Osun Defender Online Version of August 23, 2024

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LG Poll: Three Ilobu Chiefs

Jostle For Chairmanship

Informants Against Monkeypox Pg. 2 Pg. 2

God Instructed Me To Impregnate, Abort Pregnancy For Stepdaughter - Clergy

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•Says Tendency Is Formidable

How Paucity Of Fund Stopped Osun Library From Buying Newspapers

Yusuf Oketola library that is allowed.”

THE Osun State Library has stopped the purchase of daily newspapers over paucity of fund, findings have revealed.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that newspaper supply to the library has been put on hold for almost seven months.

According to sources within newspaper vendors in the state, the library stopped buying newspapers since February 2024, a situa on that has become a bo leneck to access archival informa on.

It was gathered that the hopes of people within and from neighbouring states who regularly visit the library to analyse newspapers as well as get other informa on have been dashed due to unavailability of newspapers.

The medium learnt that the library has been underfunded by the present administra on.

Other sources however hinted that the money earmarked for the purchase of newspapers has been diverted by some of the library officials.

One of the vendors told OSUN DEFENDER, “It is almost seven months now that the state library stopped us from supplying dailies. They placed an embargo on it around February this year.

“This is not too good for the image of the state. People do come to the library from different states to obtain informa on from the library. But the unavailability of newspapers have made it a difficult task.

“A state library ought to have necessary books and records in their archive. Most people now come to our stands to get old newspaper. It takes us weeks most mes to get it for them.

“Another thing is that, when you have any informa on from the newspaper to tender in court, it is the only one from the state

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on Monday, a staff of the state lirary who spoke under the condion of anonymity because he was not permi ed to comment on the ma er explained that the supply stopped because of an outstanding debt owed by the Osun State Government.

The staff stressed that the outstanding is being paid in batches, saying that newspaper supply would be restored soon.

The source also pointed out other challenges facing the library which include non-func oning of the elibrary, furniture and lack of new edi on of books.

He also accused the state government of not paying imprest to the library.

“The library has stopped collec on of newspaper for now. Successive governments in the state are owing the vendors but the present administra on is trying to pay the money. I hope we will start ge ng dailies as soon as the money is offset.

“It has not been easy for us. People do visit the library from different states to access newspaper but we helped them in ge ng it from private libraries. The government is not paying imprest to keep the library running.

“There are other challenges we are facing. There is urgent need to restore the e-library for easy access to informa on. We are in dire need of furniture as well and new edi ons of books,” the source said.

Commen ng on the situa on, A lecturer at the Department of Mass Communica on, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Mr. Bolanle Jolapamo told OSUN DEFENDER about his experience at the state library late last year.

Mr. Jolapamo who was working on his Doctorate degree project at the me asserted that he went to

the library for newspaper analysis but could not get most of the edi ons needed. He said: “It was sur-

prising that a whole state library do not have record for newspapers. I could not believe that. I have to spend extra money to ac-

cess the papers from the company and some from a private University library in the state.

“This is a wake up call

for the state government. Something urgent needed to be done for the sake of students and academic research.”

LG Poll: Three Ilobu Chiefs Jostle For Chairmanship

THREE chie aincytle holders in Ilobu, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government, Osun State, are vying for chairmanship of the council in the forthcoming local government elec on.

While Chief Goke Ogunsola, Otun-Jagun of Ilobu and Akindeji Lukman, Olori Odo of Ilobu are eyeing the posi on in the All Progressives Congress (APC), the immediate-past caretaker chairman of the local government, Hon. Sikiru Ajibade, the Mayegun of Ilobu, is of the Peoples’ Democra c Party (PDP).

The medium learnt that the trio are royal chiefs of the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan II.

In the APC, OSUN DEFENDER learnt that while the party’s leadership in the state are interested

“An Omoluabi is the quintessential Yoruba person whose hallmark is honesty, integrity, fairness, chivalry, kindness, industry, wisdom, courage and valour”

•As APC Members Accuse Party Of Imposition

in Ogunsola, some other members of the party are roo ng for Lukman.

The party members while expressing their dissa sfac on with the decision, claimed the party leadership ra fied the Otun Jagun’s candidature without consul ng them.

The protesters, in a video obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, alleged that the choice of the Osun APC former legal adviser, does not reflect the will of the people.

Defying Monday’s

heavy rain to register their grievancies the party Secretariat in Osogbo, they called on the party’s leadership to address the issue.

One of the protesters in the video said, “If you impose the person we don’t want on us, it will have consequences.

“We don’t want the chairmanship candidate imposed on us in Irepodun Local Government.

“That is the reason why we are here to protest and let the leaders

know our stand. We don’t want Goke Ogunsola as our candidate in the elecon.”

In another video obtained by the medium, some of the party leaders in the local government were seen presen ng the nomina on and expression of interest forms to the other candidate, Lukman. Indigenes of the town are however anxious on whom among the chiefs will emerge at the end of the day.

OsunOpenLG: Stakeholders To Debate Local Govt Autonomy, Grassroots Development

AS debates con nue on autonomy and effec ve local government administra on, a stakeholders’ mee ng to further deepen the discourse holds in Osogbo, on Monday August 26.

Organised by the Insight Ini a ve for Community and Social Development at the instance of the OsunOpenLG Project, the mee ng according to the Project Lead, Jare Tiamiyu will a ract the a endance of eggheads across the country.

Sodiq Yusuf According to a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER late Thursday, Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egebdun, Project Director of the Na onal Democra c Ins tute Abuja, Mr. Bem Aga and the member represen ng Egbedore/Ede North/Ede South federal cons tuency in the House of Representaves, Bamidele Salam will lead the discourse with keynote remarks.

The theme for the event is Local Government and Uniform Development at the Grassroots.

Panellists expected at the event include the Chairman, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Barr. Hashim Abioye, a lawmaker in the state, Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi Irekandu, Chairman, Osun State Civil Socie-

es Coali on (OCSC), Comrade Waheed Lawal and Osun State NAWOJ Chairperson, Mrs Abisola Ariwodola.

Others are Mr. Bukola Idowu, Execu ve Director, Kimpact Development Ini a ve; Barr. Hassan Mohammed, Osun State ICPC Resident Commissioner among relevant stakeholders in the state. Olowu of Kuta, Oba Hammed Oyelude Makama and the Alawo of Awo, Oba Taiwo Adegboye are the royal fathers of the day.

The event is also to feature the inauguraon of the 66 advocates of OsunOpenLG, issuance of pledge cards to stakeholders, interac ve sessions and more.

Assessing The Costs

“The present crises is also a wake-up call that Integrated Rural Development must be reinvented now that the chickens have come home to roost. Fierce urgency must be made to tackle the crises in the rural economy. It is just not about the food issue alone, it is also about national security”

OSUN State has not been spared the horrific disloca on cause by the scarcity of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS). Escala ng food prices a ests to this. The supply chain is broken and there must be a response.

The response must go beyond the use of “pallia ves,” a proposi on which is now greeted with reserva ons, not surprisingly so! The response should include modula ng food prices by pu ng up solar - powered cold storage facili es in the markets.

In addi on, government should intervene in the logis cs of transpor ng goods mainly foodstuffs to the markets. Succour should be giving to transporters in terms of fuel coupons and tackling the unnecessary roadblocks, illegal tolls and mul ple levies.

They are patently unfair anyway and this is the me to streamline them as the first step towards eliminaon. The present crises is also a wake-up call that Integrated Rural Development must be reinvented now that the chickens have come home to roost. Fierce urgency must be made to tackle the crises in the rural economy. It is just not about the food issue alone, it is also about na onal security.

Osun having been rated as the state with highest food infla on rate in the South-West and third with highest

cost of healthy diet in Nigeria by the Na onal Bureau of Sta s cs NBS) this year alone respec vely calls for a serious concern.

There is need for the government to embark on massive agricultural revoluon in the state to mi gate the effect of the unending food infla on. All our farm se lements should be resuscitated with maximum security against herdsmen invasion. Our storage facili es should also be put into good shape to preserve farm produce for long period.

Kudos must also be given to Governor Ademola Adeleke for the direc ves on food infla on, fuel price and people’s welfare. The Governor directed the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food Security Commi ee Ac on to commence the implementa on process without further delay.

Adeleke promised that by next week, the distribu on of farm equipment, seedlings and farm inputs including ferlisers, tractors among others will commence among other incenves for farmers.

These, we believe will serve as a succour to farmers and aid food security. We also, however, urge the governor not to play poli cs with the distribu on of the farm equipment. Those who are genuinely in dire need of it should be considered.

The

Discourse

Food Prices Continue To Drive Nigeria’s Headline Inflation

IT is no longer news that Nigeria’s headline infla on on year- on- year basis declined for the first me since December 2022. According to the Na onal Bureau of Sta s cs, it dropped to 33.40% in July 2024 from 34.19% in June 2024. It is no fluke as the month-on-month headline infla on declined consistently since March 2024, with June 2024 as an excep on. It is important to note that infla on only started to decelerate a er the Central Bank, at its first Monetary Policy Mee ng of 2024, held on the 26th and 27th of February 2024, the benchmark interest rate, by 400 basis points from 18.75% to 22.75%.

It made subsequent increases, as need arose. The benchmark interest rate is currently 26.75%. Interes ngly, from January to July 2024, food and non-alcoholic beverages infla on contributed to no less than 51.8% of the headline infla on on a year-on-year basis. In July 2024, it contributed to 17.3% of the 33.4% headline infla on rate. The headline infla on rate was lowest in January when food infla on was also at its lowest. Therefore, reducing food infla on is key to the government’s long-term goal of driving infla on to single digit. It is not strait jacket as various factors, some of which are interwoven, have contributed to food infla on in Nigeria.

The rising cost of farming and transpor ng food commodi es to the point of sale has affected the final price of food items. For example, the cost of animal feed, veterinary services, energy, fer lizer, seedlings, machinery and spares, and fuel has risen since the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floa ng of the naira by the government. Insecurity, which has caused many farmers to abandon their farmland, has led to a decrease in farm produce, causing shortages, especially during the dry season.

“It is likely that, in the immediate future, headline inflation will experience more decline but not necessarily on a straightline basis, because the implementation of the new national policy is expected to increase household spending and raise the cost of producing/offering goods and services as employee wages increase. The Central Bank of Nigeria may be tempted to raise interest rates to slow demand and encourage savings. Also, with the harvest season commencing and the implementation of waivers on tariffs and duties on some essential imported food items, food prices are expected to drop”

waivers on tariffs and du es on some essen al imported food items, food prices are expected to drop. The recent mobilisation of ten thousand agrorangers by the Civil Defence Corps to secure farmlands across the country, if effective, is expected to encourage

people to return to their farms and, in the long run, increase food produc on in the country. However, the recent fluctua on in the value of the Naira is likely to impact headline infla on in subsequent months.

This has encouraged hoarding and profiteering, with food prices skyrocke ng. Food availability was also impacted by the increased demand for our farm produce from neighbouring countries as the devalua on of the naira, made them cheaper.

It is likely that, in the immediate future, headline infla on will experience more decline but not necessarily on a straight-line basis, because the implementa on of the new naonal policy is expected to increase household spending and raise the cost of producing/offering goods and services as employee wages increase. The Central Bank of Nigeria may be tempted to raise interest rates to slow demand and encourage savings. Also, with the harvest season commencing and the implementa on of

OSUN DEFENDER

Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.

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Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State.

ISSN : 0794-8050

While we celebrate the decline in headline infla on on a year-on-year basis and acknowledge government efforts in this regard, it is important to avoid a further decline in the value of the naira because of its mul plier effect. Improving the country’s revenue base and balance of trade by op mising oil produc on and diversifying the economy will help achieve this. The government should also provide CNG trailers, lorries, and trucks to ease the cost of transportaon farm produce. The government should con nue to closely monitor events as they unfold and take proac ve measures when needed. It should also adopt a robust monitoring and evaluaon mechanism for its policies and programs to ensure objec ves are met.

Telephone : 0809-301-9152

Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php

e-mail : osundefenderhq@gmail.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com

All correspondence to the above email addresses.

•Kenechukwu Aguolu FCA, PMP, CBAP writes from Abuja. He can be reached via Kenerek1@ gmail.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2024 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2024

DSS Probes Man For Sharing UNIOSUN Graduate’s Nude

Kazeem Badmus

THE Department of State Security (DSS) is currently probing one Pelumi Aderan for allegedly sharing the nude pictures and video of a female graduate of Osun State University (name withheld) online.

Aderan , according to a pe on sent

to the DSS by counsel to the vic m, K.E. Ngwoke and Co, a copy obtained by OSUN DEFENDER , also allegedly threatened to kill the lady.

According to the pe on, Aderan approached the lady in December 2023 with a promise to marry her, adding that the suspect has been nothing

but an alleged fraudster.

The pe on noted that the Aderan had requested money from the lady several mes with a threat to kill her if she failed to give him the money.

The pe on added that the nude pictures of the lady were taken by Aderan without the vic m’s knowl-

edge.

The suspect was said to had distributed same electronically to WhatsApp and Facebook statuses.

The pe on read in part “Our client is a young graduate of Uniosun and is presently wai ng for her mobilisa on for her one-year compulsory Na onal youth Serv-

Osun Poly Governing Council To Review Expulsion Of 27 Students

Kazeem Badmus

THE Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, has set up a commi ee to look into the expulsion of 27 students of the ins tu on for protes ng and vandalising school property.

The Council said the recommenda ons of the commi ee will be used in determining whether to recall the students or not.

OSUN DEFENDER had reported that the management of the polytechnic announced the expulsion of the 27 students following their alleged role in a protest that occurred on the campus in May, during which proper es were vandalised.

The protest occurred a er some students of the polytechnic were displeased with the arrest of some of their colleagues living in Owode, a community near Ede, by the opera ves of the Economic and Finan-

cial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a night raid.

During the protest, the Staff Club of the polytechnic was attacked, and several vehicles were damaged by the protesters.

Speaking with newsmen a er the first mee ng of the council, the chairman of the Council, Taiwo Olaiya, said they have resolved to sort out the issue of pending promo ons for staff members

and work in synergy with the host community.

He said, “A er lots of pleas from people concerning this case, we have resolved to call the students to come forward and state their own side of the story.

“A Commi ee has been set up and the commi ee is to report back in the next 48 hours. Once we have the report of the commi ee, we will know how best

to tackle the issue.

“Also, the commi ee has resolved to fast-track the issue of pending promo ons of our staff, and we are ready to take care of issues affec ng both the students and staff

“We also intend to breach the gap between the host community and the school. We want to live a rancour-free polytechnic by the me our tenure expires,” Olaiya added.

ice.

“It is our brief that our client met with the suspect, Aderan Pelumi some mes in December, 2023. The said Aderan approached our client and ask her out with a promise to marry her which our client accepted unknown to her that Aderan is nothing but a deceiver and a cheat.

“The said Aderan Pelumi had severally demanded our client to send him money in any slightest misunderstanding else, he (Aderan Pelumi) would kill her or show the whole world that she is a ripper and our client in all the occasions would have no choice except to send the money.

“The evil act of Aderan Pelumi did not end at exploi ng our client in any slightest opportunity, he took nude video and pictures of our client without her knowledge and distributed same electronically to WhatsApp and Facebook status and story line with a cap on “beware of this girl because she is ripper that she has duped many people around” a statement which is a pure lie.”

It further added, “Pelumi later carried out his threats as our client was shocked to the marrow when her friends called her atten on to the post of her nude video distributed by Aderan Pelumi electronically. Our client also confirmed this post by herself both WhatsApp and Facebook when Aderan informed her that he had already distributed the nude video

and pictures on WhatsApp and Facebook.

“It is our brief that when our client confronted Aderan Pelumi on a phone call, he further threatened to kill her should she disturb her on the post anymore sta ng that he did it intenonally.

“Aderan Pelumi stated that he distributed the nude because our client to refund him the sum of N40,000.00 (Forty Thousand Naira) he sent to her on her birthday as a gi . Sir, no amount of excuse would exonerate Aderan Pelumi for distribu ng electronically, the nude video and pictures of our client as same constute an offense under our law.

“The act of Aderan Pelumi has subjected our client to hatred and same as well cons tute the offence of Cyberstalking, emo onal, verbal and psychological abuse prohibited under Sec on 24 of the CyberCrime (Prohibion Preven on, etc.) Act, 2015 and Sec on 15 of the Osun State Violence Against Persons (Prohibi on) Law, 2021.

“Our client’s life is in palpable danger as we write this pe on. She can no longer move in our streets, tread our soil and freely breathe our air just like every other law abiding ci zen of this country due to fear of being killed by this unrepentant agent of the devil. She has as well a empted to commit suicide due to the ac ons of this evil man in human form.”

Ilesa Water Project: Minister Decries Depletion In Water Quantity

Kazeem Badmus

THE Minister of Water Resources and Sanita on, Prof. Joseph Utsev has decried the significant deple on in the quanty of water from the reservoir of the Ilesa Water Project.

The Minister who highlighted the need for immediate ac on to improve the quality

and quan ty of water supplied, emphasised the need to review the recommenda ons from Osun State consultant of the project.

Utsev made the call during his visit to the project site in Ilesa on Wednesday as part of his fact-finding and inspec on tour of Federal water supply, dam and irriga on projects in the South-west.

According to the Minister in a statement

released by Funmi Imue nyan, Director, Informa on and Public Rela ons, the visit is aimed at assessing the current status of the project and iden fy ways in which both the Federal and Osun State governments can enhance water supply to 32 villages in the Ilesa area.

He emphasised that cri cal insights into the design of the proposed reservoir

and treatment plant including environmentally friendly frameworks, cost-efficiency, and high water quality will be reviewed.

Stakeholders, including the Osun State Commissioner for Water Resources, water resources engineers, and experts, will be involved in finding the best solu ons to the project’s challenges. he project consultant, Engr. Lanre Abi-

oye, briefed the Minister on the inves ga on findings. He noted that the ini al capacity of water supply had diminished due to illegal ac vi es upstream.

Abioye recommended desil ng the reservoir, constructing a 5 million cubic meter reservoir, and implemen ng periodic maintenance to improve water distribuon and re cula on to the communi es.

Interview

We Are Confident Of Reclaiming Osun In 2026 – Omoluabi Chair, Adesiji

The Chairman, Omoluabi Progressives, Alhaji Azeez Adesiji spoke with SODIQ YUSUF on the activities of the tendency in the last one year of its launch, its ongoing membership registration, the 2026 guber in Osun and sundry issues. Excerpt:

ITS a year since the Omoluabi Progressives was launched. How did you get here?

Omoluabi is a progressive tendency. We looked into what happened a er the exit of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and saw that the players then totally eluded the progressive idea. The trend of events showed that the true tenets of progressive poli cs was not prac ced within those of us that call ourselves progressives. This made the core progressives; the people on the side of Ogbeni in the APC assess the situa on because the people at the helms of affairs in Osun had totally derailed and we don’t want to be counted among the ro en eggs. That is why we sat down and firstly formed ‘TOP’ to correct them from the route they were going but they refused to change their ways; they thought we were rebels which is far from what we were saying. We wanted the world to see that what they were doing was not right. They refused and that is what led the party to a total collapse. When Ogbeni was going, he le the party intact; he handed over 23 House of Assembly members out of 26, 6 House of Reps members and 2 Senatorial Seats as well as the Governorship of the state to his successor, but everything went to oblivion. We tried to call them to order, but they refused. We were given series of names and that is why we said if they did not listen to us, let us form a caucus that will be going along with what our forefathers in poli cs did probably they will see reasons and let us come together to forge ahead. It was what led Ogbeni to saying everyone who thinks he wronged him should forgive him and that he has forgiven everyone that offended him and that we should come back together as a one big family. They said that was not the proper way of seeking forgiveness; that he should be crawling at the feet of some of the APC leaders. That was when we formed a caucus within the APC as Omoluabi. We put before them the role played by Awolowo and Bola Ige during their me. We felt that probably will sink into their brain to know that we have to incorporate discipline among ourselves. In his inaugural speech during the launch of Omouabi, Ogbeni made it very clear that we need to ini ate ourselves in good character and be upright in whatever we are doing. He added that we should make discipline our core value; when you are disciplined, definitely you will know what to be done, you won’t trample on another person’s feet. That is the founda on of Omoluabi Progressives.

How far have you gone and what is the level of acceptance of Omoluabi across the state?

When we began, we thought we would have the platform to meet them underground in a roundtable discussion. What we saw one day was the suspension of the core members, leaders and the followers of Ogbeni. The suspension was not just an ordinary suspension. It was indefinite equal to an expulsion from the party. I was number 4 on that list. We read everything on the social media. Till this moment, no one has sent for me to ask me any ques on. What they did negates the cons tu on of their party because we are no longer members of the APC. With that in mind, we inaugurated coordinators across the 332 wards, selected five people to be coordina ng our affairs in all the local government areas. Later on, we thought we needed to be properly coordinated at the state level; that was when we inaugurated a 12-man coordina ng team to be steering the affairs of Omoluabi. That was the reason I was made the chairman with 9 representa ves from our federal cons tuencies and two people as admin secretary and organising secretary. We have been working fantas cally. We have toured all the federal cons tuencies of the state. The people of the state have been giving us kudos for forming Omoluabi and we have being receiving blessings from poli cal leaders and other cri cal stakeholders in the state.

You kick started a membership registra on few months ago. How far have

you gone and how many people are now on board?

We are the set of people to beat in the state as far as membership is concerned. Although, I cannot categorically give you the figures now, but we have a spread that traverses the nooks and crannies of the state.

we are no more a caucus of the APC. We are Omoluabi Progressives.

If you observe very well, a lot of bigwigs from the major poli cal par es in the state have joined us and are s ll trooping en-masse to our tendency. The beauty of it is that most of the people in our fold are grassroots poli cians. They are those who hold the grip of Osun poli cians. As we move on, a lot more of these heavyweights are coming to us. They are just wai ng for the right me. We are mul plying in numbers every day.

Some chie ains of the APC describe your tendency as a group of individuals of yesterday seeking relevance. What do you have to say to this?

They are free to say whatever they want to say or whatever they like. They have said it before and bore the consequences. This is not their first me of saying it; they even christened us as “ERURUN AKARA” and we all saw that “ERURUN AKARA” is formidable than the Akara itself. They are en tled to their opinion. If we are seeking relevance or not, me will tell. Let me remind you that the people tagging us as non-relevant were not with us when we fought the then-PDP led by a General. We fought him to a stands ll and we were able to achieve success. I told you before that we are core progressives. We are the owners of the party. Let me also add that

Now that you are no longer an APC Caucus, are you forming a new party?

Time will tell. Be pa ent. We are taking our me. We are not a third force in Osun poli cs. We are the major force.

During the last Eid-el-Kabir celebraon, Governor Ademola Adeleke visited your patron, Ogbeni Aregbesola at his Ilesa residence, the word on the street is that there is a possibility of an alliance between Omoluabi and the PDP as we move towards 2026. Is this the situaon?

I sat beside Ogbeni during that meeting. The present Governor said he hopes to emulate him (Aregbesola) as he visited all the past governors in the state when he was in office. He said that was one of the reasons why he loved him and wanted to emulate his style. He came to greet us for Salah and nothing of poli cs is been a ached. Anyone saying what is contrary is not correct. The visit was purely in the mood of the celebra on. The current President of Nigeria also visited some people at different parts of the country when he was running. He visited Seyi Makinde in Oyo State and Nyesom Wike in Rivers. Are both men APC members? He recently hosted Kwankwaso in Abuja. Does that make Kwankwaso an APC member? Not quite long, A ku visited Buhari, does that make him an APC poli cian? When there is Salah, anybody can come to rejoice with someone. Poli cians are free to interact. It is a visit to a senior brother and an elder statesman in the state.

You have con nued to reemphasise that your tendency will take over from the incumbent administra on in Osun in 2026. How confident are you?

God is on our side. We believe when you do the right thing at the right me, God will definitely reward you. We have done it before and we are going to do it again. When there is a will, there is a way. We believe in God and with God, what we always say that we will take over the seat of government in Osun by 2026 is going to come to reality. With God and the people on our side, we will achieve our aim. We are very confident. We have put measures in place to reach the des na on and we are not backing out.

Your patron, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has con nued to preach the Omoluabi ethos at different fora. What is really behind the Omoluabi concept?

He wants us to be disciplined. He only keeps reminding us that Omoluabi is about doing what is expected of a normal people to do. For donkey years, people are s ll reechoing what Awolowo and Bola Ige did when they were alive. That is what Ogbeni wants to happen. He wants his name and that of those around him to be wri en on the pla er of gold. The people of Osun have con nued to say that Ogbeni did very well when he was the governor of the state and that they want someone who will con nue his legacy. People know me that I hate lies and what he says always reminds me of what to be done and what will endear me to the people’s mind. The Yorubas are known for the Omoluabi ethos. We believe that everybody of Yoruba origin are Omoluabi unless you prove otherwise. He is only reminding us of our root. What is your message for the people of Osun?

God is on our side. We believe when you do the right thing at the right time, God will definitely reward you. We have done it before and we are going to do it again. When there is a will, there is a way. We believe in God and with God, what we always say that we will take over the seat of government in Osun by 2026 is going to come to reality. With God and the people on our side, we will achieve our aim. We are very confident. We have put measures in place to reach the destination and we are not backing out

I urge all poli cally minded residents of Osun to register with Omoluabi Progressives. Our offices are open from 8am to 5pm daily. We are open to everyone who is genuinely interested in the progress of our dear state. Let us all join hands to return a government of the people to power.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2024 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2024

God Instructed Me To Impregnate, Abort Pregnancy For Stepdaughter - Clergy

Kazeem Badmus her stepfather.

THE founder of Christ People Church, Osogbo, iden fied as Femi, has disclosed that he slept with his stepdaughter because he received an instruc on from God.

The clergy also confessed that he impregnated the 16-year-old girl (name withheld) and took her to where she aborted it.

Femi who is also a motorcyclist, revealed this during a mee ng held with officials of a nongovernmental organisa on, the World Ins tute for Peace.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the vic m had approached the NGO to report the clergyman whom she said has been having carnal knowledge of her since she was 12.

Speaking during the mee ng with the NGO, the vic m said the stepfather a er pu ng her in the family way at the age of 13, told her to lie that a schoolmate impregnated her.

It was also gathered that the vic m reported the ma er to her teacher in school, a er about four years of constant abuse by

Narra ng further, the vic m explained that, “Femi started having sexual intercourse with me since I was 12. When I was 13 years old, I got pregnant and he took me to a hospital for an abor on.

“He asked me to lie to the doctor that my classmate impregnated me and ran away. The first me he had intercourse with me was on my mother’s bed and he has been doing it con nuously.

“I decided not to take the ma er to court because my mother had four children for him, although two were dead.

“I don’t want a situaon whereby when the children grow up, it would be as if I am the one who sent their father to prison. I decided not to take legal ac on because of his children who are my younger siblings.”

Also at the mee ng, Femi admi ed to commitng the crime.

He said it was God who directed him to sleep with the teenager and abort the pregnancy for her.

“It is true I slept with her although I don’t remember the number of mes I did it with her. I’m a pastor and it was God who told me to sleep with her. God also told me to abort the pregnancy,” he said.

The affidavit, sworn to by the mother of the vicm on her behalf, read, “My daughter went to the

human rights organisa on, World Ins tute for Peace, and reported a case of defilement and abor on levelled against her stepfather, Femi, early in August 2024.

“That, I have the consent of all the members of the family to swear to the

Osun APC Calls For Probe Of NSE, COREN Visit

OKazeem Badmus processes of the various ongoing infrastructure projects in the state.

SUN State Chap-

ter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for a probe of the combined technical team of Council for the Regula ons of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) who visited the state, recently.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that the team were in the state to inspect and audit the ongoing infrastructural projects executed by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administra on.

But the opposi on party alleged that the visit was turned into an open celebra on where the visitors were sprayed money at the point of entry. APC also doubted the credibility and independent professional seriousness of the body of engineers.

The party in a statement by its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, noted that the circumstances surrounding the visit were offensive to ra onal reasoning.

It revealed that the combined engineering visi ng team only visited one project site instead of valida ng the architectural, structural and construc on design and

Lawal said, “It is absurd and stranger than fic on that a supposed inspecon team of a purported professional associa on would conduct itself in this kind of unbecoming, lousy and compromising manner.

“The ques on arises that at what point did the combined team of the NSE and COREN engineers thought it desirable and auspicious to give an award of excellence on the projects they were supposed to audit and appraise in Osun State?

“Do we need to queson why there have been incessant incidents of collapsed roads, houses and bridges across the na on in recent mes?

“We make bold to say

that the road and flyover projects were awarded to fer lizer distributors and cyber cafe operators by Governor Adeleke.

“The circumstances surrounding the NGE/ COREN team visit to Osun State appeared like an endorsement of a glaring failure and mediocrity of the shoddy projects being done by Governor Adeleke.

“It would not be an overstatement to recommend the proper invesga on of the mission of the characters who cons tuted the NSE/COREN team to Osun State by the members of the body who have not been blindfolded by whatever might have been the bait for the controversial visit with a view to separa ng the pebbles from the edible grains of rice”, the state APC chair-

man stated.

But the state Commissioner for Informaon and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi while reac ng to APC’s allega ons, said the opposi on party was in severe pain and in u er confusion.

Alimi described any opposi on to the validaon by the engineering bodies as shameless and morally empty.

He said, “The Osun State Government condemns in the strongest possible terms the demonstra on of shamelessness and moral empness by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as it celebrates again the valida on of Osun infrastructure projects by the Engineering associaons.

“The APC has reached the lowest ebb. The opposi on which built the openly substandard Olaiya bridge accused Mr Governor of doing the same on the mulbillion naira infrastructure projects. The NSE decided to verify the situa on.

“We urge the APC to leave NSE out of its failed fortunes. The NSE is a professional body that won’t embrace APC culture of falsehood and fake news.”

affidavit that on August 11, 2024, we met with the human rights organisa on, World Ins tute for Peace and agreed to se le amicably within the family.

“That, she (vic m) agreed to resolve the dispute through alterna ve dispute resolu on and has engaged in nego a on.

“That the family is not ready to pursue any case whatsoever with Mr Femi any longer. That the purpose of withdrawing was as a result of a se lement between the families which she was the sole proposion on the se lement.”

Brain Drain: Inside Osun General

Hospital With One Doctor

•Community May Resort To Self Help - Monarch

THE mass exodus of healthcare professionals from Nigeria is taking a toll on the health sector of Osun State.

This is the situa on at the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ijesa in Oriade Local Government area of the state, where only one doctor and a few health officials are available to a end to the health needs of the town and adjoining communi es.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that with proximity to neighbouring states, the community faces a threat to the wellbeing of its residents, seeking government’s urgent a en on to rescue the facility it built decades ago.

Governor Ademola Adeleke had in September 2023 lamented the dwindling number of medical experts in the state.

Adeleke who expressed the displeasure at a symposium in IleIfe, said the situa on requires an urgent at-

ten on from all stakeholders.

The Elegboro of Ijebu-Ijesa, Oba Femi Agunsoye also expressed concern over shortage of medical personnel at the General Hospital.

Oba Agunsoye who spoke during the Naonal Lo ery Trust Fund’s presenta on of mul -million naira medical equipment to the hospital, urged that more medical personnel be recruited for effec ve service. He also hinted that the community may resort to self help if the situa on is not addressed in no distant me.

Osun Forms Community Informants Against Monkeypox

Sodiq Yusuf

OSUN State Government has issued a red alert on the outbreak of Monkeypox.

The warning is coming a er some states confirmed cases of Monkeypox.

According to a message on the official X handle of sOsun State Government, residents of the state were urged to stay alert.

It also outlined things to know about the dreaded viral disease.

The message reads, “Osun State Government issues red alert against Outbreak of MONKEYPOX (M-Pox).

“Things you need to know: Symptoms and causa ve agents of the disease.

“Awareness and Sensi za on, Preven on and Treatment.

“Stay alert! Stay safe!!”

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Health, Barrister Jola Akintola said the state government has started an awareness campaign to prevent an outbreak of the disease.

Akintola highlighted other measures which includes forma on of Community informants which comprises of ten individuals per ward.

Motorcyclist Killed, Body Dumped Inside Well In Osun

a Facebook user, Tolulope Joseph wrote: “This is to inform the general public that a middle age man, named Adeola Ayodele Solomon, whose photograph appears as seen, and posted in the early hours of today, an Okada rider from Illesa, who lives in Iwaraja area of Osun State has been found dead.

at the morgue.

Amiddle-aged commercial motorcyclist, Adeola Ayodele has been found dead in Osun, OSUN DEFENDER gathered.

Ayodele, a resident of Iwaraja in Ilesa and a father of four, according to report le home on Saturday, August 17, 2024 but did not return.

The father of four was later declared missing, but his dead body was found inside a well at Ijebu-Ijesa, Oriade Local Government area of the state.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the deceased’s bike was tracked to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

According to a source who is privy to the incident, his body has been evacuated and deposited

OAU Female Student Robbed, Raped By Motorcyclist

AA commercial motorcyclist, Jacob Damilare has been arrested by the Osun State Police Command for allegedly unlawfully having carnal knowledge of a female passenger who had engaged his services on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the vic m, whose name was not disclosed, was on her way to Moro and had reportedly engaged Damilare from the OAU campus at around 7:05 pm on July 26.

But, upon reaching RCC Junc on along the Ilesa/Ibadan Expressway in Ile-Ife, the motorcyclist allegedly diverted into the bush, robbed the passenger of her belongings, raped, and shaved her pubic hair in the process.

Responding to quesons from newsmen, Damilare admi ed to commi ng the offence, adding that the vic m, a

student of OAU, spoke arrogantly to him when he made roman c advances at her during the trip.

He said, “I asked her out, but she spoke rudely to me. It was because of the way she spoke to me that I diverted into the bush. I gave her two op ons: either to allow me to have sex with her or to give me money. She agreed that I should have sex with her.”

Parading the suspect alongside others arrested for various crimes across the state at the command headquarters in Osogbo on Wednesday, police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said that a er commitng the crime, Damilare threatened to kill the vic m if she reported to the authori es.

“On 26th July 2024, at about 7:05 pm, the complainant engaged the services of a commercial motorcyclist (the suspect), later iden fied as Damilare Jacob ‘m’, from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Campus, Ile-Ife, to Moro town.

“Upon reaching RCC Junc on along the Ilesa/ Ibadan Expressway, IleIfe, the suspect diverted into a nearby bush, where he robbed her of the following items: an iPhone XS Max valued at three hundred and twenty thousand naira (N320,000.00), a Samsung Galaxy A71 valued at one hundred and fi y thousand naira (N150,000.00), an Airtel Wi-Fi device valued at ten thousand naira (N10,000.00), and the cash sum of twenty thousand naira (N20,000.00). He then forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

“The suspect also cut her pubic hair, armpit hair, and head hair, and threatened to kill her if she reported the incident to anyone. The vic m was taken to the Police Hospital, Osogbo, for assessment and treatment. The suspect was later arrested and confessed to perpetrating this heinous act. The suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the inves gaon,” Opalola said.

The medium learnt that no one has been arrested in connec on with the crime.

But the spokesperson of the Osun Police Command, SP Yemisi Opalola, told OSUN DEFENDER that she is not aware of the incident.

“I’m not aware of the incident. We have not been informed. So, I don’t have further informa on,” Opalola said. Reac ng on his death,

“According to report, he le home on Saturday 17th Aug. 2024 for his daily bread, and yet to be found, le his wife and four kids. The viral posts we posted hinted others who reposted, and was later found dead in Ijebu-Ijesa, Osun State, dropped but his bike was tracked down to Ibadan.

“It is on this sad note I will like to commend those reading and repos ng our updates, you’ve really done well and well appreciated.

The late hustler popularly known as photo, or Baba Dara le four kids. kudos to the Nigeria police force in Oriade. We say thank you for the quick interven on.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

OGUNDOLA FUNKE MARY

That I was formerly known and addressed as MISS OMOGBESINU ESTHER OLUWATOYIN, but now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BABALOLA ESTHER OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

That I was formerly known and addressed as OLADELE FUNKE MARY, but now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNDOLA FUNKE MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. MRS BABALOLA ESTHER OLUWATOYIN

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2024 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2024 VOL. 19 NO 33 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

OXFORD Dic onary defines elite as a group of people in a society who are powerful and have a lot of influence because they are rich, intelligent, etc. The ruling elite manage and organise government and all the manifesta on of poli cal power from local government chairmen to the president at the top. By their strategic loca on, they are able to affect poli cal calcula ons and outcome substan ally.

In the advanced countries, when there is a clash between personal and na onal interest, the elite place preference on na onal interest. In the advanced economies, although there are high crimes liken to Sodom and Gomorrah, they regulate their society so well that crime is not a rac ve and once one is caught, the law of the land will take cause. They build their infrastructure. They regulate their society in such a way that life will be meaningful. They make sure that virtually everything works. Their discipline to providing decent living condi on for the vast majority of their people among others, perhaps, explains why they are advanced.

Over there, there is a way in which their elite have ensured that one must work for earnings. Once one clocks age 18, his/her knowledge and acquired skills will earn him/ her a living and pay his/her bills; there are no free meals, and there are systema c welfare programmes to sort out those proven to be socially disadvantaged, especially those who can work, are willing to work but for whom there is yet no work.

The behavioural pa ern of elite in Africa and Nigeria in par cular is quite different. To start with, there are three categories of elite in Nigeria: those who are rich because they have useful skills; those who are rich because they are rent seekers or thugs; and the mix of the two above.

With the excep on of a very infinitesimal propor on, our elite compromise with the status quo by collec ng bribes and benefits. They want to be er their lots at the expense of the basic necessi es of the poor. They extrapolate their own first world, lives and demand acons that will cause the people trouble. They want to live a first world lifestyle in their na ve country. They have stronger cultural es with the developed world than with our tradi onal society. They want their children to be born in United States and United Kingdom soil than in Nigeria. They have houses abroad with dual ci zenship. Their children school abroad. They take their medica on abroad. They are more at home overseas than in Nigeria. In fact, they have no confidence in our system, which they have thoroughly undermined.

When they infringe on laws, they are always shielded. They don’t pay taxes but impose on the poor. Our elite who are supposed to be the ruler, the cream of society and role models are a liability to the system. Their stance is an the cal to na onal development and democra c principle. While they pretend to be

“: Our elite who are supposed to be the ruler, the cream of society and role models are a liability to the system. Their stance is antithetical to national development and democratic principle. Virtues like honesty, hard work, morality, love, etcetera, are fast disappearing for emergence of iniquities and violent crimes. Any society that finds itself in this condition is doomed!”

Elite Orientation: Difference Between Theirs

And Ours

democrats, they see democra c prac ces as a threat to their security and will do anything to frustrate it. They have no social and moral conscience to their followers. Despite the stupendous resources we are endowed with, of which they are largely in charge, our development does not match our na onal wealth.

With proper coordina on of nature and people, developmental rate is very elas c and unlimited. It is a func on of research and or-

ganisa on of human and natural resources which we have in abundance. How does one explain a situa on where either elected or appointed to a posi on, a man/woman amasses so much wealth that is meant for societal development to himself/herself at the detriment of the society? How could somebody have penchant to live to steal collec ve wealth consistently? While their ac on and inac on create absolute poverty in the midst of plenty, they

Believing In The People In The People

THERE is a creed that all poli cians must hold sacred, be they in poli cs for the common good or even for personal aggrandizement. 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 exploitave 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 be er ar culated than in the American Declaraon 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 destrucve of these ends, it is 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 polical 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

create a buffer zone between themselves and the poverty; some mes individually helping themselves from the public treasury to the tune of wealth enough to last a hundred people a hundred life mes!

The worst part is that the elite kleptomania is rapidly infec ng the poor working people. Everybody is seriously wai ng for any available opportunity to steal and inflict hardship on the people as long as it boosts his/her personal interest. Virtues like honesty, hard work, morality, love, etcetera, are fast disappearing for emergence of iniqui es and violent crimes. Any society that finds itself in this condi on is doomed!

There is an urgent need for reorienta on. I do not mean reorienta on for the poor working people alone as it is being presently mouthed by government agencies like the Na onal Orienta on Agency (NOA). There is a need for a na onal rebirth from the “Oga at the Top” down to last ordinary poor. There is a need to strengthen our ins tu ons. A situa on where a head of an ins tu on determines how strong or weak it will be is not palatable. Ins tu ons must have standards and sustained lives of their own no ma er who and who drive them. It is the absence of this that accounts for perennial policy somersaults and blatant lack of con nuity in African and third world governments in the last 60 to 70 years of independence.

We are very good at paper presenta ons and paying lip services. Our reorienta on programme must not be business as usual where some individuals will gather half-sleeping and part-listening to paper presenters while awaiting “Item 7” (to eat and collect “a chopping”) and there is the end. We must handle it business like – fully focussed and commi ed to personal and collec ve rebirth and ac ons for development. We must take it a life and death ma er while choosing life. We must declare a state of emergency on our value system. Anything short of this is rapid and con nued movement to anarchy. The elite overseas are not angels; it is simply their a tude to making systems work that differen ates them from ours.

decades, the people unwi ngly become weaponised against their best interests as willing tools in their own dehumanisa on.

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 previous choice.

Osun poli cs is thereby emerging as loving reminder of Yoruba disposi ons and sensibili es: a beacon for other states to follow in the sense of making poli cians reckon with the people, their powers and their inalienable rights. Henceforth, from the forthcoming Ondo elec on, through the various off-season elec ons, to the 2027 General Elec ons, the people in Nigeria must follow through and let the powers know that the people, their wellbeing and security, are the core issues in electoral democracy, and future decider of electoral victory - not money, not influence, not force.

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State. All correspondence to the Acting Deputy Editor, SODIQ YUSUF, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefenderhq@gmail.com