Osun Defender Online Version of May 13, 2023

Oyetola VS Adeleke: How S’Court Saved Tinubu From Legal Threats

•Continued from Page 1

“However, the Supreme Court has saved what might be a threat to the electoral victory and inaugura on of the Presidentelect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Some of the issues being canvassed against his victory at the elec on peon tribunal are the issues that were also canvased against Adeleke at elec on pe on tribunal, which the Supreme court has dismissed.

“If the Supreme Court had ruled otherwise, it would have been a serious threat to the electoral victory of the president-elect.

“The Supreme court has set a new precedence for us in the adjudica on of electoral dispute.

“Interes ngly, the Presiden al Elec on Pe on Tribunal has warned par es in the case to avoid delay taccs and technicali es. That means the court is out for real business and will not entertain technicality.

Commen ng on the judgment, the Secretary of the Legal Commi ee of the PDP in the State of Osun, Barr. Hashim Abioye, said the Supreme Court has strengthened the jurisprudence with its verdict on the July 16, 2022 governor-

ship elec on dispute.

According to Abioye, the apex court has asserted that the content of the BVAS machine will take priority over all other materials when there is any conflict on elec on results and accredita on of voters.

Abioye said: “The Supreme Court reviewed the en re pe on filed by the pe oners and it found out that their pe ons were based on a third hand report, that was the language used by the court. That third hand report was the server result of Independent Electoral Commissioner (INEC). So, their complaint was about the transmission of the results, what was transferred into the server, not the content of the BVAS itself.

“The apex court said to prove any infrac on, especially as it relates to over-vo ng at any polling unit, you need the voters register and the BVAS machine itself. If you can’t get the BVAS machine, the cer fied content of the machine is what you need to prove over-vo ng. That the voters register or the content of the BVAS machine is what will determine overvo ng at any polling unit.

“In case there is any

conflict between the BVAS machine and the voter register, the content of the BVAS machine will sail through and that is true in the cause that it was the BVAS machine that was used for accredita on, and a er the accredita on the voters register will be picked.

“There could be technological or human factor hindering the func on-

ing of the BVAS machine as regard transmission or transferring of results. As a result of that, if you want to prove over-vo ng, you don’t rely on a third hand report.”

Commen ng on the statement of the apex court that says ‘the en re proceeding of the tribunal is a nullity’, Abioye said: “The law is that any applica on filed before any

court, especially when it touches the jurisdic on of the court, the applica on must be heard and determined.

“That the preliminary objec on filed before the governorship elec on peon tribunal was heard but the tribunal did not deliver ruling as required. So, as a result of that, the en re procedure is in nullity.

“I think the supreme

court would have stopped at that but for the purpose of our jurisprudence and for the fact that the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 are new, the Supreme Court u lised the opportunity to set a precedence and to make some vital pronouncement which will be relevant and con nue to be.

Sincere Restructuring, Genuine Reconciliation Will Bring APC Back To Power – Baderinwa

Yusuf Oketola

Aformer Commissioner for Informa on and Strategy in the State of Osun, Mr Adelani Baderinwa, has disclosed that genuine reconcilia on and sincere restructuring will bring the All Progressives Congress (APC) back to power in the state.

Baderinwa said anything short of poli cs of inclusiveness and accommoda on of all interests and tendencies in the APC would amount to exercise in fu lity.

He spoke yesterday in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER in Osogbo.

According to Baderinwa, the defunct The Osun Progressives (TOP) had three years ago forewarned the predicament that befell the party, no ng that the acclaimed leaders of the party, instead of addressing issues, threw decorum into the wind and resorted to violent a acks on members with dissenting views.

The former commissioner stated that the greatest undoing of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola was a empt to outrun the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and as a result destroyed the party.

Baderinwa said Aregbesola risked his life, spent his personal money, energy and me to make sure he handed over power to Oyetola as his successor, lamen ng that it was unfortunate that the former governor did everything possible to bring down his benefactor throughout his four years.

Commen ng on the reposi oning commi ee set

up by Oyetola, Baderinwa stressed that the former governor’s inten on is to hold on to the party, sta ng that Oyetola wouldn’t have taken such step if he had won the second term bid.

He said membership of the commi ee is one sided, adding that the members are not well grounded in the poli cal space of Osun.

“If you are going to cons tute a reposi oning commi ee, people who are poli cally savvy and well experienced and have

done one thing or the other in poli cs should be the one in the commi ee, not all the kind of 11 people put together.

“Even if he want to restrict it to his group members alone, there are lots of other members that can handle the assignment far be er than those he put in place.

“As an ar culate polician who had gone into it prac cally in the past, we know what to do to bring our party back to life and

we have been trying to do it”, he submi ed.

Baderinwa advised that Aregbesola should be allowed to restructure the party and organise its members like he did a er the Alliance for Democracy lost power to the Peoples Democra c Party in 2003.

He described the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke at the Supreme Court as the will of God and the fairness of the judiciary, urging him to be magnanimous in victory.

ICPC To Engage Osun Secondary School Students On Anti-Corruption Campaign

Yusuf Oketola

AHEAD of the May 27

Children’s Day celebra on, the Independent Corrupt Prac ces and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the State of Osun Ministry of Educa on are set to organise a debate compeon for secondary school students i as part of the moves to engaging them in the an -corrup on campaign.

Both the ICPC and Ministry of Educa on concluded on the debate idea when the Osun Resident An -Corrup on Commissioner (RACC), Mr. Demola Bakare, led a delega on of the commission on a cour-

tesy call to the Permanent Secretary of the State’s Ministry of Educa on on Monday.

Bakare explained that ICPC believes in engaging the youths in the ancorrup on campaign, and as a result, the proposed debate would be an avenue for youths in the state, par cularly those in secondary schools, to contribute their quota to the campaign.

He stated that the visit was informed by the need to enhance more collabora on between the commission and the ministry in order to promote forma on of more Students’ An -Corrup on Clubs (SACs).

The RACC explained that the planned debate

compe on would be for schools with exis ng SACs, adding that there were also plans to organise quiz compe on in commemora on of Interna onal An -Corrup on Day coming up on December 9 this year.

In his response, the

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Educa on, Mr. Adelani Aderinola, expressed his willingness to partner with the commission to give adequate support to ICPC’s Schools Outreach programmes and to the campaign against corrup on in general.

“The supreme court has strengthened our jurisprudence. Not so much has changed even with the introduc on of BVAS machine, the only addi on now is that the content of BVAS machine will take priority over all other materials when there is any conflict as regards what transpired concerning accredita on of voters.”

On the similarity between the pe ons against Adeleke and Tinubu, Abioye said: “The case filed against Adeleke was based on a server report, the pe on against Tinubu is about improper transmission of result, not based on any report from server. The similarity is that any pe on that is founded on extraneous materials, aside from the cri cal materials will fail.

If a pe on is founded on any extraneous material outside the cri cal materials at the polling unit, it will fail, notwithstanding the technological innova on in our electoral system. That is a precedence set by the Supreme on Oyetola versus Adeleke ma er.

“If the pe on against the President-elect is based on failure to transmit result, improper transmission of report or IREV issue, the Supreme Court has se led that. Transmission of result is different from collaon of result. Anything can happen during the transmission of result. The most important thing is the materials at the polling units.

•Governor Ademola Adeleke of the State of Osun, former Governor of the State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Secretary tó the State Government, Hon. Teslim Igbalaye and others during the solidarity walk organised by State civil servants over his victory at Supreme Court on Tuesday.

THE State of Osun both civil and poli cal society heaved a sigh of relief at the closure of the long running legal dispute over the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on. Yes, you got that right, the elec on took place last year! The case for a review of the electoral processes is clearly now irrefutable!

Governor Ademola Adeleke had a sword of Damocles hanging over his head; he would be lacking in human composi on not to have been distracted. We urge him to now renew his vigour with “the fierce urgency of now”.

Poten al investors in the state will also have heaved a sigh of relief. No investor puts in the much needed funds in an uncertain climate in which the fate of the Chief Execuve Officer of the state is hanging in the balance. As a priority, Governor Adeleke should now summon an investment summit to market the opportuni es available in the state to investors. This will not be a talk shop but a hard sell with the governor assuming the role of the chief marke ng officer of the state.

Adeleke’s in-tray is full of long postponed problems. He will have to impart his exigencies in a very turbulent economic climate and he has very li le me to do it.

He will be well advised to start from the base and in doing so je son the romance with grandiose vanity

An Agenda For Governor Adeleke

ed out the pi alls as well the misalloca on of resources entailed in the fixa on with vanity projects. Sadly, his forewarning went unheeded.

The consequences of following the wrong development model are obvious. It turns into “growth without development”. For example, it does not add up to spend N2.7bn to build a flyover of unproven economic value when the same amount sunk into rural roads has a mul plier effect of according to the studies of the World Bank of mes ten.

Governor Adeleke must take a deep look at the state’s structural imbalance. For example, the test scores for the state in na onal examina ons is pathe c and a structured fight back must be mounted. Di o for improvements in the health sector, rural development and so forth.

The governor must create a democra c consensus and carry all stakeholders along. He will need to do so in order to carry out what might be some mes painful reforms such as realigning the ballooning costs of the machinery of the government.

projects and instead very sensibly worship “ the god of small things”. This makes sense for sustainable development, starts from the base

with the laying of solid founda ons. As far back as 1962, the French agronomist, Renee Dumont in his mea culpa “ False Starts In Africa” point-

The Discourse

We congratulate the governor and wish him well as he succeeds the state also succeeds. As a newspaper which always puts the people first, we on our part will con nue to champion the common cause.

Finally, we wish the governor happy birthday in advance.

The Democratic Get-Together

WHAT is the founda on of Democracy and its basic assumpons? Simple: that the wishes of the majority should prevail. What are the wishes and common interests of the majority? Not far-fetched at all - a roof over the head, clothes on the body, food on the table, educa on for children, good roads, access to health services and security to life and property. Freedom caps it all: freedoms of expression, movement, associa on, believe; which are rights equally accessible to all across gender, cultural, religious and poli cal divides.

Democracy is, therefore, not an end in itself. It is a means to achieving those stated ends. It is why Democracy as a method of government is hailed as the best form of government on earth because of the goals, not because of the name. Democracy, however, does not operate itself, human beings operate it. Whether democracy works or not is, therefore, not the fault or favour of democracy, it is kudos or knocks to its operators.

Who are then the best sets of humans to operate Democracy? They are called Democrats - those who believe in Democracy. So, before you judge the successes or failings of democracy anywhere, ask yourself, is it being operated there by democrats? If not, why do we expect that devils can deliver heaven?

It is like handing over an independent country to colonial masters to run and expec ng the prosperity of the na ves. How best do lions know as to taking care of lambs?

Fundamentally and personally, there

is the need to ask ourselves “how much of a democrat am I”? Every good thing in the world begins with one person thinking it out and pu ng it into ac on. Considering the goals of democracy outlined in the opening paragraph, measure yourself on the democra c scale by simply judging how commi ed you are, in thought, disposi on and especially in ac on to the collec ve good and the prosperity of the majority - not just yourselves and your clique. That is how much of a democrat you are.

Democracy is ba ered when people who would rather run a slave camp hide behind its fancy name to pursue self-serving ends. Non-democrats come in several categories and are usually successful behind their masks and decepve make-ups. However, they generally do not believe in the universal equality of all ci zens before the law, nor do they believe in separa on of powers between execu ves, legislators and judiciary. For them, the execu ve is almighty and the other two arms are to be manipulated, punished or rewarded to the degree

of their compliance. Non-democrats in those other arms too (legislatures and judiciary) understand very well, and make successful careers out of “compliance” by scheming to eventually get to execu ve posi ons. Non-democrats would have you know that they can guarantee “freedom of speech, but not freedom a er speech”! If you feel it is a man’s world and that every man should be for himself and God should be for us all, you will make a poor democrat indeed.

Unfortunately, because of our long years under feudalism, colonialism and military rule, the majority of Nigerians, young and old, men and women, are non-democrats. They would rather lord it over others and have their ways and ends

OSUN DEFENDER

Produc

- woe be unto others! It is when these ordinary undemocra c Nigerians get to leadership of any organiza on that you now see the trait. Unfortunately too, only democrats can come together and form poli cal par es commi ed to democracy and make a success of running governments in a democracy. Their poli cal par es will be different only as per strategies and tac cs for achieving democra c dividends, conserva vely or progressively.

It should be clear what is to be done - a democrats’ get-together within all organiza ons, ins tu ons, poli cal par es; to rescue the organiza ons, instu ons, democracy and governance, and more importantly, to rescue the naon from clear and present danger of implosion.

“The governor must create a democratic consensus and carry all stakeholders along. He will need to do so in order to carry out what might be sometimes painful reforms such as realigning the balloning costs of the machinery of the government”

“

Fundamentally and person ally, there is the need to ask ourselves “how much of a democrat am I”? Every good thing in the world begins with one person thinking it out and putting it into action”

Jide Afolabi

•The sword of Damocles has disappear

Flood Threatens Lives, Property Of Ife Residents

Yusuf Oketola

LIFE is no longer at ease with residents of Alajobi Line 4, Safejo community, Ife East local government of the State of Osun.

Residents of the community are currently being threatened by landslides, coastal erosion and flooding, a challenge they have been facing for over five years.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that flooding has become a yearly occurrence, affec ng lives and property of the people living in the area, including destruc on of farmland and livestock.

Parts of the property destroyed by the flood in the area include houses, church and burial ground.

According to residents of the area, all the preven ve measure they put in place did not hold back flooding and landslide, urging the State Government to come to their aide.

The residents said they have con nued to ba le with landslides, coastal erosion and flooding every year during the full blast of the raining season.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, Chairman of the community, Mr. Damilare Akinwale, chided both the state and local government for leaving them to their fate, saying the governments have abandoned the community.

Akinwale said the yearly flooding has become a big problem to residents of the community, disclosing that fear always envelops them whenever rain is about to fall.

Corrobora ng Akinwale’s statement, one of the community leaders, Mr. Olagunju Olusola, urged both the state and local government to help the community to dredge the river in Safejo, as well

as reconstruc ng the bridge on it

He said: “The state and local governments should come and do environmental impact assessment in Alajobi line 4 Safejo community and know exactly what we are passing through, so that they can take urgent necessary ac on to prevent our community from going into ex nc on.”

Rainstorm Wreaks Havoc In Ilesa

Some residents of Ilesa, State of Osun, are s ll coun ng their loss as property worth several millions of naira were destroyed by a stormy rain in the ancient city on Tuesday.

The 3-hour downpour was accompanied by storm which blew off the roofs of residen al buildings and public infrastructure in the town.

Areas where the stormy rain wreaked havoc are General Hospital, Winuola , Bello streets all in Ilaje, Ita-Ofa and Idasa communi es of Ilesa West Local Government Area.

Narra ng his ordeal, a septuagenarian, Elder Olabode Bello, whose house’s roof was completely blown off, called

on the State and Federal Emergency Management Agency to come to his aid to protect his belongings from further damage.

“The rain caused a lot of damage in our area. I want to appeal to the State and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to come to our aid”.

Another affected resident, Mr Olubunmi Olatunbosun, who resides at Wonuola Street, said the devasta ng development had caused serious damage to electric poles and other installa ons, thereby throwing the area in darkness.

Olatunbosun urged the Ibadan Electricity Distribu on Company to fix the damaged poles on me to salvage the situa on.

“The heavy downpour has thrown the area into darkness. Electric poles and building roofs were seriously destroyed in our area. People are s ll coun ng their loss”, said Olatunbosun.

General Hospital, Ilesa was also touched as one of its buildings’ roofs was blew off by the rainstorm.

TETFUND Blacklists Osun College Over Delay In Completion Of Amphitheater

Yusuf Oketola

THE Ter ary Educaon Trust Fund (TETFUND) has blacklisted Osun State College of Educa on, Ila-Orangun, over the delay in compleon of the school’s amphitheater.

According to informaon gathered by OSUN DEFENDER, a sum of N400 million has been incurred on the project yet to be completed, a develop-

ment that has resulted to legal tussle.

The Bursar of the College, Mr. Oyedeji Olarewaju, in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday, said he would not comment while the project is yet to be completed as the matter is before the court.

He added that the college had been blacklisted by TETFUND before his assump on and he has made efforts to right the wrong by mee ng with

Ode-Omu Accident: Police Arraign Drivers For Manslaughter

the demand of the agency to renego ate with the college.

“The case is s ll before the Federal High Court, so I won’t be able to talk more about it. As a result of that, they have to remove removable people and the TETFUND directed that un l we go out to get it right before we can start calling”, he said.

According to the bursar, the college has recovered over N100m looted by some individuals.

Sodiq Yusuf

TWO drivers whose vehicles were involved in the accident that occurred at Ode-Omu, State of Osun, few weeks ago have been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate Court on Wednesday.

It would be recalled that the accidents claimed lives of 16 people among who are children. One of the vehicles and the passengers were burnt to death.

The drivers, Ezekiel Adebayo (31) and Jimoh Jelili, were brought before

the court on a four-count charge bordering on dangerous driving and manslaughter.

Adebayo, the driver in charge of a Lexus jeep with registra on number: Lagos LSR 304 HW was accused of driving in a dangerous manner which led to a collision with a Mazda bus with registra on number Lagos APP 834 XI which led to an explosion caused by a gas cylinder inside the bus.

Those who lost their lives in the accident included, Ajoke Egbewole, Jumoke

Fake Policewoman Arrested For Robbing POS Operators In Osogbo

Yusuf Oketola

A24-year-old suspect, Olayemi Lawrence, has been arrested by the police for allegedly robbing a Point of Sales (POS) Operator in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun.

Lawrence, who allegedly pretended as a police officer serving at Ataoja Police Sta on was said to have approached a sales girl working for Odunayo Oyero and ordered her to follow her to her sta on.

On their way to the sta on, the suspect reportedly seized the vicm’s bag containing one POS machine, a sum of N20,000 and a phone valued N15,000 and ran away with it.

This was contained in a press release by the Osun Police Command and signed by the Police Public Rela ons Officer, Mrs Yemisi Opalola on Wednesday.

Opalola said: “On 9/5/2023 at about 1500hrs, one Lawrence Olayemi was rescued by the police from mob for alleged stealing and brought to Ata-Oja Division.

“In the course of interroga on, it was discovered that some mes in the month of April, 2023 the suspect went to a POS stand belonging to one Oyero Odunayo but managed by a sale girl and presented herself as a Police Officer serving at Ata-Oja division that she is under arrest and ordered her to follow her to the sta on, having seized the vic m’s bag containing one POS machine, sum of N20,000.00 one small phone valued N15,000.

“But along the road as they were going, the suspect tricked the vic m by asking her to make a photocopy of a document but before the vicm could come back, the

suspect ran away with the seized bag.

“The following items stolen from another vicm were recovered from her; a sum of N246,650, Opay POS machine valued N30,000, one an-

droid service able phone, one EKSU ID card and one voters card, two POS business record books, one Itel small phone without ba ery.

“The suspect transferred the sum of

N100,000 from the POS machine to an account in one of the commercial banks.

“The suspect will be charged to court a er the comple on of invesga on”

Lateefat Adeogun, Dare Ewaoluwa, Dare Iyadunni, Adeosun Adeola, Monsurat Adebimpe Ayansina and Adefunke Suliyat Alamulu and other eight vic ms whose iden ty could not be ascertained.

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, the incident happened at about 18:15hrs at Ode-Omu market area.

The offence, according to the police contravened, Sec on 18 of Cap 146, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, 2002 and Sec on 27 of RTA, Cap 548, Laws of Nigeria.

But the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara, admi ed the drivers to bail in sum of N500,000 with one surety each.

The case was adjourned ll July 7, 2023.

75 Filling Stations Shut Down In Osun

Yusuf Oketola

NO fewer than 75 filling sta ons have been shut down in the State of Osun

The filling sta ons were said to be opera ng without valid license, among other infrac ons in the State.

State Coordinator of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Kunle Adeyemo, who disclosed this on Wednesday in Osogbo, said the filling staons were sealed during a surveillance opera on of the agency in April.

Adeyemo said his men visited 301 filling sta ons in the state in which many of them did not have valid opera onal licence.

Adeyemo said in line with the Federal Government’s direc ve, all petroleum marketers have ll May 31 to get their valid licence.

He said any petroleum marketer who failed to adhere to the deadline would be severely sanc oned and penalised.

Adeyemo frowned at marketers who have turned their filling sta ons into parking space, car wash, and cash point.

He expressed regret

Man Remanded For Allegedly Molesting 25-Yr-Old In Osun

Sodiq Yusuf

AMagistrate

Court, si ng in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, has remanded a 44year-old herbalist, Kazeem Elemo, in Ilesa

Custodial Centre for allegedly taking undue advantage of a 25-year-old lady, Faith (not real name).

Elemo allegedly sexually assaulted Faith by unlawfully sucking her

breast and dipping his hand into her private part when she came for spiritual cleansing on March 20, 2023 at Oba Ile.

According to the charge sheet, the herbalist also inserted an

that some other filling staons operated without safety facili es, engaging in pump adjustment, using untrained a endants and engaging in other infracons.

“It is important to state that the charges for the above infrac ons have been increased by the Federal Government.

“We implore petroleum marketers to start conforming to the rules guiding the opera on of filling sta ons in the state and also meet up with the May 31 deadline, as NMDPRA surveillance team will be all out to monitor compliance.

“We urge all market-

ers to abide by the above to avoid being sanc oned”, he stated.

Adeyemo also said the agency had a mee ng with the leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Associa on of Nigeria (IPMAN) on the need for their members to obtain valid licence and also abide by the rules guiding the opera on of filling staons.

He said the Vice-Chairman of IPMAN, Ibadan depot, in charge of Oyo and Osun states, Alhaji Lekan Leklaw, pleaded with the agency to give members of the union me to comply with the direc ve.

Police Nab Rasheed Oko-Ilu’s Ally For Alleged Murder, Cultism

object into Faith’s private part a er sedating her with alcohol.

Machine Tool Worker, One Other Arraigned Over Theft Of Wire

Sodiq Yusuf

Aworker at Nigerian Machine Tools Limited, Osogbo, Asimiyu Oyegbemi, has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing cable wire worth N397,000 belonging to the company.

Oyegbemi was arraigned before the court on Wednesday alongside one James Ogundele who was also accused of stealing cable wire val-

ued at N120,000.

The duo, according to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, commi ed the offence between May 7 and 8, 2023 at the premises of the company.

The alleged offence contravened Sec ons 412, 451 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

But the accused persons pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge bordering on unlawful

entry, malicious damage and stealing leveled against them.

Defence counsel, Kehinde Adepoju, prayed the court to admit the defendants to bail on a liberal term, promising that reliable sure es would stand for them.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Dr. M.A. Olatunji admi ed the accused persons to bail in sum of N1m with two sure es each. The case was adjourned ll June 21, 2023 for hearing.

The offences, according to Police Prosecutor, F.B. Osei, were contrary to and punishable under Sec on 32 of the Child’s Rights Laws of Osun State, 2007 as well as Sec on 360 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

But Elemo admi ed harassing Faith sexually, even as he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Elemo also said he did not have any sexual intercourse with the vic m.

The Presiding Magistrate, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara, remanded the accused person at the Ilesa Custodial Facility ll May 15, 2023.

A23-year-old suspected cul st, Saheed Wasiu, notoriously known as K-Federal, has been apprehended by the police for allegedly terrorising the residents of Ede and its environ.

Wasiu, according to a press release by Osun Police Command, is a member of Rasheed Oko-Ilu led gang and was arrested on May 7, 2023 around Alusekere area, Ede by police detecves from Special An -cultism unit of the command.

The Spokesperson of the police in the State, Mrs Yemisi Opalola said upon interroga on, Wasiu confessed to be a member of Eiye confraternity led by Rasheed Hammed, a.k.a Oko-Ilu, who had been arrested and remanded at correc onal custody somemes ago.

According to Opalola, the suspect also confessed to have par cipated in the killing of almost 20 innocent ci zens of Ede town and dropped their corpses at Osun River, Sagba area, Ede.

Among the vic ms they have allegedly killed are: late Wale, Jamiu, Ganiyu, Azeez and Eyimba, said Opalola.

Opalola said the suspect will be charged to court after comple on of inves gaon.

ADEPOJU IDAYAT FUNMILAYO

That I was formerly known and addressed as ADEPOJU FUNMILAYO IYABO, with former date of birth 9/03/1983 now wish to be known and addressed as ADEPOJU IDAYAT FUNMILAYO, withcorrectdateofbirth 15/02/1983. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Kazeem Badmus

S’Court Verdict: Gboleru Ruling House Congratulates Adeleke

Yusuf Oketola

THE Gboleru Ruling House of Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun local government area of the State of Osun, has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his victory at the Supreme Court, describing it as an affirma on of the people’s mandate.

According to the ruling house, there is no force that can stop the will of God as regards the administra on of Governor Adeleke, just as it commended the judiciary for protec ng the interest of the people and ensures jus ce is done.

Speaking on behalf of the ruling house, a prominent son of the family, Prince Kayode Oyetunji, said the judgement of the Apex Court has reaffirmed and strengthened the love and confidence the people of the state have in Nigeria’s democra c system that produced Adeleke.

Oyetunji charged Adeleke to con nue in his strides to reposi on and rebuild the State in line with his people-oriented policies and programmes

while promo ng rule of law, jus ce and equity “including correc ng naked injus ce done to Gboleru Ruling House by the previous government of the state.

Oyetunji concluded by praying for Adeleke’s success in office.

•Demands Release Of C’ttee’s Report

Demands Release Of C’ ee’s Report

This is just as the Mogaji of the house, Prince Alimi Olaleye, asked the state government to release the re-

port and recommendaons of the Chie aincy Affairs Review Commi ee set up by the Governor as regards Akirun’s stool.

Olaleye stated that Adeleke, being a product of rule of law and jus ce,

should not delay release of white paper on Ikirun chie aincy ma er, saying that jus ce delay may not only give rooms for rumours but may lead to perversion jus ce.

“Though, we, Gboleru

My Life Under Threat From Cultists, Osun Businessman Cries Out

Kazeem Badmus

Aresident of Iragbiji, headquarters of Boripe Local Government Area of the State of Osun, Mr Rasheed Babawale, has cried out for help over reported threat to his life by some cultists.

Babawale, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, appealed to security agencies to protect him from the cul sts, no ng that the situa on had already led to his father’s death.

According to the businessman, some cult members have been harassing him since he returned to Nigeria from Dubai, adding that his refusal to be their godfather as requested had led to constant threats from them.

Babawale who said he reported the ma er at a police sta on said he le Ilobu town to Iragbiji hoping that the cul sts will leave him alone.

He said: “The cul sts invited me to join them and be their godfather two months a er I returned to Nigeria from Dubai. That was around November 2022 but I refused.

“I had to leave Ilobu and relocated to Iragbiji in December when their persistence was becoming unbearable.

“A er se ling down in Iragbiji, these cul sts came again to meet me there and they threatened me. I went to inform the police about the situa on

and they told me they will inves gate and bring the culprits to book.

“A er months of not hearing anything from them, I thought I was

free un l my father, Alhaji Azeez Babawale came from Ilobu to check on me in Iragbiji on Monday.

“I wasn’t at home when he came around

Ruling House, believe in the leadership of our God-fearing-governor and we are convinced that he will adhere strictly to the rule of law and ensure prevalence of jusce and equity” Olaleye declared.

Also, an elder of the royal family, Prince Lamidi Abefe, in his contribu on, appealed to the Governor and his team to act on a le er the Gboleru ruling house submi ed to his office, secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Ministry of Local Government and Chie aincy Affairs and Ministry of Jusce on May 5.

Abefe stressed that all illegal administra ve steps taken by the administra on of ex-governor Oyetola a er Gboleru Ruling House has appealed the decision of Osun State High Court should be cancelled, not minding whose ox is gored.

Abefe said the ruling house was not yet aware of the report and recommenda ons of the commi ee as well as the white paper from the state government on the Akirun stool.

but he called me and I told him to wait for me. Unfortunately, when I got back home, I met him dead and I had to run for my life again”.

Police Arrest ‘419’ Suspect Over Theft Of $25,000, In Osun

Yusuf Oketola

THE Nigeria Police Force, Osun Command, have arrested syndicate who have been allegedly defrauding some unsuspec ng members of the public.

The group of the suspected fraudsters, led by one Mr Muideen Adekunle, were arrested by a crack team of the police at a shrine located at OkeBode, off Kajola Town, Atakunmosa local government, Osun State, on March 23, 2023.

Credible sources among the police disclosed that Adekunle and other suspects were arrested following complaints from one of their vic ms, Mr Israel Alade.

Alade was reportedly duped of several millions of naira by the suspects on the pretence of connec ng him to big poli cians like the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Vice President A ku Abubakar, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Areg-

besola, Governor Ademola Adeleke, among others.

The vic m, who wanted to venture into poli cs in Osun State, was connected to the syndicate by his kinsman, one Rauf Akintunde, who vouched for Adekunle’s poli cal influence and spiritual power needed to realise the vicm’s aspira on.

It was gathered that Adekunle, who is said to be a dealer of an herbal mixture in Osogbo, allegedly stole a sum of $25,000 at Alade’s house when the suspect visited and persuaded him to have a spiritual bath with a soap at his house at Halleluyah area, Osogbo, on March 7, 2023.

Adekunle, popularly known as Aare, allegedly stole the sum when Alade was having the spiritual bath inside his bathroom.

According to police sources, “When Alade asked Adekunle, his guest, about the whereabout of the whereabout of the $25,000 the suspected denied stealing it, but declared that awon iya mu (witches have taken the

money).

“When Alade didn’t buy the story, the suspect put a call to another person who acted a venerable sage in their gang; the person asked Alade and the suspect to come to the shrine at Oke Bode.

“On ge ng to the shrine around 8pm, the venerable sage pleaded with Alade to calm down; and promised to compensate him for the stolen $25,000. Alade was shown a dark room full of US dollars and he was asked to pay a sum of $90,000 to make sacrifice for him to be able to access the money.

“Sensing danger of not complying, Alade played along and promised to look for the money, and was able to leave the shrine alive.”

Alade, according to the sources, con nued to asked for the stolen $25,000 from Adekunle, just as he did not pay a dime to the syndicate for ritual purposes as demanded.

However, the suspects threatened to kill

Alade if he con nues to ask for the stolen money, bragging that they have their agents everywhere to get to the vic m.

Alade reported to the police at State Criminal Inves ga on Department which led to the arrest of the suspects.

However, a er interroga on Adekunle, the leader of the syndicate reportedly admi ed to collec ng just a sum of N10m from Alade, out of which he refunded N3m.

Adekunle, in a ‘sworn affidavit to res tute/refund monetary proceed of crime, promised to be paying a sum of N500,000 every month to balance the remaining N7m.

He sworn to the affidavit on March 28, 2023, at the High Court of Jusce, Osogbo.

When contacted, the Police Public Rela ons Officer, Osun Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, confirmed Adekunle’s arrest.

However, the suspect was yet to be charged to court as of the me of filing this report.

The le er was dated May 5, 2023 and was received at the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff to the Governor same day the Execu ve Governor and others received theirs.

Made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the le er reads in part: “Our clients approached the Osun State Chie aincy Affairs Commi ee under the Chairmanship of Reverend Bunmi Jenyo set up by your administra on in November 2022, to review the appointments of all new Obas made by the former administra on with effect from July 16 to November 28, 2022.

“Our Clients’ memorandum dated 3/12/2022 was presented to the said commi ee on 8/12/2022.”

“Up ll now, our clients are not aware of the said commi ee’s report and recommenda ons, as well as the state government’s white paper in respect of the Akinrun of Ikirun chie aincy, copies of which our clients are eagerly looking forward to have soonest in order to guide them on further steps to be taken on the ma er.”

•Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola during the Launching of Ministry of Interior 2022

Revised Handbook on Expatriate Quota Administration at Dambazzua Hall, NCoS Hq, Sauka, Abuja

MANY avid readers will recall in the famous William Shakespeare’s play literature book, Julius Caesar, one of the actors, Mac Anthony, said in his Speech:

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears”;

“I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him”.

“The evil that men do lives a er them;

“The good is o interred with their bones;

“So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus

“Hath told you Caesar was ambi ous:

“If it were so, it was a grievous fault,

“And grievously hath Caesar answered, under leave of Brutus and the rest–

Brutus is an honorable man”.

In it, Antony has been allowed by Brutus and the other conspirators to make a funeral ora on for Caesar on condi on that he will not blame them for Caesar’s death; however, while Antony’s speech outwardly begins by jus fying the ac ons of Brutus and the assassins, Antony uses rhetoric and genuine reminders to ul mately portray Caesar in such a posi ve light that the crowd is enraged against the conspirators.

Throughout his speech, Antony calls the conspirators “honourable men” – his implied sarcasm becomes increasingly obvious. He begins by carefully rebu ng the no on that his friend, Caesar, deserved to die because he was ambi ous, instead claiming that his ac ons were for the good of the Roman people, whom he cared for deeply (“When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: Ambi on should be made of sterner stuff ”). He denies that Caesar wanted to make himself king, for there were many who witnessed the la er’s denying the crown three mes. Before Caesar’s death, upon recognising that his friend, Brutus was among the assassins, he shouted Et tu Brute! Even you Brutus!

It could be deduced from what transpired beyond this phrase that conspiracy has its roots deep in the ac vi es of noblemen from the primordial realm up to this present age. It also has had its concomitant effect which is akin to the bearing it has essen ally on the leadership of those who were led by the poli cal inep tude of the immediate former governor of the State of Osun, Gboyega Oyetola, who led the then ruling progressive party from grace to grass and from the poll to the abyss. This was a form of the preponderance of inadequate leadership skills all over the collec ve input to harmonise opportuni es that would have led to his electoral success. The a tudinal approach of the former governor to manage diversity in the polity brought about a huge dissonance in the harmonisa on required by the party to channel a winning framework

The preamble we have perused from Mac Anthony’s story in the book, Julius Caeser has the same connota on as the kind of conspiracy story we have heard more o en than not from the poli cians of the APC extrac on in Osun before now, who are o en rhetoric and who have vowed to con nue to profess progressivism even if they are not progressives. The specula ve empirical formulae meted out to the segregated policians to beguile the unsuspec ng followers failed woefully. Their undue adver sements of the drum of war against their party members were later understood as a mere weapon of distrac on for them to authorise their in mida ng governance.

Nobody could ascertain or pinpoint the actual causa ve factor in the ri or feud that was concocted between Aregbesola and Oyetola that could make his transfer of aggression the core culprit of the armory of war that was used effec vely to incite the

Oyetola The Aftermath

The TOP had cried out to him and venlated their view to the whole world each me they were doing their regular weekly mee ng that they were being marginalised. Nobody came to their rescue, even the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convec on Planning and Reconcilia on Commi ee didn’t come to their aid. Then came the issue of reposi oning of the party which Oyetola set up 11-man panel for, up ll the me the inaugura on was done, he was s ll toeing the wrong path by not consul ng any member of defunct TOP tendencies. He was s ll personalising the party, the step he took which failed him badly and which had also become dead on arrival again.

A lot of people have been ques oning why he would always be consul ng his members most of the me without contac ng anybody on the other side. A lot of grievances have been compiled against him in case if there is going to be a genuine reconcilia on. One of these is the writer of this piece who once wrote a contact report of the assignment he rendered for him during his primary as an Elec on Presiding Officer in July 2018.

Since the Supreme Court has upheld the victory of Senator Adeleke, and President Buhari, President-elect, Oyetola, and several others have congratulated the winner, I hope every gladiator in APC should know their posi on.

disenchanted followers against his administra on at the poll.

“It was a glaring case of dog eat dog”. The ri or feud was later discovered that it was a contrived assignment by Oyetola to have his dictatorial way in government. His innate attudinal tendency to court acrimony, feud, and a ri with his innocuous mien chased the poli cians who could have assisted him to win away.

When he kept on men oning the role of TOP camp in his defeat, he forgot to remember that those fac onal groups had called for reconcilia on many mes with many pe ons they wrote to the APC Naonal Working Commi ee which they both rejected. This is because he has been one of the members of the Na onal Caretaker and Extraordinary Conven on Planning Committee of the APC.

It is therefore state that reconcilia on that will not include the leader who championed the founda on of the progressive party in Osun since 2005, if not contacted to take his righ ul posi on, will lead to nowhere. A large number of the Na onal gladiator’s different groups have started building ward structures back in all the 332 wards in the State of Osun. The highest echelon of the party should begin to eradicate neposm and let people who have been steadfast and up and doing in the ac vi es of party poli cs should be encouraged to reap where they have sewn.

STRIKER Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

THERE is a creed that all poli cians must hold sacred, be they in poli cs for the common good or even for personal aggrandisement. Those who enter into poli cs purely for personal fortune must at least realise that the wholesale dehumanisa on of people and complete wreckage of the economy does not serve anyone’s personal enrichment; except they are simply despo c–of course, there are the bes al types that don’t mind profi ng from wars, ruins, tears and sorrows of fellow men. The reason why a healthy and produc ve people, func onal economy and infrastructure do not ma er to dreadful Nigerian poli cians is simply because they exist solely as parasites feeding on oil rent money dropped into the “Federa on” account; otherwise, even exploita ve capitalist economy knows there must be infrastructure and vibrant labour before making super profits, and the government must inevitably run on taxes.

The men oned creed is nowhere better ar culated than in the American Declara on of Independence document: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are ins tuted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destruc ve of these ends, it is

Believing In The People

the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to ins tute new Government, laying its founda on on such principles and organising its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

To put above lo y ideals into prac se is why Democracy is upheld as the best form of government among people. Thus opposed to man’s inhumanity to man and based on liberty, universal human rights, the rule of law and separa ons of powers, there is the periodic ritual in democracy whereby the majority vote determines those who exercise execu ve and legislave powers, un l the next elec on circuit. It is understandable that persons who are despo c and would rather be emperors and dictators pretend, like chameleons, and masquerade as democrats, having barely veiled contempt for the above credo, and offer “to serve the people,” forming poli cal par es and seeking power.

Through a comprehensive corrup on and manipula on of the electoral process, from intra-party to inter-party phases, the “people,” “the majority,” whichever you please, are relegated into the background as mere object of power play. Having orchestrated their in-depth poverty, ignorance and division along primordial senments through an -people policies over decades, the people unwi ngly become

weaponised against their best interests as willing tools in their own dehumanisaon.

However, despite large-scale poverty, ignorance and misery, once in a while, sanity prevails, and we see that the people are not eternally irredeemable. Like Fidel Castro said, “They wield simple but implacable logic.” Once in a while, as clearly demonstrated in Osun over the last 25 years, they display sense: buy into sensible leadership and governance, or respond bravely to reject insensible leadership and poor governance. Their preferences are not simply to be seen in what they pick but in what they reject. “If we can’t get what we want for now, we will reject what we don’t want, at least!” That rejec on or pick is their inalienable right every four years depending on whether they are elevated or trauma sed by the choice.

Osun poli cs is thereby emerging as loving reminder of Yoruba disposi ons and sensibili es between the mes of Nigeria’s Independence ll the Second Republic: a beacon for other states to follow in the sense of making poli cians reckon with the people at least, their powers and their inalienable rights. The people in Nigeria must follow through and let the powers know that the people are the core issue in electoral democracy, not money, not influence, not force.

“The highest echelon of the party should begin to eradicate nepotism and let people who have been steadfast and up and doing in the activities of party politics should be encouraged to reap where they have sewn”