Uncertainty Beclouds
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2025
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NIGERIA is haunted by the specter of an excrucia ng cost of living crises and it is interes ng with our now interna onally conten ous security situaon. The monster must be slayed because it has now become an existen al issue as in a cost of existence crisis.
It is not only in Nigeria that this phenomenon has manifested itself, the city of New York has just elected it’s Mayor. The 34-yearold Zohran Mamdani, the youngest Mayor in a century. Why is of importance is that, he ran and won as a Democra c Socialist, zeroing in on the issue of affordability in a city depicted as the headquarters of capitalism. The implica ons of his victory should be food for
Affordability Is The Issue
thought for progressives world wide.
In Nigeria, the progressive alterna ve such as the African Democra c Congress should now put forward an all encompassing program based
“Nigeria has a rich tradition to draw from and the achievements of the avatars such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Micheal Opara, Lateef Jakande, Sam Mbakwe, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola”
tract first elucidated by the French philosopher Roussou in 1762.
on the social revival of Nigeria. Such a program will incorporate a social compact, reinsta ng the obliga ons of the government to the ci zens. This will be a modernisa on of the well worn Social Con-
The Root Cause Of American Disaffection
IT is not just the United States that is expressing disaffec on with Nigeria over the security issue, Canada and the European Union have also expressed reservaons as well. It means that the cri cism is not from one unhappy messenger alone.
Nigeria must now look at the war economy that has arising from the war against insurgency.
A former President of the USA, Dwight Eisenhower warned in his last major speech on his way out of the White House in 1959 that a military industrial complex which was emerging could destroy America’s democracy. He was prophe c as subsequent events in Vietnam, Laos, Iraq demonstrated.
We must now face the mili-
tary industrial complex profi ng from the war economy and ever increasing defence expenditure. The Na onal Assembly must now do proper monitoring and oversights and insist on a Performance Planning Budget System. Without transparency, we will be trapped in a never ending war for the benefit of profi ers.
The Performance Planning
Budget System is the way out for Nigeria now. It was introduced by US President John F Kennedy in order to streamline the defense buffet and as a countera ack against the war profi ers. It is not perfect but it is a necessary beginning.
OSUN DEFENDER
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Nigeria has a rich tradi on to draw from and the achievements of the avatars such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Micheal Opara, Lateef Jakande, Sam Mbakwe, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola must now be brought up to the front burner to show that there is a proven Alterna ve to the present connundrum. Modern day progressives such as Brazil’s Ignacio Lula da Silva, Rauf Aregbesola amongst others have shown that, vigorous interven on by the state can increase producon and create sustainable employment. Both men were involved in school feeding programs which had beneficial effects across the board in Nigeria. It ought to have a cardinal na onal principle used as a mechanism to modernize agriculture in process turning Nigeria into an agro expor ng powerhouse. The me has come for a clear later ac ve and we urge the ADC to present one now.
•We must put the thoughts of the progressive avatars on the front burner
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2025
2026: Uncertainty Beclouds Adeleke’s Future In PDP
UNCERTAINTY has beclouded the future of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) in Osun State as to whether he will be nominated by the party, following the ongoing fac onal crisis rocking its na onal leadership ahead of the primary for the 2026 governorship elec on.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that fac ons of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesome Wike and Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde, who controls the Na onal Chairman, Umar Damagun and Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, have been at loggerheads over the na onal conven on.
The court has ordered the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the planned conven on. Subsequently, the two fac ons suspended themselves from the party.
Meanwhile, an Oyo State High Court Presided over by Jus ce A.L. Akintola, on Monday, cleared the party to hold its Elecve Na onal Conven on for Ibadan and ordered the INEC to Monitor and Observe the conven on.
However, the development has raised concern for members of the PDP in Osun State because the state chapter of the party is loyal to the Damagun fac on.
Some of the PDP leaders in the state while reac ng to the development said the Governor may not be properly nominated due to the crisis,
“We are afraid that Adeleke may not be properly nominated during the governorship primary fixed for December because of this ongoing crisis that never ends.
“Adeleke belongs to the Makinde fac on, which controls the chairman, but the Wike fac on in the state may sponsor another candidate within the party, which may give our party a tough me as to the legi macy of the 2026 PDP governorship cket,” One of the party leaders, who pleaded for anonymity, posited Poli cal observers in the state have posited that Adeleke may have no choice than to leave the PDP to join another party to contest in the August 8, 2026 elec on.
Recall that Adeleke had reportedly made several a empts to join the APC but he was rejected by the parry hierarchy loyal to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola.
•Imminent Danger Ahead of Party’s Primaries In Ekiti, Osun
•CMD, State Specialist Hospital Asubiaro, Dr. Mrs. Folasade Rachael answering questions at Breaking Silence Culture on Mental Health, Embracing Life NAWOJ Public lecture flanked by HC Health representative Dr Hakeem Bello, HC Women representative Ms Lola Adewale, CMD UNIOSUNTH representative Dr Emmanuel Oladayo Afolami, Dr Callistus Akinleye Senior Lecturer UNIOSUN, FIDA Chairperson Barrister Damilola Olabiyi and State Chairperson Comrade Abisola Ari- wodola held at NUJ Press Center, Òsogbo yesterday
Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said Adeleke should be blamed if the PDP does not have a candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial elec on in the state. When asked if the situa on could mean that the PDP may not be able to field a candidate in the Eki and Osun governorship elec ons, Wike said he warned Governor Adeleke, but he didn’t listen.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Poli cs Today, Wike, who has openly supported President Bola Tinubu despite being in the PDP, said no one has contributed to the PDP more than him.
He said, “Let anybody who has contributed to PDP more than me say so.
Ask the Governor of Osun. Adeleke came to see me, and I asked him, What are you doing? You are in danger.
“Ask the dancing governor if I never called him
Before You Cut, Ask The Owner Of The Land
•Respect For Process And People Is Never Outdated
IN our communi es, especially here in Osun, land is more than soil. It is memory, heritage, and iden ty. Every plot carries a story—some mes buried beneath mango trees, some mes whispered in family mee ngs, and some mes fought over in the courts. The phrase “Before you cut, ask the owner of the land” might sound simple, but it carries a wisdom that our fast-paced world o en forgets. It is not just about property; it’s about respect for process, tradi on, and the people who came before us.
Once upon a me, no one built a house or cleared a bush without gree ng the elders of the land. You would meet the Baálè or the head of the compound, pour a li le palm wine, and explain your pur-
and asked if he saw the implica on and danger he is running into. Everybody believes that if you are a governor, you can do magic but it is not like that.
“I was not a governor when I became a governor. I resigned as a Minister to contest against a strong government of another party and I won.
“In 2019, the federal government came heavily against us and I s ll won. In 2023, I want to challenge any governor who has that capacity to do it,
I told the PDP that I would support Tinubu but we win the governorship and the assembly seats.”
’No Hope In PDP’, Says Osun Senator
Also, Senator represen ng Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, has declared that there is no hope le in the PDP, urging poli cal office holders in the state and across the country not to sink with the party.
Fadahunsi, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress
Art/Culture
pose. There was a rhythm to things—a way of doing them right. Today, many rush to “cut” land without asking ques ons, ignoring boundaries, and neglec ng the silent agreements that keep a community peaceful. We call it progress, but o en it is impa ence disguised as ambi on.
When you cut without asking, you do not just disrespect a person— you offend a lineage. You trample on history. The old people say, “Ilé la n k’eso r’ode”—home is where we learn good manners before stepping out. That saying s ll holds true. Respec ng process is not old-fashioned; it is what preserves order in a society where everyone now wants things fast— fast money, fast approval, fast power. But no ma er how modern we become, there are steps you must never skip.
Every genera on faces its own version of this lesson. It may not always involve land. It could be about cu ng corners at work, bypassing elders in a family decision, or pushing ahead without seeking community consent. Whatever form it takes, the message remains: when you move without respect for process, you create conflict where there should have been coopera on. Even in government projects, we’ve seen cases where roads were constructed or trees felled without consul ng those whose lives would be affected—and the results are predictable: protest, resentment, and division.
The truth is that proc-
ess is not the enemy of progress. It is the backbone of it. The same elders we think are too slow o en see farther than the young eyes chasing speed. They understand that harmony cannot be bought or decreed—it must be built, step by step, with fairness and humility. When you pause to “ask the owner,” you are not showing weakness; you are showing wisdom. In Yoruba culture, respect is not op onal—it is founda onal. From kneeling to greet elders to the way we speak, every gesture is rooted in the idea that life flows smoother when we honour others. The land, too, deserves that respect. Whether you
(APC) alongside two members of the House of Representa ves from his district – Sanya Omirin and Taofeek Ajilesoro, said he le the PDP a er realising that President Bola Tinubu’s Administra on is making tangible progress in reviving the economy and delivering development.
Speaking with journalists recently in his hometown, Ilase-Ijesa, he said, “PDP has abandoned itself. Whosoever remains in PDP, I admonish them not to sink with that party. There is no hope in that party again. There is no road through PDP again, all poli cal office holders who are in the party should not try by crea ng any way, I urge them all to leave that path and come to the party which has the agenda for development.”
Adeleke has, however boasted that the party’s crisis will not affect his reelec on in 2026 while assuring members to remain calm.
The Governor in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed noted that stakeholders within the party are interested in resolving the crisis and return PDP to its righ ul posi on.
He said, “I urge all
•Continued on Page 6
are buying, building, or just passing through, you must ask. Because every land, no ma er how quiet, has a custodian. And every decision made in haste leaves a footprint that may outlive you.
As we con nue to modernize, may we not forget the values that keep our communi es intact. Technology can change our speed, but it should never erase our sense of courtesy. The elders say, “Ti a bá fi ọwọ òtún bá ọmọ wí, a máa fi
when we correct with one hand, we must draw close with the other. That balance between progress and respect is what sustains peace.
So, before you cut— before you dig, build, or decide—ask the owner of the land. Ask those who know the story of the soil you stand on. Because in asking, you preserve more than a piece of land; you preserve the soul of a people.
AKANMU FAKOMI is an engineer and cultural observer passionate about heritage, ethics, and the changing face of community life in Nigeria.
Yusuf Oketola
Group Accuses Self-Crowned Monarch Of Causing Crisis In Modakeke
Kazeem Badmus
Agroup, Yoruba Socio-cultural Pathfinder (YSP), has called for an inves ga on into the ac vi es of an alleged ‘self-proclaimed monarch’, Oba Adeyinka Adeshina Obawale, the Oluoje of Ojenpetu.
The group accused Oba Obawale of disturbing the peace of Modakeke, calling on tradi onal rulers in the Yoruba na on to join in the condemna on of the monarch’s ac ons.
The monarch, according to the group, was using a fake iden ty to cause crisis, disharmony, and the disturbance of public peace in Modakeke.
In a statement signed by its President, Bashorun Ige Ogunjobi, the group, stated that it was awkward and disheartening that the Yoruba naon, where things were done accordingly in the past, is now sliding into an enclave devoid of laws and conven ons.
According to Ogunjobi: “We have been following with u er dismay how one Adeyinka Adeshina Obawale who has been fraudulently addressing himself as ‘Oba Adeyinka Adeshina Obawale, the Oluoje of Ojenpetu’, has been disturbing the peace of Modakeke with the group of his cohorts he came with from Kogi State to establish a town where he addresses himself as a crowned king.
“It is our resolve that it would be necessary for the Inspector-General of Police and other statutory security services to show immediate interest in the nefarious ac vies of this self-acclaimed monarch who professed to be a na ve of Ipetumodu in the Ife-North Local Government Council Area of the state but migrated to se le down with a group of people from Kogi State.
“A patrio c person shouldn’t be told that it is a disservice to the na on for anyone or a group of people to be promo ng a crisis in any part of the na on when it is apparent that the governments at all its levels have been trying all possible means to ensure the security of lives and property in Nigeria.
“The police in their inves ga on of the disturbance of the public peace against the self-crowned ‘Ojenpetu’ should find out when, where, and who crowned Obawale a monarch?
“It will also interest the people and the secu-
●Urge Police Investigation Urge Police
rity services to find out if it is a norm in this century for a group of people in Yorubaland to invade a community from another state and appoint another monarch where there’s already a tradional ruler.
“Will it not amount to a derelic on of tradi onal duty at the grassroots level for a tradi onal ruler to have become a harbinger of a set of people from another state that do not have any history of having been profiled by the security services against being fugi ves to jus ce?
“Since the purported Ojenpetu has professed to have been a na ve of Ipetumodu in one of his recorded video recordings that has gone viral, why did he not choose his hometown to foment crisis instead of Modakeke which he invaded with his fake crown and the re nue of his cohorts from Kogi State?
“Why was Obawale chased out of Kogi State with his co-travellers who have turned themselves into a nuisance in Modakeke and the surrounding communi es, from where the fake monarch has cons tuted himself to a nuisance?
“If Obawale thinks he can make Modakeke a ba leground in Yorubaland from where he can be disturbing the peace of the Southwest geo-poli cal zone, he is making a great mistake.
“We have also listened to some unprintable adjec ves that Obawale used on His Royal Majesty, the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Ajibise Ogo 1, Oba Olu Toriola, which
is an indica on that he doesn’t have respect for tradi onal ins tu ons.
“If the fake Ojenpetu is replete with tradi onal wisdom, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to know that any insolence from him to the Ogunsua, is an insult to all the sons and daughters of Modakeke.
“Our appeal to Obawale is that he should desist from the dragging of the name of the revered Ogunsua in the mud and honourably decline to do the bidding of whoever might be his sponsor to cause cataclysm in the Modakeke community.
“Whoever allows his head to be used to crack a proverbial coconut would definitely not be a partaker in its ea ng. It is golden advice.”
But when contacted by OSUN DEFENDER, Oba Obawale denied disturbing the peace of Modakeke community, adding that it was the community that waged a war against him.
According to him, some hoodlums on May 03, 2025, invaded his house, shot at him, and destroyed his property, no ng that he was rescued by some police officers.
He said: “I am not disturbing the peace of Modakeke community. It is the community that waged a war against me.
“What happened was that I was crowned as the king of the Yoruba community in Gadimo in Kogi State in 2021. I was asked to be turbaned there but I declined because I am a Yoruba. So, I was asked to come and collect a crown in Ile-Ife. I came to Ile-Ife and on October 06, 2021,
I was given a crown.
“However, the flood that occurred in Kogi dis-
Ife-North and he accepted that we should se le down in his father’s village.
“That was how we came back to Osun State and we started having our mee ng. However, I decided to rent a house in Modakeke due to my es with the community. I was born in Modakeke. I went to Primary and Secondary schools in Modakeke and my siblings built houses in the community.
“It was in my rented apartment that the Modakeke people wrote a pe on against the monarch who accommodated us, calling us Fulani people.
Ikirun Palace Left In Ruins Three Years After Chieftaincy Crisis
THE once busy palace of the Akirun of Ikirun now a shadow of its former self as it is now dilapidated and overgrown with weeds, following the protracted kingship tussle in the town.
In a video seen by OSUN DEFENDER on Thursday, residents and elders who visited the palace were overwhelmed by sorrow and lamented the devastaon of what was once the symbol of unity and tradion in Ikirun.
The crisis began follow-
“On May 03, some hoodlums came to shoot at me and destroy my property. I was rescued by some police officers that day and since then, I have le Modakeke. I don’t know the reason for that, and the ma er is before the Commissioner of Police.” placed us, and everyone had to look for shelter. I wrote to a monarch in has remained vacant, and the palace abandoned its silence echoing the town’s fractured spirit.
ing the passing of the late Akirun of Ikirun, Oba AbdulRauf Olayiwola Adedeji II, who joined his ancestors in February 2021 at the age of 78 a er a brief illness in a hospital in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.
A er his demise, disputes over who should succeed him plunged the community into turmoil.
The installa on of a new monarch, deemed by many residents as illegal and lacking collec ve approval, triggered violent clashes that ul mately led to the destruc on of the palace.
Since then, the royal seat
For many in Ikirun, the absence of a king has le a deep emo onal, economic and leadership void.
Elders describe the town as “headless” a community adri , longing for peace and leadership to return to its righ ul throne.
OSUN DEFENDER recalled that the Osun State Government under former governor Adegboyega Oyetola had in October 2022, announced the appointment of Prince Yinusa Olalekan Akadiri of Oba-Ara Ruling House as the new Akinrun of Ikirun in Ifelodun local government area of the state.
The appointment of the new Akinrun of Ikirun was announced according to a statement signed by the then Commissioner for Informa on and Civic Orienta on, Funke Egbemode.
On assump on of office on November 27, 2022, Governor Ademola Adeleke declared Prince Akadiri’s appointment null.
Early in 2024, the state government issued a white paper which finally set aside the appointment of Prince Yinusa Akadiri as Akirun and recommended a fresh selec on process.
•The Vice Chancellor, Fountain University Osogbo, Prof. Olayinka Ramota Karim with Professor Godwin Onu, the NUC Team for the re-accreditation of Political Science Programme in her office recently
Yusuf Oketola
Students React To UNIOSUN’s Fee Increment Ahead Of 2025/2026 Session
Oluwadarasimi Jesukolade
AS an cipa on mounts for the release of the admission lists for the 2025/2026 academic session, Osun State University (UNIOSUN) s rred intense reacons across the student community with a newly released schedule of fees.
The revision, which affects both returning students and freshers, has sparked widespread concerns, not only within UNIOSUN, but also across the Nigerian student space online.
The notable gap between the previous and current fees has le many ques oning whether the ins tuon is dri ing closer to the financial demands of private universi es.
For freshers especially, the increment appears steep and unexpected, leaving families anxious as the new session approaches.
A cross sec on of the students who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER Osun Defender shared mixed feelings regard-
ing the development.
For some in their final year, the increment came too late to pose a real threat to completing their studies. “At this point, I just want to graduate. It doesn’t change much for me,” one of the finalist said.
However, others expressed relief that the university s ll allows fees to be paid in two
instalments, easing the immediate pressure on households facing harsh economic reali es.
Some undergraduates said they would be leaning heavily on NELFUND support to stay afloat, while expressing frustra on over rising costs in a system that should be accessible. “We’re try-
ing to get an educa on so we can contribute to society. But the system keeps pushing us back,” a student who pleaded anonymity stated.
Despite the uproar, many students are s ll hopeful that the state government will intervene and ensure that higher educa on remains affordable.
Their message is clear: UNIOSUN students want quality educaon, but not at a cost that threatens their dreams.
Alakija Donates Multi-Billion Naira Hospital To UNIOSUN
PHILANTHROPIST and businesswoman, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, has donated the Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital to the management of Osun State University, Osogbo.
The University Public Rela ons Officer, Ademola Adesoji, in a statement on Wednesday, said the handing over of the hospital took place at Famfa Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.
sion of his parents, Modupe and Folorunso Alakija, had always been to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system through educa on, innova on, and community service, commending the university for sharing that vision.
and training hospital to Osun State University,” he said.
He assured all that the family would con nue to support ini a ves aimed at improving healthcare training and delivery.
“The facility is equipped with worldclass medical equipment, and we look forward to the posi ve impact it will have on the university community and society at large,” he added.
AYusuf Oketola
faake, a community in the Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State, has been thrown into total darkness for more than seven months a er the town’s only transformer broke down in March.
Residents of the community have however, lamented that the absence of electricity had crippled small businesses in the community.
They added that the development had also worsened access to clean water and disrupted the educaon and safety of their children.
A former Peoples Democra c Party House of Assembly candidate in the 2019 General Elec ons, Faruq Abbas who hails from the community in a le er to Governor Ademola Adeleke, appealed to him for the deployment of a new transformer, no ng that the situa on had made life unbearable for him.
He wrote: “We first reached out to the IBEDC, and they came for repairs. But the transformer exploded again. They later told us that it was damaged beyond repair.
“I also contacted our
The statement noted that the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Wale Oladipo, and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Clement Adebooye, led the Governing Council and Management of House of Representa ves member, Bamidele Salam, and he promised to help once new transformers were available. That was
Osun State University to visit Alakija, who is the University’s Chancellor, in Lagos for the official signing and handover of the facility.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of Famfa Oil, Mr. Dele Alakija, who represented the donor, noted that the vi-
He expressed the family’s gra tude to God and thanked the university authori es for their unwavering commitment to advancing medical educa on and healthcare development in Nigeria.
“It is with great joy and gra tude that our family officially hands over this state-of-theart medical research
In his words, the ViceChancellor, Prof. Adebooye, described the dona on as a “ meless legacy and a seed that will con nue to grow for genera ons.”
Over 7-month Blackout Posing Threat To Us - Osun Community
four months ago. S ll, nothing has been done,” he explained.
Another resident of the community, Taiwo Adebayo
said, “This issue of no light and transformer for over seven months has affected the community and me in so many ways. Children
can’t study at night, because there’s no light.
“Even to charge our phones is a big problem; we have to trek five kilometres
Communal Crisis: Ilobu Residents Urge Adeleke To Rebuild Community
THE people of Ilobu, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State, have appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to come to the aid of the community in rebuilding efforts following the recent communal crisis that destroyed properes es mated at over ₦2 billion.
President of the Ilobu-Asake Development Union (IDU), Pastor Olufemi Salako, while addressing newsmen noted that while relave peace had been restored, the community
was s ll struggling to recover from the a ermath of the violence.
He expressed gratude to Governor Adeleke for his interven on in the reconstruc on of the collapsed Ilobu Grammar School bridge and commended the
government’s efforts at sustaining peace in the area.
The community leader also urged residents to put past animosi es behind them and focus on rebuilding the town’s social and economic life.
2026: Uncertainty Beclouds Adeleke’s...
•Continued from Page 4
members of our party, the PDP, to remain calm and be steadfast. We are cruising to victory next year and we must remain commi ed to ensuring that we rebuild this party for renewed landslide victory.”
“The ongoing disagreement within the party at the na onal level is a family affair and I want to assure all members both at the state and na onal level that it will soon be resolved.”
“All the stakeholders at the na onal level have the party’s progress and success at heart and are all
looking at ways to resolve the crisis as soon as possible.”
The Governor then directed PDP leaders across 30 local governments and wards in Osun State to connue to mobilise for the party ahead of the 2026 Governorship elec on, adding that PDP remains the party to beat.
“I hereby direct all party leaders across wards and local governments to begin massive mobilisaon for our party ahead of the 2026 Governorship elec on. We are the party to beat and our party will come out stronger and better”, the Governor added.
“Over two billion naira worth of properes remain in ruins. We call on Governor Ademola Adeleke to help us in providing succour to those seriously affected by the crisis. Businesses were devastated, many families became homeless, and several livelihoods are yet to recover,” Salako said.
“The crisis was a setback, but Ilobu is ready to rise again. To investors, there’s no be er loca on to take advantage of—an agrarian community with a youthful popula on, homely people and proximity to the state capital,” he added.
“The era of tension and animosity should be permanently put behind us. Ilobu is ready to lead the charge for a new era of peace, progress and prosperity,” he said.
to the next village to access light, except for people who can afford to buy fuel for their generators, and we know the cost of fuel nowadays is high.”
According to him, the blackout has made access to water difficult, as the community’s four boreholes depend on electricity.
“We use electricity to power our boreholes, but since the transformer became faulty, we have been suffering. People now buy sachet water to survive, and buying water is not easy because of the cost. Businesses are dying. I buy and sell cocoa produce, but companies from Lagos now find it difficult to reach us because of bad roads and lack of power,” he added.
Another resident, Taofeek Ganiyu, accused their poli cal leaders of neglecting the community since the transformer broke down.
He said, “We feel used and abandoned. Our votes don’t seem to ma er anymore. The rate we buy fuel is too high, yet we need it to pump water and power our refrigerators.
“The situa on has turned our community into an isolated village. There is no light, no water, and no road.”
Osun LG Crisis: Tinubu Is Not God – Salam
THE lawmaker repre-
sen ng Ede South, Ede North, Egbedore, and Ejigbo Federal Cons tuency, Bamidele Salam, has cri cised President Bola Tinubu over his role in the ongoing local government tussle in Osun State.
Salam was reac ng to a statement by the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) in the state, refuting the claim by the Osun Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Governor Ademola Adeleke a acked Tinubu while delivering his speech at the just concluded South West Summit in Akure.
The Governor lamented that Tinubu’s administra on has not been fair to his state despite the exis ng collabora on between the state and the Federal Government.
He specifically alleged that the Federal Government had been withholding Local Government funds belonging to Osun State despite a subsis ng court order.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Kola Adewusi, urged the Federal Government to release the state’s local government funds in the spirit of jusce and fairness.
He said, “A troubling dimension was introduced earlier this year when the rule of law was replaced with the rule of the thumb. The issue here relates to the handling of state security and local government ma ers. It is trite in every democra c order that the rule of law within the ambit of the cons tu on is the regulatory framework for wielding state power.
“In the case of Osun, federal power is being applied outside the regula on of the cons tu on, as the public has known since the beginning of this year. The poli cisaon of federal power poses serious threats to peaceful and produc ve intergovernmental relaons.
“It would interest the audience to know that in Osun State, some security agencies openly protect and defend ruling party opera ves, even when they act contrary to the law and the cons tu on. In Osun today, federal party officials boast of powers to deploy security apparatus to witchhunt state officials. On many occasions, officials of the federal ruling party have openly declared their readiness to hijack
the state, whether the people voted for them or not — and, worse s ll, they enjoy security cover while making such provoca ve declara ons.
“As if that is not enough, Osun’s local government funds were seized without any court order earlier this year. Duly elected local government officials were not allowed to assume office, while those sacked by a subsis ng court order were forced on the local government secretariats by federal power and security apparatus. All these facts are in the public domain.”
However, Salam while reac ng to the PDP’s statement on a WhatsApp pla orm, OSUN MEDIA ENGAGEMENT last Friday wrote: “Well, Tinubu isn’t a kind of God that should not be cri cised for taking an uncons tu onal
step!!!. We be er stop all these unnecessary deodorising of evil.
“What we should
know is that even if we cut all our heads and give them as sacrifice, it will not stop them from try-
ing to muzzle us. It is we who should stand up and do our massive mobilisaon of the Public as well
as correct poli cal strategies to defeat them. With God on our side, we will overcome.”
Osun PDP, Reps Member Bicker Over Good Governance
Kazeem Badmus
THE ruling Peoples Democra c Party and the lawmaker represen ng Obokun/ Oriade Federal Cons tuency, Hon. Wole Oke, have traded words over the alleged neglect of the people of Ijesa North by the current administra on.
Oke, who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress in April, had in a Facebook post, accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of abandoning his responsibili es.
The lawmaker said there was no serious project done in Obokun and Oriade communies by the present administra on despite collec ng taxes from the cons tuents, adding that the cons tuency has not gained anything in the three years
of Governor Adeleke.
He said, “You must be from Obokun /Oriade (IJESA NORTH) to feel our pain. The State Government has abandoned its responsibilies. Governor Adeleke-led Government collects taxes from our people as at when due but nothing to show for it.
“I challenge Gov Adeleke to go to any of our Communi es in Obokun or Oriade to commission any serious project his Government has carried out.
“Governor Adeleke’s hatred for Ijesa North is infinitesimal (sic). Three years have gone and elec ons are nearby. What is our gain under Governor Adeleke’s Government? I thank God for removing the scales off my eyes early.”
But the Osun PDP
said, unlike Adeleke, Oke was the one who had nothing to show for his over two decades in the green chamber.
The party charged electorates in ObokunOriade federal cons tuency to demand accountability from Oke, adding that the lawmaker has fed fat on their collec ve mandate for over 20 years.
The PDP, through a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Oladele Bamiji, said that despite being in the House of Representa ves for over two decades, Oke has failed to live up to expectaons compared to other lawmakers who have spent fewer years in the green chamber.
Bamiji said: “Whatever the case, this is the me for Obokun-Oriade cons tuents to rise and demand accountability from a man who has fed fat on their collecve mandate for over
20 years.
“Wole Oke must stop making Ijesa North look poli cally vulnerable. He must end his garageboy style of poli cs built on last-minute buy-offs and propaganda.”
The statement said Oke has reduced himself to a social media “ranter, scavenging for state government projects to malign” rather than apologise to his cons tuents for his “long years of greed, decep on and failure.”
Bamidele further said: “Under normal circumstances, the two local governments in Obokun–Oriade Federal Cons tuency should by now be a stabilizing force and a strong buffer for the Osun State Government. A er all, Wole Oke has held the mandate of that cons tuency for over two decades, a stretch long enough to transform the lives of his people beyond measure, p y ,
if what we see in other spheres outside of Obokun-Oriade is anything to go by. But what has he done with such a rare opportunity?
“That axis of Ijesaland has become a ferle ground for cheap, outdated poli cal gimmicks. Every elec on season, Wole Oke reenacts the same red drama: a few months to the polls, he releases a few million naira, compiles a token list of about 200 loyalists, some mes including dog handlers and praise-singers, pays courtesy visits to a few tradi onal rulers, and that’s all. Once elected, he vanishes into thin air un l the next cycle.”
“Even within the same Na onal Assembly, Rep. Bamidele Salam for instance, has shown what true representaon looks like. In just one and a half tenures, Salam has delivered rural and urban electrificaon, rehabilitated over 20km of roads, provided free healthcare outreaches for the aged, empowered hundreds of youths and traders, awarded ₦100,000 bursaries to over 2,000 ter ary students, and ini ated countless educa onal and community-based interven ons.
“So what exactly has Wole Oke been doing with the trust and votes of the good people of Ijesa North other than spewing unprovoked attacks on Governor Ademola Adeleke and the state government on social media?” the statement queried.
Yusuf Oketola
•National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola with the new Yeye Owa, Dame Eunice Olayinka Olaleye during her installation ceremony, in Ilesa, recently
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2025 VOL. 20 NO 58 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
IN recent weeks, the African Democra c Congress (ADC) secured a milestone that may reverberate beyond na onal poli cs and into the state-shores of Osun. When the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) formally recognised the David Mark-led na onal leadership of the party, it marked more than internal housekeeping: it opened a door for fragmented opposion forces to think differently, to regroup, and perhaps to chart a new course ahead of 2027.
For Osun State especially — where opposi on poli cs has o en been splintered, reac ve and resource-thin — the ming of this recogni on offers fresh poten al. The ADC’s reposi oning arrives at a moment when many Nigerians are ques oning the monopoly of the two dominant par es and searching for credible alterna ves. The recent official consolida on of the party structure gives dissenters a viable vehicle to consider: a party no longer in limbo, capable of absorbing disillusioned members from across the spectrum, and perhaps serving as a credible pla orm for a re-energised opposi on at state level.
To understand why this ma ers for Osun, we must appreciate the state’s recent poli cal texture. Elec ons here have tended to revolve around personali es rather than enduring pla orms. Opposi on par es in Osun have o en lacked cohesion—they have contested with admirable effort, but with divided voices, limited coordina on and li le sustained strategy. The arrival of ADC’s na onal recogni on invites a rethink: instead of separate par es chasing individual goals, there is the possibility of a more unified front under a single banner.
Indeed, the new ADC leadership has signalled openness to such an advance. With the former governor of Osun and current ADC Na onal Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, on board, the party in Osun can claim local legi macy. Aregbesola’s presence provides a bridge between na onal reposi oning and Osun reali es. The messaging is clear: the party is aiming to become the home for youth and women, valuing inclusion and unity rather than narrow sec onal interests.
What then are the key opportuni es this recogni on brings for the Osun opposi on? First, consolida on. If opposi on voices in Osun—whether disaffected from the ruling side or from other smaller par es—see ADC as a credible home, they could converge. A unified list of candidates across cons tuencies, shared resources and a common narra ve would strengthen electoral posture. Second, renewal. The ADC’s emphasis on youth, women and fresh ideas provides the chance to break the cycle of same-old faces and recycled issues in Osun. Third, strategic
“For the voters of Osun, the unfolding story matters. This moment offers a real chance to shift the script from predictable twoparty rotation and entrenched patronage politics. If ADC can become the vehicle of a credible alternative—rooted in Osun’s realities, anchored in organisational discipline, and guided by a clear offer—then opposition politics in the state may at last get the coherence it has lacked”
By
MATT OLU OLOWOKERE
ADC’s Recognition: A Turning Point For Opposition Politics In Osun
pla orming. With a strong na onal recogni on, the party in Osun may enjoy be er visibility, access to na onal networks, increased donor-a en on and improved organisa onal discipline—all of which ma er in ght contests.
But for all the promise, obstacles remain—and Osun’s opposi on must not assume the job is done. The na onal recognion of ADC does not automa cally translate into local dominance. Internal dissension is s ll alive: fac ons of the party contest the
STRIKER Striker
legi macy of the Mark-led leadership, and legal challenges linger. In Osun, the party must build credibility at grassroots level: establish local chapters, forge alliances with community leaders, and deliver a dis nct message beyond just opposi on to the ruling party. Otherwise it risks becoming another token change with li le substance.
Moreover, the opposi on’s unity in Osun must go beyond mere convenience. The alignment must be about shared values: about accountability, governance, transpar-
ent state systems—not just about winning offices. If ADC in Osun becomes a refuge for every dissa sfied poli cian without a coherent policy offering, the old pa ern repeats. Therefore, the party needs to define a clear agenda for Osun State: how it plans to tackle youth unemployment, rural-urban imbalance, infrastructure deficits and the cracks in local governance. The na onal vision is helpful, but local transla on is essen al. For the voters of Osun, the unfolding story ma ers. This moment offers a real chance to shi the script from predictable two-party rota on and entrenched patronage poli cs. If ADC can become the vehicle of a credible alterna ve—rooted in Osun’s reali es, anchored in organisa onal discipline, and guided by a clear offer—then opposi on poli cs in the state may at last get the coherence it has lacked.
To conclude: the INEC recogni on of the ADC may well be a turning point for opposion poli cs in Osun State. But it will only fulfil its promise if local actors move with purpose, if the party builds its structures, cra s local resonance and resists the lure of shortterm alignments. For the people of Osun, the coming months must not be about just changing logos—it must be about changing how poli cs works.
•Matt Olu OLOWOKERE is an engineer and political-culture commentator based in Osogbo. He writes regularly on governance, leadership and community change in Osun State.
is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above
Politics Without Bitterness
WITHIN two decades, Borno has transformed into a State of pains, tribula ons and misery but it had not always been so. It used to host one of the best University Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria and, in ancient mes, one of the grandest African civilisa ons in the Kanem-Borno Empire. Its biggest bequest to contemporary Nigerian poli cs, perhaps, is not the most disturbing Boko Haram experience but “poli cs without bi erness” exemplified by the great Kanuri, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim; founder and leader of one of the poli cal par es that par cipated in the 1979 Presiden al Elec on – the Great Nigerian People’s Party (GNPP), a new party then that did not metamorphose from any that existed in the First Republic.
Any set of ac vi es that is targeted at decision-making and invariably determines resource alloca on, status, power-rela ons and so on in any given group or community is nothing other than poli cs. This takes place right from the smallest human unit, the family, up ll the na on and the world community as a whole, which is why – believe it or not, like it or not – every man or woman is a poli cal animal except he/she is an outcast, as explicitly stated by Aristotle.
Democracy in general, especially in Nigeria, involves poli cal ac vi es that lead to cons tu on of government: poli cal party forma on, registra on, internal elec ons, elec on of candidates and contest against candidates of other poli cal par-
es in general elec ons at the three ers of government – Local, State and Federal. Ordinarily, the ul mate end of these ac vi es should be the common good – services rendered by those elected (and appointed) that lead to the be erment of the society, at whatever sacrifices of self demanded. The passion and desire to serve the people should, therefore, never become a do-or-die affair, and is not something that can only be done when in government. Being in government, for men and women of excep onal ideas and capaci es only makes them serve better.
In Nigeria, a mul tude of aberra ons in the last six decades have largely turned the concept of public service upside down, exactly to its opposite – self service at the ruinous expense of society: the most culpable of which is long years of military rule that completely ended our being a republic and a federa on. It gave birth to military mentality, arbitrariness, nepo sm and corrup on, while promo ng foreign culture, religions, economic and poli cal models and lack of self-esteem, value and beliefs.
In that climate of concentrated (unitary) power, considera ons for fellow humans is lost, much else service to community and society. Service became mere lip-service, a cosme c façade for a aining public posi ons for self-interest. How then will the struggle for good poli cal loca on not become cu hroat?
The greatness of Waziri Ibrahim
and a few excep onal poli cians like him was their commitment and powerful examples to returning poli cs to its original objec ve – service to the people. If the primary mova on for poli cal engagement is genuine interest to serve the community, opposi ons are not enemies but simply fellow compe tors in the quest to serve, whosoever’s ideas, programmes, ar cula on and charisma catches the people’s fancies the most wins the most votes (even if he/she is not the best), and begins to serve, while being monitored, cri cised and challenged by the opposi on – in view of the public interest and the next elec on contest. It is an Olympic in which par cipa on is what is vital, and sportsmanship the glory.
Let us not accept that “gone are those days,” just as we should not accept that in Nigeria, there are many mes more people outside wai ng their turn to steal than the people currently stealing, fain ng, and offing the mic. The contemporary “soro-soke” and “not-too-young-torun” genera on, if sincere and not just a smokescreen for freedom of fraud and violent crime, must reenergise themselves with the best examples of poli cal engagements from our local history, and from global best experience and realise that there is no escaping poli cs as the ul mate engagement for social transforma on – be it an end to police brutality, reform of the Police or #EndEveryBadThingInNigeria. There is no be er me to begin any good thing than right away and as they say “the sooner begun, the sooner done.”
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, Off Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State. All correspondence to the Asst. News Editor, YUSUF OKETOLA, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefenderhq@gmail.com