2026: Adeleke In Dilemma Amid Reports To Dump PDP
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025
2026: Adeleke Faces Dilemma Amid Reports To Dump PDP
Yusuf Oketola
GOVERNOR Ademola
Adeleke is set to announce his next
poli cal move as he is currently at the verge of dumping the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) amid
the crisis rocking the party at the na onal level.
Sources within Osun PDP told OSUN
DEFENDER that the Governor has begun consulta on and is likely to reveal a new pla orm to contest
•Group photograph of representatives at the inauguration of Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities (APCWD) held at NUJ Press Center Conference hall recently.
Oyetola’s Hometown Seeks Clean Water System, Functional Healthcare Centres
IYusuf Oketola
NDIGENES of Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government of Osun State, the hometown of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former governor of the state have sought for improved road networks, func onal healthcare centres, clean water system and sustainable employment opportuni es for youths in the community.
The Chairman, Iragbiji Development Associa on (IDA), Dr. Lateef Raheem stated this while rolling out the achievements of the Associa on while giving his speech at the 34th Iragbiji Day recently.
According to him, “the community had in the past year recorded major strides in educaon, health, and infrastructures
“Most notably, we
witnessed the successful visita on of the Naonal University Commission (NUC) to the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji – a historic milestone that moves our dream of a fully accredited university closer to reality. The Iragbiji Development Associa on played a cri cal role in mobilising resources and coordina ng community support for this achievement.
“We also con nue our interven ons in youth empowerment and scholarship for indigent students and community health outreach programmes. Despite these achievements, we must not relent. Our town s ll requires road networks, funconal healthcare centres, clean water systems and sustainable employment opportuni es for youths in the
community.”
Also speaking, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Olabomi said: “Iragbiji has recorded many achievements since I became the Aragbiji owing to our dedica on and commitment to changing the age-long narrave from autocracy to tradi onal democracy that is developmentdriven with par cipatory governance, community engagement and collabora on with government and nongovernmental organiza ons.
“Our investments in human development have obviously yielded boun ful harvest as evident in the
socio-economic and structural development of Iragbiji. The ongoing construc on of our “Civic Centre” for recrea onal ac vies, which has gulped hundreds of millions of naira, is a testament in this instance.
“We built an administra ve monumental complex for both High Court and Magistrate Court solely by community effort without receiving a penny of contribu on or donaon from the government.
“Also, with our community effort only, we built state-of-the-art, ultra-modern palace, which today remains one of the most-aesthe cally constructed palaces in South-west Nigeria.”
next year’s governorship elec on during his third anniversary in office on November 27, 2025.
Adeleke, according to sources in the state, would move to either the Accord Party or All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to contest the 2026 elec on.
Many party sources confided in OSUN DEFENDER that the Governor has reached out to chie ains of Accord Party on modali es to move to the party, while others said the arrangement has not been concluded as Adeleke does not want to take chances with opportuni es to pick the cket of any available pla orm.
Warring fac ons at the na onal secretariat of the PDP have con nued to resort to various forms of scheming and legal ac ons to take control of the party.
Adeleke’s absence at the Conven on of the party last Saturday also signalled that the Governor may have concluded that all is not well with the PDP.
An aide to the governor who confided in OSUN DEFENDER noted that it’s suicidal for the Adeleke to contest under PDP in view of the ongoing crisis.
“It would be suicidal if the Governor insists on contes ng in PDP with the ongoing crisis. Nobody will advise him to do it because who will sign his form. The Na-
onal Working Commi ee is currently in disarray over the control of the party and different fac ons have broken out. The best is for him to port to another party. He s ll remains the candidate to beat,” the Governor’s aide asserted.
Earlier, former Senate President Bukola Saraki said that no serious Poli cian with electoral ambion will seek to contest on the pla orm of the Peoples Democra c Party under the present circumstance.
According to Saraki, such poli cian may enter into the troubled waters by not knowing whether his or her nomina on will be valid or declared null and void.
The warning came earlier before the Ibadan Na onal Conven on, stressing that going ahead with the Conven on as scheduled will further fuel the present crisis, adding that having such an event is a waste of efforts.
He advised the party’s Board of Trustees to set up a Caretaker Commi ee to steer the affairs of the party for the me being.
Also, a violent confronta on at the PDP na onal secretariat on Tuesday has worsened the party’s internal crisis and raised concerns about its ability to func on as a strong opposi on before the 2027 elec ons.
Osun Community Bans Sachet Alcohol Sales, Street Extortion
THE Sales of sachet alcohol, street extor on, and late-night loitering have been baaned in Modakeke, Ife East Local Government Area of Osun State.
The move is to strengthen public safety and restore communal order.
Effec ve immediately, the sale of NAFDAC-unapproved beer and alcoholic sachet drinks at juncons and roadside loca ons has been
strictly prohibited.
The authori es also announced a total ban on extor on by thugs or unauthorized individuals who harass motorists and pedestrians for money at junc ons.
More so, for security and developmental reasons, residents are now required to remain indoors beyond 10:00 PM, except for essen al purposes.
In a statement endorsed by the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Joseph Olubiyi Toriola, alongside the President of the Modakeke Progressive Union (MPU) and the Youth Chairman, anyone found viola ng these direc ves will face strict legal consequences.
The community
leadership emphasizes that these measures are aimed at safeguarding lives, improving public order, and ensuring that Modakeke con nues on its path of peace, progress, and responsible development.
•Oyetola
Photo Shola Aderinto
Yusuf Oketola
Statistics And The Reality
THE latest batch of official sta scs indicates that the level of infla on has fallen once again which is the seventh me in a row, cherry news? So far, we have not no ced wild jubilaon in the streets and we wonder why not are people in Nigeria so ungrateful? They are obviously ungrateful because there is nothing to be of good cheer about. The manipula on of sta s cs cannot disguise a punishing cost of living crisis. It is now accepted as the conven onal wisdom that one-thirty nine million Nigerians are subsiting below the poverty line and amazing fact for a major oil producing country.
If anyone doubt the danger involve in doctoring sta s c they should look at Argenna, the country were
“Nigeria needs a comprehensive work on poverty, there must be a plan in the imme-
diate, short term, medium term and long term to bring out of poverty, rebuild the middle class and develop the sustainable economy”
“What a tangled web we weave the first time we practice to deceive!”
Sir Walter Scott
over a decade later has not gone out of the effect of fooling around the sta s cs in other for the poli cal establishment to gain popularity. Once the official sta s cs of any country is no longer seen as reliable, the consequences are dire! It affect not just consumer planning but also disturbs the percep on of the investor and the credit risk analyst who direct the market. It is a dangerous warning to embark upon.
Nigeria needs a comprehensive work on poverty, there must be a plan in the immediate, short term, medium term and long term to bring out of poverty, rebuild the middle class and develop the sustainable economy.
A na onal consensus must be worked out on this as a ma er of audience.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025
Our Forests And Our Disappearing Herbs
By Olori Folake Ademiluyi
PRESENT
day Nigeria is beset and buffeted with several problems, some of them are self inflicted.
Walking by a garden or even driving past a stretch of forest, untrained eyes would see green plants, trees and shrubs. Those plants, trees and shrubs to the herbal prac oner are the source and strength of formula ons carrying healing powers. To mys cs, these plants also hold keys to spiritual realms and achievements that are secrets to the unini ated.
While tradi onal herbalists have known the secrets of these plants for centuries, have been using them as medicines for locals for centuries, increased awareness is just beginning to spread amongst people who consider themselves enlightened in western ways and have looked with disdain and fear upon the use of herbs. For a very long me, those who have the financial capacity to consult doctors trained in western medicine have looked at herbal medicine as demonic. Recent emergence of some resistant strains of infec ous organisms and the current involvement of highly scien fically enlightened and exposed persons have also contributed to the lenient acceptance of tradi onal medicine.
This presenta on is not academic but more of an observa on of trends in the herbal medicine industry in Nigeria.
One of the present challenges to the advancement of herbal medicine in Nigeria is the indiscriminate felling of trees, land clearing for agricultural use, building of roads, Estates and other infrastructure without considera on for the impact on herbal medicine.
One would have thought that the Federal, States and local Governments would make it mandatory that when development involves land clearing, town planners would be involved to look at how to plan the projects to ensure that some areas are carved out to preserve and conserve some
of the local flora and the contractors would involve Hor culturists who would take samples of the local trees to be nursed and replanted in the area. There are several areas in Lagos that bear names that one wonders how they came to be called by such names. For example, in Idi-oro there are no Oro fruit trees (Irvingia gabonensis or Bush mango), in sight. At Mangoro Bus Stop on the way to Agege, it is interes ng that there are no Mango trees (Mangifera indica) to jus fy the name. Same goes for Ilasa Bus Stop. The fact that there is no Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) or even Triumfe a rhomboidea which can also be called Ilasa is baffling. Why we decimate crops and s ll maintain the names by which their habitat was called when the plants were there seems rather ridiculous.
I had the opportunity once to a end an exhibi on where Herbal Prac oners and Pharmaceu cal companies were allowed to take stands to showcase their products. While going round, I came to the stand of a well known Pharmaceu cal company with good standing. I was excited to see that they are producing herbal prepara ons. Out of excitement, I asked where their herbal farm is. I learnt with pain and disappointment that they import their herbs from India and only formulate them here! I was disappointed because I had hoped that they are into some kind of backward integra on.
It is this same kind of taking the easy way out that is responsible for most of our underdevelopment. Till today most of our local herbs are got by foraging in the forests whereas in other climes, farmers are being encouraged to plant planta ons of herbs both for local consump on and export. The me has come when we should stop thinking that farming is only about growing cassava, yam, rice and beans!
OSUN DEFENDER
Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.
Asst. News Editor – Yusuf Oketola
Asst. Features Editor – Kazeem Badmus Deputy Photo Editor – Shola Aderinto Deputy Graphics Manager – Zainab Olalere
Produc on Controller – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa
While we point accusing fingers at contractors who decimate forests, the me has come when Agencies, Non Governmental Agencies and other Bodies involved in herbal medicine should either start to advocate that Government sets parcels of land aside and designate them as Herbal Farms or these bodies themselves source funds to buy land for the growing of herbs just like the Developers do for their Estates.
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
Foreign Fruits And Their Impact On Nigerian Trees And Fruits: While every country has a right to trade, it is interest-
•Read full article on www.osundefender.com
Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail : osundefenderhq@gmail.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com All correspondence to the above email addresses. •Written by Olori Folake Ademiluyi. ademiluyifolake830@gmail.com
Analysing What s On The Front Burner What’s On The Front Burner
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025
Reps Urge Completion Of Armed Forces School In Osun 17 Years After Budgetary Allocation
THE House of Representa ves has called for the immediate comple on of the long-abandoned Armed Forces Nigeria Physical and Health School and Games Village in EsaOke, Osun State.
The project, conceived by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Defence, is aimed at enhancing the fitness and combat readiness of Nigerian troops.
The call followed the adop on of a mo on moved by Hon. Oluwole Oke, represen ng Obokun/Oriade Federal Cons tuency of Osun State, at the plenary session presided over by Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abass.
While presen ng the mo on,. Oke lamented that despite budgetary alloca ons since 2008, the project had remained largely abandoned, depriving both the Armed Forces and surrounding communi es of the intended benefits.
The lawmaker not-
ed that the ins tu on, modelled a er the United States Army Physical Training School in South Carolina, was designed
to provide state-of-theart training facili es to enhance the physical and mental preparedness of military personnel.
Its establishment was also expected to create employment, promote security, and engage the youth popula on in
Esa-Oke and neighbouring communi es in Osun and Eki states.
“The stalled project has now degenerated into a hideout for criminals, posing a serious security threat to residents of the host communi es,” Oke said.
“The failure to complete the facility undermines the physical condi oning of Nigerian troops and weakens the na on’s security architecture. Urgent interven on is required, as further delay will worsen the situa on.”
In adop ng the moon, the House urged the Chief of Defence Staff to immediately deploy personnel to secure the project site and begin preliminary ac vi es. It also called on the Office
of the Accountant-General of the Federa on and the Federal Ministry of Finance to release funds allocated for the project in the current budget.
Furthermore, the lawmakers mandated the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office of the Federa on, and the Na onal Planning Commission to make adequate provisions for the project in the 2026 budget es mates.
The House also directed its Commi ees on Defence and Legislave Compliance to inves gate why previous budgetary alloca ons for the project were not implemented and to report back within four weeks for further legisla ve acon.
OSUN DEFENDER Bags Humanitarian Award
Acharitable organisa on, Monsurat Ajoke Founda on (MAF), has honoured Osun Defender Newspaper with
a Humanitarian Award. The Award was presented to the medium at MAF’s 10th Anniversary on Sunday, November 16, 2025. This was in recogni-
on of the newspaper’s outstanding contribu ons to humanity, and commitment to social impact.
Speaking at the presenta on of the award, Founder, Monsurat Ajoke
The Palm Tree Doesn’t Grow On One Day Art/Culture
GROWING up in many Yoruba communi es, the palm tree stood quietly as a lesson our elders never needed to put into long speeches. It was tall, steady, and pa ent. You could walk past it every day and never no ce any drama c change, yet over the years it became one of the most valuable trees in the compound. From palm oil to palm wine, broom to kernel, almost every part of the tree served a purpose. That slow, deliberate growth carried a message our grandparents lived by: true success takes me. The palm tree doesn’t grow in one day—and neither do the lives we are building.
In today’s fast-paced world, that wisdom is becoming harder to prac ce. Many young Africans feel an unspoken pressure to “make it” early. Social media amplifies every flashy moment, every celebraon, every shiny success, while hiding the years of struggle behind it. In this noisy culture of instant
results, it is easy to forget that the most meaningful achievements s ll follow an older rhythm—the rhythm of pa ence, persistence, and quiet investment in one’s cra . Visionaries, especially, must learn that great ideas may arrive suddenly, but their growth never does.
Looking back, some of the people we admire most did not rise overnight. Our fathers and mothers built homes through years of sacrifice, one block at a me. Local traders who now dominate markets o en began with a single table and a few goods. Teachers who shaped en re genera ons started as young graduates learning the ropes. Even in Osun, many leaders, arsans, and professionals we celebrate today had long seasons of obscurity before the world noced them. The journey was never rushed. It was steady—like the palm tree.
Pa ence is not laziness; it is disciplined wai ng. It is the understanding that foundaons ma er. A palm tree
can withstand storms because it spent years strengthening its roots before stretching toward the sky. In the same way, a visionary must invest me in learning, experimen ng, failing, and rising again. Whether you are building a business, nurturing a talent, pursuing an educa on, or healing from personal setbacks, the process cannot be microwaved. Anything rushed loses its depth. Anything pa ent becomes more resilient.
Our ancestors knew this well. They farmed with seasons in mind— plan ng, tending, and trus ng the process even when results were not immediate. Modern dreams may look different, but the principle is unchanged. A so ware developer s ll needs years to master coding.
A poli cal leader needs me to understand people and ins tu ons. A writer, ar st, engineer, or entrepreneur must embrace many quiet days, many unrecognized efforts, and countless failed a empts. The palm tree never complains about slow growth; it simply grows.
Pa ence also shapes character. It teaches humility, because you cannot control the speed of every outcome. It teaches gra tude, because small progress becomes easier to recognize. It teaches resilience, because once you’ve survived the slow journey, you value the success more deeply. And it teaches wisdom, because rushing o en leads to decisions we later regret. A visionary without pa ence becomes a dreamer with
Founda on, Monsurat Ibraheem said: “Your selfless work perfectly aligns with the values and vision that have guided the Monsurat Ajoke Founda on over the past decades. We be-
frustra on. A visionary with pa ence becomes a builder with impact.
For the African youth naviga ng today’s uncertain es—from economic pressures to shi ing career landscapes—the proverb speaks directly to you. Do not compare your growth with someone else’s highlight reel. Your journey is your own. Tend to it carefully. If you stay consistent, keep your values intact, and take each step seriously, the results will come—slowly at first, then surprisingly, then powerfully.
The truth remains: anything that grows too fast rarely lasts. But what is built with paence develops roots deep enough to weather any storm. The palm tree teaches us that greatness is not in the speed of growth, but in the strength of the founda on.
So if you are plan ng something—a dream, a vision, a plan—give it me. Water it. Protect it. Believe in it. And remember the ancient lesson our elders quietly passed down:
The palm tree doesn’t grow in one day, but when it finally rises, it stands taller than most.
lieve that your recogni on will inspire many others to con nue promo ng compassion, equity, and community service.
•Some of the stories Osun Defender has published in collabora on with MAF include in the past ten years include:
‘NGO Rescues 5-YearOld Girl A er Alleged Physical Abuse By Aunt’ (published in August 2025)
•‘My Life Is In Danger, Osun Indigene In Lagos Prison Cries Out’. (Published on September 9, 2022) Story of Segun Olowookere who was pardoned by Governor Ademola Adeleke published while facing harassment from prison officials in Kirikiri prison.
•‘Street Begging: NGO Sets To Tackle Menace Among Children In Osun’ (published in November 2021)
•13-Year-Old Girl Allegedly Raped By Father In Ido-Osun (published on January 30, 2021) story of a 13-year-old girl, Busola (not real name), allegedly raped by her father, Mr. Kazeem Olapade, on mulple occasions at Ido-Osun, Egbedore Local Government Area of the State of Osun among others.
Yusuf Oketola
Yusuf Oketola
How Insecurity, Hunger, Lack Of Clear Education Policy Exposed Tinubu’s Govt Failure - Aregbesola
IOur Reporter
LA and Ikire townships of Osun State came alive on Tuesday and yesterday as a massive crowd of loyalists, supporters and admirers poured into the streets to welcome the Na onal Secretary of the African Democra c Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the federal cons tuency tour of the party across the state kicked-off from Ila/ Ifedayo/Boluwaduro as well as Ayedaade/ Irewole/Isokan federal cons tuency.
From the moment his convoy entered the towns, chants, drumming and songs filled the air, signalling the return of a poli cal figure whose presence s ll resonates strongly with the grassroots.
Men, women, youths and even schoolchildren lined the roads, waving party flags and displaying banners that celebrated Aregbesola’s legacy and an cipated the return of people-centred governance.
The event, which marked the official flag-off of ADC’s federal cons tuency tours and inauguraon of party officials, turned into a rallying point for the ci zens’ frustra ons with the current administraon.
Aregbesola, visibly
moved by the massive turnout, told the electrified crowd that their passion reflected the growing hunger for a government that truly cares.
Addressing the gathering at the two federal cons tuencies, he said leadership anywhere in the world is built on three non-nego able pillars: security and welfare, a working economy, and quality educa on.
He, however, lamented that the present government had not only failed in all three, it had also abandoned the people in pursuit of poli cal survival and reelec on strategies.
According to him, no government deserves a second chance when it cannot protect its cizens, feed its poor, create jobs, or educate the next generaon.
“Instead of fixing insecurity, hunger and the broken economy, they are fixated on 2026,” he said, warning that “the people are waiting pa ently at the polls.”
Aregbesola also condemned the worsening economic hardship, describing the situa on as manmade and avoidable.
He said the widespread hunger, collapsed infrastructure and rising insecurity were consequences
•Says Party Will End Insecurity, Lapses In Good Governance
•As Thousands Receive ADC Stakeholders In Ila, Ikire
of poor governance and misplaced priories.
“There are 37,000 kilometres of federal roads, and 76 percent is not motorable. Yet the government is chasing a coastal highway that adds nothing to the immediate needs of the people,”
“A government that cannot secure you, cannot feed you, cannot educate your children, and cannot grow the economy is a failed government,” he declared.
Aregbesola contrasted this with the record of his administra on in Osun between 2010 and 2018, reminding the audience of the 50,000 children fed under the
“There are 37,000 kilometres of federal roads, and 76 percent is not motorable. Yet the government is chasing a coastal highway that adds nothing to the immediate needs of the people. A government that cannot secure you, cannot feed you, cannot educate your children, and cannot grow the economy is a failed government”
school feeding programme, the 60,000 youths empowered through employment schemes, and the social interven ons that “reduced hunger to the barest minimum.”
He promised a return to these values through the ADC if given support in 2026.
The event also served as a mobilisa on centre as senior party figures; Dr. Charles Omidiji, Alhaji Azeez Adesiji, Senator Felix Ogunwale, Alhaji Moshood Adeo , Dr. Najeem Salaam and others charged party members to recommit themselves to grassroots engagement.
They described the ADC as the only party with the moral clarity and capacity to rescue Osun and Nigeria from the current decline.
Hon. Kamil Akinlabi, Chairman of the
state’s Membership Registra on, Revalida on and Mobilisa on Commi ee, urged all members across the cons tuency to par cipate ac vely in the registra on exercise that began on Wednesday.
He said only strong numbers can translate the people’s frustra ons into electoral victory.
The excitement moved to the palaces of the Orangun of Ila, Oba AbdulWahab Kayode Bibire and the Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi Lambeloye III, where Aregbesola and the ADC leadership received royal blessings.
In Ila, Oba Kayode who spoke through Chief Douglas Adeyinka, the monarch praised Aregbesola’s governance legacy, describing it as “unmatched in the history of Osun,” and assured the ADC of the full support of the Ila community. Similarly in Ikire, Oba Falabi who was elated appreciated Aregbesola for the visit, offering royal blessings for the success of the ADC in the 2026 governorship elec on.
Dignitaries such as Engr. Jide Adeniji, Senator Sadiq Yar’Adua, Senator Adelere Oriolowo and Alhaji Rasaq Salinsile graced the event, adding weight to the flag-off Their presence further strengthened the message that the ADC is consolida ng its structures ahead of the 2026 governorship elec on. For many at the rallies, Tuesday and yesterday’s recep on was more than a poli cal ou ng; it was a declara on of intent. And as Aregbesola put it, “the people are watching… and they will speak loudly at the polls.”
•Leaders of the ADC during the constituency tour in Ila on Tuesday
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025
NANS Berates UNIOSUN Over Tuition Hike, Seeks Govt Intervention
Oluwadarasimi Jesukolade
HE Na onal Asso-
Tcia on of Nigerian Students (NANS), South West, has condemned management of Osun State University over the astronomical increment in the school tui on fees.
A statement by the office of the Secretary General of NANS Zone D, Comrade Oluwole Aboke, the ac on by the school management is not only inconsiderate but also reflects a growing trend of educa onal commercialisa on at the expense of struggling Nigerian students and their parents.
Aboke called on the Osun State Government to intervene urgently and not allow the injusce stand.
He said: “It is disheartening to note that over 41,000 admission seekers applied for UNIOSUN’s Post-UTME, while the school man-
agement is fully aware that the ins tu on can only admit approximately 11,385 students for the current academic session. Allowing over 30,000 applicants to pay for Post-UTME screening when they already know the number of available slots is exploita ve, unfair, and unjus fiable.
“Furthermore, the financial burden on newly admi ed students is highly outrageous. Fresh students are compelled to pay ₦50,000 for acceptance, ₦40,000 for
medical screening, and ₦20,000 for library registra on, while the management has also increased hostel accommoda on fees to over ₦145,000. These mul ple and excessive charges have made life increasingly difficult for students and their sponsors.
“It is worth emphasizing that most physical projects on campus both completed and ongoing are majorly funded by TETFUND and the Osun State Government,
which leaves no moral or financial jus fica on for the management to impose such crippling financial demands on students. The constant fee increments have equally led to a sharp rise in accommoda on costs outside the campus, as private landlords and agents now take advantage of the situa on, further worsening the suffering of both freshers and returning students.
“We therefore call on the Osun State Government not to fold its arms in the face of this injus ce. The state must intervene immediately and compel the university management to reverse these an -student policies.”
of a suspected herbalist in Osun State.
More so, Aboke urged the state government to review the alarming cost of students’ accommoda on outside the campus, which he said has become an unbearable nity in Osun State.”
TKazeem Badmus
HE Osun State Police Command is set to lead the inves ga on into the circumstances leading to the death of a senior officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Funmilayo Oluwamayokun Lasisi and her daughter, Sewa Lasisi.
The 38-year-old and her daughter were declared missing in Ogun State.
However, they have been reportedly found dead with a mu lated body part at a suspected herbalist’s den in Osun State.
A Facebook user, Ayomideji Solanke, said, the discovery was made over the weekend.
The deceased were
reported missing on the morning of Sunday, November 2, a er they le their residence at the Obasanjo Hilltop Estate, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, and never returned.
Sharing an update on the incident on Facebook, Solanke disclosed that a family source had revealed that the remains of the missing officer and her daughter were found at a suspected herbalist’s den in Osun.
Solanke wrote, “The mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Federal Road Safety Corps officer, SRC Lasisi Funmilayo Oluwamayokun, and her young daughter, Sewa, has taken a tragic turn as their remains were reportedly discovered in the home
“Fresh revela ons emerged at the weekend when a source close to the bereaved husband disclosed that the bodies of the officer and her daughter were recovered from the residence of a tradi onal healer in an undisclosed commu-
He added that while the wife of the herbalist has been arrested, the herbalist has since been on the run.
Confirming the incident, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, disclosed that the Osun State Command has ar-
burden on both fresh and returning students.
“The Osun State Government is also urged to cri cally review the alarming cost of student accommoda on outside campus, which has become an unbearable burden on both fresh and returning students. The government must immediately convene a mee ng with community leaders, landlords, and housing associaons within the university’s host communi es to address and regulate the incessant hike in rent prices.
“It is impera ve that all stakeholders work together to ensure that
accommoda on costs remain reasonable and student-friendly, as the current exploita ve situa on is deepening the financial hardship faced by many students and their families.
“Failure to do so may lead to growing unrest within the student community, as the current situa on is becoming unbearable and could trigger a major crisis if not addressed urgently. The students of Osun State and the en re Southwest region deserve be er. Educa on must remain a right, not a privilege reserved for the rich,” the statement concluded.
Osun Police To Lead Probe As Missing Ogun FRSC Officer, Daughter Feared Killed By Herbalist
rested some suspects in connec on with the incident.
According to Ogunlowo, the Osun command also discovered some exhibits at the scene, which were suspected to be body parts of the missing officer and her daughter.
“The Osun command
has commenced an inves ga on, and they have made some arrests. They found some exhibits that are body parts.
“For convenience’s sake, Osun will be invesga ng the ma er, and we will be lending the necessary support. The suspect is with them,” Ogunlowo said.
Cameroonian Fleeing From Suspected Ritualists Rescued In Osun
ACameroonian,
Ondigui Nnomo Germain, who was fleeing from some suspected ritualists has been found in Osogbo, Osun State.
Germain, who ran into the head office of the Osun Amotekun Corps in the Powerline Area, Osogbo, around 11 am on Tuesday, said he was brought to Nigeria from the Ahala Barriere area in Yaounde by a Nigerian who promised to get him a job.
He added that he sold some of his belongings to get money for his trip to Nigeria.
He noted that he began to suspect the person who brought him to Nigeria when he and his colleagues visited him at a hotel where he was lodged along Osogbo/ Ikirun Road on Monday. Upon realising that
the person who brought him from Cameroon may have an ulterior mo ve, the 28-year-old said he ran out of the hotel and was chased in a vehicle.
A er escaping from those chasing him, he said he passed the night in an abandoned building and was wandering around the street un l he got to the gate of the Osun State Security Network, also known as Amotekun Corps, located in the Powerline area of Osogbo in the early hours of Tuesday.
Narra ng his ordeal in the French language at the entrance to the Osun Amotekun Office using a mobile phone language translator, Germain, who looked dishevelled, said, “I am Ondigui Nnomo Germain. I am 28 years old and I am from Yaounde (Ahala Barriere). I was working for a woman in a second-hand shop in Yaounde when his son,
a Nigerian, came to me and suggested there was a job for me in Nigeria.
“I told him that I didn’t have money for the trip, and he told me not to worry, that it was a good job. I sold my belongings and I gave him the money. The money was what he demanded from me before leaving Cameroon. He made sure that I and another person who made the trip had no money in our pockets. They gave us SIM cards when we got to Nigeria.
“We got to Nigeria three days ago (Sunday). What happened therea er was that yesterday (Monday), the person who brought me here came with another man. I asked him about the work, but he menoned the post of stock manager.
“I observed that the man who brought me had guys everywhere on the road, even at the
border. Then, at about 9 a.m. yesterday, they came to pick me up at the hotel for the interview for the job they promised me.
“There were many in the room where the interview was held inside the hotel. Each of them took their turn trying to convince me. I no ced it was like a voodoo circle; they all had rings except the man who brought me from Cameroon. When I observed that, I sneaked out, but they chased me un l I ran into this place.”
Asked what he wanted, Germain said he would like to return to his country. He said, “If you can even accompany me to the border via Buea because I no ced they have guys along the road, I will get to Cameroon. I fear that I am not safe again.”
Germain was later led to the Obelawo Police Post, where he reported the ma er.
Kazeem Badmus
•The deceased
Galatasaray Provide Injury Update On Osimhen
Jamiu Akintoye
GALATASARAY have confirmed that Victor Osimhen sustained an injury while on interna onal duty with Nigeria. Osimhen was replaced by Sevilla striker Adams Akor during half- me of the Super Eagles’ 2026 FIFA
Osun Community Tasks Tinubu Over Abandonment Of FG Road Sport
Yusuf Oketola
ESIDENTS of Osun
RState plying the Gbongan-Iwo-Oyo federal road have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the prolonged abandonment of the road, a cri cal na onal route that has remained incomplete for over two decades. According to the residents, despite being approved as a dualised federal highway, the project has suffered repeated delay, poli cal neglect, and alleged interference from a religious organiza on that opposed its dualizaon.
The allega on was contained in a statement by the Taawunu Human Rights Ini a ve (THURIST) and signed by its Director Nigeria, Sulayman Tadese.
According to THURIST, the state of the road has been posing danger to commuters and crippling economic development across Osun and Oyo States.
A copy of the statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads: “Despite being approved as a dualized federal highway, the project has suffered repeated delays, polical neglect, and alleged interference from a religious organiza on that opposed its dualiza on. Today, the road stands as a daily reminder of government inac on, posing danger to commuters and crippling economic development across Osun and Oyo states.
World Cup African playoffs final against the Democra c Republic of Congo in Rabat on Sunday. Upon his return to Turkey, the striker assured that the injury is not serious. Galatasaray confirmed that the forward underwent an MRI examina on at the club’s hospital
on Wednesday.
The Turkish Super Lig champions also stated that the former Napoli player has commenced treatment for the injury.
“Our player Victor Osimhen has been diagnosed with a moderate level of strain (strain and bleeding) in his le posterior muscle, and treatment has begun,” reads a statement on the club’s official website.
The 26-year-old is now expected to miss Okan Buruk’s side’s Turkish Super Lig clash with Gençlerbirliği this weekend.
Arsenal To End Partnership With Visit Rwanda
PREMIER League leaders Arsenal will terminate their partnership deal with Rwanda at the end of this season, OSUN DEFENDER reports.
The announcement was made by the African country’s development board yesterday.
The Visit Rwanda partnership, established eight seasons ago, had come under increasing scru ny due to escala ng violence in the mineralrich eastern Democra c Republic of Congo, which borders Rwanda.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of arming and suppor ng the M23 mili a, which has seized large areas of DRC terri-
tory since taking up arms in 2021.
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of thousands and triggered a humanitarian crisis, although the DRC and M23 have signed a ceasefire agreement and peace framework in recent months.
In April, Arsenal fans protested against the ongoing partnership, which involves the Visit Rwanda
logo being displayed on the sleeves of the players’ jerseys.
“Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have mutually agreed to conclude their partnership at the end of this season, bringing to a close an eight-season collabora on that included Visit Rwanda as Arsenal’s first Official Sleeve Partner,” the Rwanda Development Board stated.
“A Road That Has Become a Burden, Not a Blessing. The road has become increasingly hazardous, with residents repor ng frequent accidents due to potholes and failed por ons, heavy traffic conges on, damage to vehicles and rising transporta on costs, re-
duced access to markets, schools, and hospitals, and slowed economic ac vity across communi es depending on the corridor. This hardship has persisted despite the road being a federal responsibility.”
The muslim body called on Hon. Lukman
Mudasiru (House of Representa ves, Iwo/Ayedire/Ola-Oluwa), Senator Lere Oyewumi (Osun West Senatorial District), Hon. Akeem Adeyemi (House of Representaves, Afijio/Oyo East/Oyo West/A ba) and Hon. Ayo Omidiran (House of Representa ve. Ayedaade/
Irewole/Isokan) to see to the reconstruc on of the road.
“The people of Iwo and the en re axis have suffered greatly. A federal road cannot remain abandoned for over 20 years. This is beyond neglect — it is injus ce. We call on President Tinubu to break
Accommodation Crisis: Unilesa Management Convenes Stakeholders Meeting As Owa Obokun Launches N50m Project
Kazeem Badmus
THE Management of the University of Ilesa, Osun State, has convened a stakeholders’ mee ng to address the accommoda on crisis affecting the ins tu on.
The mee ng which had in a endance the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, tradi onal rulers in Ijesaland, landlords, students, and other security personnel, was held at the school campus.
Speaking during the mee ng, Owa Haastrup lamented the high cost of accommoda on in Ijesaland, urging house owners not to price the university out of existence.
The monarch, who said the accommoda on issue is very cri cal to the survival of the university, launched the “Ilesa University Must Con nue To Rise” project with a N50 million start-up capital.
Owa Haastrup urged notable families in Ijesaland, as well as sons and daughters of the town in diaspora, to join the project and build hostels in the university to ease the accommoda on
suffering of the students.
The monarch said: “It is very sad the way things are generally in Ijesaland. I learnt that some landlords are charging N750,000 for a room, and students are not allowed to pair.
“I appeal to all landlords to be kind enough to help our students and the university. The government, both at the state and federal levels, is doing their best. Find a way to ameliorate the suffering of the students. Don’t price Ilesa University out of existence.
“I want to thank patrio c Ijeshas who have commi ed to building hostels on this campus. My prayer is that God will help them in their inten ons.
“Today, I also want to launch the ‘Ilesa University Must Con nue To Rise’ project and I am star ng this project with 50 million for now. The whole essence is to encourage everyone of us to know that this accommoda on issue is very cri cal to the survival of the university, so that we don’t scare away external students from coming to the university.
“There is already a lot
of hardship in the country and every parent wants to give their children a quality educa on.
“I am appealing to all well-meaning Ijesa sons and daughters to join me to make this new ini a ve succeed. There is a wide gap and it is only when all of us are commi ed to building hostels that we can bridge the gap.
“Our children in diaspora, and well-meaning Ijesas, if they want to join this project, should build a hostel which will be named a er their families. This is a way to keep the memories of their late parents alive in the minds of the Ijesas.”
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Mr Gbenga Onigbogi, said the university management has started a model where interested individuals would build hostels and manage them for 27 years without paying any money to the school.
According to Onigbogi, “For its 47 years of existence before it was upgraded into a university, Ilesa College of Educa on ran an off-campus accommoda on system. However,
regulatory bodies for certain academic programmes mandate on-campus hostels for students. We therefore renovated and converted some buildings to student hostels, crea ng just 294 bed spaces.
“Presently, with the new admission, we have about 12,000 students, and we have just 234 bed spaces. You can see the gap. The university has realised the need to bridge the gap and efforts are ongoing to provide more accommoda on on campus. Parts of the efforts are the Te und N750 million special interven on for hostel development, which is ongoing right now.
“Also, the university has brought out a model whereby any developer will be given land free of charge. The developer will develop the land and manage it for 27 years without the university charging any money.
“Before the university came into being, a room in the university community was N25,000, but today, it has increased by more than 100 per cent. We are appealing to our landlords to temper jus ce with mercy and give these students a so landing.”
this cycle of abandonment and give this project the urgent a en on it deserves. Our elected representa ves must come out of hiding. Leadership is not by tle, it is by acon. The people need answers. The people need representa on. And the people need results
“This road is a federal asset, not a community project. The federal government must take responsibility. Every day of delay increases the risk of more deaths, more injuries, and more economic hardship along this corridor. The Gbongan–Iwo–Oyo road was originally planned for dualiza on over 20 years ago. Since then, contractors have appeared and disappeared, equipment has moved in and out, and communi es have endured decades of unfulfilled promises.
“THURIST maintains that no religious ins tuon or private organiza on should wield the power to delay or obstruct a federal infrastructure project meant for public safety and na onal development,” the statement concluded.
THURIST demands, “Immediate return of contractors to site.
“Full restora on of the dualiza on plan as originally approved.
“Public disclosure of all funds allocated to this project over the years.
“ Update from elected representa ves on their interven ons.
“A clear comple on meline from the Federal Ministry of Works.”
Oluwadarasimi Jesukolade
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025 VOL. 20 NO 62 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
“ POVERTY Capital of the World” refers to the country with the largest popula on living in extreme poverty. Nigeria earned this tle when it overtook India in 2018, according to reports by Brookings Ins tu on, a non-profit making organisa on based in Washington D.C that specialises in conduc ng in-depth research to improve policy and governance at local, na onal and global levels. This asser on was jus fied by Nigeria Bureau of Sta s c (NBS) in the survey it conducted between November 2021 and February 2022 when it reported that 63 percent of Nigerians, es mated to be 133 million Nigerians, were mul dimensional poor based on the Na onal Mul dimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
But why should Nigeria find itself in this abysmal pit? This same country had earned a tle of “Giant of Africa” and biggest economy in the con nent. This is a country that is stupendously rich in human and natural resources which are prerequisites for growth and development. It is said to be over 200 million popula on as there has not been Na onal Popula on Census since 2006. According to Worldometer however, Nigeria popula on is es mated to be 237milion as of mid2025; the most populous country in the con nent; and the sixth most populous globally. Some of the natural resources it is endowed with are oil and natural gas reserves, gold, colombite, n, Iron ore, limestone, coal, bitumen and gemstone. It is also blessed with industrial minerals like kaolin, gypsum and barite in addi on to forest and water resources across its thirty-six states; it is a country with clement weather with no natural disaster like volcanic erup ons, tsunami, etc. I stumbled at a 2025 documentary on the social media wherein a young man from England searched for an answer to his friend’s ques on to know “which country in the world has the highest life expectancy?” The result states Monaco with average life expectancy of 90 years old. In his curiosity to go further, he asked himself, “what is the opposite?”- which country has the lowest life expectancy in
“Under the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the present Tinubu led administration, the quality of life of majority of Nigerians has plummeted as hunger, misery and penury have become the portion of the people. Removal of fuel subsidy has astronomically increased the cost of transport, food and other consumables, taking them far out of the reach of the majority”
Nigeria: World Poverty Capital
the world? The answer is Nigeria with approximately 55 years old as average life expectancy. Shocked by this sta s cs, he embarked on a journey to these two countries. In Monaco, he discovers that it’s a rich people’s paradise – the highest concentra on of millionaires and billionaires in the world. Ra o of Doctors to residence is 89:10,000; no stress, no anxiety, there are good food and environment and healthy lifestyle, among others. When he gets to Lagos, Nigeria, it is a completely different world from the riverine areas to mainland - Poverty is palpable in most everywhere he goes; the environment and living condion is messy; and ra o of doctor to residence is 4:10,000 and insecurity is prevalent.
Although, it’s not so surprising that Nigeria is placed on the global map as the capital of poverty as signs, facts and figures and other nega ve indicators have con nued to flash this awful condi on, I had to conduct an independent research of this pathe c situa on myself; and alas, the condi on of vast majority of Nigerians is alarming! Interes ngly, the situa on may not improve as successive governments, past and present, always present Nigeria as faring well when they hold sway vis-a-vis control and siphoning our collec ve patrimony, cas ga ng their predecessors to be responsible for our socio-economic woe with no strategy to arrest it and improve living condi on of the people.
And what are the social index that determines overall quality of daily life and wellbeing of the people? Purchasing power Index: it measures cizens’ capacity to purchase goods and service based on income and prices; house price to income ra o: meaning housing affordability as per property prices in rela ons to local income;
cost of living index: capturing overall expense of living in a place including food, housing, and services; safety index, which captures crime rates and residents’ percep on of security, to men on just these.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was World Bank reports in October, 2025 that poverty in Nigeria has worsened, with es mated 139 million Nigerians living in poverty despite the government reforms! World Bank notes, “While reforms like removal of fuel subsidy and exchange rate unifica on are crucial for long term growth, they have not yet translated into improved living standard due to high food infla on, low job crea on, and eroded purchasing power,” and warned that, “without be er outcomes for the ci zens, the country (Nigeria) risks losing the gains from these reforms.”
Under the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the present Tinubu led administra on, the quality of life of majority of Nigerians has plummeted as hunger, misery and penury have become the por on of the people. Removal of fuel subsidy has astronomically increased the cost of transport, food and other consumables, taking them far out of the reach of the majority. Cost of housing has gone above the roof as the prices of building materials have risen. Electricity tariffs increase under the guise of banding has con nued to take away hard earned income of the people without corresponding electricity to jus fy the killing increase. Various taxes – electronic money transfer, increase in the price of data and calls, domes c gas price increase - among others, and amidst yet another proposed new petrol tax - have con nued to reduce purchasing power of the people. As government rakes in a lot of money from the sweat, blood, agony and misery of the
people without any clear social protec on programme and distributes money amongst the three ers – FG, State Governments and Local Governments – the FG which collects the lion share of the bounty (52.68%) with its spokespersons asks Nigerians to hold their State Governments (which collec vely receive 26.72%) responsible for their misery.
The essence of any government and the very reason for its existence ab ini o is the guarantee of welfare and security of the ci zens. However terrible the status quo whenever any government takes power, the expecta on is not a bulk-passing to the preceding governments and blame games on who or what caused the current tribula ons – that is, at any day and any me and by any standard, the highest sense of irresponsibility. Why does it bother to take the baton in the first place? Is it not to undo the damages, salvage the situa on and take the country into a be er situa on than it met it?
For emphasis, all cons tu onal governments have statements on why government have to be put in place; in Nigeria, it is enshrined in our cons tuon as the “Fundamental Objec ves and Direc ve Principles of State Policy.” It states the express raison deter for government as “the guarantee of the welfare and security of ci zens.” Accordingly, no volume of propaganda about any policy can mi gate what it will inevitably be judged by – how has the policy impacted on THE WELFARE AND SECURITY OF CITIZENS? Are the welfare and security of the MAJORITY be er today than yesterday? As per the current government, the absolute and incontrover ble answer is crystal clear to all, even their IMF and World Bank Masters - a resounding NO!
Virtually every index with which the quality of life of a people is measured has taken a turn for the worse since May 29, 2023. Only the architects of the mass suffering who enjoy the “harvest from the tribula ons” live in denial.
The Onus, in every democracy, lies with the people – they must not get red in changing their government un l they get to the one that guarantees their welfare and security and more solidarity amongst themselves across all the divide-and-rule lines of ethnicity and religion. They must think beyond the corrup on of those who have no electoral game than votebuying and widespread harassment and terror. They must stand well-well BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER elec on to ensure that their votes count. In making any choice, they should rely on facts from the past and refuse to be carried away by sen ments and empty promises. That is the only guarantee of choices that make tomorrow be er than today – even if not perfect yet. Come rain, come shine, nobody should be scared on elec on day; everyone must remember that no amount of money given to them that day as a bribe to vote for a devil will make life in the next 4 years easy! Collect if you must but vote as your conscience says. A word is enough for the wise.
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