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Osun Defender Newspaper Online Version of December 05, 2025

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●Languishes In Police Custody 16 Months After Arrest Osun 2026: How Prime Suspect In Bola Ige’s Assasination Emerged PDP Candidate

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2025

Strange But True: In Osun, Two Prisons Reject Armed Robbery Suspect

Yusuf Oketola

A50-year-old armed robbery suspect, Solomon Michael was rejected by both Ilesa and Ife Correc onal Centres a er a Magistrate Court, sitng in Ede, Osun State ordered that he and his gang-members be remanded in the prison.

Michael alongside three other accused persons, Sunday Emeka (40), Sunday Felix (45) and Ebere Nwoye (32) were arraigned before the court on August 24, 2024 on fi een count charges bordering on armed robbery, conspiracy and possession of dangerous weapons. They commi ed the offence on May 29, 2024 at about 2:00am at Ede.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the Magistrate ordered that Michael be kept in Po-

lice custody a er he was rejected by the two correc onal centres in the state due to his condi on. The medium

learnt that he became paralysed a er he was involved in motorbike accidents during one of his opera ons.

A police source at the State Criminal Inves ga on Department (CID) told OSUN DEFENDER that the family

of the suspect has abandoned him since he was arrested and the police have been feeding him. “We first took him

2026: Osun PDP Lawmakers Remain In PDP Adeleke Moves To New Party

Kazeem Badmus

THERE were indica ons that the federal and state lawmakers elected under the Peoples Democra c Party in Osun State would not join the state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in a new party.

Addi onally, some chie ains of the PDP will remain in the party while they work towards the re-elec on of the governor.

OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that Adeleke would announce his move to another party before the end of the week with the Accord Party being his likely desna on. It would be recalled that Governor Adeleke late Monday night, announced his resignaon from the Peoples Democra c Party.

Adeleke said his decision was due to persistent leadership turmoil at the party’s na onal level.

In a statement shared on his Instagram page on Monday night, Adeleke confirmed that he submitted his resigna on to party officials in Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2, Ede North Local Government, on November 4, 2025.

He stated, “Due to the ongoing crisis within the leadership of the People’s Demo-

cra c Party (#OfficialPDPNig) at the na onal level, I officially conveyed my resigna on le er as a member to the party leadership in Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2, Ede North Local Government on November 4, 2025.”

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the only remaining Senator in Osun PDP, Lere Oyewumi would not be resigning from the PDP to move with Governor Adeleke. However, he would collapse his structure and instruct his supporters to move with the governor and work for his victory.

The same scenario is likely to play out among the Federal House of Representaves and state House of Assembly lawmakers in the PDP.

Sources told OSUN DEFENDER that the move was an internal arrangement among the party stakeholders as the governor will defect back to the PDP a er the August 08, elec on.

One of the sources who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under condi on of anonymity, said, “I can tell you that the Governor and the leadership of the Peoples Democra c Party are perfec ng everything. They have had a series of meetings to see how best to approach the issue.

“The problem is who and who will follow the governor to his new party. You know as a poli cian, he can’t move with some bigwigs, that may be detrimental to his chances. However, he knew the lawmakers wouldn’t follow him now.

“What they will do is stay put in the PDP and work for Adeleke wherever he goes. The lawmakers also know that their re-elec on bid is ed to the 2026 elec on. So, they will adopt Adeleke as their candidate in whichever party he decides to.

“Someone like Senator Lere Oyewumi and Hon Bamidele Salam, who are doing fantas cally well

at the red and green chambers, will jeopardise many things if they resign from the PDP, and it may also cost them a lot.

“Oyewumi is the Deputy Minority Leader and there are some benefits a ached to that office. The same thing with Salam who is chairing the House commi ee on Public Accounts. They are going to lose those posions if they decamp, and that will put them at a disadvantage.

“It is a very tense situa on and the governor; his family and chie ains of the PDP are looking at the best way to handle the issue so that it would not backfire.”

Meanwhile, the

leadership of the Accord party in Osun has said Governor Adeleke would receive a waiver if he chooses to contest the next governorship elec on on the party’s pla orm.

The Chairman of the Accord Party in the state, Victor Akande, said Adeleke would be welcomed if he chose to join.

Akande said, “The poli cal party door is always open. People are free to come in and also free to leave at any me they feel like. If he comes, we will give him a waiver to contest like every other person who may have an interest in coming. There is a standing waiver already in the party.”

and other members of his gang to Ilesa prison in July 2024 but he was rejected while three others were remanded in the prison. He was also rejected at Ife prison because of his condi on. In August 2024, the court ordered that he should be kept in our custody. It has been over a year now, the police have been feeding him. His family members have abandoned him. He was not admitted to the Correc onal centres because of his condi on. He was once involved in an accident and couldn’t walk since then.

“The prisons said they cannot admit him because he won’t be able to go to the bathroom himself. They claimed that he would be a burden on them. The prison clinic does not have the necessary facility to take care of him. He has become a cell lord. He now charges new suspects in cell and uses the money to eat. The court is also on strike, we cannot take him to court to con nue his trial,” the police source stated.

Reac ng to the case, the Public Rela ons Officer, Nigerian Correconal Service (NCS), Osun Command, ASC Joel Oyedokun told OSUN DEFENDER that he is not aware of the ma er while promising to inves gate it.

He said: “Honestly yours, I am not aware of this but I will inves gate and confirm.”

Earlier, Michael and the trio armed themselves with dangerous weapons and robbed residents and students of Federal Polytechnics, Ede. The vic ms include, Oyedokun Samad Ayomide, Adeyemi Olanrewaju Isaac, Adefemi Kehinde Solomon, Adeyemi Taiwo Peter, Owoseni Sodiq Timileyin and Yusuff Abdulrahman.

Others are Okunola Taiwo Muliu, Ali Timothy, Alih Monday Segun, Muritala Roqeeb Tunde, Azeez I. Olukayode, Adeseye Olamide, Olayinka Olamide Ibrahim and Adebayo Pius Oluwabukunmi. Oluwabukunmi was shot on his leg during the operaon.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects include: mobile phones, TVS Lady bikes, Power banks, vehicles, cash, laptops, shoes and clothes among others.

•Former Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly Dr. Najeem Salaam, submitting his Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms at the ADC National Headquarters, Abuja on Monday

Contentious Mining

THE call by northern elders for a six-month pause on mining ac vi es raises cri cal quesons about the true nature and capacity of the Nigerian state. To put the ma er in perspec ve, across Africa the extrac ve industry has long been a source of conflict, environmental degrada on, and instability—even in rela vely peaceful countries. Illegal mining in par cular, and its a endant environmental consequences, has been on the front burner for many years.

In Nigeria, the state has for a long me lost effec ve control over several cri cal areas due to compromised and weakened ins tu ons. Illegal mining has gone on unabated for years, and it is therefore unsurprising that violence, criminality, and unlicensed non-state actors have found ferle ground within the sector. This is not a problem confined to the northern part of the country alone; illegal mining is also prevalent in many areas of southern Nigeria.

The northern elders’ forum has a empted to respond to the pressing ques on: What is to be done? Their proposal for a six-month suspension of mining ac vi es must, however, be examined with a discerning eye. A total pause in mining will have dire consequences for legi mate operators who possess genuine mining licences—licences that have only recently been revalidated by the relevant authori es. These are structured companies with defined corporate governance frameworks, many of which have secured financing at high interest rates to fund their opera ons.

An abrupt and unan cipated six-month freeze would not only cripple their businesses, it would

“In our view, a central command, planning, and monitoring centre should also be established to coordinate their activities nationwide”

also send a chilling signal to prospec ve investors, both local and foreign. At a me when government officials are criss-crossing the globe in search of foreign direct investment, such a policy would deal a significant blow to the naon’s economic prospects. The authori es must therefore resist the tempta on to throw out the baby with the bath water, and remain mindful of the law of unintended consequences.

Rather than imposing a blanket ban, what should be encouraged is the strengthening of the special task force established by the federal government to monitor mining ac vi es—a unit that currently has about 2,400 members. We believe that its budgetary alloca on should be increased and its personnel strength doubled. Members of the unit must also be given specialised training, transforming them into a force akin to an elite unit capable of effec vely comba ng illegal mining. Technology must be at the heart of their opera ons, including the use of satellite surveillance, advanced intelligence systems, and real- me monitoring.

In our view, a central command, planning, and monitoring centre should also be established to coordinate their ac vi es na onwide. Beyond this, it is impera ve that other security agencies—such as the DSS, Military Intelligence, the Armed Forces, and the Police— operate in full collabora on to ensure a comprehensive and unified response.

The role of the judiciary will be equally crucial. Prosecu ons must be swi , thorough, and effec ve in order to serve as a powerful deterrent, and to send a clear message that illegal mining will not be tolerated, and that there will be no sacred cows.

A six-month ban without ins tu onal reforms and an effecve enforcement mechanism will amount to nothing more than an empty gesture. This issue once again underscores a fundamental truth: a modern state must be anchored on strong ins tu ons, and it must retain a monopoly over the legi mate means of violence, coercion, and enforcement.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2025

Osun: State-Of -Play 2026

THE decision of the incumbent Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke to resign from the People Democra c Party (PDP) could not have come as a surprise to anybody. Obtaining the candidacy of PDP to context the governorship elec on next year was his first the asking, but this would have come with a risk. The conven onal wisdom veers towards the proposion that the courts could well rule that in view of the turbulence and the myriad of law suit that the PDP had no candidate in the elec on. Preceedents have already been set. Governor Adeleke would have been ill-advised to ignore the danger signals, he will need to have the ins nct of a gambler to do so.

Hard Fact

•According to the Independent National Electoral Commssion (INEC), Osun State posted highest total with 185,089 (completed) new registrations. •Who will benefit from the new registration?

The critical issue is where is the next port of the core for Governor Adeleke? We will find out in the days ahead what the development portends is that the Governorship race in Osun is going to be very compe ve. The hitherto accepted two horse race format is clearly gone. We are now in a three or four horse race format in the course bid which there will be twist, turns as well as tails of the unexpected.

ings from federal patronage, some of them are not likely to take it on the chin. The APC is going to come out of his primary skated. The issue is where the disaffected go? a lot has been made of former senator Iyiola Omisore, he has certainly been all over the place in this his throw of the dice. It is unlikely that Omisore will ‘port’, he has a Sword of Daocles hanging over his head, enough said.

The forthcoming party primaries of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is going to be quite a wonder! The party’s tular leader, The Marine and Blue Economy Minister, former governor Adegboyega Oyetola has his eyes set on ensuring that his favorite son Bola Oyebamiji in his lack luster administra on will get the party cket. This is hardly a closely guarded secret. However, the twist in the tail will come from the reacon of Oyebanji’s fellow contestants when he clinches as an cipated the cket not the APC.

A lot of the contestants have spent humongous funds in the past one year in their quest for the golden fleece. Even with the prospect of being pacified with peace offer-

OSUN DEFENDER

The biggest beneficiary of the twists and turns and the tails of the unexpected in Osun poli cs will be the African Democra c Congress (ADC). The ADC is now the beau ful bride. One a rac on of the ADC is that it is now posi oned as the progressive rally of Osun State poli cs. The mood of the state alternates between a state of mind virgin on the indifference to that of conscious opmism with the entry to fray of the ADC. The ADC is resurgent because many of those associated with it and who indeed are the ini ator have a public persona of been the arrow Head of progressive poli cs. In the calculus, many of the disaffected in the now rudderless PDP and as well as the confused and the bi er in the post primary APC to definitely gravitate towards the ADC, this will provide a great opportunity for the ADC armed with a sellable Governorship candidate and projec ng a pro-people manifesto to cause and upset. If the scenario planning of the ADC is top notch and they have organiza onal verve to absorb the disaffected and weave them into a winning new coali on, they could have it all soon all.

Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.

Asst. News Editor – Yusuf Oketola

Asst. Features Editor – Kazeem Badmus

Deputy Photo Editor – Shola Aderinto

Deputy Graphics Manager – Zainab Olalere

Produc on Controller – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, Off Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State.

ISSN : 0794-8050

Telephone : 0809-301-9152

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

All correspondence to the above email addresses.

The registra on of voters has been quite telling there was a massive uptake in the registra on of what is clearly first me voters if the ADC deliberately tailors its message to mirror the hope and aspira ons of the first me voters, they will be in a formidable posi on. We will be interpre ng the twists and turns of Osun 2026 on the regular basis it could call stranger and than fic on.

•Research assistance by Ibrahim Abdullahi.

Analysing What’s On The Front Burner What’s On The Front Burner

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2025

Osun 2026: How Prime Suspect In Bola Ige’s Assasination Emerged PDP Candidate

ADEDAMOLA

Adebayo on Tuesday emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democra c Party for the Osun 2026 elecon a er withdrawal of Governor Ademola Adeleke from the party.

Adebayo alias Fryo, the prime suspect in the assasina on of the then A orney-General of the Federa on and Minister of Jus ce, Chief Bola Ige, polled 919 votes out of 957 cast in the primary held in Osogbo, the state capital.

Fryo is a famous name that transcends Osun and Oyo States where Ige was murdered on December 23, 2001. Indeed, it is a name known throughout the country since Adebayo, through his lawyer, Festus Keyamo, surrendered himself to the police who had

earlier declared him wanted.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that before handing himself in, Adebayo told reporters that he had not been involved in the Ibadan killing.

He told his lawyer that he had been asked to assassinate Mr Ige by powerful poli cians in his na ve Osun state but had refused.

Before his death, Mr Ige was involved in a power-struggle in his na ve Osun state.

A week before Mr Ige’s murder, a longrunning feud between Osun state Governor Bisi Akande and his deputy, Iyiola Omisore, led to the death of a state legislator.

Announcing Adebayo’s victory a er the vo ng, chairman of the primary, Humphrey Abba, stated: “Void votes 20. We told you earlier that one of the aspirants withdrew.

“The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and stands elected and returned.”

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that despite announcing his resigna on from the PDP, the name of Governor Adeleke appeared on the ballot paper for the

PDP governorship primary.

The Secretary of the Commi ee in charge of the primary, Sunday Solarin, had announced the start of vo ng shortly a er accreditaon of delegates ended around 11:35 a.m.

Solarin said Adeleke and Adebayo Adedamola were the two as-

Let The Old Dance Guide The New Step: Balancing Innovation With Tradition Art/Culture

IN the rush toward modernizaon, there is a tendency to forget that progress without grounding can be fragile. Across Africa, communi es are embracing innova on— from tech startups in Lagos to agricultural reforms in Osun—but too o en, new ideas are pursued without honoring the wisdom embedded in tradi on. “Let the old dance guide the new step” is more than a proverb; it is a principle for sustainable development, leadership, and cultural preserva on.

Innova on thrives when it builds on the lessons of the past. Our elders, with their years of lived experience, have cul vated knowledge that is not recorded in books or databases but in prac ces, stories, and rituals that have sustained communies for genera ons. In Osun, from the rhythms of the tradional fes vals to the intricate methods of farming, this wisdom

is tangible. Ignoring it in favor of untested modern solu ons risks disconnec ng progress from the social and cultural reali es it aims to improve. Consider the agricultural sector, a cornerstone of our state’s economy. Modern techniques like precision farming, drone monitoring, and digital marketplaces promise efficiency and profitability. Yet, when these are applied without understanding local knowledge—soil patterns, seasonal cycles, or indigenous crop varieties—outcomes may be disappoin ng.

Combining innovaon with tradi onal prac ces creates a hybrid approach: drones guide plan ng schedules informed by local climate wisdom; digital pla orms connect farmers to buyers while preserving the heritage crops that define our region. The new step is not a replacement but a complement to the old dance.

In governance and leadership, the principle is equally relevant.

Leaders who innovate without respect for community values risk aliena on. Policies cra ed in isola on from the lived experiences of the people they serve o en fail to gain trac on. Conversely, a leader who integrates consultaon with tradi onal councils, respects local ins tu ons, and blends modern administra ve tools with customary systems fosters trust and legi macy. Progress anchored in tradi on is not just prac cal—it is enduring.

Cultural expressions, too, benefit from this approach. Osun is rich in music, dance, art, and oral storytelling. When contemporary ar sts draw on these forms, their work resonates more deeply, appealing not only to younger audiences hungry for modernity but also to

elders who recognize and validate the roots. Innova on that respects tradi on maintains con nuity while offering freshness—a new step inspired by an old rhythm.

The lesson extends beyond any single sector. In educa on, business, healthcare, and technology, solu ons that honor the past are o en more sustainable. Elders’ advice, ancestral methods, and community rituals can inform modern strategies in ways that pure innova on cannot. This is not about rejec ng progress, but about shaping it responsibly. The old and the new are not adversaries; they are partners in cra ing a future that is authen c and resilient.

For Osun and Africa at large, embracing this balance is cri cal. Rapid change is inevitable, but change that disre-

pirants seeking the party’s cket, adding that Adeleke had already resigned from the party.

He further explained that votes cast for Adeleke would “eventually amount to waste,” urging delegates to follow instrucons during the vo ng process.

Representa ves of

gards history, culture, and local wisdom risks eroding the very founda on on which progress depends. By allowing the old dance to guide the new step, we create a pathway that respects iden ty, strengthens communi es, and empowers innova on to thrive in harmony with tradion.

As we navigate this era of unprecedented opportunity, the queson is not whether to innovate, but how. How can modern solu ons reflect the insights of those who came before? How can youthful energy and digital tools be harmonized with ancestral knowledge?

The answers lie in listening, learning, and blending—ensuring that every new step honors the rhythm of the old dance.

Progress, a er all, is most meaningful when it is rooted in understanding, guided by experience, and enriched by culture. Osun’s journey toward development is strongest when it moves forward without forge ng the steps that brought it here. The dance connues, but the rhythm endures.

the Independent Naonal Electoral Commission, and a committee led by Humphrey Abba from the PDP na onal headquarters were present at the venue.

There was also a heavy security presence, with opera ves from the Department of State Security, the police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps sta oned at the entrance and exit.

Earlier, Adeleke had announced his resignaon from the PDP.

His resigna on le er, dated November 4, 2025, was addressed to PDP Ward 2 Chairman Sagba Abogunde of Ede North Local Government. A copy was obtained by PUNCH Online in the early hours of Tuesday.

The le er partly read, “Due to the current crisis within the na onal leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my membership of the PDP with immediate effect.

“I thank the People’s Democra c Party for the opportuni es given to me for my elec ons as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democra c Party.”

The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed the development.

On Friday, Mr Ige was buried in Ibadan in a service a ended by President Olusegun Obasanjo, among others.

Despite being from different poli cal pares, the two were close friends.

Yusuf Oketola
•(L-R) the Chairman, Osogbo Grammar School Set 91 reunion comittee, Mr. Femi Adedeji, and other members during their reunion programme, in Osogbo, last Saturday
Photo: Shola Aderinto

Osun Rural Communities Wallow In Hardship, Neglect

Yusuf Oketola

RURAL dwellers in Osun State have con nued to suffer hardship and neglect due to the absence of basic amenies in their respec ve domains, OSUN DEFENDER gathered.

Findings by the medium revealed that many roads in rural communi es are presently in a deplorable condi on with collapsed bridges while farmers watch their produce rot because they cannot move it.

Residents in the rural areas have accused the current government of focusing exclusively on urban areas while leaving the rural popula on—who form the backbone of Osun’s economy—to fend for themselves.

Recently, the Chief Imam of Erin-Osun, Sheikh Fatai Aladewura appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to help fix the poor roads in the community Sheikh Aladewura made the appeal while addressing congregaons during the Juma’at service at the town’s Central Mosque.

The Islamic scholar said the poor roads in the community have damaged lots of vehicles and caused health challenges to motorists.

In a video obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, Sheikh Aladewura, said, “We are now changing res every me. A tyre costs N50,000. Apart from that, even the drivers are feeling the problem health-wise.

“Our poli cians, please relay our message to the Governor. He has done Ede roads and we are happy about that and praying for the Governor to succeed.

“Help us to fix our road in Erin-Osun also. We need a good road and we will appreciate it a lot. Our roads are bad and need urgent government a enon.”

Also, lending his voice to the situa on, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Omooba Dotun Babayemi raised alarm over what he described as the “shameless exploita on” of Osun’s mineral wealth, especially gold, by private interests while rural dwellers, who bear

the brunt of the operaons, live in worsening poverty.

Speaking to reporters a er he submitted his expression of interest and nominaon forms at the APC na onal secretariat of the All Progressives Congress on Monday, Babayemi said his findings reveal a stark contradic on between the state’s enormous natural resource poten al and the crippling neglect of its rural communi es.

“Osun sits on one of the richest ends of Nigeria’s gold belt. We have about 75,000 miners opera ng today, yet the state gets zero value. Everything goes into private pockets. Nothing comes to

the government. Nothing comes to the host communi es,” he said.

Babayemi, who toured 299 out of Osun’s 332 wards, de-

scribed the mining environment as chao c, unregulated and ex-

23,693 Osun Residents Living With HIV – SACA

Yusuf Oketola

THE Osun State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OSUNSACA) said 23,693 people are presently living with HIV/ AIDS in the state.

According to the agency, 24,874 people are currently receiving treatment in the state as of September 30, 2025.

The figure is based on Nigeria 2024 spectrum HIV es mate for Osun State _PLHIV_2025 SHEET4)

This was revealed during the 2025 World AIDS Day. The theme of this year’s celebraon was ‘Overcoming Disrup ons; Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response in Osun State’

This year’s event was marked with a series of impac ul, communitydriven ac vi es aimed at renewing commitment, raising awareness, and strengthening ac on toward ending AIDS as a public health

threat in Osun State.

In a press release by the state Technical Officer, Damien Foundaon, Dr. Kehinde Ajayi, the commemora on ceremony began with a vibrant road walk, featuring representa ves from the TB, HIV, and Malaria programs, Network of people living with HIV (NEPWHAN), implemen ng partners, civil society groups, and community volunteers.

Participants marched through major streets across Osun State, distribu ng educa onal materials and engaging residents on the importance of early tes ng, treatment adherence, and preven ve prac ces. The road walk served as a powerful symbolic ac on to amplify visibility, reinforce solidarity, and mobilize community par cipaon in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other infec ous diseases.

A major highlight of the event was the rollout of comprehen-

sive Integrated Tes ng Services, bringing essen al health screening directly to the communi es. These services included:

“TB Screening Using PDX Machines: Cu ngedge PDX diagnos c machines were deployed to conduct realme screening for tuberculosis—par cularly children and vulnerable groups. The use of these devices allowed for quicker iden ficaon of presump ve TB cases and immediate linkage to further evalua on.

“HIV Tes ng Services (HTS): Free, confiden al HIV tes ng was offered to the general popula on, with special a en on to pregnant women to strengthen the Prevenon of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) efforts. Trained counsellors were available onsite to provide preand post-test counselling, ensuring individuals understood their

results and next steps.

“Malaria Tes ng: Rapid malaria tes ng was also conducted for adults and children, suppor ng early diagnosis and reducing risk of complicaons. This integra on reflected the state’s commitment to a holis c approach to public health.

“Awareness Creaon and Sensi za on: Throughout the ac vies, health educators and volunteers led awareness sessions addressing HIV prevenon, s gma reduc on, treatment adherence, benefits of knowing one’s status, and healthy lifestyle pracces. These sensi zaon efforts targeted the general popula on, including youth, market women, transport unions, and rural communi es. The interacve sessions helped demys fy misconcepons around HIV, TB, and malaria, while encouraging individuals to take advantage of the free tes ng services available.

“The Road Ahead: World AIDS Day 2025 served as a reminder that ending AIDS is achievable when communi es are informed, engaged, and empowered. Through integrated health services, strong partnerships, and community-driven ini a ves, Osun State con nues to scale up efforts toward achieving the 95-95-95 goals, elimina ng new infecons, and building a healthier future for all.”

ploita ve, adding that the people in rural areas where the mineral is extracted “remain in darkness, poverty and abandonment.”

He explained that his ward-to-ward tour exposed what he called “a humanitarian and economic crisis,” adding that over 65% of Osun’s popula on are farmers, yet they are unable to transport produce from farm to market because of collapsed rural infrastructure.

“We travelled over 120 kilometres inside Osun. People s ll move by bicycle and on foot. Roads are gone. Bridges have collapsed. Farmers watch their produce rot because they cannot move it,” he said.

He argued that a government truly concerned about ci zens’ welfare would priori se rural infrastructure, agricultural access roads and community development— yet none of these exist today.

“Rural Osun has been abandoned. The government is only present in urban centres. Meanwhile, the rural areas that produce the food, the labour and the natural resources are ignored.”

He added that this imbalance explains the rising migra on from rural areas to already overstretched urban centres.

He insisted that development must begin from rural areas if Osun is ever to unlock its true poten al.

“The people in our rural communi es are the engine of Osun’s economy. Once we reconnect them, reform the mining sector, and open up access roads, the en re state will rise again,” he stressed.

•Remains of renowned historian, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, during funeral prayers, in Ede, on Tuesday

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2025

UNIOSUN VC Laments Exploitation Of Students By Landlords

TYusuf Oketola

HE Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Clement Adebooye, has appealed to estate managers and private developers to invest more in affordable hostel projects within higher ins tu ons across Nigeria to end the persistent accommoda on exploita on of students by landlords.

Professor Adebooye speaking at the 30th anniversary thanksgiving of Amorit Interna onal Limited in Abere, Osun State, lamented over the exploi-

ta on of students by the hostel.

He lauded Amorit for intervening during the

housing crisis of Uniosun, urging other real estate developers across the country to invest in affordable hos-

tels in Nigeria.

He said, “The Estate celebra ng thanksgiving today, intervened in UNIOSUN by building a very big hostel, and I wish that other Estate management in the state and even across Nigeria can come over and develop estates in the instu on.

“Par cularly in Osun State University where the locals have made accommoda ons unavoidable for students so hostels built by developers like this will be cheaper and more secure for students.”

TKazeem Badmus

HE Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Professor Simeon Bamire, has urged southwest governors to build legacy projects which will bear the name of their

states in the school.

The VC made the appeal on Tuesday during the dis nguished leadership lecture organised by the Faculty of Administraon, OAU.

Bamire said the university needed legacy

projects from each of the southwest governors which will bear the name of their states.

He said, “I want to appreciate our dis nguished guest lecturer. OAU is located within the cradle of civilisa on, Ile-Ife and all

Also, the Lead Director of Amorit, Kayode Oyewole, advocated for a good mortgage system to make housing easy for Nigerians and mi gate challenges facing the sector. He also lauded President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms, saying “it will im-

prove the housing sector, you don’t charge VAT on housing. It’s not consumable, it’s a necessity of life. It’s going to favour us and another aspect it’s going to add another value to us in the sense that you pay based on your rate of turnover.”

VC Asks South West Govs To Build Legacy Projects In OAU

that you see about OAUthe beauty and structure had to do with the thought of our forefathers then.

“So, our expecta on is that all the Southwest governors should be able to put up legacy projectslecture theatres or hostels within the school campus which will be labelled the state name.”

The Vice Chancellor also applauded the impact of alumni of the university, no ng that, “I am using this pla orm to appreciate all our alumni for what they have been doing for the university. They have been suppor ng the university in totality - The students, staff and facilies.”

How We Lured, Killed Ogun FRSC Officer, Daughter - Suspect Manfriend, Herbalists

Kazeem Badmus

THE Osun State Police Command on Wednesday, paraded Victor Fajemirokun, the manfriend of the late officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lasisi Funmilayo alongside two herbalists, Gboyega Daramola and Sunday James.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that the 39-year-old senior officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Funmilayo, and her daughter, Sewa Lasisi, who were declared missing in Ogun State, were found dead with a mu lated body part at a suspected herbalist’s den in Osun, in what is suspected to be a ritual killing.

The vic ms were reported missing on the morning of Sunday, November 2, after they le their residence at the Obasanjo Hilltop Estate, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, and never returned.

The Commissioner of Police in Osun, Ibrahim Gotan, while sta ng the brief of the ma er, said Fajemirokun was reported missing on November 2 in Ikoyi, where he had gone to a mountain for prayers.

“Subsequently, through intelligence-led inves gaon and painstaking analysis, on the 16th November, 2025, one Gboyega Daramola ‘m’ a.k.a. ‘Aberefa’ was arrested and confirmed to be an herbalist.

“During his interroga on, he emphacally confessed that one Fajemirokun Victor ‘m’ was one of his customers, that on the 2nd November, 2025, a woman and her

daughter were brought to him by Fajemirokun Victor ‘m’ for a money ritual, and the subject had been killed. He further men oned one Sunday James, one Kehinde, and one Idowu to be part of the killers.

“Furthermore, on Monday, 17th November, 2025, the suspect Gboyega Daramola ‘m’ a.k.a. “Aberefa” led the detec ves to EsaOdo Dam, Osun State, where the body of one Lasisi Funmilayo Oluwamayokun ‘f’ 38yrs was dumped, who happens to be a senior officer of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) serving in Ogun State.

“Therea er, it was recovered and deposited at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Morgue for autopsy. Meanwhile, some vital parts of the body, such as the head, breast, two hands, private parts, and others were missing,” the CP said.

Gotan added that on November 20, further credible intelligence led to the arrest of one of the principal suspects men oned by the herbalist, one Sunday James, in Eki State, where he was hiding.

“During interroga on, he confessed to being the one who slaughtered both mother and her daughter on the instruc on of his boss, herbalist, Gboyega Daramola a.k.a. Aberefa’ while the duo of Kehinde and Idowu were the ones who butchered the body.

“However, the suspect, Sunday James, led the detec ves to recover the body of the daughter, Sewa Lasisi, from the bush

•The victims

where she was killed. Likewise, some vital parts of the body, such as the Head, the two hands, and the feet were missing. The remains were also deposited at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Morgue.

“However, it was gathered that Fajemirokun Victor, who masterminded the killing, had absconded from being arrested. Through the collabora on with Interpol, Victor Fajemirokun was apprehended in Ghana and repatriated to Nigeria,” Gotan further said.

Speaking with newsmen a er they were paraded, the 40-year-old Fajemirokun, explained why he lured the deceased to their death in the hands of some herbalists in Osun State.

The suspect said he was told by a cleric that, as long as Funmilayo was alive, he would not be successful.

Fajemirokun, who said he told his wife in Osogbo that he was going for prayer

in Ikoyi, Osun State, admitted invi ng Funmilayo from Ogun to Osun because he needed to perform some spiritual cleansing to free himself from the spiritual grip of the deceased.

The Osogbo-based businessman said he lured the deceased from Ogun to Ijebu-Jesa in Osun State, having been told by a Muslim cleric that Funmilayo, relying on spiritual manipula ons, had used his glory.

Fajemirokun said, “I met one Gboyega Daramola on TikTok. The agreement between Funmilayo and me was to go and meet him for spiritual cleansing. So when this man (Gboyega) did a spiritual consulta on for me, he said Fumilayo was the one causing misfortune for me. So, he asked me to come with her.

“I went there with Funmilayo to his place at IjebuIjesa. The man told Funmilayo that she had to do some rituals and instructed three men to take her to

the bush to perform the rituals. It was in the bush that we killed her. The daughter went to the bush with us.

“A er killing them, I ran to a mountain in Ikoyi. It was from there that I went to Ibadan. It was as if I was hypno sed. I never really wanted to do that. So, when we got there, I knew that they were going to kill her. I never knew they harvested their organs. I only heard that on the news, and that was when I decided to come back home.”

One of the two herbalists arrested in connec on with the crime, James, while sta ng his role in the incident, said he met the two deceased on November 2, in the house of his boss, Daramola.

“I went to my boss’s house, where I met Victor, a woman, and a young girl. My boss (Daramola) told me that Victor had gone to an alfa before, where he was told that his woman friend had used his glory. So, he was there for them to kill his wife and his child.

“So, my boss ordered me to kill them and threatened me. We took them to a bush where we used a knife to slit their throats. A er that, we cut the woman into pieces,” James said.

The CP said that the perpetrators of the crime would be taken to court after inves ga on had been concluded.

He added that efforts would be intensified to arrest others involved in the crime who have not been arrested.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, who was the guest lecturer, said the insecurity ravaging the country is being orchestrated by some opposi on members who want to destroy the administra on of President Bola Tinubu.

The former lawmaker who represented Eki South Senatorial District, also warned the youth to stop advoca ng for a military takeover, no ng that those who witnessed the past military rule would never pray for such again.

He, however, said President Tinubu would win the fight against insecurity with the security emergency programmes that have been rolled out.

Adeyeye said, “The insecurity in this country is being sponsored and orchestrated by some group of people who want to destroy Tinubu’s government and who are probably afraid of the president winning the 2027 elec on convincingly.

“But I can assure you that President Bola Tinubu is taking the situa on seriously and the whole situa on will backfire on them. The president has rolled out a very serious security emergency programme which will solve this issue.

“Let those who want military dictatorship be reminded that we have passed through that road before and it was a very unpleasant experience. The youths of today who are admirers of the likes of Ibrahim Traore do not know and have not experienced the horrors of military dictatorship. How lucky they are. The worst democracy is be er than the best dictatorship.”

•Prof. Adebooye

Why I Chose To Play For Spain Over Morocco – Yamal

BARCELONA winger Lamine Yamal has disclosed why he opted to represent the Spanish na onal football team over Morocco.

Yamal was born in Rocafonda, Spain, to a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother. The

18-year-old was eligible to play for Spain, Morocco, and Equatorial Guinea.

“Deep down, I was considering playing for Morocco. At that me, Morocco had reached the World Cup semifinals,” Yamal said as quoted by TouchlineX (via 60 Minutes

of CBS News). “But in the moment of truth, I never doubted. With all the love and respect, I have for Morocco, I always wanted to play in the EURO and in Europe.

“I believe European football is watched more, and I think it’s closer to the internaonal high level. And thanks be to God, I achieved that. It also brings me closer to the World Cup with chances to win it… I will always carry love for Morocco, as it is my country too. I grew up in Spain, and I also feel that it is my country.”

FIFA will unveil the updated match schedule for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in a live global broadcast on Saturday, December 6 from Washington, DC. This announcement will occur nearly 24 hours a er the world learns of the 12 unprecedented groups of four at the tournament’s highly an cipated Final Draw.

The reveal will be presented by FIFA President Gianni Infan no, who will be joined on stage by FIFA Legends, with representaves from all 42 qualified teams and those s ll in conten on in the audience.

The event promises to be one of the most significant moments on the road to 2026. Throughout the show, expert insights and reac ons will be provided, breaking down the

TKazeem Badmus

HE Osun State Government has accused the state Police Command of witch-hun ng its officials to serve a poli cal purpose.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Informa on and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the Osun government expressed concerns on the increasing pa ern of entrenched poli cal actors weaponising the Police to in midate and harass officials as the 2026 elec on draws closer.

But the police denied the allega ons, challenging the state government to provide evidence of its

claims.

Alimi had in the statement stressed that the police in Osun state, in coopera on with some “desperate poli cians”, were doing everything to criminalise officials serving in the Adeleke administra on through phantom pe ons.

The statement urged the Inspector-General of the Police and the Police Service Commission to beam its searchlight to Osun state over the “unprofessional conducts of its officials”, poin ng that weaponising police to serve poli cal purpose is at variance with the job entrusted on the service by the Cons tu on and

other enabling laws.

“As a government who has shown serious commitment to law and order, we find it alarming that officials in the government are being hounded by the Police for poli cal reasons. In a democracy like ours, holding polical beliefs should not be a crime, and that is why we find it totally unacceptable for the Police to be targe ng our officials on frivolous pe ons,” Alimi noted.

“At a me like this when the Police is expected to be focused on taming insecurity and keeping Nigerians safe and secure, it is distasteful to note that some officers in the

FIFA To Unveil Match Schedules For 2026 World Cup Tomorrow

match-ups, analysing key storylines, and offering perspec ves on the host venues that will welcome fans in June and July next year.

During the live broadcast, the venues and kick-off mes for all 104 matches will be confirmed. The broadcast will be available across FIFA pla orms, including FIFA.com and FIFA’s YouTube channel, ensuring fans around the globe can follow the announcements in real me. A live broadcast feed will also be made available to broadcasters worldwide.

The match allocaon process that follows the draw aims to ensure the best possible condions for all teams and spectators while, where possible, enabling fans worldwide to watch their

Osun Govt, Police Bicker Over Alleged Hounding Of Adeleke’s Appointees Sport

Osun State Command are running poli cal errands, ac ng outside their core responsibili es to shut

down voices deemed to be cri cal of those behind their acts,” he added. The Informa on Com-

OCSC Berates Osun Govt Over Continued Closure Of Amotekun Office

Yusuf Oketola

THE Osun Civil Sociees Coali on (OCSC) has expressed displeasure over what it describes as a dangerous security vacuum created by the con nued closure of the Osun Amotekun Corps office, calling on Governor Ademola Adeleke to urgently intervene as Chief Security Officer of the state.

In a strongly worded le er addressed to Governor Adeleke and dated Wednesday, December 3, 2025, the coali on said the shutdown of Amotekun opera ons on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, following the Akinlalu incident, poses a serious threat to public safety.

The le er, signed by OCSC Chairman Comrade

Dr. Waheed Lawal, cricised the state government for what it termed “dangerous silence,” stating that several weeks after the incident, neither the inves ga on report nor reasons for the prolonged closure had been made public.

According to the group, the suspension of Amotekun ac vi es is occurring at a me when Osun is becoming increasingly vulnerable to banditry, kidnapping and cross-border a acks, parcularly from neighbouring states where criminal ac vi es have escalated.

“The recent coordinated a acks in Kwara State and the Ekura Church invasion are warning signals that criminal networks are expanding,” the coali on

noted, insis ng that shutng down a grassroots security structure like Amotekun is “dangerous and irresponsible.”

The coali on reminded the governor that under the Nigerian Cons tu on, he remains the Chief Security Officer of the state, with full responsibility for coordina ng security agencies, protec ng residents, and resis ng any federal acon undermining state safety.

While acknowledging the authority of the Inspector-General of Police, the group maintained that Governor Adeleke has the cons tu onal power to insist on the restora on of Amotekun opera ons and should immediately coordinate with security chiefs to

reopen its office.

OCSC warned that with Amotekun grounded, Osun risks border surveillance collapse, weakened community intelligence gathering, and increasing exposure of rural communi es, villages and farmlands to criminal infiltra on.

The coali on issued seven demands, including immediate engagement with the Inspector-General of Police, unsealing of the Amotekun headquarters, public release of the Akinlalu inves gaon report, and urgent reconvening of Amotekun opera ons statewide.

It also urged the governor to convene a security summit involving tradi onal rulers, the Police, DSS, NSCDC, Amotekun leadership and civil soci-

ety organisa ons, while providing a clear security roadmap to reassure Osun residents that their governor is in charge.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that the Amotekun Headquarters was sealed by opera ves of the Intelligence of the Nigerian Police in October following a pe on against the Amotekun Corps alleging extra-judicial killings at Akinlalu town, in IfeNorth Local Government Area of the state.

It will be recalled that Amotekun opera ves killed four persons and wounded eight others a er storming Akinlalu town allegedly to recover locally-fabricated weapons collected by a suspect which a racted public outcry in the state.

teams play live across different me zones.

The final version of the match schedule will be available in March, once the FIFA and European play-offs have taken place and the final six slots have been filled.

missioner maintained that the Nigeria Police exists for all Nigerians, and as such must not allow itself to be a tool of oppression for the same ci zens it was meant to secure, emphasising the need for the Police to maintain neutrality in poli cal matters in the interest of the na on.

“Very recently, several officials in this government were invited to what was clearly a poli cally mo vated witch-hunt in order to coerce them to dump the administra on or silence them.

“The Police job is to secure Nigerians, not to be pushed around by certain poli cians for selfish purposes. If anyone feels offended by the opinion of others, the appropriate forum provided by the law is the court, not the Police, which is already overwhelmed by the challenges of insecurity,” he said.

But the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the police were not witch-hun ng any government officials but only doing their job.

He said, “They should pinpoint a par cular person who was witch-hunted or a pe on that was treated as if a set of people were being hunted.

“Osun State Police is making it clear that we are not witch-hun ng anybody for poli cal or any other reason. We are only doing our job professionally. If there is any of such, they should come up with concrete proof.”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2025 VOL. 20 NO 67 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

WITH the groundswell of support from all the major stakeholders and leaders in Osun State’s All Progressives Congress, it is becoming clear that Dr Akin Ogunbiyi is favoured to emerge as the winner in the party’s primary elecon scheduled for December 13, 2025.

All the major party chie ains as well as community leaders in the State of the Living Spring have lent their voices in support of the aspira on of the Ileogbo-born entrepreneur, businessman and strategist. The consensus among all and sundry is that with his popularity among the grassroots people, the elite and even tradi onal rulers, Ogunbiyi stands a good chance of defea ng Governor Ademola Adeleke inm the governorship contest slated for next year.

Ogunbiyi, the Chairman of Mutual Benefits Assurance Group, is perceived by many as the only APC governorship aspirant that is acceptable to everyone in the state, including his co-contestants. Similarly, he is seen as the stabilizing force that can lead the party to victory in 2026. While it is believed that the emergence of some of the aspirants may polarize the party and its members, the general belief among party faithful is that the only aspirant whose emergence would not create any schisms in the party is Dr Ogunbiyi.

One of the factors going for Ogunbiyi is his ability to build great organiza ons from the scratch. Ogunbiyi, who founded the Mutual Benefits Assurance Group, built it from the ground up. The company, which he started in a one-room office, has grown over the years into a mul na onal, employing several thousands of people. Therefore, the word on the streets is that given the precarious state of Osun’s economy, the next governor of the state should be someone grounded in business management with demonstrable capacity to create wealth and opportuni es for the people and lead Osun State into a secure future of opportuni es and prosperity. Therefore, all hands point to Ogunbiyi as the best choice for the APC as the party gets ready for its primary elec on as well as the best person to take over from the incumbent governor.

Responding to his acceptance across the state during an interac on with stakeholders in Osogbo recently, Ogunbiyi thanked the people of the state, assuring that he would not disappoint them.

According to him, the leadership he is promising the people of the state is transforma ve with profound strategic clarity, value-adding communica on ability, and character.

He said, “I will be a beacon of honour and integrity. I love transparency and accountability. My governance style will therefore be a unique paradigm shi of highly beneficial deliverables.”

“One of the factors going for Ogunbiyi is his ability to build great organizations from the scratch. Ogunbiyi, who founded the Mutual Benefits Assurance Group, built it from the ground up”

OPINION

KAYODE AKANNI

Osun 2026: Ogunbiyi Is Light Years

Ahead

Of Other APC Aspirants

•Ogunbiyi

He added, “We cannot maintain the status quo in Osun State where some leaders pocket power, and s ll remain in their comfort zone of playing it safe. They are stuck in rou nes, kill dreams and avoid discomfort, that cri cal path to growth and progress.

“Osun State must unite for progress. We must shut down the craving for short term pecuniary interests and selfish personal ambi ons.”

Speaking about his plan for the state, the Group Chairman of Mutual Benefits said, “We have five key areas. First and foremost, we want to reform educa on. Educa on is my priority and our first-year budget will reflect that. If our secondary school students cannot boast of good results, then what are we producing? We will also work on the ter ary educa on to see that our ins tu ons produce graduates with skills that will be relevant to our societal aspira ons. So, I will focus on educaon. There will be compulsory free primary educa on for all our children.”

Ogunbiyi added that the second focal point of his administra on will be agriculture.

He said, “Chief Obafemi Awolowo used agriculture to develop Western Region. But what has our government done in the area of agriculture? We have cocoa, which Awolowo developed and deployed massively. But how much cocoa are we selling now? Who is buying? I went round Osun and what I found made me cry. We have all these cash crops that are was ng away, and I will link them to agric-related indus-

tries. Oranges, for example, come, but nobody harvests oranges again. Mango, nobody harvests mango again. The li le we have is only for consump on. We have companies that depend solely on fruits. I went to Songhai Farm in the Republic of Benin where they process fruits. I will not encourage the government to go into what private companies can do. But we will create an enabling environment so that they can come in.

“We will bring in agric-related industries. Look at oil palm; Malaysia came in 1969 to take oil palm seed, today Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil. What are we doing? I went round, there is no village I went to that I did not see small-scale palm oil processing by the people, using what we call ‘eku’. So, every available resource will be channelled into produc ve ac vi es. The issue is that there is a lack of ini a ve in the area of produc vity. When the ini a ves are not there you cannot talk about ge ng things done. When we have a government that has ini a ve, things will get be er. I will use my network to bring in private sector people who will put in money into these various things.

“We will also focus on the civil servants. We will train and re-train our civil servants. We need to ac vely re-train them because, without effec ve civil services, no government can succeed. I will pay a en on to that. I will mo vate them to be at work, I will guarantee payment of their wages. People who are due for promo on will be promoted, and we would ensure payment of their pension. All these things rela ng to workers’ welfare would be given priority because you can’t develop anything without effec ve civil services.”

Ogunbiyi stated that part of his plans is to bring industrializa on to Osun State.

He said, “Do you know that Osun has 26 commercially viable mineral resources? Ask the government, who are the people mining our gold? Can you iden fy them apart from Segilola? And they mine raw gold; it is the purest anywhere in the world, 98 per cent pure, and you can put a structure around that gold so that Osun State will earn 13% deriva on revenue. We can take a cue from the oil-producing states. I have had engagements with people in the Ministry of Solid Minerals in Abuja. It is about $6 million to do a standard gold refining and processing plant, why can’t we have it?

“Today, you cannot say this is how much gold is coming out of Osun. Whoever gets a licence, we would supervise the licence. We will know the quan ty of gold that is available. We know that mining is on the

exclusive list but there are things you can do collabora vely with the federal government. So if you produce gold, we will know the quan ty of gold you are producing and FG takes it, then I can now request for 13% deriva on revenue. How much is the resource? Do you know that the medium of exchange in the world is the dollar but gold has taken over?

“Again look at the area of empowerment; it will interest you to know that all my years in Mutual Benefits Assurance when we wanted to differen ate ourselves from other players, we did it through retail insurance. That is why they call me the Apostle of Retail Insurance. And the backbone of retail insurance is empowerment. As an insurance prac oner, I am always doing empowerment. That is why you will find me in aba oir, you will find me with women selling ewedu, you will find me with people selling tomatoes. The people in motor parks, spare parts dealers, you will find me there. Look, I bought 25,000 pieces of Okada for people in the North, for empowerment. Okada is the standard mode of transport there, it is the status symbol, but how did we do it for teachers? We worked with the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT. We said let us have the list of people that have gratuity, and we saw that their gratuity is more than the price of okada. So we bought each Okada for N65,000 and not a dime was added to it, and we gave it to them at 7.5%, and added insurance of N5,000. The same thing with NURTW, we partnered with them. If you go round all the func onal airports in Nigeria, you will find these cars on hire, we bought 400 for them, and they repaid the money. So when it comes to empowerment I am the master. So, there is a lot on the table which we can’t discuss today but I want to encourage Osun people to please free themselves from the bondage of poverty, to free themselves from bondage of an unsecured future. Here is Akin Ogunbiyi. I have brought them hope. And the greatest thing anybody can live on in Osun today is hope for a be er tomorrow.”

On job crea on, Ogunbiyi said, “I keep saying that agriculture will be the bedrock of our administra on. People say young people are moving out of agriculture, but it is not just star ng. In the last 20 years, young people have moved out of agriculture and we are le with people using hoe and cutlass and even those ones, 80 per cent of their produce is wasted, where it is not wasted, it is disposed of at an uneconomical value. If you go to our market in Iwo, Idioro around early August or midAugust to the end of August when farmers want to pay the school fees of their children, you see them with 120 tubers of yam that you can buy for about N10,000.

“We are going to create a commodity market; I will reintroduce the commodity board. So, we will make it so convenient for farmers, for young people to go into farming.”

He added, “In the local government, we are going to create over 4,000 jobs and I think in the first year, I should be able to create about 100,000 to 150,000 jobs. Look, from all I have said, by the me you do gold processing and refining, and also do agro-allied industry, we should be able to create at least about 100,000 jobs and people will be seeing it; we are going to be very transparent. It is not going to be an exclusive government, people will have access to our government, and they will have access to informa on.”

•Akanni sent this piece from Oke-Baale, Osogbo.

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, Off Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State. All correspondence to the Asst. News Editor, YUSUF OKETOLA, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefenderhq@gmail.com

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