Osun Defender Online Version Of September 15, 2023

THERE is palpable fear among residents of Ilesa, Osun State, as a result of unabated cult clashes that have resulted to the killing of no fewer than 10 persons between June and second week of September, 2023.

Cul sts who are majorly members of Eiye and Afe confraterni es have been terrorising Ilesa and some other parts of Ijesaland for over a year, killing and injuring innocent people in the process.

No fewer than four people have been killed between Sunday and Wednesday in Ilesa in a renewed a ack between members of the two cult groups.

Two suspected members of Afe confraternity known as Machine and Skay were shot dead in front of a beer parlour on Sunday around Imo.

It was gathered that the two were found dead a er an exchange of gunshots at the Imo area of the town.

In what seems to be reprisal a ack, two suspected members of Eiye confraternity were also killed around Sabo area, along Ilesa/Akure express road.

The vic ms iden fied as 28-year-old Lekan and Sunday (25) were waylaid by their assailants who asked them to alight from their vehicle.

Immediately they le

the vehicle, the suspected cul sts shot them on the head, said an eye witness.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the incessant cult clash has been crippling commercial ac vi es in the city, as shop owners and other traders, including commercial motorcyclists rush home when it is 6pm to avoid being caught in crossfire.

“We need to close our shops and go home when it is 6pm because we don’t know when these people (cul sts) will start their war; and this is affec ng our business”, said Mrs. Bukola Afolabi, a resident of Imo, Ilesa.

Stakeholders in the city have con nued to express their worries over the incessant violent a acks of the cul sts, describing it as a menace that needs to be addressed holis cally.

The stakeholders noted that the violent ac vi es of the cul sts are gradually paralyzing the economy of the town, sta ng that trad-

Save Our Soul

•Continued from Page 1

ers and businessmen and women were no longer at peace.

A frozen food seller at Irojo, Mrs Temitope Ogunleye, said she has been planning to relocate to other area in Ilesa as a result of the constant violent a acks in the area which has been affec ng her sales.

In an interview with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, Ogunleye, said: I cannot con nue to trade here; it is not safe for me and customers are no longer coming to this area to buy something again.

“Go to Irojo, Imo, Bolorunduro and even roundabout at 6:30pm, you will be surprised that the place would have been disserted. People are living in fear; they don’t know when these cul sts will strike again, so we rush home before it dusks.”

Reac ng to the cult acvi es, the Na onal Admin Coordinator of Agbekoya, Dr Samson Alo, stated that the development may cripple the economy of Ilesa, saying people were already discouraged to visit the town for business purpose.

He said: “Commercial ac vi es are being paralysed; peole who have their private vehicles and businesses are not at peace.

“Traders can no longer display the goods they are selling. The people who have business to do in Ilesa are even afraid of coming down. I have people that ought to come and see me in Ilesa; but they have told me they would not come because of the situa on on ground.

“Cult clashes have become a major threat to Ijesaland, lives and economy of the people. Most of the people cannot parade their businesses and trades at the me they want again. It is a threat to our economy, the aged, the children, businessmen and women and all residents of Ilesa in general.”

On what to be done to arrest the situa on, Alo said: “Everybody has an assignment to do when it comes to security ma er. All these cul sts come from a certain home; they have parents, siblings and relaves. The police have done what they could; because most of the a acks are unplanned. And the feasibility these cul sts do is more than what the police can do. And the stakeholders cannot also do the kind of feasibility these cul sts are doing.

“If really we want to curb the situa on, we need to start from the home of individual cult member. My sugges on is that if we iden fy a cul st, we should

•Ilesa Residents Cry For Help Over Incessant Cult Attack

•Say Violence Paralyzing Commercial activities

contact the family of such person to speak with their child.

“We need community effort to bring back peace and sanity in Ijesaland because these people sleep in one house, they are members of a community, they eat and dine with some people. They come out from a home to launch attack on their vic ms and thereby sha ering the peace of the town. I think we need to persuade their families to cau on them.

“The police have done their part; they have been speaking with local security agents on how to curb the situa on, but the primary issue is to address it from the home of this individuals who are terrorising us. If we know their homes; family, the police, tradional rulers can summon these individuals and family to a roundtable and have them sign a treat or agreement. And if there is any threat from their end a er the agreement, the family should also be held responsible. Let us use the people around these individuals to appease to them.

“Let me state again that the police are doing their beat; they will patrol from morning ll night but they don’t know all the houses these people are living in. But the people know; they

also know their movement. People in the community know who belong to certain group. So, let use the people to get to these individuals; that is when we can have peace.

“If we con nue to look up to the police without making community effort; we are not ready to address the situa on.”

The immediate past President of Ijesa Youth Forum, Mr Sunday Ow-

Former Osun APC Chairman Tasks Christians On Participation In Politics

Aformer chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Reverend (Dr) Lowo Adebiyi has called for mass par cipa on of Chrisans in poli cs.

Adebiyi who has embarked on a project to reorientate Chris ans in Osun and Nigeria on the essence of joining poli cs, said the mission will be carried out under a nongovernmental organisa on, ‘Chris an For Good Leadership And Development Centre.

Speaking at the 2023 3rd quarterly mee ng of the Chris an Associa on of Nigeria (CAN), Irepodun local government chapter, Adebiyi disagreed on the misconcep ons of some Chris ans that poli cs is a dirty game and worldly affairs which can take one to hell.

This is just as Adebiyi dismissed the no on that most poli cians are fe sh and occul c and that it is an opportunity to embezzle money.

Adebiyi said he joined poli cs through define interven on which made him to excel in all his assignments.

He explained that the aims and objec ves of the NGO is “to mobilise and sensi se Chris ans about their important to societal development, present poli cs in its clear picture toward achieving good governance and correct erroneous and wrong impression of Chris ans about poli cs and governance.”

Other objec ves of the NGO, according to Adebiyi, is “to set a target in society where Chris ans take their righ ul posi on in good governance and promote good virtues of Chris ans in rela on to equity, responsibility, right a tude, fairness and accountability.”

Speaking at the meeting, the CAN Chairman in the state, Reverend (Dr) John Adeleke, commended Adebiyi, apprecia ng the vision of the NGO to mobilise Chris ans to join polics and to erase some of the misconcep ons.

Adeleke noted that if the righteous ones refused to join because of some of the bad no ons, the bad people will con nue to rule over them.

oborode, mulled the idea of addressing the cul sts ac vi es with tradi onal means, saying stakeholders needed to arrest the situa on before it drives away development in Ijesaland.

Owoborode hinted that some of the assailants do come from outside Ilesa to perpetrate the crime and flee through the Ife-Ibadan expressway.

He accused poli cians of complicity in the killings in Ilesa, saying they are the ones that armed the cultists for elec on purposes and failed to retrieve the arms from them.

Owoborode lamented that the violent a acks

have crippled commercial ac vi es in Ilesa, calling for holis c and dras c steps to curb the situa on.

He said: “The fact is that businesses around the evening me are not going again. Before 7pm, you will see people closing shops and going home. It is killing our economy gradually.

“I know from my findings that some of these guys terrorising us are those armed by poli cians during the elec ons, they gave them some weapons and they could not recover it. Those guys are making use of those weapons for all the killings.

“It was equally discov-

ered that even if the police arrest any of them, within 30 minutes, they would be released on the order of top officers.

“The stakeholders, including the chiefs and community leaders have not been able to rest. It has been from one mee ng to the other. As the chiefs are having their own, the tradional rulers too are having theirs, including the prominent indigenes of Ilesa.

“I think we need to go to the tradi onal aspect of finding solu on to the matter. I believe when we toe that path, we can experience the peace that we de-

•Continued on Page 7

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5. Graphics Designer

Any interested candidate should apply through

THE word palliative itself must be one of the most searched words in Nigeria. It connotes all manner of usage. However, interpreted the conventional wisdom is that it is a temporary relief and not alleviation, let alone a cure for poverty.

In the confusion, we have to go back to the basics. This is that a war against poverty is a clear path to achieving the much desired goal of lifting tens of millions of people out of the poverty trap. In contemporary history, Brazil and India to name two have demonstrated how the uplifting of living standards as well as the construction of social safety nets can be turned into a positive impact for an advance thrust.

Such an advance will not be achieved through the use of palliative. At best, this policy can be described as good intentions; but then the Italian poet Dante warned centuries ago that the “road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

Good intentions are not

Confusion About “Palliatives”

enough, there must be a strategic imperative to achieve a desired goal, this is sadly lacking at the moment.

Not even rudimentary social safety nets will come out of the palliatives policy. On the contrary it is looking like a feeding frenzy in a political patronge system. Not surprisingly civil society have been marginalised in the distribution. Obviously, nothing was learnt from a similar debacle in the response to the Covid - 19 pandemic.

A lot more than the ephem-

“Not even rudimentary social safety nets will come out of the palliatives policy. On the contrary it is looking like a feeding frenzy in a political patronge system. Not surprisingly civil society have been marginalised in the distribution”

eral should have been achieved. For example, money should have been spent on the provision of cold storage facilities in markets which will have been beneficial for the traders, the consumers

Review & Outlook

and the farmers. It will have impacted positively on an entire value chain This will have been a great intervention leading to an increase in purchasing power parity in a country suffering from the debilitating effect of stagflation. Equally beneficial will have been investments in rural roads; this will have impacted positively on the fight against post harvest losses, and in the process increasing the productivity and the living standards of those living in the rural areas as well refreshing the rural economy.

We have to appreciate the opportunity costs of this wasted opportunity which will have turned adversity into an advantage. Two billion Naira is too much money to throw away. Pity!

We must go back to the drawing board and start anew. Fighting poverty is not just a moral issue, it is an economic policy. It is to be hoped that this will be our last excursion into the fantasy world of ill -defined fantasies known in this case as “palliative”.

Aregbesola’s World Class Model Schools; Only The Deep Can Call To The Deep

•Continued from last week

Those world class model schools were mostly fully u lised before the government led by Aregbesola handed over in 2018.

When strict entrance examina ons were conducted for the first set of those schools, it returned very few candidates even when the pass mark was reduced to 30%. Then the common man on the streets were sold the lies that Aregbesola built those schools for the children of his elite friends and acquaintances from Lagos.

When the pupils were offered the op on - whether they passed the qualifying examina on or not - to relocate to any of the new schools or remain in their dilapidated schools, the stampede by the pupils and parents to relocate to the new high schools had to be managed to prevent accidents. No parent chose to retain his/ her child in the dilapidated schools.

It then became clear that, le to the pupils who were in schools all over the state, they were not concerned with “old students” attachments to any school”. They wanted quality educa on in world class environments.

It turned out that most of the “stakeholders” who were figh ng for their “old schools”, which were dilapidated, had no children, grandchildren or wards in the dilapidated schools.

Were all the former schools for which elite old students - whose children were not pupils in the schools - abandoned? NO. Not at all.

Some were already developed and some were being developed as Middle Schools in line with the Nigerian Educa on Policy which separates Junior Secondary Schools (JSS I-III) which are financed and managed by UBEC and SUBEB and whose teachers are employed and paid by SUBEB, from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS IIII) which are 100% state government owned schools.

Do some schools need to be collapsed? Yes, if resources are to be op mised to provide “Quality Func onal Educa on for all”. No if it is just business as usual; “Schooling for the People” not minding the outcome.

I was informed long before now that the

“Aregbesola has been a diligent student and follower of Awolowo. The governance of Osun under him transcended the level of “Schooling for the People”. It operated at the level of “Quality World Class Education for All”

world class model schools built and equipped by the administra on of Aregbesola were being underu lised but didn’t want to believe it, even though I should have expected this as a consequence of some ill-advised ac ons by the succeeding government of returning pupils to schools with badly degraded infrastructure, not fit for human habita on, just to sa sfy complaints of nostalgia by elite old students of those schools, who neither repaired the schools nor put their own children or grandchildren there.

I was painfully awakened from my dream when I read the ar cles published in the Vanguard Newspaper of 18th August by Shina Abubakar and Na on Newspapers of Aug 19th, 2023 by Toba Adedeji, in which they credited to those with the responsibility to manage educaon in Osun, that the schools are being grossly underu lised and no hint of any progress in comple ng the school in Iwo.

I understand that currently, those schools are under populated and underu lized, while pupils are put in schools without adequate facili es.

The common man (and woman) should challenge the status quo and insist on the world class schools built for them being fully u lised.

It is inconceivable, scandalous and irresponsible for any right-thinking people or government to underu lise; under whatever guise these model high schools built and equipped with government money; the resources of the people.

It is important for the people of the state to show more interest in their own affairs and ques on any one, any government and

all involved with educa on, why their children should be denied opportuni es in those world class model schools and be put in under equipped schools, some of which have no funconal laboratories, toilets and structures, good for human habita on.

It is me for parents forum, community leaders and social rights groups to demand and insist that the model High Schools be fully ulised to their carrying capaci es (almost 3000 each) so that government resources would not be put to waste on the alter of poli cs. They should demand governance from those in government and ensure the best and most efficient u lisa on of resources.

If we want a be er Nigeria, we should all show more interest in how we are being governed and where our children are trained.

If the West African Examina on Council (WAEC) and Na onal Examina on Council (NECO) diligently inspect schools and insist on mee ng requirements (specified in their own manuals as minimum requirements) for laboratories, teaching resources and teachers, before schools are allowed to present pupils for Jun-

ior and Senior School Cer ficate Examina ons (JSCE & SSCE), 95% of what governments in many states in Nigeria refer to as schools would not qualify to present pupils for these examinaons.

However, WAEC and NECO seem to have learnt to work with governments in Nigeria by a policy of not digging deep or ruffling feathers but concerning themselves only with the sancty of their own examina ons.

The outcome of this is the examina onfocussed, low quality and dysfunc onal educa on that leads to examina on malprac ces, unemployment and unemployable ci zens. Awolowo revolu onised Western region by providing free and universal educa on. It was focused on literacy and numeracy. By the late 1960s, Awolowo was wri ng and discussing all round quality, func onal educa on for all, beyond literacy and numeracy, if society was to develop sustainable prosperity.

OSUN DEFENDER

Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.

Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman

Aregbesola has been a diligent student and follower of Awolowo. The governance of Osun under him transcended the level of “Schooling for the People”. It operated at the level of “Quality World Class Educa on for All” with a vision of “sustainable prosperity in individual life and society.”

Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa

Reporter – Yusuf Oketola

Reporter – Kazeem Badmus

Photo Journalist – Shola Aderinto

Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, State of Osun ISSN : 0794-8050

Telephone : 0809-301-9152

Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php

e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com

All correspondence to the above email addresses.

Any decisions that lead to underu lisa on of those modern, fully equipped world class high schools in Osun, or abandoning the uncompleted one while pupils are in under resourced schools, will be retrea ng Osun educa on from “Quality world class Educa on for All” to the era of “Schooling for the People” with no care for quality or func on.

Fortunately, posterity will remember who built, who upgraded, who downgraded, who completed and those who abandoned.

•Concludeed

with a vision of “sustainable prosperity in individual life and society”

4 News Uphold Rule Of Law, Respect Court Orders Over OSPOLY Rector Removal, CSO Tells Adeleke

Yusuf Oketola to the court’s order.

THE Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has expressed deep concern over recent developments surrounding the suspension of the Rector of Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree, Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo.

HEDA called on Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to stop taking ac ons that defy court orders and undermine the rule of law.

It would be recalled that the state government, last Thursday, shut down the polytechnic a er Odetayo resumed office, following a court injunc on.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of HEDA Resource Centre, Comrade Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society group urged the state government to immediately halt any further acons associated with the appointment of a Ac ng Rector for the ins tuon in strict adherence

The statement reads in part: “We call on the Osun State government to demonstrate unwavering commitment to the independence and integrity of the Na onal

Industrial Court of Nigeria by refraining from any form of interference.

“We call on the state government to demonstrate unwavering commitment to the independence and integrity

of the Na onal Industrial Court of Nigeria by refraining from any form of interference.

“The rule of law is the cornerstone of any thriving democracy, and it is impera ve that

Osun Moves To Prevent Teenagers From Gambling, Addiction

OSUN State House of Assembly has disclosed its readiness to regulate lottery and gaming in the state.

Speaker of the Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, indicated his inten on to sponsor a private member bill tled: “The Osun State Lo eries and Gaming Bill 2023” on the floor of the house on Tuesday.

In a le er read at plenary, Egbedun explained that the primary objec ve of the bill is to establish a robust regulatory framework that would govern lotteries and gaming ac vi es within the state.

According to him, the bill aims to prevent underage parcipa on, curtail addic on, uphold consumer protecon and promote a responsible gaming environment in line with best prac ces.

“The Osun State Lo eries and Gaming Bill also proposes establishing an agency named ‘Osun State Lo eries and Gaming Com-

mission’, which will have the authority to oversee the gaming industry in the state,” he said.

Egbedun added

that the bill also seeks to harmonise exis ng laws on lo eries and gaming into a single comprehensive

legal framework, as this would aid business ac vies in the gaming industry in the state.

Govt Committed To Teachers Welfare - TESCOM Boss

THE Chairman of Osun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM)

Comrade Mustapha Adeyemi, has assured teachers in the service of the State government of the commitment of Governor Ademola Adeleke to their welfare and advancement of educa on in the state.

Adeyemi gave the assurance at the mee ng of all principals of Public

Secondary Schools held at the Secretariat of All Nigeria Confedera on of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Osogbo,on Tuesday.

The mee ng was organised by the Osun West, East and Central Educa on District Offices to prepare principals ahead of the resump on of schools in the state for a new academic session.

Adeyemi informed the gathering that

government ac ons, especially those carrying significant implica ons by those who benefi ed from protec on of the courts to be in power, are conducted within the confines of the law.”

HEDA also reminded Adeleke and relevant authori es of their duty to adhere to established legal procedures when selec ng candidates for pivotal posi ons.

“Rule of law and merit-based selec on

are fundamental to the efficient opera on of ins tu ons and the advancement of society”, it stated.

The organiza on promised to closely monitor developments surrounding the “suspension of the OSPOLY rector and the resoluon of the conflicts arising from it, just as it implored all stakeholders to priori se the principles of the rule of law, jus ce, and transparency in the ma er.

Protest Looms As OAU

SUG Directs Students Not To Pay New Tuition Fees

THE Students Union Government of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, has directed all students of the university not to pay the new tuion fees announced by the management of the ins tu on.

The OAU management had in a press release issued by the Public Rela ons Officer of the university, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, announced upscale adjustment of the tui on fees to be paid by the students.

cided by the Senate of the University at its emergency mee ng on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

However, the OAU student leaders have rejected the tui on hike, describing it as outrageous.

In a le er signed by the SUG President, Abbas Akinremi, Financial Secretary, Fasina Damilare and Public Rela ons Officer, Omisore Elijah, the union directed the students not to pay the new tui on fees even if the portal is ac ve.

Adeleke has approved the reloca on of TESCOM to a permanent office complex within few weeks of his resump on in office.

He maintained that teachers will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Adeleke administra on.

“Very soon, we will recruit teachers to fill the gaps in our various schools, the commission will also be embarking on training of teachers to enhance their capaci es. The Governor is also carefully thinking through pallia ve measures for all categories of workers in the state to help ease the burden of subsidy removal on teachers”, said Adeyemi.

The Chairman charged the teachers to be commi ed to running the schools under them with full commitment and total dedica on, so as to turn around the standard of educaon in the state.

According to the release, fresh students in the facul es of Arts, Law and Humani es will pay N151, 200 while returning students of the same facul es will pay N89,200.

For those in the facul es of Technology and Science, the new students will pay N163, 200 while returning students of the same facules are to pay a sum of N101, 200.

New students being admi ed into the facul es in the College of Health Sciences and faculty of Pharmacy are to pay N190, 200 while returning students will pay N128,200.

The release indicated that the increment in tui on fees was de-

With the development, the OAU students might embark on protest any moment.

It would be recalled that University of Lagos (UNILAG), University Of Ibadan (UI), University Of Jos (UNIJOS) among others had also announced increment of tui on fees for students, ci ng high cost of living caused by removal of fuel subsidy.

The increment in tuion fees of the federal universi es has con nued to receive knocks from various stakeholders considering economic situa on of the country.

The Na onal Associa on of Nigerian Students (NANS) have taken to the streets to protest the fee hike.

My Account Of Osun APC Crisis - Owoade

•“Oyetola Lied On Wanting Reconciliation”

IN the wake of the recent claim by former governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State that he ‘begged’ his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for threeyear to resolve the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, some members of the party have come out to challenge him to state where, when and how he ini ated or wanted reconcilia on.

The APC members described Oyetola’s claim as a lie from a pit of hell, asking him to take responsibility for the mismanagement of the party as a result of bi er and vindic ve poli cs which he introduced to the party which resulted into woeful performance of the party in 2022 governorship and 2023 general elec ons.

Among the APC members is a former Leader of the House in Irewole North-East Local Council Development Area, Wasimi, Ikire, Hon. Ademola Owoade, who disclosed the genesis of the crisis and steps taken by Aregbesola and his loyalists to prevent it, as well as ini a ng reconcilia on.

Owoade, in an exclusive interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, ascribed the crisis in the APC to incompetence of Oyetola and his resolve to decimate Aregbesola at all cost.

He noted that the former governor started aliena ng Aregbesola’s loyalists who worked relessly for his victory a er the 2019 general elec ons.

According to Owoade, all efforts made by Aregbesola and his loyalists to reconcile with Oyetola’s camp before the 2022 elec on proved abor ve as the former chief of staff and his supporters described Aregbesola’s camp as insignificant in the party.

Giving the account of the crisis, Owoade said: “Before Oyetola was chosen as the candidate of the party in 2018, he wasn’t popular in the Aregbesola’s cabinet even as the Chief of Staff. He had no structure in the state. Even nobody recognised him in his hometown as a polician. In fact, he cannot contest a local government elecon and win that me. Oyetola during that me did not show any sign of having governorship ambi on. When he was to a end an event, he usually moved around only with his security. He did not even empower ordinary 100 people.

“A lot of party bigwigs had been working and jostling to succeed Aregbesola that me. But when an order came from our Na onal Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that Oyetola was our candidate, we all keyed into that and work for his victory. Some people felt cheated and le the party because of Oyetola.

“The people of Osun voted Oyetola solely to con nue the good works embarked upon by Aregbesola. He Oyetola would not have become Governor if Aregbesola didn’t willingly hand over power. Oyetola would not have governed this state if Aregbesola didn’t endorse him. Aregbesola was just being loyal to his boss (Tinubu).

“Our campaign slogan then was con nuity and consolida on. We told the people that Oyetola would connue the good work being done by Aregbesola. But what did we see a er Oyetola became Governor? He started poli cs of exclusion. He did not want to see anyone that is loyal to Aregbesola. He said Aregbesola didn’t want him to become governor.

“Having no ced his (Oyetola) behaviour towards some of us – Aregbesola’s loyalists, we went to meet our leader in Abuja to in mate him what his successor was doing and how he was trying to decimate him poli cally. But to our surprise, Aregbesola told us to go back home and give Oyetola all necessary support as we did for him during his me. His response didn’t go down well with us because he didn’t believe what we were telling him.

“We came back to Osun and Oyetola and his people con nue to incite the people of the state against Aregbesola. They were badmouthing him and did not want to associate with him or his administra on. We were shocked by their a tude. We the Aregbesola’s loyalists were not given space to breath in the party and the state. We were totally secluded from government and party. That got us more worried.

Some of us who are youth in the party organised ourselves and started visi ng APC leaders in the state. We visited about 30 of them from both Oyetola and Aregbesola’s camp. But all s ll proved abor ve.

We visited the Director General of IleriOluwa, Hon. Ajibola Famurewa, Bisi Odewumi, Alhaji Bayo Oyekanmi, Kabiesi Olosunjela, Hon Hazzan Olawuwo, Alhaji Kehinde Lamolu, Prince Ademola (Ikebe), Alhaji Rasak Idera, Baba Muraina Oyelami, Alhaji Olowoasalu, Alhaji Moshood Adeo , Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, Bare. Gbenga

Awosode, Alhaji Isa Azeez Adesiji, Hon. Kunle Ige, Alhaji Rasaq Salinsile, Barr. Rasaq Adeoye, among others. We went to Abuja to visit our na onal assembly members as well to call their a en on to Oyetola’s ac on then. We were able to meet Hon Taiwo Oluga, Senator Ajibola Basiru and Hon Lawrence Ayeni were evasive, they were not willing to receive us. We concluded our movement at Aregbesola’s residence in Abuja.

“When Aregbesola sighted some of us; he asked: “I hope it is not the same issue that you came for”? We declared that the situa on hasn’t change, but Aregbesola was s ll vouching for Oyetola. He said Oyetola was in the honeymoon of his administra on and that he would mature with his office. We were not happy at Aregbesola’s response; in fact we didn’t want to eat the food they prepare for us that day but by the me hunger came knocking, we started ea ng one a er the other.

Aregbesola came to know and believe all what we had been telling him about Oyetola when he wanted to celebrate 10th anniversary of uninterrupted progressives government in Osun in 2020. Oyetola declined and told Aregbesola to do his own eight years. Oyetola and his people frustrated the whole process. They even go as far as threatening to demolish the event center we booked to celebrate the anniversary. It was Jamiu Olawumi that called the owner of the event center and threatened him that his property was si ng on right of way. People meant to be Special Adviser are special destroyer to Oyetola. The owner of the event centre had to refund our money. It was then that Aregbesola knew Oyetola didn’t mean well for him.

“When we discovered that Oyetola was determined to destroy the party, we organised ourselves and formed The Osun Progressives (TOP) as a group within the Osun APC to agitate for proper management of the party and inclusive poli cs. TOP was everywhere in the local government and some leaders of the party keyed into the group. We later went to meet Aregbesola in Lagos to make him our patron and he accepted. Aregbesola didn’t form TOP, it was formed by members of the party.

“Immediately we formed TOP, Oyetola and his people started a acking us violently. They declared us personae non granta in the party. On two different occasions, the Oranmiyan House, venue of our mee ng was a acked by gunmen from the Oyetola’s camp. They even a empted to burndown the people. Aregbesola as a si ng minister was not spared from the a ack; he escaped assassinaon a empt at Old garage in Osogbo. It was that bad.

Road To The July 16, 2022 Governorship Elec on And Efforts Made By Aregbesola For Reconcilia on

Speaking on the downfall of the party at the 2022 governorship elec on in the state, Owoade said the former minister of interior made several a empts to reconcile with Oyetola for the party to come out victorious, but the former governor refused to give room for reconcilia on.

He said: “Countdown to the 2022 governorship elec on, Aregbesola on several occasions made attempt to tell Oyetola on why the issues between them should be resolved. But Oyetola said no; that he could do everything by himself as regards the elec on.

“You could remember that a reconcilia on commi ee led by the then APC Na onal Chairman, Abdulahi Adamu, came to Osun to resolve the crisis. The commi ee met with both Aregbesola and Oyetola’s

camps. In that mee ng, some sugges ons were made to reconcile the two camps but Oyetola refused to agreed to the sugges ons. The commi ee appealed to him to shi ground but he refused.

“They didn’t relate with us, nor involve us in any of the party’s ac vi es. They went into the elec on and lost woefully. They are now accusing us of responsible for their failure. You said somebody is not important to your victory and you later turn around to accuse the same people of responsible for your defeat. Isn’t that madness?”

Reac ng on the recent statement made by Oyetola that he begged Aregbesola and his loyalists for three years, Owoade refuted the claim and challenged the former governor to come out and tell the whole world the effort he made to make peace with Aregbesola and his people.

Owoade said: “I challenged Oyetola to come out and tell the whole world where he was begging us. When, where, how and on what pla orm did he beg or ini ate or show readiness to reconcile? That’s a lie from the pit of hell. May be he was referring to when armed poli cal thugs came to disrupt our mee ngs at Oranmiyan house, or when two of our members were shot at our fac onal congress in Ogo-Oluwa, or when our members were a acked at the party’s secretariat, or when our federal cons tuency meetings were disrupted in Ejigbo and Ikirun, or when Aregbesola as a si ng minister was a acked by their boys at Old Garage, or when our leaders were arrested and arraigned in court. Oyetola did not make any a empt to reconcile with us; I challenge him to prove me wrong.

“I challenged Oyetola to come out and tell the whole world where he was begging us. When, where, how and on what pla orm did he beg or ini ate or show readiness to reconcile? That’s a lie from the pit of hell. May be he was referring to when armed poli cal thugs came to disrupt our mee ngs at Oranmiyan house, or when two of our members were shot at our fac onal congress in Ogo-Oluwa, or when our members were a acked at the party’s secretariat, or when our federal cons tuency mee ngs were disrupted in Ejigbo and Ikirun, or when Aregbesola as a si ng minister was a acked by their boys at Old Garage, or when our leaders were arrested and arraigned in court. Oyetola did not make any a empt to reconcile with us; I challenge him to prove me wrong”

Speaking on what the future holds for Aregbesola and his people in the state, Owoade reiterated their commitment of being a true progressive and a member of APC in the state.

“We are true progressives; APC members and we will s ll remain in the party. This is our home. We urge the other side to embrace peace and let forge ahead for us to win future elec ons in the state. We are people of peace. We are Omoluabi and we hope by God’s grace, we will win this state in 2026.”

NGO Empowers Over 600 Adolescent Girls

Anongovernmental organisa on, Value Female Network, has empower ed over 600 adolescent girls on how to navigate the rigour of life while growing up during its annual boot camp program.

The boot camp which commenced on September 11, will end today, Friday, September 15.

The par cipants drawn from Osun, Eki , Kwara, Kano, Kaduna and Oyo states were trained on digital skills, sexual and reproduc ve health, female genital mu la on, entrepreneurship and other life skills.

Speaking at the opening ceremony held at Redeemers University, Ede, on Monday, the Execu ve Director of the organisa on, Dr Costly AderibigbeSaba, admonished the par cipants to learn from the over 100 volunteers and make the boot camp experience worthwhile.

Aderibigbe-Saba while speaking on this year’s theme, ‘Breaking Barrier and Building Bridges’, noted that it is important to train the minds of the girls at their adolescent stage on some of the things to expect in life and the importance of believing in themselves.

She noted that the organisa on will follow up with the par cipants a er the programme to see how they are incorpora ng what they have learnt.

“We started the program on September 11 and it will close on Friday, September 15. I want to admonish our admirable par cipants to u lise this opportunity and learn from all the volunteers.

“We want our adolescent girls to know they can break barriers and build bridges through believing in themselves”, she stated.

Declaring the camp open, the Governor of the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke, said the theme of the program encapsulates what the state hoped to achieve in the coming days.

Adeleke who was represented by the state Commissioner For Women Affairs and Children Welfare, Mrs Ayobola Awolowo, appreciated the organis-

ers for their dedica on to the course of female empowerment and development of our

youths.

Awolowo urged the par cipants to leverage the opportunity to gain

value from the volunteers. She said: “Let me express my profound

gra tude to this able organisa on for their dedica on to the course of female empowerment

and development of our youths.

“Your work is a vision of hope in our society and by that, we are really grateful. The theme of this year’s program encapsulates what we hope to achieve here in Osun over the coming days. It serves as a reminder that our young girls are builders of the na on.

“To the par cipants, adolescence is a transforma ve stage in the journey of life marked by poten al in our young children. It is during this period that they define their career, explore their passion and lay founda on for their future endeavours. This is a great pla orm for you to learn from accomplished mentors.”

In her goodwill message, the representave of the United Naons Popula on Fund (UNFPA), Mrs. Nzoma Ayodeji, urged the parcipants to par cipate ac vely during the program.

Osun APC Leadership Bunch Of Ingrates - PDP

TYusuf Oketola by its Chairman, Sunday Bisi, APC should be humbled enough to appreciate Adeleke’s gesture on the payment of severance package to lawmakers in the 6th and 7th assembly in the state.

HE Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) has labelled the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state as an assembly of ingrates for failing to commend Governor Ademola Adeleke for running an inclusive unity government.

According to PDP in a press statement signed

The PDP was reacting to a statement by APC in which it described the PDP administra on as clueless and inept for its inability to hold State Execu ve Council (SEC) mee ng 54 days a er its

inaugura on.

It accused APC leadership of playing poli cs with everything, no ng that the opposi on party was s ll grappling with its overwhelming electoral failure.

The statement reads: “We find the makeshi state leadership of APC as deeply a bunch of ingrates who play poli cs with everything and who are blinded and poisoned by their overwhelming

How LG Chairs Under Oyetola Left Osun LG Secretariats Unfixed After #EndSARS Attack

Yusuf Oketola

THREE years after the #EndSARS a ack on some local government secretariats in Osun State, the affected buildings were s ll in their shadow of former self.

The affected local government chairmen under former governor Adegboyega Oyetola administra-

on failed to fix the secretariats’ buildings ll they le office in November 2022.

It would be recalled that some louts took the advantage of the #EndSARS protest in 2020 to vandalize and loot some government and individual’s proper es, among which were Iwo, Olorunda, Irepodun and Orolu local govern-

ment secretariats.

OSUN DEFENDER observed that none of the four local governments buildings were rehabilitated by the chairmen during Oyetola administraon.

The Caretaker Chairmen appointed by Governor Ademola Adeleke met the secretariat unfixed.

In Iwo local government, the Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Moshood Kabir, rehabilitated the secretariat and gave it a new look.

Also, the rehabilita on of Orolu local government secretariat was ongoing as of the me of filing this report yesterday.

electoral failure.

“Since assuming office, Governor Adeleke has addressed all issues impar ally, retaining many contractors inherited from APC administra on, comple ng many projects ini ated by the last government and even re-appoin ng many top officials who had worked with the previous administra ons.

“Our Governor is a man who sees the whole state as one and thus believes all should join hands to take the state to new heights. He is a leader blind to party relaonships in many cri cal decisions. He will always tell us to forget party differences, that elec on is over, that governance is now.

“Governor Adeleke is running a unity government because the challenges facing the state are beyond party affiliaons. Bad roads know no party differences. An inclusive government that our Governor is running is a big sacrifice which the opposi on APC should be humble enough to commend.

“Just a few days ago, the Governor approved the payment of the severance package of APC lawmakers in the last assembly. That is highly commendable. Mr Oyetola did nothing of sorts to even his own party men. But here you have

a PDP Governor se ling issues which many would have used as a poli cal weapon.

“The state APC is guilty of ingra tude, a big sin before God and man. The debilita ng state of APC today should not blind it to simple eque e and courtesies required of civilised polical players.”

DAUDA MURITALA ADEBAYO

That I was formerly known and addressed as DAUD MURITALA ADEBAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as DAUDA MURITALA ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AKANMU ROMOKE OBASA

That I was formerly known and addressed as AKANMU MOROMOKE DASOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as AKANMU ROMOKE OBASA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

JINADU NAJIMUDEEN ALAWO

That I was formerly known and addressed as JINAD NAJIMUDEEN ALAWO, now wish to be known and addressed as JINADU NAJIMUDEEN ALAWO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Sports

Nigeria Defender, Ashleigh Plumptre Joins Saudi Women’s Premier League Club Al-Ittihad

Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal To Lose Seven Players For AFCON

2

5-year-old Nigeria female defender, Ashleigh Plumptre, has joined Saudi club Al-I had on a free transfer, having le Leicester City.

Plumptre, who played all four Nigeria matches at the Women’s World Cup, is one of the Saudi Women’s Premier League’s most high-profile signings.

Plumptre started all but two of Leicester’s Women’s

Super League (WSL) games last season as the team finished 10th.

Kelly Lindsey, a former US interna onal who this summer le the role of Lewes FC’s head of performance, will be Plumptre’s new manager at AlI had.

Saudi Arabia’s first women’s football league was launched in 2020, two years a er women were

first allowed into stadiums in the kingdom, but campaigners say more s ll needs to be done.

Al-I had were one of four Saudi clubs taken over by the country’s Public Investment Fund earlier this year. Peter Hu on, who sits on the Saudi Pro League board, said in August that “changes in the role of women in Saudi community are remarkable and moving very fast.”

Hu on added: “I look at the evidence I see. You’ve now got 50,000 school girls playing football. You’ve got 1,000 women coaches. In 2018 there were 750 registered coaches. Now there are over 5,500.

“So you see that as evidence of change, and women’s football development as part of societal change. That for me is the real attrac on of this project.”

Saudi Arabia’s women’s team entered the Fifa world rankings for the first me earlier this year and the country is bidding to host the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup.

BIG -name stars in the English Premier League are set to head off to Ivory Coast to represent their na onal teams at next year’s African Cup of Na ons between January, 13 and February, 11, 2024 ·

Twenty-four countries have made it through qualifica on which wrapped up last week. They are Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Namibia, Egypt, Guinea, Ghana, Angola, Algeria, Tanzania, Mali, Gambia, Zambia, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Mauritania, Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Morocco, Senegal and Mozambique.

The likes of Manchester United’s Andre Onana (Cameroon), Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Arsenal’s Thomas Partey (Ghana) will be out of ac on for the busy winter months.

Ilesa Residents Cry For Help... Osun Assembly Recommends Suspension

Of OSEMSAS GM

THE Osun State House of Assembly has recommended the suspension of the General Manager of Osun Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OSEMSAS), Dr Olusegun Babatunde, following an allega on of financial impropriety.

The Assembly, in a statement by Mr Tiamiyu Olamide, the Press Secretary to the Speaker, said Babatunde needed to step aside pending the conclusion of the inves ga on of allega ons against him.

The assembly’s recommenda on was contained in a le er written to the State Head of Service, Ayanleye Aina, according to the statement.

The assembly noted that a report of an audit inves ga on on the allega ons against Babatunde revealed that there were payments made without documenta on from the project account of the agency which accrued to millions of naira.

According to the assembly, there were procurement irregulari es, poor record-keeping of

transac ons as well as expenditures not accounted for at all, which contravenes the Finacial Regula ons 32004, 05004, 09004 and 09002.

The statement further reads, “The report of the audit inves ga on which was issued to the Honourable Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly revealed that there are payments made without documenta on from the project account of the agency which accrued to millions of naira.

“Also, there are procurement irregulari es, poor record-keeping of transac ons as well as expenditures not accounted for at all, which contravenes the Finacial Regula ons 32004, 05004, 09004 and 09002.

“Upon receiving the report of the audit invesga on, the Osun State House of Assembly has recommended to the Head of Service to ask Dr. Babatunde Olusegun Samuel, General Manager OSEMSAS to step aside pending the conclusion of the inves ga on.

“Also, the Head of Service is requested to appoint a competent officer as General Manager to Serve in Ac ng Capacity to facilitate the smooth running of the Agency.”

served.

“Why is it that we are experiencing this violence when we are having development projects going on in Ilesa? We are now having very rapid development in the recent me and these violent ac vies of cul sts is a threat to this development.

“As a ma er of fact, the University of Ilesa is receiving a en on. Now, students will want to apply for admission, with this recent violence, won’t parents be afraid of sending their children to our ins tu on?

“To me, it is a major issue and I feel so bad about the recent incidents. It is very alarming. When developmental projects are occurring in a community like this, the insecurity aspects of it has to be reducing because it gives avenue for employments.

“It is a bigger threat to our safety, economy and development generally.

“Something of this happened in Ondo town some mes ago and the monarch came out and did some tradi onal things. They performed their ritual rites and peace was restored.

“We should also consider this op on; we should also go for ritual

rites and curse whoever is disturbing our peace.

“My prayer is that God should speak through our leaders and teach them the right path to follow. When we invoke a par cular spirit and there are consequences, these guys will keep calm.”

Adeleke Directs Special Opera ons

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state has directed security agencies to launch special operaons to arrest and prosecute cul sts engaging in rivalry war across Ijesaland.

Adeleke, in a statement signed by his Spokesperson, Mallam Rasheed Olawale, described the killings in Ilesa as shocking and reprehensible, calling on the police and other security agencies to act decisively to stop the cult clashes.

The Governor who lamented the loss of lives of innocent residents, said the special opera ons should include intelligence gathering to arrest masterminds of the a acks, warning that “all perpetrators will face harsh reality of the law.

He said: “I have been duly briefed on the developments in some parts of Ijesaland. We will no longer tolerate ac ons capable of disrup ng the peaceful atmosphere in the state. We will not allow any group

No ngham Forest is the most affected by AFCON with as many as eight players up for selec on. Their long list includes Moussa Niakhate (Senegal), Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast), Ola Aina (Nigeria), Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal), Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast), Taiwo Awoniyi (Nigeria) and Emmanuel Dennis (Nigeria).

Meanwhile, West Ham could have up to four playing in the Ivo-

or individuals to use their internal wars to endanger public peace.

“This is a ma er that threatens law and order. We must enforce the law and ensure peace without delay. This is one violence too many.

“I have directed the Commissioner of Police and other service chiefs to swing into ac on without delay. Violence and a acks must stop and perpetrators must be brought to book as urgently as possible”, the Governor instructed.

Stakeholders Move To End Cult Clashes

This is just as the Ijesa stakeholders have resovled to find las ng soluons to the violent trend in Ijesaland.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the stakeholders which include tradi onal rulers, community leaders and security agencies held an emergency security mee ng on Wednesday at the Owa’s palace where they deliberated on what is to be done to restore peace to the land.

The Elegboro of Ijebujesa, Oba Moses Oluwafemi Agunsoye, who a ended the mee ng, said: “We deliberated for over three hours on what we think will bring las ng solu on to the killings and maiming in Ijesaland, and we believe God will make it a frui on. We want peace

ry Coast in four months: Nayef Aguerd (Morocco), Mohammed Kudus (Ghana), Maxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast) and Said Benrahma (Algeria).

Besides Onana, Manchester United are also likely to be without new signing Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco).

Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) and Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia) are also in conten on to be named in their respecve AFCON squads. Arsenal will miss Partey and Mohamed Elneny (Egypt) while Chelsea won’t be able to call upon the services of striker Nicolas Jackson (Senegal).

to reign in Ijesaland with immediate effect. We are calling on all the people that are involved to sheath their sword and stop all these killings.

“What we are seeing is beyond the police, we all need to cooperate to give them informa on. These people are just like hit and run, they will rush in to kill and rush back into the bush. Everybody within the system need to cooperate to assist the police.”

In his comment, the Ogboni of Ipole-ijesaland, Oba Oyebade Oyeleye, urged the government to find a way to mop up guns and other dangerous weapons in the hand of the cul sts.

Oba Oyeleye said other tradi onal rulers and community leaders at the mee ng pledged their support to the government to bring las ng solu on to the menace and ensure that peace returns to the land.

He said “There is need to control guns in circulaon. That’s the major weapon. What cutlasses contribute is very li le compare to gun. So, we have to find a way on how to sit down with our legislators, probably introduce a bill. If we can control guns probably 50 per cent of the problem will solve.”

Nigeria

Ashleigh Plumptre Joins Saudi

Women’s Premier League Club Al-Ittihad

IT is very worrisome seeing the largest black na on in the world, with 220m people and 44 different mineral resources including crude oil and gas, gold and copper and arable lands that can grow all crops - cash and food - all year round con nue to be held down by the chain of underdevelopment almost 63 years a er its flag independence. Underdevelopment is “characterised by low real per capital income, widespread poverty, lower level of literacy, low life expectancy and underu lisa on of resources” among others. But this is not the design of our forebears.

In December, 1964, Cocoa Research Ins tute of Nigeria (CRIN) was established in Ibadan as a replacement to the defunct West African Cocoa Research Ins tute (WACRI). It is a na onal ins tute with substa ons in the six geopoli cal zones of the country with research mandate on Cocoa, Kola, Coffee, Cashew and Tea. Expectedly, the ins tute recorded remarkable breakthrough in research that enhanced the produc on and ulisa on of these products. Cocoa House in Ibadan was built in 1965 from the proceeds of these commodi es. The 26-story building was the tallest building in Nigeria and first skyscraper in West Africa. It was ini ated by Chief Obafemi Awolowo from the proceeds of Cocoa exporta on and commission by the Na onal Investment and Property Company set up by the government.

At this period up ll late 1980s, Nigeria Tex le Mill was the highest employer of labour a er government, relying on co on producon in Nigeria with many factories springing up, including transna onal corpora ons, readily available to engage young school leavers in workplaces like Unilever Nigeria PLC, Exide ba ery, Michelin, Singer Company, Dunlop, Niger Match Company, just to men on a few. Nigerian economy was so buoyant that Nigerians didn’t need procure Visa to United Kingdom un l September, 1986. As a crude oil producing na on, our forebears built first refinery at Aleme, near Port Harcourt, which began opera on in 1965 with a capacity of 60,000 barrel per day. The second was built in Warri 1978 with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day. They didn’t stop there. They further built

Breaking The Chain Of Underdevelopment

“Derobing comfort of the people with very limited money to buy necessities via fuel price increase (under the guise of removal of fuel subsidy) thereby increasing cost of living, education, among others are surest way to kill small businesses, especially and push the crises-ridden country further into underdevelopment and escalated insecurity, while big businesses will groan and relocate to another country where business environment is friendly”

and commissioned Kaduna refinery in 1980 with 50,000 bpd. Its capacity was expanded to 110,000 in 1983 and the fourth, again at Alesa Aleme, near Port Harcourt in March, 1989, with 150,000 bpd, making Nigeria oil refining capacity to 445,000 barrels per day (bpd). How are these factories, research ins tutes, refineries faring today? They have all been liquidated by the ruling elite – Military and Civilians –who picked up the baton from our forebears because they lack any developmental agenda. Theirs is to enrich themselves via white elephant projects that will pull more and more people into poverty.

Nigeria constant but rapid slide into retrogression has been very alarming in the last 25 - 30 years while its counterparts around the world are rapidly developing. South Korea, for instance, is unlucky to be domiciled without natural resources but has three of the largest oil refineries in the world. It buys crude oil from Nigeria to refine and sell back refined products to us. It is interes ng to know that Ulsan Refinery in South Korea was built a year before Nigeria Old Port Harcourt Refinery – 1964 – with 35,000 barrel per day. While our own has become moribund, Ulsan refinery has grown to become third largest refinery in the world with a capac-

“Our leaders don’t need wasting time, junketing around the world looking for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). What they require is the will power to galvanise the system of local productivity, creating an enabling environment that will make business easy and profitable vis-à-vis stable but affordable electricity, good road and rail network, cheap means of mass transportation of people from one point to another and qualitative but affordable education that is problemsolver and not certification for all, among others”

ity of 840,000 barrel per day! Dubai is another example. Since its discovery of oil in 1966 and its first shipment in 1969, it has con nued to rapidly expand and grow. When its economy was hit by the Great Recession of 2000s, it announced measures to combat it such as various tax cu ng measures to incenvise businesses in the region, liberalise its hitherto strict policies on alcohol consump on and cohabitaon among others. It has con nued to use proceeds from its oil for its rapid development and diversified its economy into mari me, internet technology, building projects, etc. Today, Dubai is a bride of the world. Recently, it had a diploma c problem with Nigeria over flight allocaon and ban airlines from airli ing Nigerian passengers into the Emirates and our President had to plead and nego ate for li of the ban. This shouldn’t be our priority. What is paramount is to quickly revert to our forebears’ philosophy and principles to rebuild our country under genuine federalism as against the present unitary arrangement.

Our leaders don’t need was ng me, junke ng around the world looking for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). What they require is the will power to galvanise the system of local produc vity, crea ng an enabling environment that will make business easy and profitable vis-àvis stable but affordable electricity, good road and rail network, cheap means of mass transporta on of people from one point to another and qualita ve but affordable educa on that is problem-solver and not cer fica on for all, among others. The austerity measures against the poor par cularly and appeals for perseverance are not the way forward. Derobing comfort of the peo-

“Subsidy on our collective energy - petrol - must be restored while sincere effort is made to refine crude oil locally. It runs against common sense to first export our crude oil abroad and import refined later. It is corruption in oil sector that is responsible for this abysmal. Instead of punishing the poor by removing subsidy from fuel, our leaders should be firm on anti-corruption in that sector and punishing economic sabotage severely and promptly”

ple with very limited money to buy necessi es via fuel price increase (under the guise of removal of fuel subsidy) thereby increasing cost of living, educa on, among others are surest way to kill small businesses, especially and push the crises-ridden country further into underdevelopment and escalated insecurity, while big businesses will groan and relocate to another country where business environment is friendly.

The harsh situa on is not peculiar to businesses. Nigerians, many of whom are professionals, are moving out of the country in droves, seeking friendly environment. Friendly business environment is a deliberate measure that must be ins tuted. For instance, if you desire assemblage of flies, defecate on the ground and observe what happens – flies will automa cally surface. Subsidy on our collec ve energypetrol - must be restored while sincere effort is made to refine crude oil locally. It runs against common sense to first export our crude oil abroad and import refined later. It is corrup on in oil sector that is responsible for this abysmal. Instead of punishing the poor by removing subsidy from fuel, our leaders should be firm on an -corrup on in that sector and punishing economic sabotage severely and promptly. It is the surest way at increasing consumers spending that will create business friendly environment that will bring prosperity to Nigerian businesses, reduce insecurity and violent crimes and a ract that celebrated foreign direct investment. In addi on, there is a huge deficit of social interven on as most previous such interven ons did not actually get to the target – the vulnerable. The new ones, which are urgently required, must be genuine social protec on and interven on programmes that will get to the extremely poor people and not the ones, via perennial corrup on, that will enrich people in-charge as used to be. Negligence on these intervenons over the years is majorly responsible for the state of insecurity in the land. Except the present ruling elite quickly revert to the aforesaid steps, Nigeria development will not only be con nuously arrested, the fragile country will con nue its slide into oblivion.