Issuu

FRIDAY,AUGUST22,2025

THREEYEARSAFTERPROMISE, ADELEKEYETTOSITEUNIOSUN CAMPUSINIWO

•[Middle]WifeoftheOsunStateGovernor,EreluNgoziAdeleke,withparticipantsattheseconddayofa2-daytrainingofTrainersonEnterpriseEducationorganisedbytheEstherAdelekeHumanitarianFoundation

FRIDAY,AUGUST22,2025

2 News

OYusuf Oketola deenAdeleke’sadministraon’sinfrastructure developmentagenda, evidentinseveralprojectﬂag-oﬀswouldnot onlybringdividendsof democracytothedoor stepsofcizensbutalso bringthemclosertothe government.

NE of the promises made to the people of Iwo, the HeadquartersofIwoLocal Government by Governor Ademola Adeleke during hiscampaignaheadofthe 2022 governorship eleconistositetheCommunica on campus of Osun State University in the town.

Adeleke made the promise in July 2022 during his campaign visit to Iwo.

The Governor was quoted as saying,“I promise to locate the College of Communica on in the Osun State University in Iwo; this will improve opons of students and also contributetotheeconomy oftheancienttown.”

Butalmostthreeyears into his administra on, Adeleke is yet to site the varsitycampusinthetown asearlierpromised.

RemindingtheGovernorofhispromiseina pressreleasemadeavailabletoOSUNDEFENDERbytheTa’awunu HumanRightsIniave(THURIST)Nigeria andsignedbyitsDirectorGeneral,S.ATadese Esq.,thegroupappealed toGovernorAdeleketo takepromptaconfora groundbreakingoccasion whichwouldseeatakeoﬀoftheproject,adding thateverypromisekept bythegovernmentisa pathwayforanallinclusivegovernment.

“TheGovernorAdemolaJacksonNuru-

SYusuf Oketola

OMEmembers ofthePeople’s DemocracParty (PDP)inAyedireLocalGovernment,Osun State,onTuesdayannouncedtheirdefecontotheAfrican DemocracCongress (ADC)

Thedefectorsledby TunjiOgunrinuwere receivedintotheir newpartybytheoﬃ-

“Everypromisekept bythegovernmentisa pathwayforanallinclusivegovernment.

“WhileisitappreciablethatthepresentadministraoninOsunState promisedtositeacampus oftheOsunStateUniversityinIwotofurtherhis questfordevelopmentof Iwolandandthestateat large,notastephasbeen takentoensureit’sactualizaon.

“AsaconcernHuman RightsOrganisaon,the developmentofevery nooksandcranniesofthe stateistopmostonour prioritylistandweare usingthismediumtocall theaenonofGovernor NurudeenJacksonAdemolatotakeapromptaconforagroundbreaking occasionwhichwouldsee atake-oﬀoftheproject.

“Wearenotoblivious oftheadministraon’seffortkick-starngthedualizaonofacertainmajor roadinIwo.

“Itisourbeliefthat accomplishingthealreadysitedcampusofthe UniosuninIwolandwill addmoretothescore cardoftheAdelekeled Administraoniniwoin parcularandOsunState inGeneral,”thepressreleasereads.

cialsofOmoluabiProgressives,apolical organisaonbacked bytheNaonalSecretaryoftheparty,Mr RaufAregbesola.

Astatementsigned bythePublicityand OrganisingSecretary oftheOmoluabiProgressives,Oluwaseun Abosede,madeavailabletoOSUNDEFENDERinOsogbo, statedthatOgunrinu

THEApetuofIpetumodu,Osun State,ObaJoseph Oloyedehasexplained reasonheSwindledthe UnitedStatesofAmericasumof$4.2million COVID-19relieffund.

ObaOloyedewho acknowledgedhisguilt arguedthatthecoronaviruspandemicwas amajorfactorthat pushedhimintocommingthecrime.

Thiswhatcontained inasentencingmemorandumﬁledonTuesday,August19,2025, beforeJudgeChristopherBoykooftheNorthernDistrictofOhioand madeavailabletoJournaliststhroughhislaw-

explainedthatthe decisiontopartways withthePDPwas borneoutofthefailuretorewardloyal partymembers.

“Thedecisionto partwayswiththe PDPwasnottaken lightlybutwasborne outofdissasfacon withpoorinternal managementofthe rulingpartyandthe failuretorewardloyyers.

“COVID-19affectedallofusdifferently. Conductthatwewould neverexpectfromourselvesorotherssomemesmanifesteditself asweencountereda completelydifferentsociety.COVID-19isnot anexcuse.Butitisafactor.Parcularlywhen,as didJoseph,onehadto worrythatpre-exisng healthproblemscould nowbecomefatalifthe viruswascontracted,” thedocumentquoted hiscounselassaying.

ObaOloyede,62,was arrestedbytheU.SFederalBureauofInvesgaon(FBI)inMay2024afterhedisappearedfrom Nigeriatwomonths

earlier,raisingconcerns inhishometownofIpetumoduwherehewas absentduringimportant tradionalfesvals,includingOdunEgungun andOdunEdi.TheGazeehadearlierreportedthathewaspickedup inClevelandoncharges ofusingsixcompanies toﬁlefraudulentloan applicaonsunderthe U.S.PaycheckProteconProgrammeand EconomicInjuryDisaster Loanschemes.

Followinghisarrest, U.S.prosecutorssaidhe launderedpartofthe proceedsthroughpersonalandbusinessaccounts,prompngthe governmenttoseizea MedinaCountypropertyinOhioandmore than$96,000fromone ofhiscompany’sbank accounts.

Hewaslatergranted bailaersurrenderingbothhisU.S.and Nigerianpassportsbut remainedunderrestriconspendingﬁnaljudgment.

Themonarch,who isafatherofsixand fosterparenttoother children,nowfacessentencingscheduledfor August26,2025,aer thecourtpostponed anearlierhearingtoreviewhissealedmedical records.

BackhomeinOsun State,Nigeria,hisprolongedabsencehasle Ipetumoduwithoutan acvemonarch,raising quesonsaboutsuccessionandthevacuum createdbyhisordeal. altyamongitsmembers,”Ogunrinusaid.

Anotherdefector, AbdulganiyuAkeem, whilespeakingonbehalfofotherex-PDP members,said,“PeopleofOsundeserve beergovernance.It ismeforcizensto ‘ariseandshine,’ratherthanconnuewith suﬀeringandsmiling.”

AformermemberoftheOsunState HouseofAssembly represenngAyedire StateConstuency, GbengaOgunkanmi, whofacilitatedthe defecon,described thedefectorsaspolicalheavyweightsand grassrootsmobilisers, whowouldaddvalue toADCinthestate.

Inhisremarks,the chairmanoftheOmoluabiProgressives, AzeezAdesiji,assured thedefectorsoffull integraonintoADC’s structures.

Courtﬁlingsshowed thatthemonarch,who emigratedtotheU.S.in thelate1990sandlater earnedadoctorate,had fordecadesmaintained acleanrecord,working asanadjunctprofessorandbankerbefore returninghometobe installedastheApetu ofIpetumoduinJuly 2019.Hislawyersinsistedthatthefraudwasa sharpdeparturefrom hispreviouslifeofserviceandresponsibility, addingthatheshowed remorseandaccepted blameforhisacons.

•Proﬀessional photographers at a one-day bootcamp during the World Photographer’s Day, in Osogbo, on Tuesday

Photo Shola Aderinto

Yusuf Oketola

Acontenouspieceofnews,dependingonwhereyoustand, iscomingfromtheRevenue MobilizaonandFiscalCommission (RMFAC).We’retoldthatsincethe policalestablishmentisalsofeelingthepinchandpainofthecurrent economiccrisis,they’recallingfor anupwardreviewoftheirpaystructure.EverybodyinNigerianeedsan upwardreviewoftheirtake-home pay;thetake-homepayinmanycaseshasbecomeproblemacbecause youcan’teventakeithome.

Thecountrytodayfacesanexcruciangcrisisofexistence.Thesituaonisdire,withschooldropoutson theriseandmanypeopletrekking becausetheysimplycannotaﬀord transportaoncosts.

Thepayofpolicianshasalways beencontenousacrosstheworld. Publicservice,byitsverydefinion, connotesself-sacrificeforthecommongood.Nobodyactuallybegs anyonetogointopublicservice,and thosewhodooencomeoutless well-offthantheydidwhentheyentered.

Examplesabound,suchaswhen President-electJohnF.Kennedy askedRobertMcNamara,theCEO ofFordMotors,toacceptacabinet posionasDefenseSecretary.McNamara’swifeandimmediatefamilywereaghastbecausetheyknew McNamarawouldhavetotakeapay cutofnotlessthan80%ofisthenremuneraonasCEOofFordMoors operaon.

“Eventually,totheconsternaon ofhiswife,McNamaraacceptedthe posionofDefenseSecretaryand thepaycutofabouteightypercent comparedtowhathewasearning beforeastheCEOofFordMotors. Thisshowsonceagainthatthere isanelementofsacriﬁceandpublic serviceinvolvedintheacceptanceof

publicoﬃce.Thereareexamplesof thisallovertheworld.Unfortunately,inNigeria,becausethecountry doesnothaveenoughjobsoropportuniesforself-advancement,the verydeﬁnionofpublicserviceand policsitselfhasbecomesomewhat skewed,andthisispungitpolitely.

Publicserviceandpolicsare now,apartfromreligion,themajor routesofadvancementandself-fulfillment.Thecost-benefitanalysis ofkeepingpublicofficeholdersis skewedintermsofcost,notben-

Jeﬁts.Ifnot,Nigeriawouldnotbethe povertycapitaloftheworld.TheperquisitesofpowerinNigeriaarefar toohigh.

IntheUnitedStates,forexample,aboutone-thirdofmembersof Congress,i.e.,theNaonalAssembly,actuallystayintheirofficesbecausetheycannotaffordtherentsin WashingtonD.C.,thenaon’scapital. Obviously,thisisoutofthequeson inNigeria,whereourownpampered elitecanaffordtorent,buy,orwhateversuitableorostentaousaccommodaon.

It’sunfairfortheRMFACtobe arguingasifpublicoﬃcersareimpoverished;theyarenot.There’s notransparencyintheirtotaltakehomepay.Anycomparaveanalysis betweenwhatourlegislatorsgetand what’sobtainableinothercountries showsthattheyareoneofthebestremuneratedlegislatorsintheworld.

Remuneraonisnotjustabout formaltake-homepay;it’sabout theaachmentsandaddedearnings.AndforNigerianlegislators, theseaddedearningsarehumon-

TheDiscourse

By BabatundeAdesokan

USTasmyfatheralwaysrepeated,“yourcustomerisalwaysright,treathimorherlike youwouldaking”.Heinslledin usthat,thoughtheremaybepriorityscaling,nocustomerisactuallygreaterthantheother.One customer’slibertyendswherethe rights(andinvariablyassetsand properes)ofothersgetinfringed upon.

WhathappenedintheAviaonIndustryrecently?KWAM1,a prominentsocialite,wasstopped fromboardingaValueJetflightdue toahandflaskdeemeddangerous toflightsafety.Despitehisconnecons,hewasunabletoboard.Ina childishoutburst,heaemptedto blockthetaxiingplane.

Similarly,Ms.ComfortEmmansonrefusedtoswitchoﬀherphone onanIbomAirﬂight,contravening safetyprocedures.Anotherpassengerintervened,andaphysical altercaonensued.Onecannot stubbornlybetooself-importantas toputotherlivesonboardatrisk. Hubris,aspridethatleadsto downfalliscalledintheliterary

space,isacharactercurrencyand whenitisabsentcanleadtodownfall.Insituaonswherepridehas takencentralstage,paenceand humilityareoenabsent.Whatin God’snameissodifficultinsurrenderingahandflaskforaflightsafety ormeeklyprovebeyondreasonabledoubtsthatitwasexigentfor yoursurvivaltotakethatliquidat intervals?

Whatissodiﬃcultinswitching oﬀyourphonewhenotherpassengers(evencrew)aresensively traumazedbyrecentplanecrashesinNigeira?Aviaonsafetyproceduresandinstruconsarenotto

gous.Therehavebeenallmannerof stories,diﬃculttoverify,aboutwhat actuallyhappensduringtheso-called oversightvisits.Therearewhispers aboutthebudgetprocessitself,asto whatisbroughttothetablebefore budgetsarepassed.Thesewhispers existbecausewedon’thaveatransparentprocess,andtheFreedomof InformaonActisobservedinthe breach.

“Inaddion,Nigeriaalsohasits ownpeculiarityofadeformedfederalism.Ifareviewextendstothesubnaonals,howwillitbeimplemented?Thevariaoninpurchasingpower parityandcostoflivingbetweenLagosandZamfaraStateissowidethat aone-cap-ﬁts-allproposionwillbe ludicrousandabsurd,andevenunfair tothecizensofthepooreststates. Allofthesethingshavetobefactored inbecauseit’sclearthattheRMFACis acngaccordingtoascript.Thisisone oftheproblemswithadeformedfederalsetup,andithastobelookedat. Anyadjustmentinpayscaleshould reﬂectthelivingcondionsinparcularstates,andnotauniformbill.

“WhatNigerianeedstodayisnot afocusonthestandardsoflivingof apamperedpolicalestablishment, butaclearpathwayastohowtoincreaselivingstandards,construct socialbenefits,socialbenefitnets, andgenerallyworktowardsafiveto seven-yearplantomake“lifemore abundant”.Likeitornot,whatever thestascssay,peoplearegeng reallyslaughtered,andsomething mustbedoneaboutit.Theremust beasenseofsocialjusce,andthis shouldreflectintryingtobuildacompletelynewkindofeconomybased onfairness,equity,andsocialjusce. Emphasizingtheneedsofapampered elitejustgoestoshowyouthevery fundamentaldysfunconinNigeria’s policaleconomy.”

bejokedwithandthereiszerotoleranceforsenselessindulgencethat endangersothers.

KWAM1’sproudresulngactof standinginfrontoftaxiingplane,as FestusKeyamonoted,wasakinto holdingothercustomershostage. Similarly,IbomAir’spressrelease jusﬁedthatMsComfortEmman-

sengersatrisk.Sheaggravatedthe issuebyassaulngtwoorthreeindividuals,servingthema“buﬀetof slaps”.

Inbothincidents,staﬀintervenedtoprotectothers.Whiletheir methodsmayhavebeenquesonableorreprehensible,theirintenon wasclear.Asmyfatherwouldsay, “Acustomerremains akingaslongasthey respectothers’rights.”

Inconclusion,customershaverights, butstaﬀhavearesponsibilitytoensure safety.Whencustomerscompromisesafety, staﬀmustintervene. Thisdelicatebalance iscrucialinmaintainingorderandrespect inanyindustry.Justas kingsaresubjecttothe checksandbalancesof kingmakers,whomay deposeorstripthem oftheirkinglyimmunityifthere’sanyabuse.

FRIDAY,AUGUST22,2025

THEPeoples DemocracParty,PDP,hasapproachedtheFederal HighCourtinAbuja seekingtheremoval offourfederallawmakersfromOsun StateovertheirdefecontotheAllProgressivesCongress,APC.

TheaﬀectedlegislatorsareSenator FrancisAdenigbaFadahunsi(OsunEast), SenatorOlubiyiOluwoleFadeyi(Osun Central),Hon.Omirin EmmanuelOlusanya (AtakumosaEast/ WestandIlesaEast/ WestFederalConstuency),andHon.TaofeekAbimbolaAjilesoro(IfeCentral/East/ NorthandSouthFederalConstuency). Infourseparate suitsﬁledonWednesdaybyitsleadcounsel,RaphaelOyewole, thePDPlistedeach lawmakerasthe1st defendant.TheSenatePresidentwas joinedas2nddefendantinthecasesinvolvingthesenators, whiletheSpeakerof theHouseofRepresentaveswasnamed as2nddefendantin thesuitsagainstthe twoHousemembers.

TheNaonalAssembly,theClerkofthe NaonalAssembly, andtheIndependentNaonalElectoral Commission,INEC, werecitedas3rdto 5thdefendantsinall thecases.

ThePDPargued that,inlinewithSecon68(1)(g)ofthe 1999Constuon(as amended),lawmakerswhodefectfrom thepolicalpartyon whoseplaormthey wereelected,without anyevidenceofadivision,merger,orfaconinthatparty,automacallylosetheir seats.

Theopposion partyurgedthecourt todeclarethatthe connuedstayofthe fourlawmakersin oﬃce,aerleaving thePDPfortheAPC, violatestheConstuonandrenderstheir seatsvacantbyoperaonoflaw.

Amongotherreliefs,thePDPasked thecourtfor: Anorderofmandamuscompelling SenatePresident GodswillAkpabioand HouseSpeakerTajudeenAbbastodeclare

•NationalSecretary,AfricanDemocraticCongress(ADC)OgbeniRaufAregbesolawithsomefriendsandfamilymembers duringthe8th-dayFidauprayersheldinhonourofHisRoyalHighness,ObaMunirudeenAdeposiBashorun,theOrugbogboofIjebu-Imoru,recently

theseatsvacant; recvetoINECto conductbye-elecons toﬁlltheaﬀected

constuenciesand senatorialdistricts; AnorderinstructingtheClerkofthe

NaonalAssemblyto stoppayingsalaries, allowances,andother entlementstothe

ANOsunState Magistrates’ Court,sing inOsogboonTuesday remanded25-yearoldYusufIbrahim forallegedlystealing N8.9millionsalesproceedtostakebeng. Ibrahimwasarraignedbeforethe courtwithfriends; AzeezOlaide(23)and OjoTolulopeoneight countborderingon conspiracy,forgery

andstealing. ThePoliceprosecutor,Babatunde Oluokuntoldthe courtthatthetrio conspiredtocommit theoﬀenseon16th January2024atLead WareHouse,Ofatedo,Osogbocontrary toSecon516ofthe CriminalCodecap34 VolII,LawofOsun StateNigeria2002. HeexplainedIbrahim,beinganinventoryoﬃcer,didfraudulentlyproduceand

forgeinvoicedocumentonhismobile phone(Samsung29) withpretensetoobtainmoneyfromone MusbauOlamilekan m’astheCEOofLead WAREHOUSEandsupermarket. Henotedthatthe oﬀencescontravened Secons467,419, 390(9)and383(1)of theCriminalCodecap 34VolII,LawofOsun StateNigeria2002. However,thetrio pleadednotguiltyto thechargedpressed againstthem.

Art/Culture

INthedayswhenlife movedtotherhythm ofthetalkingdrum, wordswerenotjust spoken—theywere lived.Invillagestucked betweenthedenseforestsofIjesa,therolling hillsofIfe,andthequiet farmlandsofIla,proverbswerethecompass ofourcommunies. Elderssatbeneaththe mangotree,childrenat theirfeet,andwitha singleline—“Biabápé lóró,àńpéníòwe…”— aworldofwisdomunfolded. Backthen,tolead meanttolisten.And tolistenmeanttounderstandthepulseof thepeoplethroughthe lensofproverbspassed downfromancestor toancestor.Butsomewherealongthedusty roadofpolicsand moderngovernance,

thosewordsbeganto fade.Andsodidthesoul ofleadership.

Weonceheard:“Agbajoọwọlaﬁńso’ya” —“Itiswithcollecve handsthatwelithe mortar.”Thiswasacallto unity,areminderthatno leaderisgreaterthanthe peopletheyserve.Yet today,powerishoarded, notshared.Collaboraonisviewedasweakness.Decisionsaremade behindlockeddoors,far fromthevoicesinthe marketplace.

Wewerealsotold:“A kìíﬁèyìnṣ’òrùn”—“One doesnotscratchtheback oftheneckbygoingbehindit.”Meaning:do notgoaboutmaersin crookedways.Thisproverbonceguidedkings, chiefs,andcouncilelders intheartofjusce.But inthisneweraofbudgetpaddingandbackdoor

deals,thewisdomhas gonesilent.

Ourforebearsunderstoodthat“Ojúl’ọrun,kì ís’èrè”—“Theskyhas eyes;nothingishidden beneathit.”Transparencywasn’tabuzzword; itwasexpected.Leaderswereheldaccountablenotbypaperreports butbytheconscienceof thevillage.Thepeople watched,andsodidthe gods. Intheabsenceof theseancestraltruths, somethingfragilehas crackedinourcommunies.Fromthebroken promisesoflocalgovernmentstothecrumbling ofcommunaltrust,we feeltheabsenceofold wisdom.Eventradional rulers—oncethecustodiansofbothlandand language—nowspeak moreofcontractsthan character.

lawmakers; Arefundofallsalaries,allowances,and beneﬁtsreceivedby

Ibrahimtoldthe courtthatheused theenresumofthe moneytostakebetng. Thecounseltothe defendants,Barrister Z.TApomadeanoral bailapplicaonthat theaccusedperson shouldbeadmied tobailinthemost liberalterms. However,thepresidingMagistrate,Dr OlusegunAyilaradeniedtheoralbailapplicaon,demanded forformalbailapplicaonandordered

thelawmakersfrom thedatetheydefectedunltheﬁnaljudgment.

Thepartyinsisted thatgranngthereliefssoughtwould strictlyenforceSecon68(1)(g)and(2) oftheConstuon andrestoreconstuonalorderintheNaonalAssembly.

Theoriginatingsummonswere ﬁledundersuit numbersFHC/ABJ/ CS/1725/2025,FHC/ ABJ/CS/1728/2025, FHC/ABJ/ CS/1727/2025, andFHC/ABJ/ CS/1726/2025against Fadahunsi,Fadeyi, Olusanya,andAjilesororespecvely.

thattheyshouldbe remandedinprison. Headjournedthe maertoSeptember 29th2025formenon.

Andyet,allisnotlost. Insomecorners ofOsun,inchurches, mosques,andsllin eveninggatheringsunder pawpawtrees,theold sayingsarewhispered.A marketwomanreminds herapprencethat“Ìjìyà kìíṣet’ọmọènìyànayé nikan”—“Suﬀeringis notreservedonlyforthe childrenofordinarypeople.”Afarmertellshis son,“Tíkòbásíàìlera, akìímọagbáraènìyàn” —“Withouthardship, onecannotmeasurea person’sstrength.”These phrasesareseeds.And theyaresllferle. Perhapswhatwe needtodayisnotjust

policyreformormore infrastructure.Weneed areturntovalue.Toa kindofleadershiprootednotinforeignmanifestos,butinthetested sayingsofourancestors. Imagineifourcommissioners,governors, lawmakers—even chairmenofmotorparks —begantheirmeengs withoneproverb,and trulyletitshapetheir decisions.Whatifthe oathofoﬃceincluded thewisdomofthose whobuiltpalacesbeforeuswithnothingbut words,faith,andclay? Wearenotshort ofknowledge.Weare shortofremembrance.

Yusuf Oketola

THEformerspeaker oftheOsunState HouseofAssembly,Hon.AdejareBello, hasdisclosedthatapart fromroadinfrastructure,GovernorAdemolaAdelekeislaggingbehindinothersectors. Bellosaidhiskins-

manhasnolegacyprojectstopointtooutside theconstruconand rehabilitaonofroads inthestatesinceheassumedoﬃcein2022.

TheformerNigerian AmbassadortoMexico statedthiswhilefeaturingonTVC’sPolicsTonight.

Bellowhileansweringquesonsonwhetherthegovenorisdoing enough,saidtheroad infrastructureprogram oftheincumbentadministraonisfocused onEde,thehometown ofGovernorAdeleke, andOsogbo,thestate capital.

Headdedthattheallocaonscomingfrom thefederalgovernment toOsunarenotcommensuratewiththeprojectsontheground.

Bellosaid,“Adeleke hasdoneverywellinfrastructure-wiseinEde andOsogbo,butI’mnot sureofothercieshav-

ingthesamebeneﬁts. Itisnotevenabout whetherheisbeingselecve,butifyoujuxtaposetheamountof moneycomingintothe statewiththeprojects ontheground,theyare notcommensurate.

“Civilservantsare veryhappywithhimbecauseheispayingthe minimumwage.The tabletheydidinOsun Statehappenstobe oneofthebestinthe wholeofSouthwestand heispayingthearrears ofsalariesowedbythe APCgovernment.But Iwonderifthepeople givecommendaons basedonthegovernor payingsalaries.

“TheGovernor shouldthinkofanother legacyprojectapart fromroadconstrucons andrehabilitaons.We needotherthingsin otherareas.”

andgoodbuildingsin someschools,urging thestategovernorto ﬁndawaytoaddress theissue.

“Lookattheeducaonsector,wedon’t haveteachersorgood buildingsinsomeofthe schoolsandthatisour prioritybecausethatis ourfuture,”Belloadded.

OniftheAPCcan defectAdelekeinthe forthcominggubernatorialelecon,Bellosaid anyonepresentedby theAPCwilldefeatthe incumbentGovernor.

Hesaid,“Icantell youauthoritavelythat APCisreadyforthe elecon.WehavecredibleaspirantsandItell you,anyofthempicked, withoutrancourinthe party,willbeatAdeleke intheelecon.

•OﬃcialsofNationalEmergencyManagementAgency(NEMA)withOsunStateEmergencyManagementAgency(OSEMA)presentingreliefmaterialstoaﬀectedcommunitiesduringthecommunalclashin IfonandIlobuonMonday

TRADITIONALISTS inOsunStatehave havepredictedvictoryforthestateGovernor,AdemolaAdeleke,in thetusslewiththeFederalGovernmentonthe currentwithholdingof theallocaonduetoLocalGovernmentAreasin theState. Thetradionalists gavetheprediconaer consulngIfaoracle,offeredprayersandthrew Kolanut,duringthe grandﬁnaleoftheannualIseseDayFesvalheld inOsogbo,OsunStateon Wednesday.

OSUNDEFENDERreportsthattheallocaons duetolocalgovernments inOsunStatehavebeen withheldsinceFebruary duetotheleadership tusslebetweenthecouncilofficialselectedunder theAllProgressivesCongressandthatofthePeoplesDemocracParty. Thetradionalistsoperangundertheaegies ofTradionalReligion WorshippersAssociaon inOsunState,hadconsultedIfaoracle,offered prayersandthrewKolanuttoconfirmiftheir supplicaonswouldget favourableresponses.

Aertheprayersled byOjugbonaofIleogbo, KayodeOlagunju,had beenconcluded,there wasKolanutdivinaon

whichreturnedvictory forthestateonthethree occasionstheitemswere thrownup.

ThePresident,TradionalRegionWorshippersAssociaoninOsun State,DrOluseyiAtanda, whileexplainingwhy theprayerswereofferedforthereleaseof thefunds,disclosedthat theStateGovernment speciﬁcallyrequestedfor theassistanceofthetradionalistsontheissue.

Atandaalsosaidthat aertheprayerswere oﬀered,therewasaconﬁrmaonthatthefunds wouldbereleased.

He,however,saidIfa gaveawarningthatthe stategovernmentwill notshowgratudeto Isese.

Hefurthersaid, “Whathappenedthere was,theStateGovernmentsolicitedthatwe shouldintervene.They haveaskedtradionaliststopray.Now,we haveprayed.Fortradionalreligion,whether youhavefaithoryou don’thavefaith,afterprayer,wewilldoa checkbythrowingKolanuttoknowwhether ourprayershasbeenacceptedornot.

“SotheﬁrstKolanut thatwasthrowncame withIsegun,“victory.” SoIfasaysthereshallbe victoryforusinOsun.

Ifaalsogaveawarning. Whatisthewarning?Ifa saysthegovernmentof Osunstatewillnotshow gratudetoIsese.”

Speakingonthesigniﬁcanceoftheprayers, SpecialAdvisertothe governoronCulture,Mr. AlexOloke,said,“The prayertheyoﬀeredhere, itwillmovefasterthan fasngandprayers,becausethecomponentof ourprayersystemhasto dowithnature.

“They(tradionalists)haveinstructedthe motherearthwherewe comefrom,andwhere wewillgobackto,that itshouldappealspirituallytoPresidentTinubu andwhoeverisbehind thesiezureofourmoney toreleaseit.Theywillreleaseit.

“Whentheyusedkolanuttoask,itgaveus ‘Isegun,’thatisweare goingtohavevictory overthatissue.Thatis whatifatoldusnowpublicly.”

OSUNDEFENDERreportsthatformertwotermgovernorofOsun State,OgbeniRaufAregbesolawastheﬁrstto declarethecelebraona publicholidayin2014.

Sincethen,Lagos, Ogun,andOyohaveoﬃciallyrecognisedAugust 20asIseseDay,oendeclaringitawork-freeday forpublicservants.

THEOsunState Commandofthe NigeriaSecurity andCivilDefenceCorps (NSCDC)hassought Informaonaboutan 8-year-oldboyfound wanderingthestreets ofOsun.

Accordingtoa statementbytheCommand’sspokesperson, KehindeAdeleke,the teenagerwhosename wasgiven,asElija,was foundwanderingalong Imesi-Ile/Otan-Ileroad.

Adelekenotedthat Elijaclaimedhewas pickedupbyanunidenﬁedmanfrom Auchi,EtsakoWestLocalGovernmentArea ofEdoState,aerhe wassentonanerrand byhismother.

Thestatement reads,“OsunState Command,wishesto informthegeneralpublicthataboynamed Elijah,8yearsold,has beenfoundwandering alongImesiIle/OtanIle RoadinOsunState.

“Thechildwasdiscoveredexhibing signsofconfusionand wasunabletoprovide coherentresponses.

“Theboyrevealed thathehadbeen pickedupbyanunidenﬁedmanfrom Auchi,EtsakoWestLo-

Whenaskedwhich areahethinkthegovernorislacking,the formerspeakersaidthe stateissuﬀeringfrom inadequateteachers

“Themomentanyof themispickedanditis donetransparently,you canbesuretherewon’t beanyrancour.Wehave aleadershipstructure, andwedothingsaccordinglyintheAPC.”

calGovernmentArea ofEdoState.

“Hesaidhismother (whosenameiscurrentlyunknown)had senthimtopurchase anitem,buthewasunabletorecallfurther detailssuchashissurnameorthenamesand contactinformaonof hisparents.

“AccordingtoElijah, hisfatherisafarmer andtheenrefamily residesinAuchi,Edo State.Hefurtherexplainedthattheman whopickedhimup

eventuallydropped himatImesiIle,leaving himstrandedandunsureofhowtoreturn home.”

Thestatementsaid thatthecommandhas beguninvesgaonsto reunitetheboywithhis family.

Adelekeaddedthat Elijahiscurrentlyinthe custodyoftheNSCDC OsunStateCommand, urging“anyonewith credibleinformaon thatcouldhelpreunite himwithhisfamilyto comeforward”.

KazeemBadmus

FRIDAY,AUGUST22,2025

DYusuf Oketola

IRECTORofthe GlobalAﬀairsand SustainableDevelopmentInstute,Osun StateUniversity,Osogbo, Prof.JohnAgbonifo,has faultedNigeria’spiecemealapproachtothe SustainableDevelopmentGoals,warningthat thecountryrisksfailure unlessitembracescollaboraonbetweenthe sciencesandthehumanies.

Agbonifo,whospoke atthe2025Internaonal SustainableDevelopmentDialogue,heldat OsunStateUniversity withthetheme“SustainableDevelopmentinthe AgeofCrises:Humanies,ScienceandaMore EquitableWorld,”said theSDGsareinterlinked andrequireanintegrated response.

Agbonifosaid,“The SDGsareinterlinked.You can’tachieveSDG1on povertyifSDG4oneducaonorSDG5ongenderequalityisignored.A caseofsexualviolence, ifinformallyseledand unpunished,undermines everythingweclaim

aboutjusceandequality.Thesciencesand humaniesmustcollaborate.Soluonsneed tobeinterdisciplinary, inclusive,androotedin compassion.Leaveno oneandnodisciplinebehind.”

Headdedthatthe majordilemmawasthat theSDGsweredesigned forastableworldthatno longerexists.

“Werealisedthat strategiesfromapreviouserawon’tworktoday.Butwe’renotresigningtofate.We’reasking, whatcansllbedone, evennow?”Agbonifo said.

Otherexpertsatthe conference,organisedin collaboraonwithRosa LuxemburgSung, SouthAfrica,warned thatAfrica’sSDGprogress wouldremainelusive withoutradicalrethinking anddeeperpartnerships.

AssociateProfessor ofGlobalSustainableDevelopmentattheUniversityofWarwick,DrFeng Mao,cauonedagainst “helicopterresearch”in Africa.

“ThisisnotaNigeria-

speciﬁcproblem;it’s global.Butwhenforeign expertsﬂyinwithreadymadesoluonswithout engaginglocalpeople,it won’twork.Wemustcocreatesoluons—communies,researchers, andpolicymakerssing togethertosolvecollaboravely,”Maosaid.

AformerDirectorGeneraloftheNigerian InstuteofAdvancedLegalStudies,Prof.MohammedLadan,described Africa’sSDGtrajectoryas “deeplyworrying.”

“Only35percent ofSDGtargetsinAfrica areontrackorshowing moderateprogress.Even moreconcerning,27per

centshowminimalmovement,and80percentof energy-relatedgoalshave regressedbelow2020 levels,”hesaid.

Accordingtohim,Africanowaccountsfornine percentoftheworld’s poor,largelyduetoCOVID-19setbacksandongoingregionalcrises.

“AchievingtheSDGs iscapital-intensive.In Africa,thefundinggapis notonlywidebutgrowing.Withoutsubstanal newinvestments,even modestprogresswillbe diﬃcult,”Ladanwarned, addingthatweakstascalsystemsfurtherunderminemonitoring.

“NosingleAfrican

IOladayoPopoola

NOsunState,the proverb“oneman’s trashisanother man’streasure”has movedfromsayingto realityunderthevisionaryleadershipofGovernorAdemolaJackson NurudeenAdeleke.

ThestatesuccessfullylaunchedtheImoleCircularEconomy andWaste-to-Wealth Training,apioneering iniaveaimedatturningwasteintoproﬁtable opportuniesforyouths andwomen,whileadvancingenvironmental sustainability.

Thetwo-daytraining,whichtookplace onWednesdayand Thursday,13thand14th August2025,atthe OsunStateAssetsManagementBuildingin Abeere,markedamajor stepinOsunState’sclimateaconagendaand commitmenttogreen entrepreneurship.

“Thisismorethan pickingdirt-thisis pickingourfuture,”declaredProfessorChinweObuaku-Igwe,Lead TechnicalConsultant totheGovernoronClimateChangeandRenewableEnergy.“MoneyisinOsunandwecan

generatewealthfrom ourwaste.”

Theprogramcoincidedwiththeone-year anniversaryoftheImole RecyclingHub,acenter dedicatedtogreeninnovaon,recyclingand climate-friendlybusinesssoluons.Parcipants-primarilyyouths andwomen,were trainedin: •Upcyclingdiscardedmaterials •Repurposingbiodegradablewaste •Integrangrenew-

ableenergysoluons intosmallenterprises •Eco-friendlypackagingandsustainable productdesign •Waste-to-energy innovaons

Onthesecondday, aendeesvisitedthe Imole(OsunState)RecyclingHubatTesng Ground,Osogbowitnessinglivedemonstraonsofwastetransformaonprocesses. Theysaworganicwaste convertedintocompost,plascsrecycled

intonewproductsand energy-eﬃcientsolar lanternsproducedfrom recycledmaterials.Each parcipantreceiveda freeImoleSolarLantern,symbolizinga brighter,greenerfuture.

“Thisisnotaﬂashin thepan,”Prof.ObuakuIgweemphasized.“We areinstuonalizing recycling,creangjobs, protecngtheenvironmentandensuringno oneislebehind.In Osuntoday,wasteisno longerwaste-itisraw

Campus Review Campus Review

countrycanachieveall thegoalsinisolaon. Whatweneedisacoordinatedregionaland globaleﬀort,supported byinvestment,innovaon,andaccountability. Whatweneedisnotdespairbutdeterminaon. ThefutureofsustainabledevelopmentinAfricadependsonit,”he stressed.

Climateresilience andurbanisaonalso dominateddiscussions. Prof.GarethDohertyof HarvardUniversityurged Africanciestorethink planningmodels.

“Temperaturesacross Africaarerising.Cies mustbeplannednotjust fortoday,butﬁyyears ahead.Treesarenotdecorave;theyareessenal

infrastructure.Nowisthe metoplantthemand designtheciesoftomorrow,”hesaid,pointingtotheOsunSacred Groveasanexampleof howlandscapesregulate heatandwellbeing.

ButProf.MoisesLino eSilvaoftheFederalUniversityofBahia,Brazil, warnedthattheUNESCO WorldHeritageSitefaces gravethreats.

“Themostserious problemisn’tplasc wasteortreecung;it’s pollutantsfrommining. Yetcultureandspirituality safeguardtheecosystem. TherivergoddessOsun, thesacredartworks,and thepeoplewhoworship thereareallpartofalivingsystemthatprotects theGrove,”Silvasaid.

materialforwealthcreaon.”

Buildingonthesuccessoftheﬁrstedion, thestateispreparing thesecondedionof thetraining,introducingareferralreward system.Eachregisteredparcipantwill beencouragedtorefer atleastonenewparcipant,earning₦300 persuccessfulreferral(equivalentto1kg ofPETboles),further expandingparcipaon andreinforcingOsun’s

greeneconomyecosystem.

Thenextsession willalsoconnuepraccal,hands-onlearning,networkingopportunieswithgreen entrepreneurs,andexposuretocirculareconomybusinessmodels. Bycombiningtraining, incenves,andcommunityengagement,Osun Stateisposioningitself asanaonalleaderin waste-to-wealthinnovaonandclimate-smart entrepreneurship.

Parcipantsfrom theﬁrsttrainingle withcerﬁcates,praccalskills,andrenewed purpose,readytotransformwasteintoincome streams.Theupcoming secondedionpromises tobuildonthisfoundaon,broadeningthe networkofgreenentrepreneursandensuring theprogram’slong-term impact.

Formoreinformaon aboutupcomingtrainingsandparcipaon opportunies,interestedindividualscancontacttheImoleRecycling HubortheOﬃceofthe OsunStateGovernment onClimateChangeand RenewableEnergy,OfﬁceoftheGovernor.

SUPEREagles headcoachEric Chellehasexpressedhisdisappointmentfollowing Nigeria’searlyexit fromthe2024African NaonsChampionship.

Despitetheteam’s strongpedigree,Nigeriafailedtoadvance beyondthegroup stage.

TheEagleslost theiropeningtwo matchesagainstSenegalandSudanbut endedtheirtournamentjourneyona highnote,securinga 2-0victoryoverCongo.GoalsinthesecondhalffromAnas YusufandSikiruAlimi highlightedtheteam’s potenal.

Chellecommendedhisplayersfortheir resilienceanddeter-

TKazeemBadmus

HEAllProgressives Congress(APC) inOsunStatehas slammedtheleadership oftheNigerianBarAssociaon(NBA)overitsleer totheAorneyGeneralof theFederaon,demandingtheimmediaterelease ofthewithheldallocaons meantforlocalgovernmentareasinthestate.

OSUNDEFENDERreportsthattheassociaon haddescribedthewithholdingofthefundsas unconstuonalanda violaonofjudicialpronouncements.

ButtheAPCdescribed theNBAasa‘meddlesome interloper’whoneedlessly dabbledintotheissueof thedelayinthepayment oftheallocaonsforthe localgovernmentforsix monthsrunning.

“Wehadthoughtthat thebody,whichideally ispeopledbyagalaxyof nobleprofessionalsinthe masteryoflaw,wascomingupwithanenactment ofanewlaw.

“Butalas!It’soung wasabundleofdisappointmenttothechagrin oftheright-thinkingmembersofthesociety!”,the APCsaidinastatement byitschairman,Tajudeen Lawal.

Thestronglyworded statementnotedthatthe posionoftheNBAonthe ongoingtusslebetween counciloﬃcialselected undertheAPCandthe PeoplesDemocracParty

minaonintheﬁnal match.“Theyplayed withhonouranddemonstratedtheircapabilies.Ouronlysigniﬁcantregretisthe heavylosstoSudan, butthat’sfootball,” Chellestated,accordingtoCAFonline.

FORMER Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye has conﬁrmed his rerement from professional football, following his exit from Nigeria Premier FootballLeagueside,Enyimba.

The 36-year-old, who joined Nigerian Premier FootballLeaguegiantsEnyimba in December 2024 for the remainder of the 2024/25campaign,le the Peoples Elephant in May uponthecomple onofthe season and the expira on ofhisshort-termcontract.

He subsequently took a swipe at Enyimba over what he described as poor welfare and inconsistent bonus payments duringhis short s nt at the club. “At Enyimba, we were receiving N7,000 a day. Somemes N8,000. It’s noteven stable.Onedayit’sN7k,another day N8k,” Ideye had said on the Bet9ja Home Turfpodcast.

However, his brief spell in the Nigerian top-ﬂight hasturnedouttobehislast in his professional career. Taking to his oﬃcial X account on social media, Ideye revealed, “A er much

(PDP),showedthatthose leadingthebodyhave nothingtooﬀerNigerians.

“ThattheNBAleadershipcoulddescendsolow tohaveillegallyconstuteditselfintoalawcourt wherebyit’sﬁndingitappropriateinitsesmaon todispensesuspicious judgementalsubmission spokevolumeofwhatirredeemablemessthose saddledwiththeresponsibilityofleadingthehighly reveredlegalbodyhas turneditto”.

LawalsaidtheNBA leadershiphasnorightto meddleintotheaﬀairsof OsunState,addingthat, “Itisdisheartening,worrisomeandshamefulthat theNBA,aprofessional

thought and considera on with mixed emo ons, I’ve decidedto re re from professionalfootball.Iwillﬁrst like to thank God for the talent and the long career I’ve enjoyed. I thank my family and friends for their unwavering love, support and understanding ll this day.”

“Thankyou,Nigeria,for the opportunity you gave me to wear the na onal colours and to be among the Super Eagles. Though my measapro-playerhas come to an end, football will always be a part of my lifeasIentermynextchapter,”Ideyeconcluded.

Whilst at Enyimba, Ideye went on to score ﬁve goals in 13 appearances across all compe ons for the Aba-based ou it, though he could not prevent the club’s ouster in thegroupstagesoftheCAF Confedera ons Cup. The coach Stanley Eguma-led side ﬁnished sixth on the NPFLtable,16pointsadri ofchampionsRemoStars.

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bodythathasaburden ofintegrityhangingonits neckbythewayofthe controversythatdoedits eleconthatheraldedthe presentleadershipand theinialschedulingof theholdingofthisyear’s annualconferenceofthe bodyinPortHarcourt,RiversState,beforetheemergencyrulewasintroduced intotheriverinestateand controversiallyshied sametoEnuguStatecould havetheshamelessaudacitytopokeitsnosein amaerthatdoesn’tconcernitinOsunState.

“Intheﬁrstinstance, theNBAisnotapartyto thesuit.Theyhavenolocustoreviewit.TheNBA isnottheSupremeCourt

ofNigeria.Theyhaveno jurisdicontoreviewor eveninterpretthejudgementoftheCourtofAppealTheonlybodythat caninterpretthejudgementsandgiveaﬁnaldecisionistheSupremeCourt: OrikerJev&OrsvIyortom &Ors(2015)NWLR(pt 1483)484maybehelpful totheleadershipofthe NBA”,headded.

TheOsunAPCchairmansaidbydabbling intothemaer,theNBA isworkingoutsideits mandate,addingthatthe professionalbodyhadassumedtheroleoftheSupremeCourtthroughits commentintheleer.

Ideye began his career at local side Bayelsa, before proceeding on to the defunct Ocean Boys. His European sojourn saw him move to Swiss ou it Neuchatel Xamax, before going on to have spells at French ou it FC Sochaux, Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv, West Bromwich Albion, who were in the Premier League at the me, Greek Super League giants Olympiacos, Chinese side TJ Teda, Málaga CF, Tianjin JMT, Aria Saloniki, Goztepe in Turkey, and Al-Yarmouk SC.

He made his debut for the Nigerian na onal team during a 2-1 defeat to Korea Republic in an internaonalfriendlyinNovember 2010, and was also part of theSuperEaglesteamthat claimed theCAFAfricaCup of Na ons tournament in SouthAfricain2013,under the guidance and management of the late Stephen Keshi. In all, he featured in 27 matches for Nigeria, scoringsix mes. Ideye’s club career saw him play a total of 431 games and scoring 155 goals.

“AccordingtotheNBA, theFederalHighCourt andtheCourtofAppeal havealreadyruledonthe LocalGovernmentmaer. Whatsuitdotheywantto ﬁleagain?Dotheywant toappealtotheSupreme Court?Aretheypares inthesuit?Aretheylocal governmentexcos?What istheirlocus?

“TheNBAhasdeliberatelytakenitseyesoﬀ Aorney-Generalofthe Federaonv.AorneyGeneralofAbia&OrsSC/ CV/343/2024,whichis theSupremeCourt’smost recentdecisiononlocal governmentﬁnancialautonomy.

“Noauthorityhasthe righttodoanythingon localgovernmentsorrequestforlocalgovernment fundsEXCEPTlocalgovernmentsthemselves.Not OsunStategovernment, notNBA.Nobodyatall.

“Nomaertheeﬀorts oftheNBAtorewrite thestep-by-stepjudicial acviesandinacvi-

Lawalsaid,“TheNBA istherefore,acngultra viresitspowerswhenit assumedtheposionof theSupremeCourt.What doestheNBAmeanbythe courtgave“tacitrecognion”toAdeleke’sLocal GovernmentCouncilexcoswhichhasnever,upto date,beingasubjectmatterofligaonbeforeany courtinNigeria?Thereis nothinginlawcalled‘tacit recognion’whichthe NBAhas,disingenuously inventedtojusfyitspecuniaryconsideraon.

esorchestratedbythe Adeleke-ledgovernment thatculminatedintothe currentlocalgovernment logjaminOsunStateover thedelayinthepayment ofthelocalgovernment allocaonsinthestate, itisanimpossibleutopia forthepungentlycompromisedandseeminglypecuniarilyinducedNBAcurrentleadershiptoperform theconstuonalrolesof thecourt.”

“Itisappallingthatthe NBAleadershipthatcould notlenditsvoicetocondemntheruthlesskilling ofoneofourreinstated councilchairmen,Hon RemiAbass,thechairman, IrewoleLocalGovernment CouncilAreaofOsunState andothermembersand supportersofourparty bythepolicalhoodlums traceabletothePDPis nowﬁndingitsvoiceto jointhebandwagonsof theenlistedandhired professionalbodiesasa propagandatooltosele apurelyjudicialmaer.

“Inallofthemere repeoussubmission oftheleadershipofthe NBAontheissueatstake, whereliestheposion oftheCourtofAppeal judgementofthe10th ofFebruary,2025which reinstatedtheAPCchairmenandcouncillorswhich thePeoplesDemocrac PartyPDP-ledadministraonofGovernorAdemolaAdelekerefusedto appeal?”,thestatement added.

THEachievementsofformer OsunStategovernor,Rauf Aregbesola,intheeducaonsectorhaveonceagaincome underthespotlight,following growingdebatesaroundthe₦7 billionsmartschoolprojectsof theAbiaStategovernmentunderGovernorAlexO.Many commentatorshavedrawncomparisonsbetweenAregbesola’s legacyof72schoolbuildingsand thecurrentcontroversiessurroundingAbia’sprojects.

Between2010and2018, duringhistwo-termtenureas governorofOsunState,Aregbesolaembarkedonanambiouseducaoninfrastructure programme.Heiniatedthe construconof72newschools acrossthestate,withdesigns thatfeaturedmodernarchitecture,well-furnishedclassrooms, andimprovedfaciliesforstudentsandteachers.Theseprojectswerehailedatthemeasa modelforaddressingeducaonalinfrastructuregapsinNigeria.

Therenewedconversaon beganaerimagesoftheAbia Statesmartschoolprojectssurfacedonline,sparkingcricisms fromcizenswhoquesoned thecost-eﬀecvenessandqualityofthework.Cricsquickly contrastedtheongoingAbia projectwithwhatAregbesola achievedwithlesspublicitybut widerreachduringhisadministraon.

Observersarguethatwhile Aregbesola’sadministraonwas notwithoutcontroversies,his focusonbuildingschoolswas tangibleandvisible.Theformer governorresistedthetemptaon ofinvesnginmereimageprojects.Instead,hisinvestments targetedstructuresthatbecame learning-friendlyenvironments. Theschoolswereequippedwith laboratories,libraries,andrecreaonalfaciliestoprovidea holisclearningexperiencefor childreninOsun.

By JOHN ADEYEMO

Educaonstakeholdershave describedAregbesola’sapproach asvisionary,especiallyatame whenmanystatesreliedheavily on“miraclecentres”toproduce arﬁcialexaminaonresults.Insteadofencouragingsuchshortcuts,heinvestedindurableinfrastructurethatcouldenhance genuinelearningandacademic growth.

CizensinOsunwhobeneﬁttedfromtheschoolsbuiltbetween2010and2018connue topraisetheiniave.Some parentshaverecountedhow thenewschoolsrestoredconﬁdenceinpubliceducaonand reducedthemassmovementof childrentoprivateinstuons. Thisstandsinstarkcontrastto thecricismscurrentlytrailing theAbiasmartschoolprojects.

Inonlinediscussions,severalcommentatorshaveopenly calledforaccountabilityinthe Abiaproject,quesoninghow ₦7billioncouldproducewhat manyseeasunderwhelming outcomes.TheypointtoAregbesola’sachievementofbuilding 72schoolsovereightyearsasa benchmarkformeasuringtheefﬁciencyofgovernanceineduca-

on.

Educaonanalystsfurther highlightthatAregbesola’sstrategywasnotjustaboutnumbers butalsoaboutensuringthateverysenatorialdistrictinOsunhad accesstoworld-classlearningfacilies.Hisadministraonclassiﬁedtheschoolsintoelementary, middle,andhighschoolcategories,ensuringinclusivityacross diﬀerenteducaonallevels.

Beyondthephysicalbuildings,Aregbesolacomplemented hisschoolinfrastructuredrive withpoliciesaimedatboostingliteracyandacademicperformance.Iniaveslikethe OponImo(TabletofKnowledge) programmeintroduceddigital learningtoolstothousandsof students,furtherprovinghisadministraon’scommitmenttoinnovaonineducaon.

Comparavely,theAbiasmart schoolproject,thoughsllinits earlystages,isalreadyfacing backlashoverallegedpoorimplementaon.ManyNigeriansinsist thatthetransparencyandlongtermplanningthatcharacterizedAregbesola’sprojectsshould betheguidingprinciplesforany educaoniniave,parcularly

thosewithsuchheypricetags. SupportersoftheformerOsun governorarguethathislegacyis proofthatwithgenuinepolical will,qualityeducaoninfrastructurecanbedeliveredatasustainablecost.Theyinsistthatthe lessonsfromhiserashouldguide presentandfutureleaderson howbesttochannelresourcesin theinterestofstudents.

ForAbia,thecontroversyhas createdanopportunityfordeeperscrunyofgovernanceand projectexecuon.Cizensare demandingmoredetailedbreakdownsofhowthe₦7billion smartschoolfundswereallocatedandwhytheresultsappear disproporonatetotheinvestment.

Meanwhile,thedebateconnuestorippleacrosssocial mediaandpublicforums,with Aregbesola’snamefrequently menonedasareferencepoint forimpaculgovernanceineducaon.His72schoolbuildings standasvisiblemonumentsto whatmanyconsiderprudentand people-orientedleadership.

AstheAbiagovernmentfacesrisingpressuretojusfyits spending,educaonwatchersbelievethecomparisonwithOsun’s pastexperiencemayyetforcea rethinkinhowpublicfundsare managedineducaon.Intheend, cizenshopethatleadersacross Nigeriawilldrawinspiraonfrom modelslikeAregbesola’s,where accountability,innovaon,and sustainabilitywereattheheartof educaondevelopment.