Osun Defender Online Version of May 3rd, 2024

Fuel Scarcity: Black Market Thrives At N1,700/Ltr, As Fuel Goes For N680 - 1,050 At Stations

Uthman

THE current fuel scarcity caught residents of Osun State unaware, findings have revealed.

While parents and guardians were preparing for school resump on, the sudden fuel scarcity disrupted their plans, as many of them were le stranded and have been unable to take their children and wards to school since Monday.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that the fuel scarcity hit Osogbo during the weekend but it bite harder since Monday, causing hardship for motorists and commuters in the state.

Majority of the filling sta ons in Osogbo were not selling fuel, forcing residents of the state capital to search for the Petroleum Motor Spirit (petrol) in far distance.

Aside the NNPC who was selling at N580 per litre, every other petrol sta on in Osogbo were selling between N680 and N1,050 per litre.

OSUN DEFENDER visited the NNPC mega staons at Ring Road and Abere in Osogbo, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to monitor the fuel situa on.

The filling sta ons were filled to the brim. Both the entrance and exit gates of the staons were fully occupied by vehicle owners who struggled to get fuel.

There was also a very long queue of vehicle owners which began from the NNPC (Lameco) entrance gate and terminated at the Government House Area.

It was learnt that some of the vehicle owners passed the night at the filling sta ons in a bid to get fuel as early as possible the following day. Consumers also crowded NIPCO (both at Ogo-Oluwa and Lameco), Matrix (Aregbe area), Cisse (Rinsayo area, Ring road) and Eterna (NECO area) in a bid to get the commodity.

Matrix was selling at N680 while NIPCO was selling at N645 per litre as of the me of filing this report.

Black Market Thrives At N1,500N1,700/Ltr

OSUN DEFENDER noted that black market sale has resurfaced amidst the fuel scarcity, as some individuals have taken advantage of the situa on to enrich themselves. Findings revealed that

•Attendance Drops As Parents Unable To Take Children To School

•Passengers Stranded, Resort To Trekking

•Some stranded passengers at the popular Ola-Iya junction, Osogbo, yesterday

the people who are engaged in the black market business usually compromise a endants at fuel sta ons to get fuel late in the night or early in the morning at the normal pump price.

The black marketers at Tes ng Ground, Kobo and Sasa, Oke Baale areas of Osogbo were sell-

ing a litre of fuel between N1,500 and N1,700.

In Ejigbo, OSUN DEFENDER gathered that a litre of PMS at black market was sold at N1,500 while it went for N2,000 in Ileogbo, headquarters of Ayedire local government of the state.

Speaking with the medium, a motorist who

gave his name as Olumide, said he bought a litre of fuel at the rate of N1,600 from the black market.

Olumide who stated that he was travelling to Lagos from Osogbo said he bought the fuel around Oogi, a community before Odeomu, Ayedaade local government of the state.

“It is very unfortunate. I was travelling to Lagos on Wednesday and a er spending more than four hours on the queue at a filling sta on, I decided to leave for Lagos, hoping to get petrol along the way.

“When I got to Oogi area, I stopped to buy something when a li le boy asked if I needed fuel. At first, I was not sure because of the boy’s age but I told him I needed fuel. The boy asked me to wait and went inside a shed.

“He came out with an older man who asked how many litres I wanted. I told him I wanted 20 litres and he said a litre is N1,600.

“I pleaded with the guy to reduce the price for me but he didn’t bulge. I had no choice but to pay the money. This is what our government has reduced us to.”

Also, a commercial vehicle operator who was conveying one of the reporters of this medium to Osogbo from Owode Ede bought a litre of petrol at N1,700 when he ran out of fuel.

Lamen ng the cost and stress of ge ng PMS at the normal price at filling sta ons, the driver vowed to recover his money from the passengers.

The visibly angry driver said: “I was at the filling sta on throughout yesterday and I couldn’t get the fuel.

“Look at what happened now. How will I make profit from this fuel? Passengers won’t know what we drivers are passing through to get fuel. All I know is that the passengers will be the ones to bear the brunt of

the fuel I bought at that rate.”

A endance Drops As Parents Unable To Take Children To School

The worsening fuel scarcity le parents and guardians stranded. Some of them could not get fuel into their vehicles, while others did not get commercial vehicle and motorcyclist operators to take their children and wards to school.

OSUN DEFENDER also noted that some of the parents could not afford the charge of the commercial vehicle operators such as the mini-bus (korope) and okada riders who have increased their charges by 100 per cent.

Visita on to some schools in Osogbo metropolis revealed that there was a no ceable drop in the number of children who a ended school at resump on on Monday.

This is just as some teachers and other staff members of some schools could not make it to their various work places as they could not get transporta on.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the Proprietor, Olive Branches Schools, Arh. Goke Omigbodun, described the situa on as terrible, saying both teachers and children of his schools were being affected by the fuel scarcity.

Omigbodun said: “The first thing we should note is that school is just star ng; naturally, when school is just star ng, not all children will come to school. But those that will come to school will come early, usually. But we have observed today (Tuesday) that quite a number of children, in fact, members of staff came late.

“There is a par cular member of staff in my school who will never be late, and he was extremely late to work today. In fact, when I was trying to find out why he was late, he just lost his calm completely. That tells you the kind of situa on that this fuel scarcity can bring upon human interac ons, development of delivery of social services like educa on and health, because some doctors and other health workers too will not be able to get to the hospital.

“So, it is not just about school children alone, even their teachers are

•Continued on page 7

Kudos to the Republic Of South Africa

•30 Years After Apartheid, South Africa Remains Principled

•Continued from page 1

annexa on of land in Pales ne, leading to the same separa on, turmoil and bloodbath. Not to mince words, Apartheid and Zionism are two sides of a sordid coin.

The interwoven ideologies of the two are based on an unproven racial supremacist a tude and degrada on of humanity. The South African government, in taking a principled stand in favour of a two states solu on guaranteeing the right of the Pales nians to selfdetermina on, has also saluted the courage of those who took part in the an -apartheid struggle.

The current government of Isreal is clearly no different in a tude to the oppressive government of the apartheid era. It is clear that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a hardline racist who needs to s r-up base sen ment in order to shore up his own problema c poli cal fortunes.

Poli cians and poli cal opportunists at a me of turbulent need to create distor ons of reality, disaffec on and cast groups as represen ng evil in order to attain and hold on to power. It is a sordid, well-traveled route; Adolf Hitler used this route, crea ng a Jewish bogeyman as his path to obtaining power in Germany. The consequences of Hitler’s misuse of power con nues to revibrate.

The opportunism of the apartheid era leaders and today’s Benjamin Netanyahu are not original but have defined historical ante-

“The opportunism of the apartheid era leaders and today’s Benjamin Netanyahu are not original but have defined historical antecedents”

cedents.

It is not surprising that demonstra ons against Netanyahu’s misuse of power have broken out in campuses across the United States of America. The current campus strikes should remind us of the an -Vietnam war demonstra ons in the United States and elsewhere in the 1960s and early 1970s. The issue remains the same. The dispropor onate, malignant use of force against defenseless civilians popula ons. Such ac ons are deplorable, they were condemned then and should be condemned now. The My Lie massacre which occurred during the Vietnam War is as condemnable as today a ack on civilians on the Gazza streets.

We must never seek to know for whom the bell tolls....”Failure to condemn the ongoing onslaught on civilians in Gaza portends ill for everyone else future. The South Africa government is certainly right to have taken such a sensible principled posi on and every other Africa government should emulate this principled stand. Kudos to the government of South Africa.

Minimum Or Living Wage?

WHICHEVER way the sophistry plays out, the restoraon of purchasing power parity and the cons tu on of social safety nets is now paramount. Governments at all levels with the honorable excep ons of Lagos, Edo and Rivers states have been rather coy about tackling the economic crisis with a s mulus enhancing purchasing power. They cannot be evasive for too long.

The erosion of economic value is punishing and something as to be done. By showing fiscal prudence, governments can use funds saved

to help the overwhelming majority through increased wages and help to facilitate be er access to educaon and health facili es. It is in the interest of all par es, i.e government, unions and private sectors for a s mulus to be provided immediately. Without an increase in purchasing power, inventories will con nue to mount, leading to unsold products, factory closures and lay-offs of workers. This must be avoided at all cost as it is a threat to social stability.

Governments at all levels must be posi ve and do so immediately.

Review &

Outlook

JY BY

B

O L A L E R E OLALERE

FA G B O L A FAGBOLA

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s

Unsquanderable ASTA Award

UST as wisdom, known in Yoruba language as “Ogbon” predominates over ignorance, thirty (30) also known as”Ogbon” in Yoruba, stands out significantly from a crowd of vigesimal system by which Yoruba counts its numbers in twenes (20s).

Time was when coun ng system in Yoruba land revolved around twenty as coun ng only involved the 10 fingers plus the 10 toes. Hence the vigesimal system in which twenty rang predominantly in all the numbers became the base for coun ng and mul plying.

Vigesimal derives from La n “vigesimus” variant of “vicesimus, from “viceni”, meaning twenty each, from “vigin ” twenty; rela ng to and based on the number twenty.

But rather than thirty (30) becoming “aadoji” and con nuing in the vigesimal stereotypes, it fell out of the conven on and took on a root word -” associated with wisdom, “Ogbon”.

In ancient Orient, including the Egypans book of wisdom and the wisdom literature, thirty was connected with the art of wri ng and the scribes, no wonder why Solomon stated in Proverbs 22:20: “ Do I not write to thee thirty with counsel and knowledge”?

The Egyp an Book of Wisdom contained thirty chapters; the Yoruba words for wisdom and “thirty “ are heteronymsiden cal in all respects except in tone pattern.”

Amid the relatability between Wisdom (Ogbon) and Ogbeni, being a tle for respectable and respected male adults, Ogboni (judicial council of Yoruba elders) and Ogbeni are regarded as the repository of wisdom of ages in Yoruba land.

It is by the unconven onal vigesimal conven on of a culture of excellence that thirty, (Ogbon), wisdom (Ogbon), as well as Mr. (Ogbeni) and Elderly council, (Ogboni ) stand out in any community, while all of them also share the same consonantal family of “gb” which are twin- le ers that stand dis nctly different from the rest in the community of alphabets.

“Amid the relatability between Wisdom (Ogbon) and Ogbeni, being a title for respectable and respected male adults, Ogboni (judicial council of Yoruba elders) and Ogbeni are regarded as the repository of wisdom of ages in Yoruba land”

Un l arbitrariness came into our order of things, Ogbeni (Mr.), a variant of Ogboni, wise judicial council of elders was a tle earned and radia ng respectability, industry and honour while the tle treasured on piety and a character of “Omoluabi”.

Drawing parallels between the African poli cians and the crea ve writer, Nuruddin Farah argued that because the poli cian was unable to think straight, he is always fond of defining posterity as a frame within his term of office, while the crea ve writer sees it as a future which is not dished out in four or five yearly governorship or presiden al terms of office, but one measured in centuries.

According to him, the crea ve writer is concerned about how his works would be relevant to the needs of people in the next century.

There is no doubt that largely the policians are well married to defining posterity generally from the vigesimal conven on of coun ng it by the availability of the number of years within their terms of office, there are s ll few of them who, like thirty, an embodiment of wisdom, are sworn enemy of vigesimal conven on, and whose impacts ring bell far beyond their terms of office and are like a good book which posterity cannot squander.

It is to this class of sworn enemy of poli cal conven on that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola happily belongs.

Just as thirty wisely deviates from the vigesimal system of coun ng, so also does Rauf Aregbesola deviates from the convenonal method of measuring posterity by terms of office.

OSUN DEFENDER

Even a er his term of office, his impact in the realm of sport, culture and tourism is s ll being treasured and rewarded.

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As the architect of modern Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at a well-a ended ceremony in Abuja, bagged the maiden African Sports and Tourism Award, having used his pragma c steps to change the face of Osun State. The event was on Thursday, last week and it was graced by the cream of our society, including diplomats and high level dignitaries.

“It is a privilege to be recognised for our collec ve efforts at serving the people of Osun; and being the first ex-governor to receive this pres gious award, it is truly humbling “, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola remarked.

Roadside Trading: Osun Traders Contravene

Traffic Rules, Risk Lives

TRADERS in Osun State, especially in Osogbo and its environs have connued to display their wares and products by the roadside in contraven on of traffic rules.

OSUN DEFENDER visited some markets in the state capital and other parts of the state and observed the prevalence of business ac vi es by traders at the roadside.

The situa on, according to observaons by the medium, is prominent at the Akindeko, Orisunmbare, Oja-Oba, Igbona, Ota-Efun markets in Osogbo; Owode-Ede market, Sabo-Irojo, Roundabout and Ade markets in Ilesa; OdoOri and Oja-Oba mar-

kets in Iwo; Oja-Tuntun and Sabo markets in Ile-Ife, among others.

Some residents of the state who spoke to OSUN DEFENDER called the a en on of the state government and its agencies to the situa on, saying it has con nued to endanger lives.

The residents urged the government to take necessary ac on to avert the life-threatening prac ce.

At Orisunmbare market in Osogbo, OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the former administra on of governor Rauf Aregbesola erected a net-fence to prevent traders from moving closer to the road.

But many traders would prefer to display

Accident: Group Calls For Adequate Traffic Coordination On Osogbo-Iwo Road

Ahuman-right organisa on, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Osun State branch, has called on the state Ministry of Transport to urgently mobilise a traffic coordina ng team to the Dele Yes Sir end of the OsogboIwo road, in Osogbo. According to the CDHR in a le er sent to the ministry, the call became necessary following incessant occurrence of accidents on the road.

The group said pu ng a team to direct traffic on the road will mi gate frequent accidents in the area.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that a turning point has been made towards Onibueja area, but the motorists would not make use of it, resor ng to a one way traffic.

CDHR, in a statement by its Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu, implored the state government to explore addi onal measures such as increased signage and public awareness campaigns to prevent accidents on the road.

Olowu, in a statement on Wednesday, said: “We write to urgently inform you of a need for massive traffic coordina ng team on Dele Yes Sir, OsogboIwo Road, regarding the ongoing road rehabilitaon.

“Motorists trying to avoid the turning point have resorted to one-way driving prac ce which is causing accidents on the road.

“The reckless behaviour of some drivers has led to numerous accidents, endangering the lives of both motorists and pedestrians. The situa on demands immediate ac on to prevent further loss of life and damage of property.

“We urge you to take decisive measures to address this pressing issue. Specifically, we call upon your office to ensure that security agents are deployed to the area to enforce traffic regulaons, which traffic abusers should be prosecuted when apprehended.

“Furthermore, we implore you to explore addi onal measures such as increased signage, public awareness campaigns, to promote safe driving pracces to mi gate the risk of accidents as the project are ongoing.

their wares and products outside the netfence.

While some people blamed the government for failing to take

decisive ac on on the roadside traders, others argued that the government should find an alterna ve market space for the

traders before enforcement. Speaking with the medium on Wednesday, a resident of Osogbo, Mr. Kayode

APC Queries Adeleke’s Non-borrowing Claim, Says He Has Accessed N22bn Loans

OSUN State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has queried Governor Ademola Adeleke over his claim that his administra on has not taken any loan to finance projects.

Adeleke reiterated his claim that he has not taken any loan since the last 16 months of his administra on on Tuesday in Ilesa, at the second edi on of “Ipade Imole”, an open engagement between the governor and members of the public.

But the APC said Adeleke’s statement was laced with lies.

The party said the

Adeleke Appoints New Auditor-General, Seeks Assembly’s Confirmation

Yusuf Oketola

OSUN State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has appointed Mr. Isiaq Awotunde, as the new AuditorGeneral for Local Government. Consequently, Adeleke has wri en the State House of Assembly to confirm Awotunde’s appointment.

The Speaker of the

assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, while reading the le er at the plenary on Tuesday, said Awotunde’s appointment was sequel to the pending rerement of the incumbent Auditor-General, Mr. Emmanuel Kolapo.

He directed Awotunde to submit copies of his curriculum vitae and other relevant cer ficates to the assembly and appear for screening on May 7.

present administra on had in 2023 accessed a N10bn loan from an interna onal financial ins tu on to fund some of the infrastructure projects going on in the state, including the Ilesa Water Project.

According to the party in a statement issued by the APC Chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal through the party’s Director of Media and Informa on, Chief Kola Olabisi, Adeleke has again planned to borrow addi onal N12bn from Islamic Development Bank and World Bank to fund other projects this year.

The statement reads partly: “Lawal queried Adeleke’s claim on non-borrowing when in 2023, his government accessed N10bn loan from interna onal financial ins tu ons to oil some of the infrastructural projects going on in the state, including the Ilesa Water Project.

“Lawal marveled why Adeleke was not bold to disclose to the people of the state that his government would borrow addi onal N12bn this year from Islamic Development Bank and World Bank to fund the Ilesa Water Project, Rural Access and Agricultural Marke ng Project (RAAMP 3), Community and Social Development projects like O-CARES and Social Support Programme (Cash Transfer to Indigent Elderly in the state).

“How on earth would Governor Adeleke have the effrontery to state that his government has been balancing stomach infrastructure with capital project infrastructure when it is to the discredit of his government how he has been hoarding and warehousing the Federal Government’s fuel subsidy removal pallia ves in cash and food items meant for the needy in the state?”.

Olasunkanmi, said the situa on needs urgent a en on to avert danger. According to him:

“This really needs urgent a en on. If a vehicle’s brake fails and injures or kills some of the traders on the road, people will blame the state government for not doing the right thing. Those people are even making it difficult for vehicles to park correctly on the road.

“People keep risking their lives to make sale. Something needs to be done especially at Igbona. Traders there are becoming something else. Every evening at the market is a war and korope drivers are worsening the situa on.”

It is always a thug of war at Owode Ede market every market day. OSUN DEFENDER was at the market on Tuesday and noted that traders were obstruc ng the flow of traffic with their wares and products displayed by the roadsides. The traders encroached the road while the traffic wardens could not do anything.

Traders were seen rushing to pack their wares from the roadside whenever they no ce the movement of heavy duty vehicles plying the road.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that successive governments in the state had made efforts in curbing the excesses of the traders but yielded no posi ve results, as traders connue to display their wares in disobedience to the traffic rules.

2026: Oyetola Too Divisive As A Flagbearer To Make APC Win – Party Stalwart

Ismaeel Uthman

Astalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Iremo Ward 2, Ile-Ife, Ife Central local government of Osun State, Mr. Ayobami Owojori, has again cau oned the party against fielding the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, for the 2026 governorship elec on.

Owojori, in a widely circulated ar cle on WhatsApp pla orms, said Oyetola is too divisive as a flagbearer to secure victory for the party.

The APC chie ain had two months ago called for the zoning of the APC governorship cket to Ile-Ife, sta ng that Osun Central where Oyetola hails from might fail the party again.

He said some APC members considered his call as an affront because of their submission that Oyetola should be given an automa c cket to contest the 2026 governorship elec on.

Owojori said: “Party members across the state who are members of the IleriOluwa group think that it is an affront to propose Ile-Ife for the next governorship candidate of APC. To them, Oyetola is the leader of the party and should have an automa c governorship cket in 2026.

“I respect Oyetola, he is a good person but he and the IleriOluwa Group leaders managed and lost the 2022 governorship elec on, the 2023 State and Presiden al elec ons. APC went into the elec ons divided in every local government and the IleriOluwa leaders and their social media were too quarrelsome to embrace a wider team.

“IleriOluwa leaders believed they could win the last set of elec ons alone and they did not placate party members who were disgruntled. A er we lost it all, they said the people who they had said they do not need are saboteurs.

“Without sen ments, If APC can look into why we lost the elec ons and how we can come back to winning again, Oyetola will con nue to be the recurring decimal in the middle. Oyetola is handling his leadership with a winner takes all pomp that hasn’t led more people in the party into

the fold of his immediate caucus.

“As si ng Minister, he is s ll surrounded by

his team that made him lose the elec on. He has changed nothing to the effect that the elec-

on result can change if he should recontest. He is too divisive as a flagbearer to make APC

win.”

Owojori said Ile-Ife has people with adequate educa on, rich po-

•Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the first Nigerian former Governor to receive the maiden ASTA Awards, for his contribution in the development of the Tourism, Culture and Sports sectors in Osun State during his tenure. He is flanked by Amb Mariam Morales of Cuba, Amb Auwal Wogriss Mohammed of Ethiopia and Amb Peace Nwakaego Onuiri (Founder and Promoter of ASTA 2024)

Fuel Crisis: We Can No Longer Endure, OAU Students Threaten Mass Action

THE Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has said the challenges faced by the students due to the sudden surge in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and the scarcity of the product was no longer bearable.

The President of the union, Abbas Ojo, urged the Federal Government to immediately address the issues.

Ojo, in a statement on Tuesday, threatened that the students would embark on mass protest if the situa on persisted.

OSUN DEFENDER

observed that since the weekend, queues have surfaced across some filling sta ons in the State.

According to Ojo, bus drivers opera ng around the OAU campus have increased fares as a result of the fuel scarcity.

The union president said: “We, as students, can no longer endure the burden imposed by the government’s economic policies.

“Last year, when the decision to remove fuel subsidy became public knowledge, many, including students, haboured doubts about its impact on the na on’s economy. Even those who supported the removal of subsidy were skep cal, given the absence of concrete plans to alleviate the en-

suing challenges.

President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023, during his swearing-in, announced the removal of fuel subsidy. Since then, Nigerians have been grappling with harsh economic reali es coupled with the deprecia on of the naira against the dollar.

Ojo stated further: “From soaring electricity tariffs to the skyrocke ng cost of living, the adverse

effects of the government’s capitalist policies have spared no one.

“Despite these challenges, students persist in their pursuit of educa on and academic endeavours. However, recent events such as fuel shortages and fluctua ng prices have le students stranded both on campus and outside campus.”

He noted that the students have been pushed to limits.

The union president demanded immediate ac-

on from the FG to address the fuel scarcity, curb suspected hoarding of fuel, and regulate prices.

“We also demand that the government should revive the country’s refineries. The government must not test our will by not addressing these demands within the next 48 hours. Failure to do so, we shall hit the streets ll the government addresses the fuel crisis which cons tutes a threat to our academic pursuit,” he concluded.

Communities Raise Alarm Over Influx Of Scavengers

RESIDENTS of Irewole, Orisumbare and Itesiwaju communi es in Owode-Ede, Osun State, have expressed concern over the increasing number of scavengers, known as ‘Boola’ in the area.

The residents said the scavengers have been found loitering around the neighbourhoods at odd hours.

According to the residents, some of the scavengers took advantage of their absence in the area during the day to cart away their valuables.

They appealed to relevant government agencies to find a way to curb the excesses of some of the scavengers.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that a scavenger was caught stealing a pumping machine inside a house at Irewole community, on Monday.

According to a video

obtained by the medium, the scavenger had removed the pumping machine from the well and was about to leave the compound when an occupant saw him.

The scavenger whose face was not shown in the video was heard saying he thought the pumping machine was not working again.

The house owner, Mrs Olaide Morounfolu, told OSUN DEFENDER that she caught the scavenger when he was about to pack the pumping machine a er removing it.

According to her: “I was at home sleeping and didn’t know something was going on in my backyard. I only went out to turn on the pumping machine when they brought electricity.

“On ge ng out, I saw the pumping machine on the ground with the scavenger a emp ng to pack it. I raised the alarm

and some people around came in.”

A resident of Orisumbare community who gave his name as Smith said acvi es of the scavengers needed to be checked.

According to Smith, despite warnings by most of the communi es in Owode-Ede, the scavengers kept loitering around, no ng that they had stolen from lots of houses and shops.

The shoemaker said his shop had once been burgled by the scavengers, warning that anyone caught again in the area might be severely dealt with.

li cal history and other career experience that qualify them to be the APC flagbearer in 2026.

Adeleke To Create Special Food Marts To Address Food Price Inflation

Kazeem Badmus

GOVERNOR Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday, announced plans by his administra on to create special food marts across the state where food items would be sold to residents at controlled prices.

Adeleke, who stated this at the May Day rally in Osogbo, also rated his administra on high in the area of workers’ and re rees’ welfare.

The Governor said since coming on board, both ac ve and re red workers had got a new lease of life through the regular payment of salary and pension, adding that he also paid salary arrears owed workers by the previous administraons. He said his administra on was aware of the economic hardship in the country, hence, its decision to roll out pallia ve measures.

Adeleke said: “Dear comrades, our government takes judicious note of current na onal economic challenges. We acknowledge the pain and suffering of our people. Let me assure you that local and na onal efforts are ongoing to bring succor to our people.

“On the current fuel scarcity, I am happy to inform us all that the state task force on petroleum products has deployed monitoring teams to ensure that fuel hoarding is stopped as supply increases.

“Our government is working to create special food marts across the state. Such centres will sell food items at controlled prices to address the current high level of food infla on.”

“That was how the useless scavengers stole from my shop some me ago. We have warned them not to come to our area again but they kept on coming. The authori es have to do something about it. There is need to separate the bad eggs from the good ones”, he stated. •Continued on page 6

Assuring workers of con nuous harmonious rela onship, Adeleke said the Head of Service, Ayanleye Aina, had been directed to distribute new vehicles bought for Permanent Secretaries in the state to them, to

FRIDAY, MAY 03, 2024 - THURSDAY, MAY 09, 2024

Abide By The Omoluabi Ethos, Aregbesola Urges Caucus Members

HE immediatepast Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has urged members of the Omoluabi Progressives, a caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, to key into the vision and mission of the group.

Speaking at the monthly Omoluabi stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday, Aregbesola noted that only the members who share in the vision of the caucus, would be able to strategically aid its success.

He assured them of his support and collabora on, calling on them to abide by the principles of the Omoluabi ethos.

Aregbesola who addressed the stakeholders in Yoruba said, “Go back home to your various wards to let the members of the caucus understand what you are doing. It is not just by being members of the Omoluabi Caucus but members who are solidly in tune with our vision.

“Our goals and objec ves are clear. If we can understand why we are doing what we are doing, it would be beneficial to where we are going. Be assured that God is on our side, and we are on course to reach the promised land.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Caucus, Alhaji Azeez Adesiji, said in the last few weeks, the caucus has expanded with the influx of new members who have shown commitment to iden fy with the real progressives.

According to him, the success stories recorded at the ongoing tour of federal cons tuencies in Osun is an indica on that the people are with the founda on structure of the APC in its bid to return to power.

Adesiji noted that in all the places visited, there are signals that the people are in support of the lo y ideas and the vision of the caucus, and assured of their support to partner Omoluabi to reclaim the state in 2026.

He announced to the stakeholders that membership registraon of the Omoluabi

Progressives will begin at the local government level in no distant me, while members would make monthly financial contribu ons

to aid the success of its ac vi es.

The ex-council boss stressed the importance of members adhering strictly to the

Omoluabi ethos, pledging to unite all members through transparency and accountability. He said: “Your support has been over-

whelming. We have visited four out of the nine federal cons tuencies in the state so far and it has been amazing. Our people are truly com-

• Members of the caucus during the stakeholders meeting

Woman Gives Birth, Dies In Fake Doctor’s Custody

THE Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended a 32-yearold fake medical doctor, over the death of a woman.

The suspect, a resident of 2, Lakewu area, Ororuwo, Boripe Local Government area of Osun, allegedly a ended to the pregnant woman during childbirth which led to her death.

According to a statement by the Spokesperson of NSCDC, Kehinde Adeleke, the suspect whose name was not revealed, has been opera ng an unlicensed clinic for the past six years.

The suspect was said to also have people undergoing training in his clinic as staff

The NSCDC said the suspect’s highest qualifica on is a Second-

ary School Cer ficate Examina on (SSCE).

According to the security agency, the suspect while making confessional statement, said: “On the 15th of April, 2024, a pregnant woman with nine months and three weeks pregnancy visited his hospital popularly known as OLORUNTOYIN CLINIC at No 2, Lakewu area, Ororuwo, Boripe Local Government, Osun State.

“According to him, the pregnant woman could not con nue her antenatal care at her previous hospital because she had a misunderstanding with her husband.

“The self–acclaimed doctor said he checked her blood pressure which was low and gave her some drugs. He therea er asked her to come back whenever she

•The suspected fake medical doctor

Adeleke To Create Special Food Marts To...

Continued from page 5

further enhance their produc vity. He also revealed a plan to release another round of bonds to rerees who le service on the Contributory Pension Scheme to cushion the bi ng effect of the

present economy on them.

“We are in the process of engaging new teachers at both primary and secondary levels. The process, which is being coordinated by the HoS and the agencies under the educa on

sector, is ongoing,” the governor said.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun State, Christopher Arapasopo, commended Adeleke for his landmark achievements and support for workers.

fell into labour.

“On Thursday, 18th April 2024, the woman began to experience labour symptoms and was in the hospital where she was delivered of a baby. The vicm developed some complica ons shortly a er and was later rushed to a nearby licensed hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.”

The NSCDC added that further discreet inves ga on revealed that the suspect also engaged in the training of people to become quack doctors with the sum of N5000.

The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr Michael Adaralewa, said Sec on 343(1e) of the Criminal Code Act which provides that any person who in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life or likely cause harm to any other person gives medical or surgical treatment to any person whom he has undertaken to treat is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable.

Adaralewa, therefore, assured members of the public that the suspect would be made to face the full wrath of the law upon the conclusion of inves ga on.

mi ed and they have shown solidarity to us. We must acknowledge the people of the cons tuencies of the work they have done so far. We want you to do more. We want to encourage a healthy compe on among you all. Remember that we are one.

“In the next few weeks, membership cards would be available for members across the state through their local government execu ves. The requirement for the membership of Omoluabi is through eligibility to vote as a Nigerian. Members would also make contribu ons to the success of the caucus.

“We must imbibe the Omoluabi ethos of discipline and commitment to the ethics of partaking in the poli cal process. If we all embrace the virtues of discipline, commitment and transparency, we will go far and reach the promised land.

“We are happy that there are people who iden fy with our patron, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Most of the people we met gave long standing tes monies on his legacies in Osun and Abuja. The assurances we got from the Hausa community and other sec ons of the state is what we are proud of. The people are praying for us. The real progressives are with us.

“I want to thank all the members of the caucus for their support. I want to reassure you of my openness and transparency. I also demand your cooperaon with your leaders from unit to ward and the state level, especially in the mobilisaon of solid poli cians to our fold. It is key as we proceed to achieve our aim of returning to the government of Osun in 2026.”

Chairmen of the caucus from local governments across the state also took turns to present the scorecard of their ac vi es so far. They lauded the commitment of the state leadership of Omoluabi Progressives to the welfare and growth of members, assuring that they will redouble their efforts in strengthening the caucus.

Osun NMDPRA Warns Marketers Against Petroleum Hoarding

THE Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has warned petroleum marketers in Osun State against hoarding of fuel.

This was as the agency warned residents of the state against panic buying, hoarding and storing petroleum products at home.

The State Coordinator of the agency, Mr. Adekunle Adeyemo, gave the warning in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo, on Wednesday.

The surveillance team of the agency, according to Adeyemo, would be all out to ensure that no filling staons hoard petrol.

He said that any marketer caught hoarding fuel or engaging in any form of sharp prac ces would be dealt with according to the dictates of

the law.

According to him, while government is doing everything possible to ensure adequate availability of the product, it will be inhuman for independent marketers who have the product in stock to be hoarding it.

He said: “We want to appeal to independent marketers who have petroleum products in stock to stop hoarding. It will be inhuman for those who have the product to be hoarding and infla ng the pump price.

“The surveillance team of the agency is already out to ensure that those who have the product dispense it to motorists at a reasonable price.

“However, any filling sta on caught hoarding the product with the view of inflicting pain on the masses will not be spared.

“Yes, there might be a li le challenge in the supply process,

•

but relevant government agencies are doing everything possible to ensure that the situa on is normalise.

“We will not fold

our hands while some few individuals inflict undue pain on the residents of the state by hoarding the products.”

Two Injured As NULGE Members Clash At Workers Day

TWO members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) were injured in a fracas that ensued among members of the union at the Workers’ Day celebra on held at the Osogbo Township Stadium, Osogbo, Osun State, on Wednesday.

The NULGE members who were divided along interests on the 2025 elec on of the union threw decorum into the wind, leading to physical combat.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that some

NULGE members who were reportedly suppor ng a presiden al aspirant, Comr. Wuyi Isifade started singing abusive songs which was considered offensive by other members loyal to the incumbent President of the union, Comrade Nathaniel Ogungbamgbe.

Ogungbamgbe is said to be seeking another term in office in the 2025 state delegates elec on. The songs generated commo on and later resulted into free for all among members of the union.

In the melees, two

members of the union, Mr. Femi Oyeleke and Mrs. Sofiat Raji, sustained injury and were treated by the medical team offering free healthcare service at

the workers day. The medium learnt that some notable union leaders intervened and calmed the nerves of the NULGE members.

Fuel Scarcity: Black Market

•Continued from Page 2

not able to get to school on me. It is a terrible situa on and we pray this will soon be over.”

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, the Proprietress of one of the popular private schools at Dada Estate, Osogbo, who craved anonymity said only about 65 per cent of the school children have been a ending classes since resump on on Monday.

She said: “Some of my school children did not resume on Monday and Tuesday. We called their parents to ask why they have not resumed and they explained that there was no fuel in their vehicles, some other said they didn’t get the commercial transporters to take their children to school.

“The situa on is understandable, though pathe c. Three of my teachers called on Monday to explain that they couldn’t make it to school because there was scarcity of commercial vehicles.

“If the Monday and Tuesday a endance is anything to go by, I will say 35 per cent of my school children are yet to resume, and that is due to this ongoing fuel scarcity.”

OSUN DEFENDER visited a popular Nursery, Primary and Secondary school at Omigade area, Osogbo yesterday during the assembly hour. It was observed that the assembly was not full as it used to be.

Enquiries from the school teachers revealed that children have been coming late while a few others have not resumed.

“Our assembly is always full, but since Monday, we have been experiencing low turnout of children. Majority of them are always late to school. Even some of us (teachers) have been coming late because we do struggle to get transport to school even at high cost”, said one of the teachers.

A mother of three, Mrs Gbemisola Adeoye, told OSUN DEFENDER

Adeyemo warned against storing petroleum products at home, adding that such can cause a fire outbreak.

He said people needed to be very careful with how they handle petroleum products.

“The department is pleading with people to shun panic buying and storage of petroleum products in their houses.

that she returned her children back home on Monday when she could not bear the transport cost from Owode-Ilesa road to Osogbo.

She said: “My children are going to school in Osogbo; we waited at Owode junc on for more than one hour before we got a bus. The driver charged us N500 each, even if we were going to lap ourselves, we couldn’t pay less than N1,000 to Osogbo and may pay same amount back to Owode when we closed.

“I was having just N700 with me, so I couldn’t afford the transporta on cost. I took my children back home and I explained to their teachers. May be they will resume next week; we pray things get be er.”

Passengers Stranded As Commercial Transporters Struggle To Get Fuel

Thousands of passengers were le stranded by the roadside, follow-

“Storing of petroleum product at home can result in a fire outbreak, which can lead to the destruc on of lives and property.

“We have to be wise, there’s no reason for panic buying or hoarding of the product because government is doing everything possible towards adequate supply of the product”, he said.

ing the scarcity of commercial transporters to convey them to their various des na ons in Osogbo and other parts of the State. Few of the commercial vehicle operators opera ng were charging the passengers at exorbitant rates.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that commercial vehicles operators had le the roads to struggle for fuel at available filling sta ons.

The development has resulted in the scarcity of commercial vehicles, especially the mini-bus known as Korope and Okada within and outside Osogbo metropolis.

Many of the passengers resigned to faith as they trekked to their various des naons when they could no longer wait.

Also, many of the workers at the State Secretariat, Abere couldn’t make it to the office on Monday and Tuesday because of the transporta on challenge.

HEALTH is not valued un l sickness comes with its a endant misery. Sudden death of many young people, especially below 50 years, either through brief illnesses, slip and break of jaws/skulls is becoming very alarming. Only the families who have lost their owns, especially breadwinners, really feel the pinch. Yes, death is inevitable. It should, however come, having enjoyed physical, mental and social well-being for reasonable 70 years and above. Healthy life is mainly a func on of complex interac on between our genes, diet and environment. Although, taking care of ourselves with nourishing foods, regular exercises and adequate sleep amongst others everyday may not necessarily be absence of disease or sickness, it will definitely add years to our lives and lives to our years.

Regular consump on of nourishing foods – vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes like beans, groundnuts, etc helps prevent a number of chronic diseases and prevent diges ve distress; guarantees skin tone and texture and lessen the effect of sun exposure and aging. Only a naive person will invest so much money on body creams at the expense of nourishing foods as, inevitably, one is what one eats. Interestingly, these are not necessarily expensive stuffs. Waterleaf (Gbure) is, arguably the very cheapest and most commonly found vegetable. A family of 5 could not consume more than between N200 and N300 worth for a meal and it goes with virtually any stuff like eba, amala, fufu etc. Its regular intake keeps heart healthy as it supplies it oxygen and blood it needs; it reduces level of cholesterol in the blood which ul mately prevents heart disease and stroke that could compromise one’s health; it is rich in vitamin A; rich in vitamin C which reduces risk of developing Alzeimer disease and slow age related cogni ve dysfunc ons; it plays vital func on in blood produc on in human body; it is recommended for pregnant women as it helps increase their blood levels and provide other required nutrients. When gbure is combined with other vegetables or ingredients, it prevents malaria. And malaria kills! In 2021 alone, researches reveal that “no fewer than 200,000 Nigerians were killed by malaria and 61 million other afflicted annually with an es mated US$1billion lost annually for malaria related absenteeism and produc vity losses.”

As there are affordable vegetables so for fruits like mangoes, water lemon, oranges, pawpaw, etc. Already sliced packaged water lemon, for instance, is N100. This fruit improves heart health, boost immunity system, prevents osteoporosis, improves male fer lity, prevents kidney injury and improves skin health amongst others. However, some people don’t eat it appropriately as they have habit of throwing away its seed when ea ng. It should be

“A body system that consumes vegetables, fruits and legumes regularly; that exercises regularly and sleeps adequately will hardly get sick. A body system that regularly does a check up will discover ailment at infant stage and nip in the bud. Get immunised against killer diseases like Hepatitis B, Yellow fever, etc, which are available in General and Teaching Hospitals”

Health Matters

eaten with the seeds. Groundnut is one of the affordable legumes. It is immensely rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorous and vitamin B. It has healthy fats, protein and fibre that lower the risk of heart disease and blood glucose levels regula on.

In summary, vegetables, fruits and legumes are natural nutrients and drugs our body system needs everyday to func on op mally and take us far away from sickness. I had a friend whose only me he consumed fruits was during Ramadan. He was not friendly with vegetables. He paid dearly for it and lived very short but miserable life. This had nothing to do with his pocket as he was averagely comfortable. It was simply a lackadaisical a tude to

health ma ers.

Yes, the daily struggle to make ends meet as a result of pervasive unemployment, high cost of living, poverty that plague Nigeria (in the midst of abundant human and natural resources that could make life sa sfactorily for majority of the people but systemically schemed for the benefit of a very infinitesimal percentage of the people) could be so overwhelming to make one pay less or no a en on to what one consumes. Good health is everything. A smart person, especially from a humble background, should do everything to avoid sickness that will force him/her hospitalised. It is not a classified fact that the ruling elite have refused to invest in the healthcare. This informs why they im-

mediately jet out of the country when they have a slightest headache. The sorry state of our healthcare system has forced most of our experts in health system relocate to a “greener pasture”. According to the data obtained from the Nigerian Associa on of Resident Doctors, 85% of doctors are planning to leave the country to seek greener pastures in countries like United Kingdom, United States and Saudi Arabia especially. As of October 2022, only 10,000 resident doctors are in the country with no effort by the government to address this pathe c situa on, leading to personnel inadequacy in the health sector.

As a regularly serviced vehicle performs op mally, so does human body. A body system that consumes vegetables, fruits and legumes regularly; that exercises regularly and sleeps adequately will hardly get sick. A body system that regularly does a check up will discover ailment at infant stage and nip in the bud. Get immunised against killer diseases like Hepa s B, Yellow fever, etc, which are available in General and Teaching Hospitals. If you have a good health but have been lackadaisical with your health ma ers vis-a-vis what you consume, put a stop at this a tude immediately and revert to healthy living. Otherwise, you will be sick and be taken to the hospital. If you are lucky to recover, doctors will list out what you should eat and never to eat again. If you are unlucky, which is most likely because of our pathe c situa on, you will live a miserable life and have a painful death. A s tch in me saves nine.

STRIKER Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

Challenging Political Times

NIGERIA is passing through its most interes ng and challenging poli cal mes and progressive poli cians, radical reformers and revolu onaries should be happy to be alive at these mes, if they are genuine and alive to their responsibili es.

For one, it is generally accepted (le ists, righ sts, centrists) that poli cs is the highest concentra on and determinant of the economy. Nigeria today finds itself in a situa on where poli cs has no defined direcon, ideology, principles, code of conducts or func onal organisa on – everything is determined and controlled with millions and millions of naira! It is finally clear for all to see that there are simply no poli cal pares worth calling that name and all that we have are gang-up and conspiracies for seizing poli cal power. A poli cal party starts out fundamentally with a clear idea of how society is best managed for prosperity and posterity, which it encapsulates in a manifesto, detailing what to do and how to do it in the best interest of abundant life for the majority of ci zens. It then put in place its structures, code of conduct, leadership and membership trainings, and disciplinary codes among others.

As things stand today, decades of military government and corrupt, crude, criminal accumula on of wealth have placed those individuals who have the money in control of poli cal processes - with outcomes, loyal es, sanc ons all simply determined by those with the deepest pockets, which they further stuff through control and cornering of public resources; thereby sinking society further in the bo omless hole of money poli cs, with consequent underdevelopment and unending social

crises occasioned by widespread inequalies and injus ce.

The journey back, even into a poli cal me that bears semblance to the Na onal Party of Nigeria (NPN) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) era, is long; not to men on retracing our na onal steps back to the beginning - poli cs and governance in a Federal Republic with a parliamentary system of government based on taxa on by semiindependent federa ng units - instead of naked, brutal, unjust, exploita ve almighty Federal government of oil-rent money control that subjugates all federa ng en es and renders all produc ve enterprises outside crude oil rent money collec on and wilful deployment unrewarding toils.

The tasks for all patriots are clear-cut: One, they must start from where we now find ourselves. The Federal Government, through its policy choices today, dictates and determines all life, as the sole custodian and dispenser of oil rent money. The evalua on of those policies on the minimum progressive scale that guarantees the survival (just survival first) of the common man/woman (the majority) must occupy their immediate organisa onal a en on and responses. Governments always gallivant around as if there are no alterna ves to chosen policies, as worst exemplified by Babangida’s “No Alterna ves to Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP)” in the 1990s. There are always alterna ves, and historically, only organisa ons of the people do compel governments to choose them. Governments of moneybags for clique aggrandisement always disposed to picking the worst op ons in their own selfish interests in service as despots to their interna onal masters!

Next, in the intermediate period before the upcoming diversions of the next electoral cycle, which will only be retrogressively worse (without being a prophet of doom), patrio c organisa ons across all tendencies (more importantly progressive ones) must organise for the achievement of two cardinal objec ves - a return to a genuine FEDERAL REPUBLIC through comprehensive Na onal Restructuring, however gradual and in phases; and the total overhaul and reform of the electoral system – best of all on parliamentary basis. A whole lot is loaded in this short summary but the deep will easily discern the details. So long as these cardinal objec ves are not achieved, in three years, another elec on cycle will catch up with us most probably in a more hellish state. Even if he is best inten oned and next in powers to God Almighty, there is only so much any President can do within the current na onal structure framework and operating cons tu on (with humongous cost of running government, brazen embezzlement, disservice public service, pandemic corrup on and inept policing and jus ce system). It will remain the same of same story of underdevelopment, frustra ons, miseries, buck-passing, regrets, wastedyears and mo on-without-movement. The country’s un-federal, an -federal structure and poli cal framework is simply a road block to everything just and good; it is andevelopment, iniquitous, an -people and unsustainable; it breeds rebellions, compounds criminali es, wholesale insecurity and wastage of lives. For patriots, the sooner begun, the sooner done; whatever the sacrifices demanded.