SOUTH-WEST PDP BERATES ADELEKE FOR ENDORSING TINUBU
•Interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in a group photograph with executives of the party in Lagos State, after a meeting, recently
South-West PDP Berates Adeleke For Endorsing Tinubu
LEADERS of the Peoples Democra c Party in the Southwest region have berated Governor Ademola Adeleke for endorsing the re-elec on bid of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
A stakeholder in the party, a professor of Poli cal Science at the University of Ilorin, Gbade Ojo, and the South-West caucus of the PDP have berated Adeleke Reac ng, Ojo, who was Chief of Staff to the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said the step taken was an aberra on. The professor said: “It is an aberraon in a democracy. You work for a presiden al candidate of another poli cal party only if yours doesn’t have an aspirant. What a height of an -party ac vity! It is poli cally absurd.”
Also, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the South-West, Sanya Atofara in an interview, said Adeleke was on his own. He said: “I have no reac on to that. He has fundamental rights to do what he wants. The step is personal. The step doesn’t represent the posi on of the PDP in the South-West.
In the same vein, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi, yesterday, said Adeleke might be the loser in endorsing Tinubu’s re-elec on bid if he (governor) did not seal a concrete agreement with the President before the public announcement.
Farounbi, who also hails from Osun State, said the declara on would gladden Tinubu, no ng that the state would be cri cal to his victory in 2027.
The elder statesman, however, warned that the step of the governor might boomerang if there was no proper agreement reached with the President, saying that concurrence and an assurance of reciprocal support was very important.
Also, former Deputy Na onal Chairman of the PDP, Bode George, has distanced the party’s na onal leadership from the recent endorsement of Tinubu’s re-elec on bid by Adeleke, and the state chapter of the PDP. George, while speaking ahead of the party’s Na onal Execu ve Commi ee (NEC) mee ng
scheduled for tomorrow, declared that the PDP remains firmly opposed to Tinubu’s re-elec on in 2027, maintaining that the President is “a bad product” that Nigerians must reject at the next polls.
According to him, the PDP is determined to present a “viable and formidable candidate” capable of dislodging Tinubu from Aso Rock by May 29, 2027.
In another development, residents of Osun have reacted with mixed reac ons following the
communiqué issued by the state PDP leadership caucus and Governor Adeleke, which affirmed the governor’s con nued stay in the party and his endorsement for reelec on in 2026. The communiqué, released on Monday, July 21, 2025, reportedly came a er extensive consulta ons across the state, acknowledged Osun as the ancestral home of President Bola Tinubu, and also declared support for his reelec on bid in 2027.
In their communiqué,
the PDP leadership reaffirmed Governor Adeleke as the party’s flagbearer for the 2026 governorship elec on and directed all members to remain in the PDP.
The PDP caucus revealed that despite widespread loyalty to Governor Adeleke, most party members were not happy with the idea of his possible defec on, and cited hos lity from some APC leaders as a reason to remain in the PDP.
They further condemned the APC figures
who publicly cri cised the governor over reports of poten al defecon, adding that Adeleke was cas gated both on na onal television and social media.
Also, many residents described the resolu ons as a stabilising move following weeks of poli cal uncertainty triggered by specula on of Governor Adeleke’s defec on to the APC.
Taiwo Adewale, a trader at Owode-Ede market, said, “We have been confused. Now that the governor is stay-
Osun To Commence Data Capturing, Profiling Of PWDs
THE Osun State Government has announced that it is set to commence the data capturing and profiling of Persons With Disabili es in the state.
The Execu ve Secretary, Osun State Bureau of Persons With Disabili es, Mr Ayobami Oyetunde, stated this on Tuesday during the launching of Standard Opera ng Procedure, a mul -sectoral survivor-centered guideline for responding to Gender-Based Violence and related ma ers in Osun State by a nongovernmental organisaon, Centre for Women’s Health and Informa on.
Oyetunde said the state government will provide Iden fica on Cards to Persons With Disabili es for them to be recognised anywhere.
Oyetunde said the book by CEWHIN is a procedural step towards tackling issues that may arise as a result of discriminaon against women and children with disabili es.
He added that Governor Ademola Adeleke is
relessly working to provide meaningful lives for People With Disabili es in Osun.
He said, “We are trying to put all necessary logis cs together so that we can start the profiling. We are trying to put it in our 2026 budget, although the government has promised to give us something so that we can start, but it will be more effec ve by next year, and it’s going to be con nuous.
“The book launch is being called ‘Standard Opera ng Procedures’.
It is the combina on of all MDAs, Ministries, and Parastatals that are working towards a meaningful life for Persons With Disa-
bili es, especially women and girls.
“It is a procedural step towards tackling issues that may arise as a result of discrimina on against women and children with disability. Able women are also part of it.
“We have to appreciate CEWHIN for launching this book for the usefulness of everybody, especially in Osun State, on how to handle any issue that may arise as a result of violence against women and girls.
“With the collaboraon of Osun State Bureau of Persons With Disability, with the Ministry of Jus ce, where we have a legal luminary who is in charge of anything
that comes as a result of discrimina on against women with disability, it is going to help a lot. It will help people to know that Governor Ademola Adeleke is relessly working to provide meaningful lives for Persons With Disability in Osun.
“My organisa on was created as a result of the passage of a bill into law by the Osun State House of Assembly and the agency was created as a result of approval by the state governor because he knows that it is very important to make life meaningful and he has been trying his best to see that Persons With Disability are living a very comfortable life.”
ing in PDP, we can focus on the elec on.”
Saheed Oladimeji, a youth leader in Ejigbo Local Government Area, said, “Some APC leaders insulted the governor online. We felt betrayed.”
The communiqué also followed the recent resigna on of prominent PDP chie ains such as Senator Francis Fadahunsi, Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, Sanya Omirin, and Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro.
The move, many poli cal observers in the state saw as a fallout from growing discontent within the PDP ranks.
Taiwo Alao, a re red teacher and resident of Osogbo, expressed cauous op mism.
“Let the governor con nue his Five Point Agenda. But we also need assurances that the infigh ng won’t return.”
A community leader in Ede, Chief Olatunji Akanbi, sued for peace and unity within the ranks of the poli cal pares.
He said, “This is not the me for division. Let all par es show maturity. Poli cs is not a do or die affair.”
Also, a member of the PDP who do not want his name in print chided the party leaders for adop ng Tinubu as their presiden al candidate for 2027 amidst the local government tussle between the two par es in the state.
“I’m ashamed of our leaders. They do not love the masses. They are endorsing someone who has been fueling the local government crisis in the last six months. We hope they will change and consider those suffering at the grassroots,” the party member stated.
Yusuf Oketola
Kazeem Badmus
•Bode George•Sanya Atofarati•Gbade Ojo
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2025 - THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025
IN Nigeria, many poli cal par es are perceived to have lost their core principles and ideological moorings. This is evidenced by the prevalence of “cross-carpe ng,” where poli cians switch par es without a strong ideological basis, and a focus on personal gain over party pla orms. This phenomenon weakens party ins tu ons, hinders the development of strong, ideologically-driven par es, and ul mately undermines democra c consolida on.
The absence of any ideologically-driven focus is not just an academic issue, it is clearly a key factor in Nigeria’s under-performance. Poli cal par es in the real sense of the word are expected to produce data driven naviga on to create a be er society. Much of the great advances that have occurred in the past one hundred and fi y years or so have come from the polical manifestos of poli cal par es whether or not they actually win elec ons and get into office to effect such programs. Par es in office o en raid or poach ideas from the par es they defeated during the elec ons.
Poli cal par es in Nigeria were
LParty Politics And Death Of Political Ideology
not always like this. For example in the first and second republics the par es had properly structured research departments. At that me the research departments were actually the engine rooms of the poli cal par es. If in doubt you can always go into the archives and look at the manifestos of the par es in the 1950s and 1960s and also the poli cal par es which succeeded them during the all too brief second republic. They were actually really interested in the process of development and were focused on the crea on of jobs as well as the development of human capital at the
founda on towards achieving sustainable development.
Today that is all gone, it has been replaced by the poli cal economy of rent-seeking and a stampede to drink from a diminishing trough. This is why the country has become the poverty capital of the world with millions trapped in mul dimensional poverty, a shrinking middle class and mass haplessness. The way out is to develop a proper and unambiguously clear data driven alterna ve perspecve. At a cri cal juncture in the history of na ons this is what has been and must be done. The alterna ve is the con nuous and slow
The Discourse
“The real issue in Nigeria today is how to rebuild purchasing power parity thereby waging a war on poverty and developing human capital to achieve sustainable development. Those who are presenting themselves as an alternative should focus on this and get their messages across to the electorate”
erosion of both democra c and human values. This alterna ve must be prevented.
The real issue in Nigeria today is how to rebuild purchasing power parity thereby waging a war on poverty and developing human capital to achieve sustainable development. Those who are presenting themselves as an alterna ve should focus on this and get their messages across to the electorate.
The situa on is far more perilous than it’s been taken before and a new program based on a radical departure from a dismal past must now be worked out and the public carried along. There is no other feasible course of ac on to shore up our democracy.
Japa: Raped, Bound And Beaten
By Funke Egbemode
AZY husbands are ‘flying’ their wives to Syria to ‘work’. Greedy aunts and shortsighted mothers are pushing their children to go to Libya, Egypt, Mali, Iraq to do jobs that even they do not understand. The terrorism of the Sahel is an a rac on for desperate Nigerians.
Nigeria is bad. It is not conducive for anything. In fact, you cannot realize any of your dreams here. Can you even dream here, let alone make them come true? This is the worst country a baby can be born to. These days, there are no good tes monies coming from our altars. Everybody wants to leave and in droves, they have le . Today, Nigeria is lacking every professional, from shoemakers to nurses. Both young and old will tell you that it is be er to go ‘abroad’ to clean snot than to be a doctor in Nigeria. But how has the market been for those who le the hell this place is?
Her boss raped her at gunpoint and when he found out she was pregnant, he forced her to have an abor on.
For three days a er the invasion of her body (the abor on), she could neither sit down, bend or stand straight. Weeks after, her menstrua on was s ll missing. So, what exactly was the violent procedure performed on her if her monthly period was missing? The lady is s ll in excrucia ng pain. She is only 27, a Nigerian, domes c worker in Iraq. Iraq? Yes. That Iraq that was all about wars and violence, bombed soldiers, dead women, children, the aged, the young. That Iraq is where 5,000 Nigerian women are, stuck like the akudaaya, the living dead. They are neither Iraqi nor Nigerians.
According to an Al Jazeera report, the woman in the story, Agnes (real name withheld) is one of thousands caught in the transac onal labour network run by some opportunists who peddle the work-abroadand-earn-dollars to Nigerians, those who
“He who sells sand as brown sugar will receive stones as payment”. This proverb is for the local agents who are recruiting Nigerians to become ‘shagalas’ (house workers in Arabic). They must be rounded up both in the court of law and in the court of public opinion. If they escape the present karma, how about tomorrow’s?”
believe that Nigeria is the worst place to be born or live. This ring of slave traders (I am calling a spade by its name) sweet-talks women into believing that Iraq is the Eldorado they had been dreaming of.
How did they find themselves in Iraq?
The vic ms and their gullible families sell off proper es to process visas, pay for this, for that and for flight ckets. The travellers are sent, or they unknowingly, sell themselves into interna onal servitude. I insist, it is slave trade. Once in Iraq, these modern day slaves are made to sign two-year contracts with recruitment firms who assign them to homes and ins tu ons where they are made to work 18-20 hours daily for a monthly salary of $200-$250.
Imagine the long hours, the s3xual abuse, the loneliness. Some of them are never heard or seen again, like the one sent to be a caregiver by her husband to Iraq. What kind of man sends his wife to be a caregiver in Iraq of all places? The man should be castrated; he deserves to be a eunuch. I would have said the woman, too, should be whipped on her bare bu ocks for agreeing to go on the suicide mission. Except that she died in Iraq.
Yes, she died, and the husband who sent her there could not afford to bring her body back to her children and parents for burial. Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) had to step in to bring the corpse back to
Nigeria. The poor commission is stuck with rescuing both the dead and the living from different corners of the earth.
Like Agnes, several Nigerian women are living like half-dead in the Middle East. They are kept in hostels or homes where they are barely fed. They are beaten black and blue if they protest their living condi ons. They work long ungodly hours and have no access to medical care. They cannot report the abuse to the authori es. How exactly are these ones different from the slaves who work on sugar cane planta on all through the slavery and slave trade years. Well, except that today’s vic ms actually pay their ways into servitude.
Agnes said she paid N100,000 to a recrui ng agent, hopped on a plane into the plain pain she now doesn’t know how to escape.
There is another related painful episode. Nigeria in April received 231 ci zens criminally moved to Ghana under the guise of all
kinds of fake job offers. Some were promised lucra ve jobs working on mines. Many were recruited for cybercrime opera ons. The recrui ng syndicate was reportedly opera ng from a certain 50-house estate in Ghana. Precisely in Kumasi. Fake job offers by Nigerians exploi ng fellow countrymen for money. Some of the vic ms from Ghana paid up to N3 million just to relocate. Traffickers made all the money, preying on the ignorance and greed of those who could pass as their nephews or nieces. They lock the vic ms up, use them for whatever suited their sick tastes. Vic ms recruited from rural backgrounds are taken to dreaded shrines to take oaths that keep them from running away from their captors. Their passports are seized, their phones smashed. They are beaten and starved to keep them submissive.
OSUN DEFENDER
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, Off Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State.
ISSN : 0794-8050
Telephone : 0809-301-9152
I just got another report of yet another returnee who came back to Nigeria without her mind. Her family, s ll as poor as she le them, are now trying to raise funds to check her into a psychiatric ward. Yet, people con nue to leave; in droves, too. Nigeria should be worried because it is worn thin. Fashion designers can’t find appren ce or workers. Beau cians lose their young appren ce in days. Was it not just a decade ago that young men threatened women’s enclave of tying gele and donning make-up? These days, it’s hard to find a boy or girl who wants to learn a trade or prac se such ‘menial job’.
Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail : osundefenderhq@gmail.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com
All correspondence to the above email addresses.
•Read full article on www.osundefender.com
•Published in Nigerian Tribune of May 28, 2025.
• Egbemode is a columnist, writer and journalist.
How Oyetola Cleared Aregbesola Over Modulated Salary Controversy
Yusuf Oketola
THE issue of the modulated salary adopted by the administra on of former governor Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State during the economic recession that hit the country between 2013 and 2014 has con nued to be a major contending issue within and outside the state’s polical space par cularly among the arch rivals who perceive the former Interior minister as a threat.
Following the announcement of Aregbesola as the Interim Na onal Secretary of the African Democra c Congress (ADC) the issue of the modulated salary which many regards as half salary resurfaced.
But during the heat
Tourism: Osun To Host First Tourist Show
Kazeem Badmus
THE Osun State Government has sought partnership and collabora ons from stakeholders in the tourist business in developing and reviving moribund tourist sites across the state.
According to the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Abiodun Ojo, the responsibility in developing the tourism sector is to create an enabling environment through provision of necessary infrastructure for the business to thrive.
He stated this during a media parley on Osun Extravaganza and Mega Expo 2025 in Osogbo, on Tuesday.
Ahead of the event scheduled to take place between Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th of August, 2025, Ojo posited that par cipants and the public should expect of the event including exhibions, cultural showcases, networking sessions, business opportuni es, entertainment, and more.
The Commissioner noted that the event is the first of its kind and a pla orm for connec ng indigenous people/communi es and tourism professionals from across Nigeria and African con nent.
The text of the conference reads partly: “Osun Extravaganza and Mega Expo 2025, being the first of its kind, is a premier pla orm for connec ng indigenous people/communi es, industry leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and tourism profession-
als from across Nigeria and the African con nent.
Set against the rich cultural tapestry and natural beauty of Osun State, this expo is poised to redefine the future of tourism in our region.
“As global trends connue to shi towards sustainable tourism, authenc cultural experiences, and innova ve travel soluons, we believe the me is now to posi on Nigeria and Osun in par cular at the heart of Africa’s tour-
ism renaissance through the following ac vi es.
“Youth Tourism Challenge, Osun Cycling Tourism Challenge, Historical Tour of Osun, Corporate Business Presenta ons, Nigeria Cuisines Training / Food Caravan Experience and Cultural / Total Theatrics Performance & Award Night.”
ing his predecessor never paid half salaries to the en re civil servants in the state. Oyetola who served as Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff for eight years explained that the decision was a collec ve agreement between the government and the workers. He a ributed the situa on to the economic downturn at the me.
“We didn’t pay half salary. We paid modulated salary. Let me explain, level one to seven has full salary, we are not owing anybody. From level
Chasing The Dream: African Youth Migration And The Myth Of ‘Outside’ Art/Culture
IN the minds of many African youths, the no on of “outside” has become synonymous with success, prosperity, and a be er life. The idea of migrating to Europe, America, or other parts of the world has become an obsession, driving many young people to risk life and limb in pursuit of their dreams. But what drives this desire to migrate, and what are the reali es that await these young people?
For many African youths, the West represents a land of opportunity, where dreams can be achieved and success is within reach.
The media o en portrays a glamorized version of life in the West, showcasing the wealth,
luxury, and freedom that come with living in these countries. Social media pla orms are filled with images of successful Africans who have made it abroad, further fueling the desire to migrate. But beneath the surface, the reality is o en far more complex and nuanced. Migra on is not always the easy way out that many young people imagine. The journey is o en fraught with danger, from treacherous desert crossings to perilous sea voyages. Many young people lose their lives in the pursuit of a be er life, while others are exploited and abused by traffickers and smugglers. Even for those who make it to their des naon countries, the reality is o en far from the
dream. Many migrants face racism, xenophobia, and economic hardship, struggling to make ends meet in a foreign land.
The myth of “outside” is a powerful one, perpetuated by the media and social media. It suggests that success and prosperity are only achievable outside of Africa, and that the con nent is inherently flawed and incapable of producing successful individuals. But this myth ignores the many success stories that exist within Africa, the vibrant cultures, and the resilience of African people. It also overlooks the challenges that migrants face in foreign lands, and the sacrifices they must make to achieve their goals.
African youths are not
eight to ten were paid 75 percent. It is only level 12 above that earned 50 percent salary. When there was economic downturn, it was a joint decision between the workers and the government.
“There was a commi ee that was set up, the Comrade Hassan Sunmonu as the chairman where we resolved that rather than laying off workers, we believe the situa on we found ourselves is temporary. Let every worker s ll be on the payroll and have what is available. There was a commi ee that now sit on what is coming from both the federal alloca on and the Internal Revenue Genera on (IGR) in such away that is allocated on basis of what is available and we give priority to payment of salary and pensioners.
“It is not the queson of half salary all through. Having said that, I believe the issue of loan is not necessarily not inability to pay salary. The loan we obtain has to do with infrastructure. We cannot use that money to pay salary anyway. If we do that there will be an infrac on,” Oyetola hinted.
just passive recipients of circumstance; they are ac ve agents of change.
Many young people are choosing to stay on the con nent, driven by a desire to make a difference in their communies and contribute to the development of their countries. They are innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders, working to create posi ve change and build a be er future for themselves and their communi es.
The desire to migrate is a complex issue, driven by a range of factors, including economic hard-
ship, lack of opportunies, and the allure of the West. But as African youths, we must be aware of the harsh reali es that await us outside of the con nent. We must also recognize the poten al that exists within Africa, and work to build a be er future for ourselves and our communi es. By challenging the myth of “outside” and celebra ng the successes that exist within Africa, we can create a more nuanced understanding of migra on and its mo va ons.
•Chairman, Omoluabi Progressives, Alhaji Azeez Adesiji, addressing members of the tendency at the Oranmiyan House, Osogbo, on Tuesday
Photo: Shola Aderinto
up of 2018 governorship poll in Osun state, the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and Aregbesola’s successor,
Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola clarified the whole process, say-
Adeleke Lagging Behind In Education, Agriculture, Others – ADC
Yusuf Oketola
THE African Democra c Congress (ADC) has berated Governor Ademola Adeleke for not giving premium a en on to educa on and agriculture in Osun State.
Chairman of the party in the state, Dr Charles Omidiji stated this while assessing the Adeleke administra on in the last two and half years in an exclusive interview with OSUN DEFENDER recently.
He posited that the Governor is only building roads and flyovers while losing focus in strengthening the educa on and agriculture sectors.
According to Omidiji, there are many problems in Osun educa on sector despite
4
the recent performance of students in external examina ons.
“Well, as for Gover-
nor Adeleke, when we talk of Infrastructure, I think he is performing. Apart from Infra-
structure, he is lacking in other areas such as educa on. Though our students are the
best now but in educa on there are many problems now. Even in security there s ll
Osun Federal Lawmakers Quit PDP, Abandon Adeleke
Kazeem Badmus
Agale of defecon has hit the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democra c Party, as no less than four federal lawmakers elected under the party have resigned their appointments within a week.
The situa on, political analysts said may cost the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke his re-elecon bid.
The lawmaker represen ng Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, on Saturday, July 19, resigned from the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP).
In his resigna on le er dated June 12, 2025, Fadahunsi said his decision was due to irreparable, irreconcilable differences and protracted legal ba les that have bedeviled the party at the Na onal level.
The le er was addressed to the PDP ward party chairman, Ward 4, Obokun Local Government Area, Osun State.
The le er read, “I wish to formally no fy you that I am resigning my Membership of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) with immediate effect, due to the irreparable, irreconcilable differences and protracted
legal ba les that have bedeviled the party at the Na onal level after the 2023 general elec ons.
“This was concluded a er consulta on and engagement with my poli cal associates, family, and friends.
“It is my wish that you accept my resigna on in good faith.”
Less than three hours a er Fadahunsi’s le er surfaced online, another serving Senator under the PDP, Olubiyi Fadeyi also resigned his membership of the party.
Fadeyi who is represen ng Osun Central Senatorial District, in his resigna on le er, cited irreconcilable internal crisis within the party.
The le er dated 12th June, 2025, and addressed to the PDP Ward 3 Chairman in Oke-Ejigbo, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, states that the lawmaker’s decision to quit the party was borne out of the deep division and court-induced fac onalism that have plagued the PDP at the na onal level in the last three years.
According to the lawmaker, “Irreconcilable differences and irreparable division that have emerged and court cases and counter court cases in the last 3 years, which have created fac ons in the party at the na-
onal level,” informed his decision to resign with immediate effect.
The senator, who chairs the Senate Commi ee on Environment, disclosed that his decision came a er “consulta on and engagement with my poli cal associates, family and friends.”
In a similar development, the member of the House of Representa ves represen ng Ife Federal Cons tuency of Osun State, Hon. Taofeek Ajilesoro, and the lawmaker represen ng Ijesha South federal cons tuency, Sanya Omirin, have also resigned their membership of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP).
The federal House of Representa ves members joined their colleague, Wole Oke,
represen ng Obokun/ Oriade federal cons tuency, who had in April 2025 dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress.
In a le er dated Tuesday, July 22nd, and addressed to the Chairman of the party in Ilare Ward II, Ife Central Local Government, Ajilesoro cited internal wrangling within the party as the reason for his exit.
The le er reads, “Please accept this le er as formal nofica on of my resigna on from the People’s Democra c Party (PDP), effec ve immediately.
“This decision, though difficult, has become necessary due to the persistent internal conflicts, deepseated divisions, and the pervasive culture of legal disputes that have unfortunately
come to characterize the party.
“These factors have made it increasingly challenging for me to reconcile my con nued membership with my personal convicons and aspira ons for effec ve governance.
“I extend my gratude for the opportunity to have served within the party. I trust you will accept my resigna on in the spirit in which it is given,” Ajilesoro noted.
OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that more lawmakers will soon announce their resigna on from the PDP.
Meanwhile, a poli cal analyst, Sowunmi Ayobami, said the defec on of the lawmakers may not bode well for the re-elec on bid of Governor Adeleke.
Ayobami said those who have resigned their membership of the party were key figures of the PDP in Osun East, no ng that it may be hard for the governor to get a good turnout in the senatorial district during next year’s governorship elec on.
“This is not looking good for Mr Governor. Imagine his soldiers leaving him a few months before the gubernatorial elec on. Governor Adeleke needs to sit down and restrategise if he really wants to return to Abere,” Ayobami said.
many problems and in other aspects. Also, he is having some hitch in agriculture. We will come to fix all what remain for him to do,” he stated.
Also, the Chief Execu ve Officer, Naonal Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, and governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji, has disclosed that Osun State electorates would reject Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-elec on bid over the mismanagement of huge resources accrued to the state in the last 30 months.
Oyebamiji disclosed that Osun has been receiving financial rainfall of over 300 per cent of what it used to receive, yet nothing to show for the humongous alloca on by the incumbent government.
Speaking during the consulta on visits to Ife Federal Cons tuency, Oyebamiji said the affairs of the state had been prac cally run aground under the current government as manifested in the poor funding of educa on, health, infrastructure and key sectors in the state.
“Today, Osun is earning more than 300 per cent of what it used to get, and everyone can a est that what is on the ground does not commensurate with the massive earnings.”
“The state and local governments in Osun have received close to N1 trillion in the last 30 months of Governor Adeleke, and yet the state has not been able to recruit teachers and health workers to improve the well-being of the ci zens.
“It is important for us to use whatever comes in as revenue, both at the na onal and state to be er the lives of our people. It is essen al for us to use our resources judiciously so that our people can benefit from the dividends of democracy. That is my mo va on for being in the governorship race.”
All efforts to get the reac on of the comm. for Informa on and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi proved abor ve.
•Pastor Akintola James, proprietor, Good Tidings School, Osogbo praying for thee graduating student of the school during their prize-giving day on Monday
Photo Shola Aderinto
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2025 - THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025
100 OAU Students, 22 Others Win Scholarship Awards
IN a powerful demonstra on of commitment to educa on, community upli ment, and youth empowerment, the Tim Akano Foundaon (TAF) has awarded scholarships and digital skill opportuni es to a total of 122 students across Osun State and Obafemi Awolowo University in June 2025.
Driven by personal experience and a deep sense of responsibility to his roots, Mr. Tim Akano awarded scholarships to 22 outstanding undergraduates with first-class and second-class upper grades from Oluponna, Iwo, Ile Ogbo, Kuta, and Telemu community.
The scholarship presenta on took place on Sunday June 1st 2025, at Aipate Bap st Church, Iwo, As a beneficiary of community sacrifice, where men once contributed ₦10 and women contributed ₦5 in 1976 to establish Oluponna Community High School.
The Founder, Tim Akano Founda on, Mr. Akano emphasized how that singular act of community generosity
changed the trajectory of his life, for good, forever:
“That school gave me access to quality secondary educa on, If not for that collec ve sacrifice, I would have ended up as a trader, a hunter or a tailor. Indeed, I am a product of God and people’s generosity. That’s why I’m convinced that when we give people the opportunity to be properly educated, beyond the sky is their limit.”
In recogni on of his generosity and visionary leadership, the Federaon of Ayedire Student Union consis ng of students from Oluponna Iwo Ileogbo Kuta Telemu
and environ presented him with an award of Excellence as Community Role Model.
The Tim Akano Founda on earlier adopted Bap st Day School, Oluponna, the primary school he a ended and provided about 300 students with two Uniforms each, and exercise books.
He also provided boreholes; toilets and fence for the school.The school will con nue to benefit from Tim Akano Founda on for life.
As part of his con nuous investment in community development, Mr. Akano also donated his
en re May 2025 salary on charity to his community which includes but is not limited to the financial support to build a JAMB, CBT CENTER at Aipate Bap st Church.
The goal is to solve a major challenge for young students who previously had to travel long distances, o en under unsafe condi ons to sit for their JAMB examinaons in Ibadan or other far loca ons.
With the JAMB CENTER under construc on at Aipate Bap st Church, all school leavers wri ng JAMB in our community don’t have to travel outside of our community to
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TKazeem Badmus
HE Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has disclosed that Governor Ademola Adeleke was rejected because he was a liability that would hurt the party’s integrity.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, on Wednesday in Osogbo, the APC alleged that it was the fear of the impending 2026 governorship elecon defeat that mo vated Governor Adeleke to desperately seek asylum in the APC.
It would be recalled that Adeleke and the leadership of the Peoples Democra c Party, in a communiqué released a er a mee ng, decried the resistance against the planned defec on of Governor Adeleke to the APC.
Lawal said, “We state first of all that the highly informed Osun State public, who are aware that it was the fear of the impending 2026 elec on defeat that mo vated the governor to desperately seek in our party an asylum for his poli cal survival in 2026, are ex-
cited about the measured treatment meted to the Osun State governor and his desperate party men.
“It is no longer news that the Osun PDP has become a leprous house deserted by decent policians with the inten on to serve the people.
“From 2023, when the party began to morally emaciate and became a war loot of the Adeleke dynasty, bright minds and people with good names to protect, who could not tolerate the deceit, shenanigans, and high-level corrup on and brigandage the Adeleke government represents, daily troop out from the tattered umbrella into our party, thus leaving the PDP with carcasses and poli cal dregs with no structure and hope to retain power in future elecons.
“Therefore, the selfadula on of the PDP caucus that it remains the most popular party in Osun State is merely selfconsolatory, as the claim could not be substanated with facts.”
While maintaining that a poli cal party is open to all interested pares, the Osun APC chair-
•Adeleke
man noted that Governor Adeleke’s entry is suspected and intended to tarnish the image of the party and create a public percep on crisis for it.
He also claimed that Governor Adeleke was running from the wrath of the state’s electorate a er mismanaging almost N1 trillion in 30 months and was looking for cover in the APC.
He said, “Those who knew Governor Adeleke is running from the wrath of the Osun State electorate, a er mismanaging close to N1 trillion in 30 months
write JAMB.
In his speech, Tim Akano challenged the students from Oluponna and its environ to work harder to change the narra ve of the community from Agrarian to Technopreneurship.
Tim Akano announced his desire to mentor at least 100 students from the community to greatness, reaching a height far higher than the one he has reached.
Further advancing his mission to bridge the digital divide, the founda on also provided 100 students from the Department of Interna onal Rela ons at Obafemi Awolowo University with scholarships to acquire prac cal skills in Digital Marke ng.
Upon comple ng their training, the stu-
dents will be onboard immediately as Affiliate Marketers for New Horizons. This will allow them to earn commissions and begin genera ng income from their newly acquired skills.
This was part of his support to his alma mata, Obafemi Awololo university and department of interna onal Rela ons, where he has adopted a total of ten former and current students as his children, providing them with a life-long sundry opportuni es.
“Each me I remember the smallness, vulnerability and impermanence of human beings in this vastness, I feel humbled and want to quickly touch as many lives as I come in contact with before night comes”, says Akano.
Why We Rejected Adeleke’s Move To Our Party - Osun APC
of his administra on and is only looking for a cover in the APC to escape the people’s anger at the poll in 2026, are the ones who rejected his repugnant overtures and decep ve proposal to join the APC.
“A poli cal party is a free-exit-free-entry arrangement; therefore, everyone is welcome. However, in a situa on where an entry is suspected to tarnish the image of the party and create a public percep on crisis for it, the party is at will to foreclose such a destrucve entry, as was the case
in the instance of Adeleke’s a empt to smuggle himself into our party.”
He added that Adeleke’s inten on for joining the APC was decep ve and was solely because of the troubled re-elec on bid, and therefore rejected.
“Those who rejected the defec on of Adeleke to the APC knew the inten on was decep ve and was solely because of the troubled re-elec on bid of the governor, having regard that the same PDP is daily recrui ng canvassers and opinion moulders
to tarnish the image of President Tinubu on the radio and television in the state, while he is all over Abuja pretending to be a friend of the President,” he added.
The Osun APC chairman also accused Governor Adeleke of cri cising President Bola Tinubu.
“You cannot be cri cizing, rubbishing, and abusing the na onal leader of our party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the corners of the state and at the same me be pu ng up a friendly posture, all in the interest of your desperate re-elec on bid, which has hit a rock before the elecon proper.
“A true lover of President Tinubu would not warehouse public resources while ci zens languish and suffer economic depriva on.
“A true lover of Tinubu would use the commonwealth of the people, which has increased by over 300 per cent since assump on of office of the current administra on, to equip hospitals, provide agricultural and food subsidies, and fund key sectors of the economy to improve the well-being of the ci zens,” he concluded.
Yusuf Oketola
TributeNews
Fasure Loses Mother In-law
THE death has been announced of Mrs Adetutu Florence Ogunlaja in Osogbo on June 24, 2025. She was 80 years old.
Mrs Ogunlaja was born in Lagos in 1945 to Chief Johnson and Mrs Modupe Jeariogbe of Abeokuta, Ogun State. She was a member of Saint Jude’s Anglican Church, Ebute Meta, Lagos.
She was married to High Chief Fatai Ogunlaja, the Lisa of Iperu Remo, Ogun State. She is survived by Remilekun Gbeleyi, Adebowale Ogunlaja, Temitope Fasure, Olalekan Ogunlaja and Oye Ogunlaja.
Chris an Wake and a Service of Songs will be held for her on Thursday October 16, 2025 at the Cathedral Church of Saint Jude, Ebute Me a, Lagos Mainland at 10 AM. Church burial service will be held for her at the same Cathedral Church
of Saint Jude, Ebute Metta, Lagos Mainland, on Friday October 17, 2025, which will be followed by interment at Atan Cemetery, Lagos.
Guests will be entertained at the Pavilion Hall, Digital Bridge Ins tute, No 1 Nitel Road, Cappa, Oshodi, Lagos, star ng from 12 noon. Her death was announced by Temitope Fasure
Traders, Beggars Benefit As CPO Marks Obi’s Birthday In Osun
THE Osun State Chapter of the Coali on for Peter Obi (CPO) on Saturday, 19th July 2025, staged a large-scale outreach across Ilesa town in commemora on of the 64th birthday of the former presiden al candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi.
The event, spearheaded by the State Coordinator, Hon. Comrade Afolabi Olubunmi, saw members of the movement storm major markets, mosques, and streets with relief materials and branded items, drawing admiraon from residents and recipients alike.
According to the group’s statement jointly signed by its State PRO, Comrade Samson Awoyemi, and State Secretary, Comrade Raheem Taiwo Ojo, the outreach targeted market traders, Muslim faithful, street beggars, and underprivileged individuals, with a focus on spreading the message of love, empathy,
CVR: Your Votes Will Count
Yusuf Oketola
THE Independent Na onal Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Osun State, Dr Muu Agboke, has assured that no candidate will win in any elec ons except those voted in by the electorates.
This is as he said prepara ons are in top gear for the commencement of the Con nuous Voter Registra on, CVR, exercise in the state in August.
Agboke gave this assurance during separate sensi za on visits to religious organisaons such as Winners Assembly Interna onal (Living Faith Church) and Nasrul lahi li Fathi Society of Nigeria, NASFAT, on Sunday in Osogbo.
At the Winners Assembly, while urging eligible ci zens to par cipate fully in the CVR exercise, Agboke explained that the CVR would commence on August 18, 2025, beginning with an online registra on through the official portal: https://cvr.inecnigeria. org/
and equity which Mr. Obi is widely known for.
Items distributed included “congo” measuring containers for garri, rice, and beans sellers, branded hand fans, large plas c bowls, flags, praying ke les for Muslims, and raw food items like spaghe and salt, which were handed to over 70 beggars and vulnerable individuals.
Speaking on the exercise, Comrade Olubunmi described the effort as a demonstra on of CPO’s commitment to connect-
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ing with the people at the grassroots and giving back to society in honour of a leader whose values are rooted in jus ce and compassion.
“The outpouring of prayers from market women and Muslim faithful at the Ilesha Central Mosque and surrounding areas was overwhelming. It affirmed that the message Peter Obi represents con nues to resonate with the people,” he said.
The rally began at the campaign office of Hon. Aloba Gideon, who was
acknowledged as the principal sponsor of the event. Aloba, a Federal House of Representa ves aspirant for Ilesa South, was praised for his generosity and consistent commitment to peoplecentred poli cs.
The CPO also lauded Professor Fakokunde, fondly known as “DeProf”, for his intellectual guidance and moral support to the movement.
“The joy on the faces of the beneficiaries was a clear sign that our Principal’s message of a new Nigeria is gaining ground,” the group stated.
The outreach, which coincided with Mr. Obi’s 64th birthday, was captured in videos and photographs shared across social media pla orms, with more visuals expected to be released in the coming days.
The CPO Osun reiterated its dedica on to the movement for good governance, accountability, and ci zen welfare, promising more engagements in the weeks ahead.
— Osun REC Assures Electorates
Dr.
He said, “From August 18, 2025, fill in your par culars online and generate a registra on slip. From August 25, take this slip to any INEC local government office for biometric capturing and physical verifica on.”
Agboke added that those unable to complete the process on-
line would also be attended to at the INEC state office in Osogbo and local government offices during the exercise, which runs from 9am to 3pm daily without any fees.
“This exercise is for people who have turned 18 and have never registered before. It is also for those
with damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and those who have relocated and need to transfer to their registra on to their new loca on,” he said.
The Osun INEC boss who stressed the importance of voter registra on and par cipaon in elec ons, urged
religious organisa ons to support the commission’s efforts to deepen democracy.
He also assured congregants that their votes would count in future elec ons.
“We need the grace of God to make elecons work in Nigeria. Si ng on the fence is not good. We need the
support of religious organisa ons and every ci zen for us to get it right.
“Come 2026 in Osun State, I can assure you that no one will win the elec on except the candidate the people vote for.”
The REC encouraged people to report any irregulari es or make inquiries using the following contact numbers: 08133764850 (Head of ICT), 08035604059 (Head of Opera ons), and 08037435880 (Resident Electoral Commissioner).
At the NASFAT mosque in Osogbo, Agboke gave a similar sensi sa on calling on members to make use of the opportunity to register or update their voter records.
He urged NASFAT members to take advantage of the registraon period to support the success of the exercise and contribute to credible elec ons.
Both religious leaders at Winners’ Chapel and NASFAT pledged to disseminate the informa on further to ensure their members par cipate ac vely in the exercise.
Kazeem Badmus
•Osun REC
Mutiu Agboke and the INEC Management Team during the sensitization tour to NASFAT Praying Ground, Osogbo ahead of the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) Exercise
•Obi
AS we approach the 2026 elec ons in Osun State, it’s essen al to reflect on the kind of leadership the state needs to drive progress and development. With a new set of leaders on the horizon, it’s crucial for Osun people to demand more from their leaders. In this ar cle, we’ll explore the key demands that Osun must make from its leaders to ensure a brighter future for the state.
One of the primary demands Osun must make from its leaders is a commitment to infrastructure development. The state’s roads, bridges, and public transporta on systems are in dire need of repair and upgrade. Leaders must priori ze infrastructure development to facilitate economic growth, improve living standards, and enhance the overall quality of life for Osun residents. This includes inves ng in modern transportaon systems, upgrading exis ng infrastructure, and ensuring that all parts of the state have access to basic ameni es.
Another cri cal demand Osun must make from its leaders is job crea on and economic growth. The state has a growing populaon of young people who need opportuni es to contribute to the economy. Leaders must priori ze job crea on ini a ves, invest in entrepreneurship programs, and a ract industries that can drive economic growth. This includes crea ng a conducive business environment, providing incen ves for investors, and suppor ng small and medium-sized enterprises.
Educa on and healthcare are two cri cal sectors that require a en on from Osun leaders. The state’s educa on system needs improvement, and leaders must priori ze investment in schools,
“One of the primary demands Osun must make from its leaders is a commitment to infrastructure development. The state’s roads, bridges, and public transportation systems are in dire need of repair and upgrade. Leaders must prioritize infrastructure development to facilitate economic growth, improve living standards, and enhance the overall quality of life for Osun residents”
By
MATT OLU OLOWOKERE
2026 And Beyond:
What Osun Must Demand From Its Leaders
teachers, and educa onal infrastructure. Similarly, the healthcare sector requires significant investment in hospitals, equipment, and medical personnel. Leaders must ensure that Osun residents have access to quality educa on and healthcare services.
Osun must also demand transparency and accountability from its leaders. Leaders must be transparent in their decisionmaking processes, and ci zens
must have access to informaon about government projects and programs. Accountability is cri cal in ensuring that leaders are held responsible for their acons, and ci zens must demand that leaders are accountable to the people.
Security is a fundamental demand that Osun must make from its leaders. The state must priori ze the safety and security of its ci zens, and leaders must take concrete steps to address
security challenges. This includes inves ng in modern security equipment, training security personnel, and ensuring that cizens have access to emergency services.
Finally, Osun must demand environmental sustainability from its leaders. Leaders must priorize environmental protec on, invest in renewable energy, and promote sustainable prac ces. This includes addressing issues like waste management, polluon, and climate change, and ensuring that the state’s natural resources are protected for future genera ons.
As Osun approaches the 2026 elec ons, it’s essen al for ci zens to demand more from their leaders. By priori zing infrastructure development, job crea on, educa on, healthcare, transparency, accountability, security, and environmental sustainability, Osun can drive progress and development. Ci zens must hold their leaders accountable and demand that they priori ze the needs of the state. With the right leadership, Osun can achieve its full poten al and become a model for other states in Nigeria.
STRIKER Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above
The Meeting Challenge
AFTER enrolment, membership of any organisa on is verified basically through finance and a endance. A ending mee ngs is as important as regular payment of agreed fees. Once you consent to the aims and objec ves of any group and join voluntarily, or otherwise belong to it by virtue of occupa on, trade or studies, it is important to take interest in the ac vi es of the organisa on. These ac vi es are usually the outcome of certain decisions taken at various mee ngs.
Organisa ons have structures and layers of responsibili es assigned in order to func on smoothly for the fulfilment of their objec ves. Individuals that compose the various levels must regularly meet to take decisions in the best interest of the organisa on, and here comes the challenge. When there are no regular mee ngs for any reason, rooms are created for one person or a few people to take decisions, and you can bet that those decisions are not likely to be in the best interest of the generality. When Nigerians talk about cabals and mafias, there lies the simple origin: a few persons taking decisions that ought to be taken by many more persons at certain mee ngs that usually were not called.
There are different kinds of meetings as well as different levels; the lower level, being general mee ngs, which happens to be the most important. They don’t take place as
frequently as other commi ee or execu ve mee ngs. As members of any ins tu on, organisa on, group or party, it is almost a sacred duty to a end general mee ngs for those who genuinely have the interest of the organisa on at heart.
Sadly, Nigerians seem to have allergy for serious mee ngs. We have arrived at a me that if you see a mee ng bubbling, then some goodies are being shared or about to be shared! At almost all instances, unless for the impending sharing of goodies, hardly do you get a 50 percent a endance at mee ngs to discuss on the way forward in the cause of the organisa on; yet we want the best of everything, for ourselves, our associa ons, poli cal par es and our country!
Mee ngs precede programmes and ac vi es. Ac ve par cipa on in the programmes of organisa ons and poli cal par es are posi ve and important. However, the objec ves of those ac vi es and programmes, and to what benefit, are usually determined at mee ngs. Absen ng from mee ngs, as such, allows certain persons to determine the eventual goal and the direc on of the organisa on.
Mee ngs are the soul of democracy and are especially cri cal for civil society, poli cal organisa ons and par es. It is at mee ngs that different ideas on how to go about solving problems or achieving certain goals are compared and con-
trasted to arrive at the best, for the collec ve good; the alterna ve is autocra c dicta on – one man or a few men or women taking decisions usually to advance their own interest. When mee ngs are either not regularly called or not significantly a ended, except when goodies are to be shared, organisa on becomes tools in the hands of contending cliques within it, as its manifestoes and objec ves are set aside. In the fullness of me, the des ny of such organisa ons is nega vely impacted.
As they say, “two heads are be er than one,” and “there is no monopoly of knowledge.” The best ideas come to light at well moderated mee ngs when different op ons are considered and the best posi on arrived at. Mercifully, despite the social distancing protocol of these pandemic mes, several online pla orms s ll provide text, audio and video mee ng opportuni es. Hopefully, the end of COVID-19 will be seen through collec ve human efforts, and life as we used to know it will resume. So with mee ngs, congrega ons, conferences and congresses too!
In the interest of the advancement of our society, our collec ve a tude to mee ngs must change for the be er. The me and brain commi ed always pay off. Wai ng for material incen ve as mo vaon to a end mee ngs places the des ny of the organisa on in the hands of the providers and leaves members as pawns and puppets in some individuals’ private game.