesola as a traitor, betrayer and ingrate who worked against his benefactor for pecuniary gains, fresh facts on the ma er have surfaced.
In a rejoinder to Mayor Akinpelu’s ar cletled, “Rauf Aregbesola’s Perdify,” Sola Fasure, the ex-Interior minister’s media adviser explained that the perceived presiden al ambi on of the former Governor of Osun was at the root of the crisis.
Fasure stated that the duo’s rela onship was mutual and beneficial poli cally, as they had contributed in one way or the other to their collec ve successes in the past.
The spokesperson to the former Governor added that Aregbesola’s mobilisa on prowess was instrumental to the President’s electoral triumphs before, during and a er his governorship in Lagos, one which merits his eleva on and support to fulfil his ambi on.
He argued that the decision to make the Naonal Secretary of the African Democra c Congress (ADC) irrelevant poli cally in Osun was premeditated by those who believed the former would truncate Tinubu’s chances of winning the elec on.
His words, “To be clear, the rela onship between Aregbesola and Tinubu began in the illfated Third Republic when Tinubu just joined poli cs and wanted to contest the Lagos West Senatorial primary elec on of the SDP. He needed a pointsman in Alimoso and was directed to Rauf Aregbesola, who not only won the primary but the elec on itself for him.
“But the author, out of ignorance of mischief deliberately cut this off
“Again, to be clear, Oyetola was not the basis of their disagreement, but he was a player. THE ISSUE BETWEEN TINUBU AND AREGBESOLA WAS THE PERCEPTION OF TINUBU THAT AREGBESOLA WOULD CONTEST THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AGAINST HIM. If you don’t understand this, sorry, you are at sea on the matter and except you probe deeper, you will sink deep into ignorance.
“Oyetola played well his role to reverse Aregbesola’s works in Osun and deny him the platform of the state. This is just as Tinubu also folded up the Lagos pla orm, ostensibly to deny him any poli cal base for the purported presiden al ambion.
“But labelling anyone perfidious on matters of poli cal choice has no place in a democracy which guarantees freedom of choice.
“People who make this kind of accusa-
on are those Soyinka said have slavery in their DNA. For them, if your path crossed with someone, you are permanently trapped in their shadow and must not move on in your life again. This is a slavish mentality.
“Their disagreement is poli cal and certainly not moral. It’s in monarchy that everyone is required to support the king, not so in a democracy,” Fasure noted..
He also berated acons of poli cal gladiators referring to the
Tinubu/Aregebsola disagreement as betrayal, stressing that feuds in such realms are purely poli cal and not moral.
“Anyone formerly associated with Tinubu and not on his train now is a betrayer. Fashola, Ambode, Osinbajo,
Ojudu etc. It’s a familiar script, the same dossier they hand over to the commissioned writers on the ma er. In the end, it becomes what Soyinka calls ‘transparent subterfuge,” Aregbesola’s spokesperson explained further.
Alumni Urges Adeleke To Return Boarding School System
Kazeem Badmus
THE Old Students’ Associa on of Atakumosa High School, Osu, Osun State has appealed to the state government to return the boarding school system to schools across the state.
The President of the old students’ associaon, Mr. Lateef Bakare made the appeal during the 50th gradua on anniversary of the 19701975 sets.
Bakare said the cancella on of the boarding system has had a negave impact on the educa on system.
Bakare, who is the Ajirowa Adimula of Ijesaland, also urged the state government to conclude the ongoing teachers recruitment exercise and post more teachers to the school.
The Alumni president, who donated a reconstructed building of two flats for the use of Na onal Youth Corps Members posted to the school, said, “What happened due to the cancella on of boarding system is that unwi ngly, the government turned all those schools into community schools such that people from far away cannot a end our schools. In those days, people from Lagos and
the southeastern part of the country were our colleagues.
“As old students, we are urging the state government to return the boarding school system. We are prepared to collaborate with the government in order to achieve success.
“It’s been close to two years since the interview for the recruitment of 1,000 teachers was done. So, we are appealing to the state government to conclude the process. This school needs more teachers.”
Bakare, while apprecia ng the 1975 set for their commitment towards the development of the school, said, “It is our resolve as an associa on to give back to the school in a big way all the me.”
In her address, the chairperson of the 1975 set, Mrs Kofoworola Ogunbiyi-Ajelabi, said members of the set executed three projects worth N20m to commemorate the graduaon anniversary. She said, “Our set has done the fencing of the frontage of the school, the beau fica on of the school compound as well as the school gate. The cost of these three projects was put conserva vely at twenty
million naira only.”
Mrs Ogunbiyi-Ajelabi extended gra tude to the teachers who taught them while in school, among whom was the former governor of Ondo State, Chief Adebayo Adefara
“We cannot but show gra tude to our past teachers who moulded us to what we are today. I give posthumous homage to our late Principal, Chief Adebayo Adefara and one me Governor of Ondo State, who worked relentlessly to ensure we all passed out in good grades”, Mrs Ogunbiyi-Ajelabi said.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Educa on, Osun State, Mr Murtala Jimoh, while responding to the request of the alumni associa on, said the state government is planning to return the boarding house system to some interested schools in the state.
Mr Jimoh, once the policy is in place, interested schools with facili es will be given the approval to operate the boarding system.
His words, “I want to inform you that we are planning to return the boarding house school system to some interested schools. We will not force it on schools
by policy. Once a school shows interest and the school has necessary fa-
cili es, we will do that once the policy is in place.”
APC Member Who
Threatened To Kill Gov Adeleke Arrested In Ibadan
Yusuf Oketola
Amember of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gafar Dolapo, popular known as Governor Ifedolapo has been arrested in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for threatening the life of Governor Ademola Adeleke in a
viral video.
The alleged threat was contained in several videos posted on Dolapo’s social media pla orms, where he vowed not to leave any stone unturned in achieving his goal.
The suspect also fol-
•Continued on Page 5
•Oyetola, Aregbesola and Tinubu
•Ifedolapo
•Continued from front page
of party cohesion and the Democra c Centralism, upon which modern poli cal par es are based, the outgoing governor of Osun State at the me had to support a candidature from the Central Senatorial District. It is admirable that, despite reserva ons across the board within and outside the party, and within conven onal wisdom, he did so unflinchingly, with stoic resolve.”
Aregbesola, as the outgoing governor, is to be commended for insis ng that the candidature could be made more flexible, i.e., that it wouldn’t undermine the unwri en agreement if it were ceded in another senatorial district. If we examine the contemporary poli cal history of Osun State, outgoing Governor Rauf Aregbesola used his poli cal capital to support the candidature of Gboyega Oyetola, which almost backfired.
Credit must be given to Aregbesola for using great desterity and tac cal acumen to ensure damage control. With the benefit of hindsight, it was clearly a risky move to disregard the unwri en agreement about rotaon, which would have ceded the candidacy of any of the major par es to the Western Senatorial District. Doing so came with a heavy price, as the margin of victory was narrow, and a lot of Aregbesola ‘s own poli cal
Tinubu’s
SAUGUST 06, 2025 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 08, 2025
Ending The Infernal Lies On Succession: Aregbesola
Carried Oyetola’s Candidature Like A Cross
capital was undermined and diminished.
The imposi on cost the party dearly, nearly spli ng it into two, with defec ons to the ADP and PDP. They almost lost the elec on, only managing to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.”
“Aregbesola’s tac cal maneuver in the face of daun ng odds was indeed ingenious. It confirms the dilemma of the poli -
cal player at a cri cal juncture, echoing the sage like observaon that ‘men make their own history, but they do not do so of their own free will; they do so in circumstances and situa ons which they would neither have wanted nor desired, and have only a limited amount of me upon which to impart their own agency.’
“Had Aregbesola stuck to the principle posi on that the candi-
“Credit must be given to Aregbesola for using great desterity and tactical acumen to ensure damage control. With the benefit of hindsight, it was clearly a risky move to disregard the unwritten agreement about rotation, which would have ceded the candidacy of any of the major parties to the Western Senatorial District”
The Discourse
dature of any major poli cal party should be ceded to the Western Senatorial District for fairness and equity. The end result would have been catastrophic - the APC would have been split into several warring fac ons, threatening the stabiliza on of polity in the state, and poten ally spilling over into violence. That he avoided this outcome should give him great kudos. He sacrificed his own poli cal capital to accept orders from above, ensuring party cohesion and preventing the party from squandering too much goodwill and capital.
The price he paid was that the outstanding programs he ini ated and pursued, which were groundbreaking and gamechanging, were not built upon or sustained. Unfortunately, the schism had more to do with deeper issues than temporary poli cal inconveniences. There was a lack of ideological cohesion within the APC, and unfortunately, a lot of personal disenchantment against a man perceived to be charisma c and having a common touch. The price for this is painful, as a program that should have been con nuously built upon was je soned.
This has to be reversed. What happened in the past shows that poli cal par es in Nigeria must find a way to be more cohesive ideologically and to observe unwri en agreements for fairness and equity.
Economic Policies: Breeding Poverty, Unemployment, And Hardship In Nigeria
By Wahab Abiona
INCE assuming office in 29th May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administra on has ini ated a series of radical economic reforms that have significantly altered the Nigerian economic landscape. These policies, which include the removal of fuel subsidies, the floa ng of the naira, increased electricity tariffs, import du es, higher interest rates, New tax reform, and the imposi on of new financial levies, were introduced to stabilize public finances and a ract investment. In any Economy, the primary roles of economic policies are to promote economic growth, ensure price stability, maintain full employment, redistribute income and wealth, improve the balance of payments, and ensure sustainable development.
However, for many Nigerians, these reforms have resulted in unprecedented hardship, escala ng poverty, skyrocketing prices, and rising unemployment with available sta s cs, though the government is trying to manipulate data, claiming the government met bad economic situa on, unfortunately, there is no hiding place because Nigerians are over taxed from all manners to generate Income into the Federa on Account and huge borrowing that never impacted on the life of average Nigerian.
One of the most impac ul decisions made by the Tinubu administra on was the removal of the fuel subsidy. Before this ac on, petrol was sold at ₦185 per litre.
Following the removal, pump prices surged to above ₦850 per litre, reflec ng a staggering 360% increase. The result has been an immediate and painful rise in the cost of living. Transporta on costs doubled in most urban and rural areas, with commuters paying 1250% more for basic travel.
The increase in fuel prices triggered a ripple effect on the prices of goods and services across the economy. According to the Na onal Bureau of Sta s cs (NBS), food infla on climbed to 40.66% in May 2024, the highest figure in two decades. Essen al food items such as rice, which cost ₦35,000 per 50kg bag in April 2023, now sell for over ₦80,000, which shows around 130% increase. This surge in prices has severely eroded household purchasing power, pushing millions of Nigerians into abject poverty.
Closely linked to this is the decision to float the naira. The exchange rate moved from ₦471/$1 in May 2023 to over ₦1,550/$1 by July 2024, a 230% devaluaon. This policy, intended to unify the foreign exchange market and eliminate distorons, instead unleashed severe vola lity.
As Nigeria imports a significant por on of its food, pharmaceu cals, and manufacturing inputs, the devalua on drama cally increased the cost of imports, worsening infla onary pressures. This has indirectly increased the cost of local produc on, even above imported items which has shut down most of the local firms and made the companies reduce workers or lay them off
“The increase in fuel prices triggered a ripple effect on the prices of goods and services across the economy”
completely. The World Bank has noted that the naira’s sharp deprecia on contributed significantly to rising food prices and infla-
on, making basic goods inaccessible to low-income earners and most ci zens with no income at all. Despite these measures, the an cipated influx of foreign investment has not materialized.
The NBS Capital Importa on Report showed a decline in capital inflow from $5.3 billion in 2022 to $3.9 billion in 2023, represen ng a 26% drop, sugges ng a reducon in investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.
OSUN DEFENDER
Import du es in Nigeria have significantly contributed to rising prices and economic hardship, parcularly under this administra on.
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As the government increased tariffs on imported goods some reaching up to 35% to boost revenue and protect local industries, the unintended consequence has been a sharp rise in the cost of essen al items. Coupled with the naira’s steep depreciaon has made import costs tripled in local currency terms.
Businesses reliant on imported raw materials have also struggled, with thousands of SMEs closing due to high input costs.
•Read full article on www.osundefender.com
Lifeless Body Discovered Near Mosque In Osogbo
Kazeem Badmus
THE Osun State Police Command has commenced an inves ga on into the circumstances leading to the death of a young lady whose lifeless body was found on Monday in Osogbo.
The lifeless body
of the lady, iden fied simply as Halimat, was recovered near a mosque in Ogo Oluwa area of Osogbo. The Command’s Public Rela ons Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, who confirmed the incident, said the remains of the deceased were picked up alongside a piece
Civil Group Raises Alarm As Osun LGs Remain Shut For 170 Days
Yusuf Oketola
Acivil society organisa on, Insight Ini a ve for Community and Social Development (IICSD), has raised the alarm over the con nued shutdown of local government areas in Osun State, which has now enters its 170th day.
The group, in a press statement signed by its Execu ve Director, Jare Tiamiyu, lamented the crippling of governance at the grassroots level since February 17, 2025, describing the development as a deliberate sabotage of the most crucial er of government in the state.
According to the statement, the shutdown has denied cizens, especially young people and rural dwellers, access to vital services at council secretariats and other local government offices, with funds meant for community development allegedly seized due to poli cal wrangling.
“The situa on has remained purely poli cal, with alloca ons that should have been channelled into repairing roads, building schools, empowering traders, and employing workers now withheld due to the selfish interests of key poli cal actors,” Tiamiyu stated.
The organisa on expressed worry over the rising tension and po-
li cal back-and-forth surrounding the local government crisis, noting that it had led to several deaths linked to the struggle for power. It warned that the prolonged shutdown posed a serious threat to the future of the state.
Calling for urgent interven on, the group appealed to tradional rulers, religious leaders, elder statesmen, and the Federal Government to prevail on the par es involved to allow governance to return to the grassroots. It insisted that the con nuous closure was not only unjus fiable but harmful to development.
“The me to reopen our councils is now. We cannot connue to kill governance at the grassroots of Osun State. This is a tragedy we must not normalise,” the statement read in part.
IICSD further pledged to keep upda ng a daily counter as a reminder of the days lost to the shutdown, vowing to connue pushing for the restora on of local government operaons across the state.
of paper that looked like a suicide note.
Ojelabi noted that opera ves were deployed to the area immediately a report reached the Command that a corpse was lying near a mosque in the area, adding that a rela on of the deceased had been found.
“The lifeless body was found at the back of a mosque in the Ogo-Oluwa area of Osogbo. Police opera ves that were deployed to the scene smelt odour of Sniper.
“That fuelled suspicion. Also, something like a suicide note was found near the body.
So, with all that, there was a suspicion that the deceased probably took her life.
“I must also say that there were no marks of violence on the deceased when it was recovered by the police.
“During inves gaon, a rela on of the deceased was found
by the police, and he volunteered many pieces of informa on about her, which is helping us,” Ojelabi said.
He assured that the Command will con nue with its probe and ensure that the mystery behind the death is uncovered.
The Weight Of Integrity: Lessons From Our Ancestors Art/Culture
GROWING up in Ilesha in Osun State, I was taught the importance of integrity, honesty, and hard work. These values were not just mere words; they were a way of life, passed down from our ancestors.
I recall my grandfather’s story, the Late Odofin of Isaobi, who was a humble farmer in our village. He would o en say, “A man’s word is his bond.” He lived by these words, and his integrity earned him respect and trust from our community. His commitment to fairness, honesty, and compassion inspired me to strive for similar values in my own life.
One memorable incident that stands out was when my grandfather was offered a significant
amount of money to compromise on a cocoa business deal. He refused, ci ng that it would go against his principles and damage his reputa on. His decision may have cost him financially, but it earned him something far more valuable – the respect and admiraon of our community and family.
Our ancestors understood that integrity was not just a personal virtue but a collec ve responsibility. They recognized that our individual ac ons have consequences for our families, communi es, and society. By living with integrity, we contribute to building trust, fostering coopera on, and promoting social cohesion.
In Yoruba culture, the concept of “iwa” (character) is deeply rooted. It emphasizes
the importance of living a life of integrity, honesty, and compassion. Our ancestors believed that a person’s character was their most valuable asset, and that it should be nurtured and protected at all costs.
When we live with integrity, we set an example for others to follow. We create a ripple effect that can inspire posi ve change in our communi es. Integrity promotes accountability, transparency, and fairness, which are essen al for building trust and fostering social cohesion.
In Osun State, we have a rich cultural heritage that emphasizes the importance of integrity. Our ancestors lived by these
principles, and it’s essen al that we con nue to uphold them in our modern society. By doing so, we can build a better future for ourselves, our children, and genera ons to come.
As I reflect on the lessons from our ancestors, I’m reminded of the power of integrity in shaping our lives and communi es. In a world where values are o en compromised, it’s essen al to revisit and reclaim the principles that have guided our forebears.
By embracing integrity, we can build a stronger, more compassionate society that honors the values of our ancestors.
•ADC National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, with ADC Chairmen from the South West to discuss party matters, and mobilisation and membership drive across the South West of Nigeria at the weekend in Lagos
Osun 2026: BVAS Compromise Will Attract Sanctions, INEC Warns
Yusuf Oketola
THE Independent Na onal Electoral Commission has warned that any staff member who compromises the Bimodal Voters Accredita on System ahead of the forthcoming governorship elec on in Osun State will face the wrath of the law.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Mu u Agboke, spoke with journalists shortly a er a programme on the Broadcas ng Corporaon of Oyo State, tled “Gbagede Oselu,” in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday.
Speaking on the elecon scheduled for 2026, the REC said INEC had regula ons, adding that whoever contravened the process should be handed over to the security opera ves.
“INEC has regulaons. It has s pulated the way our machines should work, so any of the INEC staff who will bring up one excuse or the other as against the exis ng rules and regula ons is contravening the rules.
“If you no ce that, don’t a ack him, call security agents, and report him or her.
“For example, the Bimodal Voters Accredita on System that must have been fully charged is expected to work at its op mum.
“With a fully charged BVAS, it will work without any difficulty. But where a par cular staff or ad hoc staff member has connived with some people and made the BVAS not work, then he has compromised the process.
“Such a person should be handed over to the security personnel,” he said.
Agboke blamed stakeholders for electoral fraud in previous elec ons across the country.
He, however, called for collabora on to curb the rising trend of violence and vote-buying that threatens Nigeria’s electoral integrity.
Agboke, who queried the roles of stakeholders, especially the media, security agencies, civil society organisa ons, the poli cal class, and religious leaders during elec ons, lamented the level of terror being unleashed during the pre and elec-
on day.
He, therefore, charged the major stakeholders to rise from their slumber and do the needful for the overall development of the country.
Agboke said, “So, for us (INEC), we will con nue to campaign against the cankerworm of wan ng to buy the minds of the people. That’s number one.
“Number two, even if you have the money, people s ll believe they can deploy violence to gain advantage.
“There is nothing you can do to curb it other than to con nue to engage the stakeholders and discourage them from unleashing terror.”
The commissioner further called on the stakeholders to educate the public on elec ons and other ac vi es in the electoral process.
“We need to con nue to talk to our people to believe in democracy.
“Let me tell you, in the whole world, there is no government that is be er and best for the
electorate, for the masses than a democra c government.
“And the only process by which somebody can a ain this democra c posi on is by elec on. We must all find a soluon to anything we see as an impediment.
“Only INEC cannot curb or reduce this
menace. All other stakeholders, the media, civil society organisa ons, and the poli cal class in par cular, we must engage them. Let them understand that you don’t need money to buy people’s conscience.
“Our people’s conscience must be addressed. Let’s talk to
them, tell them you don’t need their money before you vote.
“Your conscience will determine the direc on of your votes. For me, the conversa on is a connuous one; you cannot stop that.”
He asked that the police leadership, religious leaders and others should
also speak on the role they are playing to stop votebuying and electoral violence.
“These are the things we want to hear, call the poli cal par es, call the poli cians. They are the beneficiaries of all these efforts we are making. Policians are the ones who will benefit most,” he stressed.
Adeleke Defends N1.7bn Travel Bill In Six Months
Yusuf Oketola
THE Osun State Government has explained how it spent sum of N1.7bn on meals, refreshments, cleaning, fumiga on, and official travel within six months.
The government also refu ed the reports of wasteful expenditure, describing it as “mischievous” and poli cally movated.
The spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Mallam Olawale Rasheed in a statement on Monday, said the figures circula ng in the media as a deliberate misrepresenta on of legimate overhead costs incurred across more than 100 government agencies.
Rasheed stressed that the por on of the travel bill directly linked to the governor was minimal, as Adeleke funded most of his trips using a familyowned private jet.
He noted that many of the interna onal travels were connected to capacity-building and training sessions involving commission-
ers, agency heads, and senior civil servants, ahead of an cipated poli cal and administra ve ac vi es in the lead-up to the 2026 elec on cycle.
Insis ng that opposi on par es sponsored reports about interna onal travelling and training expenditures, Rasheed said the claims were not only misleading but
also mischievous.
“The sponsored publica on is a failed a empt by the opposi on to misrepresent and mischaracterise much-needed expenditure on local and interna onal training programmes for public servants, service-wide facility maintenance costs and several crical overhead expenses across over 100 gov-
ernment agencies.
“The fact that the state government actually posted those details on its website confirms that there is no foul play or misapplica on of state funds.
“The amount quoted for interna onal travels and trainings for the first two quarters of 2025 is the expenditure of all officials of
APC Member Who Threatened To Kill Gov Adeleke...
•Continued from Page 2 rest of one of the Osun APC youth popularly known as Governor Ifedolapo today in Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria.
lowed up the threat video with other video pos ngs which openly descended on the Governor with unprintable names.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the offence was commi ed in Ibadan where the case will be tried. Meanwhile, his arrest has been condemned by the Osun APC. In a statement by the party’s Youth Leader, Alhaji Olagoke Akinwemimo, Ifedolapo arrest is illegal while calling on the Inspector General of the Police to intervene.
A copy of the statement obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads: “Following the illegal ar-
“I, on behalf of the Osun State Youths speaks against the illegal ac ons against our comrade from Osun State, Sta ng that it is highly condemnable based on fact that the Governor Adeleke led administra on of the state with the use of some security personnel are been illegally used to in midate and arrest our party men most especially those who are ac vely involved in the party affairs and seen as threats to the Adeleke led administraon.
“Without any iota of doubt, it is even of a recent that our comrades from Boripe local government area Iragbiji were forcefully arrested and detained by the Amotekun personnel by their order before the Federal Government interven on that ease their realease a er been unjustly arrested and maltreated in their office in Osogbo the state capital.
“I hereby call on the Inspector General of Police, The Osun State Commissioner of Police to wade into this ugly situa on and ensure the safety of our youths in the state and country at large, which is their reasonable services.”
the state government, including commissioners, agency heads, management staff of state-owned ter ary ins tu ons, permanent secretaries, directors of over 100 parastatals, which covers their transporta on, accommoda on, feeding, etc,” he said.
The governor’s spokesman added that it was incorrect to say Adeleke spent that amount on travelling and other expenses.
He urged his cri cs to examine the significance of the travels and training and their value to the state.
“The governor is only the head of the government; there are several other sectoral heads and career officers whose expenditures on travels and training make up the state government expenditure.
“So it is incorrect to say Governor Adeleke spent so much on travelling.
“Also, one has to probe the importance of these travels and training and the value it brings to the state now and in the near future,” Rasheed added.
•The Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC Osun State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke yesterday on a Sensitization Visit to the Palace of Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun on the upcoming Voter Registration Exercise (CVR)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 06, 2025 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 08, 2025
UNIOSUN Warns Students Against Indecent Dressing, Social Vices
THE Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Professor Clement Adebooye, has cau oned newly admi ed partme students against indulging in indecent dressing and other social vices.
Addressing 412 fresh part- me students for the 2025/2026 academic session at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Hall last Friday, Professor Adebooye acknowledged the challenges that led many to opt for part- me study, such as work and family commitments, and praised
their determina on to pursue academic and professional advancement. He, however, reminded the students
that being enrolled at the university—whether part- me or full- me— requires discipline, hard work, and moral uprightness.
“At UNIOSUN, we operate by clearly defined rules and regulaons. While we support your aspira ons, we do not tolerate nega ve behaviours such as examina on malprac ce, cul sm, indecent dressing, and any act that tarnishes the image of the university,” he stated.
The Vice-Chancellor also emphasised the ins tu on’s commitment to academic excellence, innova on, and character development. He announced improvements in the part- me programme, including a fully digi sed and enhanced results process-
Campus Review Campus Review
ing system.
Encouraging the students to stay focused, he urged them to a end lectures regularly, make good use of the library and digital resources, and cul vate meaningful academic and personal rela onships.
APM Initiates Process To Recall Osun Assembly Speaker
THE Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun, Adewale Adebayo has said residents of Odo-O n State Cons tuency will begin the process to recall Hon. Adewale Egbedun, Speaker of the House of Assembly, over an alleged threat to a tradi onal ruler in his hometown.
Egbedun, who represents Odo-O n, came under public scru ny last week after a leaked audio recording surfaced, in which he was purportedly heard threatening to beat, arrest, and kill the Alasi of Asi, Isaac Oyewale.
The speaker was allegedly speaking to one of the monarch’s wives in the audio clip, which has since gone viral and sparked outrage across Osun.
In a statement on Monday, Adebayo said the leaked conversaon confirmed growing concerns about Egbedun’s temperament and his pa ern of behaviour, adding that cons tuents in Odo-O n have lost confidence in his representa on.
“We have prepared a no fica on le er to be submi ed to the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) by Monday on the recall process,” he said.
“I am from that cons tuency and I can tell you that we have lost confidence in Egbedun’s representa-
on long ago, but the recent threat on the life of his hometown king is the last straw
that breaks the camel’s back.”
Adebayo said the speaker’s conduct had
consistently embarrassed the people of Odo-O n, ci ng mulple incidents in the
past.
“You will recall that he prevented police from arres ng fraud-
Following the address, the Registrar of the university, Mrs. Atinuke Oguntunde, administered the matricula on oath, which the new students signed and submi ed. sters — the videos are on social media. He led his security to physically assault a court bailiff and a lawyer. His representa on has brought shame on us,” he said.
According to him, the recall process is set to begin on August 4, with cons tuents mobilised across the ward levels to gather signatures and submit documenta on to INEC.
“We are star ng the process of his recall from tomorrow. We are all ready in OdoO n state cons tuency to recall him by all legal means. If a lawmaker could threaten the life of a revered tradi onal ruler of his own hometown, then none of us is safe,” Adebayo said.
AMOTEKUN Corps in Osun State has deployed 500 opera ves to beef up security across strategic locaons within Osogbo, the state capital, ahead the celebra on of the Osun Osogbo Fes val on Friday.
This is part of the effort to ensure the safety and security of residents, tourists, and dignitaries who will be a ending the unique event.
Also, this measure is part of the Corps’ commitment to ensuring a peaceful and hitch-free celebra on
during the revered cultural event, which will hold on Friday, August 8, 2025.
The deployment was confirmed by the Corps Commander of Osun Amotekun Corps, Chief Adekunle Omoyele.
He stated that the opera ves would be visible at all major fesval venues, routes, and public convergence points.
According to him, the Amotekun Corps is fully prepared to provide both visible and undercover security opera ons throughout the fes vi es.
Omoyele issued a stern warning to indi-
viduals or groups with criminal inten ons, including pickpockets, hoodlums, and other mischief-makers, to steer clear of the fesval.
He emphasized that anyone apprehended disrup ng public peace or engaging in criminal ac vity will face the full weight of the law.
“The Osun Osogbo Fes val is not only a cultural celebra on but also a significant event that brings global a en on to our state. We will not allow any person or group to undermine the peace and sanc ty of this revered celebra on.
“Amotekun op-
Yusuf Oketola
Kazeem Badmus
Yusuf Oketola
•Some members of Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) during their meeting recently
Ex-Arsenal Footballer Partey Granted Bail On Rape Charges
FORMER Arsenal
footballer Thomas Partey has been granted condi onal bail a er being charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The 32-year-old Ghanaian appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, charged with five counts of raping two women, and a charge of sexual assault against a third woman.
The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022 when he was playing for north London club, Arsenal.
Partey was charged four days a er leaving Arsenal a er the expira on of his contract at the end of June.
He was scheduled to appear next in court at the Old Bailey on 2 September.
Partey wore a black zip-neck jumper and carried a navy blazer
as he entered court, standing with both arms behind his back in the dock on Tuesday.
He spoke to confirm his name and the understanding of his bail condi ons when asked by the court. According to the terms of the bail.
Partey cannot contact any of the three women and must no fy police of any permanent changes of address or
interna onal travel.
The charges followed inves ga on by detec ves, which started in February 2022 after police first received a report of rape against the player.
Partey’s lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire previously said he “denies all the charges against him”, adding that he welcomed “the opportunity to finally clear his name.”
THE Confedera on of African Football (CAF) has reportedly dismissed its Director of Refereeing, Désiré Noumandiez Doué, in the wake of bi er fallout from the Women’s Africa Cup of Naons (WAFCON) final that saw Nigeria crowned champions for the tenth me.
The decision to part ways with Doué follows an official protest lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federa on (FRMF), which alleged “cri cal officia ng errors” during the drama c final in Rabat. Hosts Morocco were beaten 3–2 by Nigeria after the Atlas Lionesses squandered a two-goal lead. Although Doué did not officiate the match himself, his responsibility for referee appointments has come
News
Flood: Osun Maps Risk Zones
Yusuf Oketola
THE Osun State Government has embarked on flood mapping as a proac ve measure against flooding across communi es in the state.
This involves idenfying flood-prone areas and inves ga ng the factors contribu ng to vulnerability.
The ini a ve is a response to the an cipated heavy rainfall and poten al flooding across the country as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
Speaking in Osogbo, the General Manager, Osun Emergency Management Agency, Deola Oni, said the state government had deployed three swamp buggies across the state to dredge and clear waterways for flood prevenon.
Oni said the three swamp buggies, opera ng permanently in Osun waterways, had helped in aver ng flood disasters in the state by clearing the way for the passage of water.
“It is a posi ve move on the part of the state government to prevent flood disasters, and
we are always on the ground to give relief materials to any vic m of such a disaster,” he said.
Earlier, the government had issued an urgent warning to residents of Otan-Ayegbaju and Iragbiji communi es regarding an impending flood threat.
This alert followed a forecast released by the Federal Ministry of Environment’s Department of Erosion, Flood, and Coastal Zone Management, which projected heavy rainfall between July 31 and August 4, 2025.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Emergency Management, Emiola Fakeye, during a press briefing last Friday, relayed the Government’s concerns.
Fakeye urged residents in flood-prone areas to either evacuate temporarily or take stringent safety precauons.
“The safety of our people remains a top priority for Governor Adeleke. He is deeply concerned about the risk of flooding and is commi ed to ensuring that no lives are lost,” Fakeye said.
She noted that the
CAF Sacks Referee After Morocco Protests Nigeria’s Victory
under scru ny.
The final was officiated by Namibia’s Antsino Twanyanyukwa, supported by assistants from Rwanda and Senegal, with Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga overseeing the VAR.
Controversy erupted a er Morocco were denied what they believed to be a clear penalty and were le incensed by what they termed a “so ” penalty awarded to the Super Falcons.
“Residents should stay informed, follow safety instruc ons, and
contact emergency services when necessary,” Fakeye reiterated.
Osun State Government had commenced desilting and clearing operaons along major waterways and rivers in the affected regions.
According to her, “these preven ve acons aim to ease water flow and mi gate poten al flood damage. We urge residents to heed the warnings and stay alert. Preven on is be er than cure.”
The government also called for heightened community vigilance and the prompt repor ng of emergency cases.
west senatorial districts recently
Osun Osogbo Festival: Amotekun Deploys 500...
era ves will be on ground, fully alert and strategically posi oned, to ensure that law and order are maintained throughout,” said Omoyele.
He further encouraged fes val attendees and local residents to enjoy the celebra ons responsibly and report any suspicious ac vity or breach of peace to
the nearest Amotekun opera ve or other security agencies.
He reiterated that the security of lives and property in Osun State remains a top priority, and the Corps is unwavering in its mandate to safeguard the people.
“We urge everyone to celebrate in modera on. If you no ce anything unusual in your environment, please do not hesitate
to alert the appropriate authori es. Our opera ves are there to serve and protect. The safety of our cizens and visitors is not nego able,” he added.
The Osun Amotekun Corps, in collabora on with other security agencies, remains commi ed to maintaining peace and order during the fes val and beyond.
• Wife of the Governor, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke in a group photograph with graduant of SMEs training program for business women in Osun
FRIDAY, AUGUST 06, 2025 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 08, 2025 VOL. 20 NO 32 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
YESTERDAY, I engaged in an intense poli cal dialogue with Hon. Akinbowale Omole, former Majority Leader of the first Eki State House of Assembly, former State Chairman of the Labour Party in Eki , and erstwhile Commissioner for Informa on under Dr. Kayode Fayemi. In the course of our conversa on, he lamented the worn-out, intellectually bankrupt tac c of labeling people as “betrayers” or “bastards” the moment they dare to deviate from the script wri en by the self-anointed gods of Yoruba poli cs. The speed with which dissent is criminalised and ideological independence punished is not only disturbing, it is tragic.
Tragic, because the very man now deified by these zealots has done nothing monumental for the Yoruba people, except trample the sacred ethos of Omoluabi, ridicule the principles of probity in governance, and drag us into the narco cforfeiture history of shame that is en rely alien to the Yoruba soul.
Let us state it clearly. Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s narco cs-related forfeiture of over $460,000 in a U.S. court is not a whisper of rumour. It is a documented, cerfied judicial fact. Yet his fana cs would rather gaslight the na on than confront the moral rot at the apex of their poli cal cathedral.
If Bola Tinubu’s administra on were performing, he wouldn’t need to conscript 1,000 social media writers he assembled a few days ago to whitewash his regime of kleptocracy and kakistocracy. I chuckled, yes, chuckled, when members of The Narra ve Force bombarded my inbox, panicking over the recruitment of 1,000 online defenders.
I laughed, not in mockery, but in bi er irony. What exactly is there to defend? The hunger? The hardship? The hopelessness? The ins tu onalised incompetence?
That is not defense. That is desperate damage control. And in this sea of decay, Aregbesola was right, heroically right, to sever es with the collapsing edifice and the mildew of arrogance that clings to its ro en throne.
When propaganda is stripped away and poli cal loyalty is divorced from feudal subservience, history will not remember Rauf Aregbesola as a betrayer, but as the last honest remnant of Tinubu’s longabandoned ideals. He is not Judas in this unfolding drama. He is the crucified one, bearing the sins of a poli cal cult where gra tude is demanded like ransom and truth is punished like treason.
To Mayor Akinpelu, your piece is not an ar cle. It is a disgraceful hymn of sycophancy. A cowardly bea fica on of a godfather who has long buried the ideals he
“When propaganda is stripped away and political loyalty is divorced from feudal subservience, history will not remember Rauf Aregbesola as a betrayer, but as the last honest remnant of Tinubu’s longabandoned ideals”
By AARE AMERIJOYE DOTB
Enough
Of This Cult Loyalty Nonsense: Aregbesola Is Not A Traitor
once pretended to uphold. If betrayal resides anywhere in this narra ve, it oozes from your pen, not from Aregbesola’s conscience.
Let’s shred your lazy revisionism point by point.
You mockingly described Rauf as a “scruffy man in tebliq trousers.” So what? That so-called “scruffy man” possessed more ideology in his bloodstream than the en re Lagos cabinet Tinubu ever cobbled together. Are we now evalua ng poli cal worth by fashion? (You can see how you goofed with such a nausea ng asser on.)
By that logic, Mahatma Gandhi would never have liberated India. Aregbesola wasn’t one of your bou que poli cians in velvet suits offering empty speeches for contracts. He was a man of the trenches, a NADECO warrior, while your Asiwaju was cu ng foreign deals in exile.
In the trenches of NADECO, Aregbesola was not a mere spectator. He was in the engine room, distribu ng an -military leaflets, organising rallies, evading arrest, and keeping the democra c flame alive. The same NADECO that Tinubu later hijacked for myth-making was the crucible of Aregbesola’s ac vism, not his inheritance.
You men on 1999 as though it was a divine corona on. Let’s correct you. Tinubu did not make Aregbesola. Their alliance was born of mutual necessity, not a kingmaker’s benevolence. If anything, Aregbesola gave Tinubu credibility, grassroots firepower, a movement’s soul. Without Rauf in Alimosho, BATCO would have died s llborn. Aregbesola’s command of the masses paved the poli cal road Tinubu stru ed on. Mayor, perhaps your frequent pilgrimages to Isaac John dulled your memory?
Aregbesola did not ascend through cocktail circuits or media branding. He earned his relevance through sweat and sacrifice. That “scruffy mobilizer” became Commissioner, Governor, and Minister, not by pity, but by unmatched competence.
You lament the infamous “contract story” as if it exonerates you. On the contrary, it exposes the decayed patronage ecosystem Tinubu engineered. That loyalty had to be proven through contracts is itself the problem. Aregbesola refused backdoor nego a ons at midnight. So is this a rebu al, or a lament of failed contract seeking? The real beef is that Aregbesola didn’t give you a contract? He asked you to see him at midnight. What is wrong with that? Midnight mee ngs are a metaphor for hard work in poli cs, not a sinis-
ter code. If you couldn’t wait ll midnight, perhaps you were not hungry enough for the contract. And that was good but stop holding it against Aregbesola.
You glorify Tinubu’s decision to leave Rauf’s commissioner seat vacant “in case he failed,” forge ng this. Aregbesola was not a spare re. He was the engine. Tinubu trusted his competence and considered it necessary to keep the posi on vacant for him. While Tinubu protected family ambi ons in Lagos, Aregbesola fought the PDP’s elec on heist in Osun, laying a judicial precedent that reverberated across Nigeria.
You blame Aregbesola and Peperito for Ambode’s downfall. Laughable. What you interpret as sabotage was resistance to tyranny masked as internal democracy. Ambode fell not because of Aregbesola, but because the godfather cannot stomach independent thought. That’s the real betrayal, not Aregbesola’s defiance, but Tinubu’s allergy to dissent. Ambode’s fall was orchestrated by mul ple intra-party dynamics. Blaming Aregbesola for Ambode’s poli cal fate is like blaming the moon for des. It’s a convenient scapegoat. Besides, Ambode never publicly alleged betrayal. That’s your inference.
You say Aregbesola owes Tinubu everything. False. It was Tinubu who depended on Aregbesola’s machine to conquer the Southwest. Osun was the crucible. Oranmiyan wasn’t a slogan. It was a doctrine. Aregbesola pulled Osun out of PDP clutches, empowered ar sans, educated children, built infrastructure, and governed with vision. He owes the people, not a poli cal deity.
And when the me came to hand over, Tinubu imposed his cousin, a man with no grassroots capital. Aregbesola, in statesmanlike restraint, accepted him. But that technocrat didn’t just differ. He dismantled Aregbesola’s legacy brick by brick. Tinubu? He watched. He smirked. He said nothing.
And you expect silence?
Then came the insults. The erasure. The sabotage.
The Oyetola Saga: Yes, Aregbesola disagreed with Oyetola’s candidacy. And? Is that a crime? Must loyalty mean silence in the face of disagreement? Even Jesus argued with his disciples. The Oyetola imposi on was a classic case of power play, and the people of Osun paid the price. What’s disloyal about saying the truth?
Yet Aregbesola never told all. But you, Mayor, throw around vile allega ons, claiming he said Tinubu urinates on him-
self. That’s not just false. It’s evil. Aregbesola never said anything about “people urina ng on themselves”. An a endee of that Ilesa event mooted it while Ogbeni was talking.
You say Fashola kept silent. Fine. But silence is not always virtue. Some mes, it is cowardice. Fashola chose silence. Aregbesola chose courage. He confronted hypocrisy, rejected nepo sm, and walked away from a one-way loyalty cult. That is Omoluabi, not of convenience, but of convic on. Fashola kept quiet even when hurt. So we are now benchmarking leadership by silent suffering? That’s not Omoluabi, that’s slavery. Aregbesola spoke up. That’s courage. Omoluabi doesn’t mean blind obedience. It means principled conduct. Fashola is en tled to his style. Aregbesola chose another, and history will judge both.
Now you ridicule his defec on to ADC. Yet Tinubu himself built his legacy by defec ng. AC, ACN, APC, ring a bell? His own style of “gang-up.” But now, no one else must dare realign?
Let it be known, I was once a proud PDP member. I carry no bi erness. The PDP was a vital chapter of my poli cal growth. But today, I pitch my tent with ADC, not out of despera on, but convicon. Because men like Aregbesola, David Mark, Tambuwal, and A ku are returning sanity to a poli cal space desecrated by poli cal cul sm.
Aregbesola le APC with his head high, not as a defector, but as a reformer. He is now the Na onal Secretary, not by accident, but by merit, vision, and moral clarity, the very virtues APC abandoned.
Mayor Akinpelu, hear this with finality. Tinubu is not God. He is not infallible. He is not royalty. And Nigeria is not Bourdillon Estate. His presidency does not wash away his sins. It magnifies them. And history, unbought, unbowed, and unsenmental, will write its verdict.
You say Aregbesola hasn’t made amends. For what exactly? Refusing to lick boots? Choosing principle over personality cult? Remaining progressive while Tinubu regressed into a patriarchal hoarder of power?
Mayor, the apology is yours, to the Nigerian people, for kneeling before tyranny and distor ng the truth. Aregbesola needs no forgiveness from you. He remains what Tinubu used to be, a rebel with a cause, not a kingpin with a cult.
You ended with a Yoruba song. Permit me to end with a Yoruba truth.
“Bi ènìyàn bá fi ọwọ kan iná, ó un jó ni.” — When a man places his hand in fire, he must be ready for the burn.
You quoted: “Kò sí daríjì f’eni t’ó bà dà’lé…”Yes, but who betrayed whom? Is it betrayal to ques on excess? Is it betrayal to challenge imposi on? The real betrayal is turning a movement into a monarchy. The real betrayal is punishing ideological independence.
You have touched the fire, by defending a fallen gospel with fake parables, and you will be scorched, not by us, but by truth, which, when unleashed, is ungovernable.
Rauf Aregbesola is not your villain. He is your mirror. What you hate in him is what you once respected in yourself,convic on, courage, and conscience.
May Nigeria have more Aregbesolas, and fewer Mayor Akinpelus.
•Aare Amerijoye DOT.B is the Director-General, The Narrative Force
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
