The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Kazeem Adio has told the House of Assembly committee that the loan was the only avenue open to the government as touching the finance of the government priority projects, saying that the government has reached a point of no-return on the issue.
However, some activists have threatened to drag the state House of Assembly and the government of Osun State to court should the latter approve the loan, claiming that the governor and his men were hell-bent on embezzling the money to give the incoming administration an unwanted debt profile.
Explaining the position of the government on the loan, the Special Adviser to the governor on budget, Mr. Gbenga Babalola has said that the loan would not attract any upfront interest, noting that the government would only pay interest on the amount of money collected from the bank.
Babalola further noted that the listed projects for the loan were very germane to the development of the state, noting that the projects would shore up the revenue profile of the state if completed.
Responding on the questions raised by a legislator on the construction of the zonal stadia put to him by Honourable Kamil Oyedele, representing Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency, Babalola cited the example of Ogun State which has started realizing money from the availability of its synthetic stadia across the state.
Speaking on the construction of the state hotel, the governor’s aide noted that the government would be partnering with private investors, who would contribute funds to the construction of the hotel, putting the cost of the government first installment at one billion naira.
He further explained that the labless kit was designed to cater for provision of instruction materials for each science student across all the public secondary schools in the state instead of equipping the school laboratory that could turn out to be obsolete.
However, the government team could not provide answers to the questions put to them on the repayment of the loan by some lawmakers.
One of the lawmakers x-rayed the figure given by the government on its revenue profile which showed that the loan could not be serviced because there would be nothing left after the sharing of the federal allocation, demanding to know how the government intended to service it, to which no answer was provided.
In the contrary, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has expressed its readiness to drag the House to the court of law should it give the bank facility an approval, noting that the group would be more than ready to slug it out with individual lawmakers voting in favour of the controversial loan.
In a statement made available by the spokesman of the group, Comrade Debo Adeniran, the group said it has begun to compile dossiers of individual lawmakers including their shoddy jobs on their constituency projects.
According to him: “We have read about the submission of the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which reportedly emboldened the corrupt men at the Osun State House of Assembly on the effrontery to usurp the execution of the constituency projects, which ought to be carried out by the executive and we are of the opinion that the submission would interest the acting president and the international community, which have just shown their concern on the renewed fight against corruption.”
By goke butika
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By ISRAEL OYAGBILE
JUST like a blink of an eye-lid, a year had just rolled by as if it was only yesterday, that the Osun CACOL 24 were bundled into police detention in the most barbaric way.
Osun State is unique, because it is the only state where everything works, but rule of law. It is the only state, where law enforcement agencies, most especially, the police, that are expected to wage war against corruption, according to the police constitutional role, have now decided to wage war, against those fighting corruption.
Osun State is unique also in the sense that, the state Police Command under the leadership of Mr John Moronike, has at all times, pitched its tent with the maximum ruler, the siege governor himself, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, against the masses of Osun State.
Going by the history of the actions or inactions of Police commissioners that had served under the impostor governor, mostly by their harsh reactions towards the hapless masses and usually in active defense or connivance with the siege governor, to violently infringe on the rights of the masses, one can easily diagnose the ailment, caused by the infection of Lagun’s Ghana-Must-Go virus.
It must be recollected, that it was during the reign of Mr Fakai, as Osun State Police Commissioner, that courtesy was thrown into the winds, SARS was let loose and innocent citizens were maimed, brutalized and even killed, all in the name of pleasing the almighty siege governor. The mark of the wickedness of SARS, under Mr Fakai would forever remain indelible in the history of Osun State. The havoc wrecked on the psyche of innocent citizens of the state could only be imagined.
Now, we are under the tyrannical rule of another Commissioner of Police in the state, where all actions and inactions of Oyinlola must be defended and protected with all powers, illegally and unconstitutionally, acquired working to please the governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
The actions of the Police in Osun State, under these commissioners are so unconstitutional, illegal and barbaric that, one tends to hold the belief that the the state Police command is bewitched or is it the state herself that, is bewitched, for having the misfortune of the likes of Oyinlola as governor, the militaro-civilian maximum ruler, at the helms of affairs.
If our politicians can learn to stop killing and maiming, just because of their selfish ambitions, if the police can for once learn to abide by their constitutional roles and rule of law and part ways with greed, blind sycophancy and love of money, then our evil ways can be corrected. My fear is that, if the likes of Oyinlola and follow-follow police commissioners, such as Mr John Moronike, do not change this evil pattern quickly, then the future is bleak.
It was the unholy alliance between Justice Thomas Naron-led Election Petition Tribunal and Oyinlola’s counsel, Kunle Kalejaiye as published by THE NEWS Magazine, exposing the unholy communications between the duo, that triggered-off the reaction of CACOL members, led by Mr Debo Adeniran and Alhaji Waheed Lawal, who believed that corruption should not be allowed to encroach into the Judiciary, which according to the activists happens to be the last hope of the common masses.
Precisely, on the 9th July 2008, a protest march was organized and carried out in Ibadan, amidst police protection, with a crowd of about 500 activists holding one placard or the other. The police at Ibadan were so professional, so decent, so patriotic and so law-abiding that they displayed all professional roles, that made Nigerians proud on that day. The crowd was so much, as masses followed peacefully, there was no teargases, no molestation in whatever form and no single arrest.
The letter of protest, from members of CACOL led by Mr Debo Adeniran, was received by the Registrar of Oyo State High Court, who signed the CACOL Copy and bade the activities fare well. The Police Command Ibadan later went ahead with their dialy routine, what a police command one should be proud of.
The CACOL members spirits were high. “Yes we are now having a born-again Federal Republic of Nigeria, where the police has been morally and ethically reformed and re-oriented, that they have now assumed their assigned constitutional roles, oh! What a decent, humane, law abiding, law enforcement agents we have in the police of Oyo State command …..” remarked Mr Debo Adeniran, the leader of CACOL.
Mr Debo Adeniran, also recollected the experience of CACOL members that went to the National Assembly in Abuja, where the officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force displayed high sense of maturity and high professionalism in the way they handled the CACOL members in their protest match, until they handed over their protest letter to the Senate President and the Speaker, House of Representatives, without molestation.
Basking on these euphoria at Ibadan and Abuja, and having it in mind, that The Nigerian Police Force is an entity one should be proud of, the protest march was planned for Osun State, the seat of the actual incident, unholy call log saga. Little did they, the CACOL members realize, that the cabal in Osun State is being led by a blood-thirsty, retired army officer, who played vital roles in the framed-up ‘bomb blasts’ saga during the tyrannical rule of the greatest despot of our time, General Sanni Abacha.
In fact coming to Osun State, where the judicial corruption was suspected, was highly desired and expected, but, little did the CACOL members and their leaders realize that, Osun is a state outside the operations of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is because., at the helms of affairs in Abere, we have brutal siege governor, the true replica of his “god” father, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; ably supported by sycophants.
The protest match started off on agood note around Okefia. It was very peaceful. There wasn’t any hindrance to free-flow of traffic, marketers were not disturbed and even the crowd was not up to a tenth of what we had in Ibadan, Oyo State. The march took us through the Police Headquarters, Okefia, where the policemen/women on duty saw no reason to harass or even throw teargas at us. The placards we were holding had inscriptions such as “THE JUDICIARY MUST BE RID OF CORRUPTION”, “CORRUPT JUDGES ARE A DISGRACE TO THE NATION SACK THEM NOW” etc.
We got to the High Court premises and all the placards were lowered, everyone kept quiet. L:ater, the Court Registrar, Mrs Olamide Oloyede Folaranmi came out to meet us and demanded for the letter of protest, for onward transfer to the Chief Judge of the Federation. She was about going to sign the copy meant for us, when, just like thunder storm, the almighty Commission of Police, Mr John Moronike, roared from the rear, “Lock the gate!! Arrest them all”, Honestly, we were astonished.
Not that we were afraid of arrest, but because we did not expect the head of Osun State police command, flouting the law, desecrating the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, displaying arrogance in ignorance and total disregard for the rule of law. Mr John Moronike, in his attempt to please his “LORD” Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, violently abused the rights of the activists by physically assaulting two of our members.
It was absurd for a senior law officer to descend so low, throwing all courtesy to the winds, while pleasing his master, decided to trample the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, ordered arrest of innocent citizens within the High Court premises. All the pleading of the Registrar, that “You can’t arrest them here within the High Court premises…” fell on the deaf ears of almighty Police Commissioner of the state, who was acting the script of the governor at the expense of his professional training, and the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. What a calamity!!! What a disaster.
We were bundled into Police detention for four days and eventually we ended up in Ilesa Prison custody, where we were their guests for thirteen days. Honestly, one should not forget to mention the dirty, immoral judicial manipulations that took place within the premises of the magistrate court II, before we were ordered to be remanded in Ilesa Prison.
Before the magistrate’s arrival, the prosecutor, AYUBA ADEKUNLE had sentenced us to prison custody, as he (AYUBA) was demanding from the bus drivers if the vehicles, could take us to either Ilesa or Ile-Ife. What a co-incidence!!
Exactly eight months, when we were attending the court sessions, to be precise, after five consecutive court sessions, which we all attended, the Magistrate was transferred and the new magistrate revoked our bails and we were in Ilesa Prison for the second time. It was really a judicial ABRAKADABRA! The more you look, the less you see. The LORD, who is a JUST JUDGE will pay players in our unwarranted ordeal, according to their individual parts and I can assure you, this will be in full, that their children yet unborn will have their own share.
The charge are as watery as ridiculous, mostly led on “ACTS LIKELY to CAUSE A BREACH OF PEACE” single charge broken into four, some to the left and to the right. Only God can determine what they have in the centre, but, one can easily suspect the hands of the siege governor in the centre!!
For the past one year, the case is yet to be prosecuted, there has been no head, no tail and that is the macabre dance in Osun State judicial system, the more you look the less you see.
September 15th 2009 is the date again, only God knows what happens that day.”
On a final note, that you are a governor does not make you a leader, that you are Commissioner of Police does not make you a leader either. Leadership is an art. Once we have leaders in government, in the Police Force, etc, the trend will change for good. ALUTA CONTINUA VICTORIA ACER!!!.
•OYAGBILE wrote in from WARD 5, ODO-OTIN Local Government Council,
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]]>It would be recalled that one of the activists, Mr Saibu Adeoye slumped in the court, when he heard that they were to be remanded in prison custody for the second time on the same allegation.
The rights activists were admitted to bail following a formal bail application filed by the defence counsel to the suspects, Mr Wale Afolabi, who maintained that the charges levelled against the accused persons were bailable.
In a 22-paragraph affidavit in support of the bail application, which was dated March 25, 2009, Afolabi, who led other six counsel, informed the court that the activists had earlier been admitted to bail when they were first arraigned.
It would be recalled that the rights activists were arrested by armed policemen led by the state Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, Mr John Moronike, at the premises of Osogbo High Court, Oke-Fia, Osogbo the state capital ln July, 2008.
The activists had staged a peaceful protest to the court premises against alleged secret conversations between members of the Naron-led Tribunal and one of the lead counsel to Oyinlola, Mr Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN), which was published by a national news magazine, “The NEWS.
Objecting to the bail application, the police prosecution counsel, Mr Ayuba Adekunle (DSP) in his counter-affidavit, asserted that the activists would jump bail and would interfere in the police investigation on the case.
However, the presiding magistrate, Mr Olalekan Ijiyode, who stood down the ruling on the bail application last Monday till 12.30pm, left the court for a meeting with the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Fasaasi Ogunsola, Justice Jide Falola and many others at the High Court premises, Osogbo.
Ijiyode did not come back to the court for the ruling nor disclosed his whereabouts to the counsel on the matter.
Reading the ruling last Tuesday, Ijiyode maintained that bail was a constitutional rights of the accused persons, which he said should not be restrained on flimsy excuses.
This statement was a contradictory clause to the action of the magistrate who had earlier revoked the bail of the activists on what he described as a provocative statement made by a counsel to the suspects, Mr Gbenga Akano.
Akano had earlier urged the court not to allow itself to be used by the power that be in the state while applying for the bail of the activists, a statement that the magistrate said was insultive.
Ijiyode, who said the objection raised by the police prosecutor was not substantive to warrant the detention of the rights activists granted bail to the suspects in the sum of N500,000 and one surety each.
He added that the sureties must be a level 14 civil servant or a top political office holder and must be a resident within the court jurisdiction.
-ISMAIL USMAN
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One Arrest Too Many!
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), Osun State Chapter, hereby condemn in absolute terms the latest attacks on fundamental rights of twenty four (24) pro-democracy activists by the Osun State government in collusion with the state judiciary and the police command. The twenty four activists including the chairman of CDWR in Osun State, Alhaji Waheed Lawal (who also doubles as State Chairman of National Conscience Party (NCP)) and Coordinator of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Mr. Debo Adeniran, were on Monday, 23rd March, 2009 asked to be remanded in Ilesa Maximum Prison on the order of Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode of the Osogbo Magistrate Court 11.
It will be recalled that the activists were first arraigned in court on 14th of July, 2008 for undertaking a peaceful procession to condemn the criminal hobnobbing of the justices of the Justice Naron-led Osun State Election Petition Tribunal with the counsels to Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola. They were then detained for two weeks before they were granted bail and released. Since then, there has not been any further pursuance of the case by the state prosecutors. However, consequent upon the Appeal Court, Ibadan ruling which cancelled the illegally conducted local government elections held in late 2007 – a case in which Alhaji Waheed Lawal, as the Chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the state is one of the plaintiffs – the state government, using the state police command and the pliable state judiciary had to embark on another round of repression of perceived opposing and dissent views.
The manner in which these activists were detained further betrays the treachery of the judiciary in the state. The same Magistrate Court granted these activists bail on 23rd July, 2008. While none of the activists jumped bail or failed to appear in court, the Magistrate again ordered their detention! This is a sheer miscarriage of justice. However, this is not the first time the judiciary in the state will be used to settle political scores. It will be recalled that immediately after the 2007 election over 500 persons predominantly supporters of opposition parties and civil society activists have been detained by the Osun State government in collusion with the state judiciary and the police command, under frivolous and trump-up allegations – violence, bomb blast, etc.
It is funny that these while these 24 activists, who protested against corruption of the judiciary and pecuniary commercialization of justice, are being victimized and repressed, the nation’s judiciary that claims to be the custodian of rule of law and justice has not dug deep into the allegations against the justices of the Election Petition Tribunal, who were alleged to have played treacherous roles during the proceedings of the Tribunal. What manner of judiciary is this?
Consequently, we in the CDWR hereby call for the immediate release of all the detained twenty-four (24) activists and end to culture of repression in the state. We call for the immediate removal of the state police commissioner who has become a willing tool in the hands of the state government and ruling party against the dissent views. We wish to state that the right of association, expression and protest are surely guaranteed in the constitution and charters on human rights, therefore any attempt to deny the citizens these rights by the government and judiciary will undermine the continued existence of the state.
Signed: Kola Ibrahim
Coordinating Secretary
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Another chapter in the diary of fascism was opened yesterday in Nigeria’s South Western State of Osun, as an Osogbo Magistrate Court revoked the bail granted the 24 members of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) who were arraigned in July 2008 for protesting against the alleged illegal communing between Otunba Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) and members of the Justice Thomas Naron-led Osun State Election Petition’s Tribunal.
As soon as the Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode revoked their bail and remanded the CACOL members in Ilesa Maximum Security Prisons on Monday, one of the Human Rights activists, Comrade Shuaib Adeoye collapsed in the dock and fainted.
Adeoye was left unattended to by the heavily armed police team led by the controversial DSP Adekunle Ayuba who came for prosecution.
When the accused persons were called into the dock, Ayuba requested that their names be called again and opposed their bail.
The CACOL members have been present at their trial on every adjourned date since last year when they were first arraigned after an unduly prolonged period of remand in Ilesa Prisons custody.
Objecting to the application for bail moved by Mr. Alfred Adegoke for the accused persons who were charged to court for conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, DSP Ayuba cited an innocuous security report which claimed that the men were in the midst of another alleged plans to carry out what he described as another more grievous protest.
The Magistrate then ordered that the accused persons that included the chairman of the Osun State chapter of National Conscience Party (NCP), Comrade Waheed Lawal be remanded in Prison till April 14, 2009 when he would deliver his ruling.
We call this development an unnecessary misuse of the judiciary to intimidate, harass, hound and silence those who are opposed to Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
When, following national and diplomatic outcry, chieftains of the PDP led by Chief Gani Oladiran were reluctantly arraigned in court raping a member of the opposition Action Congress (AC), Miss Tosin Ajakaye, the accused persons were summarily granted bail without suffering prolonged period of remand like members of the opposition.
Comrade Shuaib Adeoye, who is now in coma at the emergency unit of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital Complex (LAUTECH) was, before his arrest, physically slapped, kicked severally in his groin and battered on the head, chest and stomach by the Osun State Police Commissioner, Mr. John Moronike in the presence of journalists who covered the peaceful protest. Since then, Adeoye has not been in good health.
The Police under Mr. Moronike curiously provided cover for dismissed chairmen and councilors of the PDP who were armed with guns and machetes as they protested round Osogbo, the state capital against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan which sacked them and voided their elections as illegal.
Many innocent members of the public were injured but the Police turned the other eye as if nothing happened. Several members of the opposition have been gunned down and killed by known PDP chieftains with no arrests or prosecution. The former chairman of Ilesa East Local Government, Mr. Isaac Makinwa who shot and killed four members of AC in Ilesa on April 14, 2007 with his riffle was ordered to be released by Governor Oyinlola from Police custody.
Mr. Dokun Adeniji and one Mr. Wasiu embedded into the convoy of Senator Iyiola Omisore who were alleged to have killed Mr. Samson Olanrewaju on April 14, 2007 elections day have remained untouchable till today just as the Abayomi Ogundeji, son of the member representing Boripe/Boluwaduro State Constituency, Mr Akanmu Ogundeji are walking their streets free with the blood of innocent opposition members staining their hands.
The change of Magistrates was merely exploited by the Police acting under the influence of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola to haul these human rights campaigners into detention.
There is no threat to the peace of Osun State. Since they were arraigned in court last year, the Police have not opened trial while the CACOL members have always been present in court.
We take serious exception to this unrelenting assault and violation of the rights of our people and warn that if the Osun State Police Command should continue this way, victims of lawlessness and state-sponsored aggression may resort to self-help.
We call on the Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro to step into the matter today and prevent the duo of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Mr. John Moronike from turning Osun State into a battle field where innocent people will be turned to guinea fowls under a pacification exercise.
Comrade Adeoye must not die because he has done nothing to warrant this ordeal. We call for immediate halt to this regime of fascism and totalitarian aggression on the rights of our people who patience is already growing thin with every passing day under the jackboot democracy patented and foisted by retired Brigadier-General Olagunsoye Oyinlola in Osun State.
SIGNED BY: Gbenga Fayemiwo
Media Director to Action Congress (AC) Gubernatorial Candidate for Osun State, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola
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•CP Moronike’s Compromise Raised •Investigation On Extra-judicial Killings Soon
THE unprecedented compromise of Osun State Police Command has finally opened to the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, as the establishment of the much dreaded ‘Eagle Squad’ by the state Commissioner of Police (CP), John Moronike has been disowned by the nation’s police authority.
It would be recalled that the Eagle Squad was specially created to serve the whims and caprices of the former trigger-happy officer-in-charge (OC), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Mr. Jude Agbanajelu, who was ingloriously removed from his duty-post as a result of a strongly-worded petition of some victims, on whom, he had allegedly inflicted pains during their encounter with the him.
Findings revealed that the allegations levelled against Agbanajelu were enough to consume him, but the power-that-be at Oke-Fia Government House, Osogbo stepped in to save his job, but could not return him to SARS.
Checks further showed that the top political functionaries in the state started developing interest in Agbanajelu because of his open display of loyalty to the embattled ruling class, a situation that made some perceived members of the opposition to taste the bitter pills of indiscriminate arrest, torture and extra-judicial killings as alleged.
Investigations also revealed that the same power-that-be mounted pressure on the alleged compromised CP to either return the ‘cowboy’ police officer to SARS or create a special squad that could be instrumental to its hold on to power-strategy in the state, and according to an inside source, with special arrangement, Moronike succumbed to the desire of the establishment by creating the unknown Eagle Squad and appointed Agbanajelu as the OC.
No sooner the squad was established than the officers and men started unleashing terror on innocent people, terrorizing marketers, driving round the state capital recklessly in a commando-like shooting into the air indiscriminately just to send fear down into the spines of the unsuspecting common men.
Checks further showed that when the show of brute was becoming unbearable, some human rights bodies based in the state reportedly petitioned the police authority in Abuja and the heat finally led to the transfer of the dreaded OC, Eagle Squad to Enugu State.
Meanwhile, the police command in Osun was said to have acted unilaterally, as information available to OSUN DEFENDER has shown that Lious Edet House, where the force headquarters is domiciled was not in the know of what a police source described as illegal structure.
OSUN DEFENDER further gathered that the Force Headquarters was very surprised at the level of compromise of the CP, as alleged by some human rights bodies that recently went to Abuja to defend a petition against the CP, his command, the Eagle Squad and SARS under Jude, as documentary evidences were presented to substantiate the allegations.
According to a source close to the rights bodies under the aegis of the Osun State Coalition Against Rights Violation (OSCARV), the allegation of assault on some human rights crusaders, who demonstrated against the alleged compromise of the controversial elections tribunal that sat in Osogbo as reported by a Lagos-based news magazine, The NEWS, against the CP was raised in Abuja, some of the victims, who are members of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) reportedly testified against the CP.
Besides, the documentary evidences against the CP and some alleged atrocities under his watch were said to be very overwhelming that the leader of the panel that attended to the petitioners were crest falling at the coordination and the presentation of the material evidences.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Abuja has promised to step into the gross abuse of human rights in the state and some cases of extra-judicial killings that were raised by the coalition of the rights bodies.
By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
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THE official commissioning of Osogbo Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding on Wednesday has been greeted with mixed reactions from residents of Osun State as the fortune expended on the project and the timing have come under public scrutiny.
It would be recalled that the inauguration of the centre was enmeshed in controversy from its conception, as it was reported that Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola had struck a deal with the former President Olusegun Obasanjo to transfer the project to his (Obasanjo’s) controversial library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
As a matter of fact, the deal so infuriated the fire-brand Nobel Laureate, Emeritus Professor Wole Soyinka, that he took on the duo of Oyinlola and Obasanjo up to international level, before his argument was subsumed with what a pundit described as conspiracy within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Along the line, OSUN DEFENDER investigation unearthed close to a billion naira that had been expended on the project and like lobby, a situation that provoked critics to query the priority accorded the project, when infrastructural facilities, education and health sectors are still begging for attention.
Checks further showed that after a long battle between Soyinka and the embattled state helmsman, the UNESCO body finally granted the inauguration of the centre for Osogbo, with an administrative office at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta.
Some of the artifacts collectors and traditionalists that spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on the development expressed mixed reactions, as some commended the establishment of the centre for the development of art and culture, while others took a swipe at the timing of the project. “I am a traditionalist, an artiste and a cultural activist. So, naturally, I should be happy that this centre is put in place, but I am afraid, it could be another conduit pipe, where our collective resources would be siphoned, because some projects said to have been inaugurated in the past ended up in a waste paper baskets,” said Esuleke.
The cultural activist then demanded to know why Osun Osogbo groove was neglected despite the fact that it has become a world heritage, saying that the last time any art work was put there (groove) was when the aged Susan Wenger, the Austrian, Osun Chief Priest did.
According to Esuleke, “when the same UNESCO adopted the Osun groove in Osogbo a world heritage, we thought something worth of international standard would come to the groove; we thought a five-star hotel facility would be put in place for tourists, we thought the state government would provide a motorable road to the groove; but what we got is a complete neglect and we don’t know the difference between Osun Osogbo and Osun, the world heritage centre.
However, an Osogbo artist, Rasheed Alade had lauded the project as a welcome development, saying that if the opportunity beneath the centre’s ideology is explored to the fullest, a lot of the people and the state would benefit from it.
According to Alade, “the centre is a good omen and an appreciation of art and culture in this part of the country and if the opportunity therein is explored, the state will surely count her blessing”.
In another development, some finance experts who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on the economic implication of the projects, have questioned the priority of the government, saying that the centre was a right thing at a wrong time.
In a forensic analysis of Dr. Nurudeen Taofeek, a lecturer in one of the business schools, the centre is a plus in a developed economy, while it is a minus in a developing economy; saying that Osun State government has misdirected a good policy.
“In a developed economy, where what to eat, what to wear, jobs for the youths, good roads and infrastructural and social amenities are not the problem, a centre like this is a welcome development; but in Osun State, a glorified hinterland, the project is needless”, submitted the don.
Besides, an Osogbo businesswoman, Mrs. Bukola Adepeju has castigated the government for expending billions of Naira on a centre that could only be patronized by a few tourists who may not even want to sleep in the state, saying that Oyinlola is celebrating a close-ended project.
“The Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding is an exclusive business that is not open to the public, and we cannot see its impact on the needed business boom in Osun. I think the governor is doing it for politics, not for any other reason,” Adepeju reiterated.
However, some human rights activists have demanded for accountability of the project from the early stage hitherto, arguing that taxpayers in the state deserve to know how their resources are being expended.
According to the Coordinator, United Action for Democracy (UAD), Comrade Abiodun Aremu, the funds used in putting the project in place belong to the taxpayers in the state and the details of the expenditure should be given for the sake of accountability and fiscal discipline. “I can see that the whole show is shrouded in secrecy, the people of the state are kept in the dark over the matter as touching the centre and we shall beam our searchlight on the financial statement of the centre if the government refuses to disclose it,” Aremu maintained.
In the same vein, the National Coordinator of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Comrade Debo Adeniran has carpeted the Oyinlola-led administration for being insensitive to the hardship of the masses. “As at the time people are facing hard times when the government at the centre is putting austerity measure in place, the establishment of such a centre with no direct impact on the economy of the state is an insensitivity of the highest order,” said Adeniran.
By OUR REPORTER
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]]>•Afenifere Demands Explanation Over Eagle Squad
Nemesis appears to be moving fast against the former Osun State Police Commissioner, Mr. Suleimon Fakai and his man Friday, ASP Jude Agbanajelu, who was erstwhile Officer- in- Charge (OC) Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) in the state as the Force Headquarters has invited Osun State Civil Societies Coalition Against Rights Violation (OSCARV) to come and defend a petition on the extra-judicial killings in the state, earlier sent to it.
It would be recalled that the rights group had petitioned the office of the Inspector-General (IG) of Police and the Police Service Commission (PSC) on the extra-judicial killings and assaults carried out by the rank and file of the Osun State Police Command under Fakai through Agbanajelu.
According to the petition, which was made available to OSUN DEFENDER in Osogbo recently, killings in police custody, overzealousness of the Eagle Squad, the scenario of a trigger-happy policeman at Ede Police Station coupled with the assault of CP John Moronike on members of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) amongst others were highlighted and expatiated.
According to a source from the Force Headquarters, who confided in OSUN DEFENDER, the police institution was ready to investigate the murder cases alleged by the OSCARV, in order to show the level of commitment of the super cop, Mike Okiro on the matter.
Confirming the development, the OSCARV spokesman; Alhaji Waheed Lawal disclosed that the civil societies coalition had received a letter of invitation on Monday, 22 December 2009 for defence of the petition.
“We have received a letter of invitation from the office of the I-G to appear before a panel, that is investigating the Osun extra-judicial killings perpetrated under the watch of the erstwhile CP Sulaimon Fakai and the assault of the incumbent, CP John Moronike on some human rights activists, who demonstrated against the alleged untoward conduct of the then Election Petitions Tribunal,” said Lawal.
He further reiterated that they (OSCARV members) have perfected their acts coupled with evidential proofs that would further vindicate the group about the overzealousness of the rank and file of the police command.
“By the time we storm Abuja with our audio, visual and documentary evidence of the extra-judicial killings and extortions, the force headquarters would know what we are facing here,” Lawal submitted.
According to an investigation conducted by OSUN DEFENDER, the fall-out of the petition has started unsettling some senior police officers in the state, whose names may be mentioned as part of the ugly scenario that took place on April 14, 2007, during the last year’s controversial elections, which recorded a sizeable number of casualties.
Information available to OSUN DEFENDER showed that the former OC-SARS, Jude sneaked in into the state to solicit for the assistance of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola on the fall -out of the petition at the Force Headquarters, but could not sail through.
According to a source at the Oke-Fia Government House, Osogbo, when the effant terrible Jude met with the governor and appealed to him on the need to contact some powerful cops, who could help reduce the heat the petition has generated against him at the Lious Edet House, Abuja the state helmsman could not give him a specific answer, saying that he might not be able to press for his case.
It was learnt that the governor told him point blank that he could only intervene if it was cash problem, but that he could not involve in pressing any button for him, as touching the matter, saying that could be another trap the petitioner may exploit to blackmail him.
Meanwhile, our source at the Force Headquarters hinted that Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Suleimon Fakai and CP Moronike may be invited by the panel to state their own side of the story before the investigation is brought to a close.
Reacting on the development, the State Publicity Secretary of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Mr. Kola Olabisi, said that the OSCARV should endeavour to inform the panel about the sinister motive that led to the creation of the notorious Eagle Squad that was endorsed by the CP Moronike.
“I am glad about this development, but Afenifere would want the OSCARV to inform the investigation panel about the sinister motive that led to the creation of the Eagle Squad.
It would be recalled that it was a petition writen by a human rights body to the force headquarters that led to the removal of Jude from the SARS and, when his case was parried, some politicians acting on behalf of the powers-that-be prevailed on the leadership of the state police command to create another special squad that would be headed by Jude, to which Moronike embraced hook, line and sinker.
Olabisi argued that the police leadership in the state should be overhauled as it has compromised its duty, a situation that has permitted an astronomical increase in crime wave, saying that CP Moronike appears to be more political now than policing.
“We in Afenifere, have watched the conduct of CP Moronike lately as relating to the government and the opposition and it is obvious that the leadership of the Osun State Police Command has compromised, the astronomical increase of crime wave these days has exposed it further,” said the Afenifere’s spokesman.
By goke butika
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]]>state civil societies have turned a choking heat on him over his perceived compromise on the controversial issue of last year’s Osogbo explosion and incessant extra-judicial killings in the state.
At a press conference addressed by the leadership of 11 groups of civil societies called Osun State Civil Society Coalition Against Corruption and Rights Violation (OSCARV) on Monday in Osogbo, Osun State Capital, the rights group unanimously demanded for the removal of the state super cop.
It would be recalled that he Commissioner of Police (CP) started losing his gentleman officer’s respect from the state civil societies, when he (CP) personally led a team of armed-to-the-teeth mobile policemen to effect the arrest of 24 members of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) within the premises of the State High Court in Osogbo; while they (CACOL members) were peacefully demonstrating against the alleged misconduct of the first Election Petitions Tribunal headed by the embattled Justice Thomas Naron.
Speaking on the alleged compromise of the CP, the state Coordinator, Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR) Alhaji Waheed Lawal said that the conduct of the state police boss recently has compelled the civil societies to petition the police authority, the presidency and some international organizations about the police atrocities in the state.
The human rights advocate also expressed the loss of confidence on the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) zonal 11, Mr. Tunji Alapinni and the CP, saying that both of them are now working together in aiding the establishment against the opposition.
“We have on several occasions drawn the attention of the AIG to the repression and the persecution of the opposition in the state and on several occasions, he was helpless. So, we have no confidence in both the CP and AIG and that compelled us to petition the IG in Abuja and some international organizations for action. We want Moronike to go,” submitted Lawal.
Besides, the founder of Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People (CDRP), Comrade Amitolu Shittu has argued that the professional misconducts of the state police command have mandated the call for the removal of the CP by the police authority.
Shittu contended that extra-judicial killings and indiscriminate arrest of opposition leaders on trump-up charges have exposed the double dealing of the CP, reiterating that his (CP) conduct is suspicious and should be removed.
“Mr. Moronike is shielding the hoodlums and criminals within the police command and his compromise on some controversial issues, that bother on neutrality and apolitical have recommended him for removal, “Shittu argued.
In his reaction, the state chairman, the Ultimate Group, Pharmacist Israel Oyagbile said that one thing was peculiar about Osun State Government headed by Olagunsoye Oyinlola, observing that ability to compromise any system or institution was the watchword.
“Oyinlola administration is like a sulphur, when placed in any opening of the house, the odour will pass across the nasal passage. In this state, there is nothing that cannot be compromised and the CP could not be exempted. So, we want him removed for the police institution to regain its respect” said Oyagbile.
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]]>Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Moronike appears to have exhausted his goodwill on the altar of compromise, just as human rights groups, opposition political parties and senior citizens have unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on the state super cop.
Findings have shown that the good goodwill earlier enjoyed by the CP, after a disastrous departure of his predecessor, Mr. Suleimon Fakai; got deflated when the stakeholders at the opposite of the divides, started perceiving him as a compromised police officer.
It would be recalled that Fakai came to the state after Alhaji Audu Abubakar’s redeployment to another state, and he was driving his men well, until he was allegedly bought over that compensated an untoward role he reportedly played in the last year’s controversial general elections in the state.
Investigations conducted by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that Fakai’s earlier determination to give Osun State Police Command an independent role of protecting the lives and properties of the citizens, irrespective of their political affiliation, crumbled when the state establishment which was hell bent at dictating the tune showered him unsolicited Greek gifts.
Despite his shortcomings and naked compromise, Fakai still allowed a good sense of judgment to prevail in some of his dealings and one of them was the way he handled the explosion that rocked the state secretariat last year 14 June.
The ex-Osun commissioner of police was among the first security officers that spirited to the scene, where a victim was torn into shreds.
Fakai, in company of the state deputy governor, Erelu Olusola Obada promised that the police would not allow the raging political upheaval in the state to affect investigation by the ballistic department.
Few weeks after a war of words between the warring Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Action Congress (AC) in the state over the controversial explosion saga, the interim report of the ballistic department of the command reportedly allayed fear of an organized crime, as it attributed the explosion to an accident of rock-blasting explosives device.
Several posers were raised on the intention of the victims and suspected perpetrators, as people demanded to know why a man would decide to bomb himself with an explosive device loaded in a car with a registration number.
However, when Moronike took over the mantle of leadership of the state police command, he slowed down the oppressive state machine on ground which had hauled a number of AC leaders into prisons, premising his action on the need to follow the rule of law.
Recently, the rule of law matter of the leading cop has turned sour in the ears of the right groups and opposition political parties that feel the insincerity in the policing gospel of Moronike, as they have a bone to pick with him.
The leadership of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) alleged the embattled CP of flirting with the state establishment with the aim of suppressing the dissenting voice in the state. Hear the national coordinator of the coalition, Comrade Debo Adeniran: “I heard Mr. Moronike telling the press men inside the premises of the state high court, Osogbo, when he personally led a team of armed policemen to arrest us during our peaceful rally, and saying that the press men were the ones writing rubbish about the governor. The import is that the man has sold out to the establishment.
CACOL charged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro to redeploy the state police boss, disclosing that the petitions on the atrocities and compromise of police institution under are numerous and powerful to be ignored.
Besides, Lagos State chapter of AC has called on the super cop in Abuja to call Moronike to order before he helps reduce the state to rublles. AC in Lagos noted that the recent clampdown on the party leaders, which was effected by Moronike’s men, was a pointer to a wicked compromise.
In a statement signed by the Lagos State chairman of the party, Chief Dele Ajomale, the Osun Police boss has declared his partisan stand and he should be allowed to drop his uniform in order to join partisan politics.
In the same vein, Osun State chapter of Alliance of Collaborating Political Parties (ACPP) has also called for the head of the embattled police commissioner, maintaining that he has demonstrated enough double-face in his actions and reactions.
According to a statement signed by the duo of Messrs Waheed Lawal and Rufus Oyatoro of National Conscience Party (NCP) and Labour Party (LP) respectively and made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, the CP should start preparing his bag for his days in Osun State are numbered.
“We shall write to the IG about his compromise and the untold brutality of his men against the harmless politicians, and as stakeholders; we shall urge Mr. Mike Okiro to save us from his (Moronike’s) suspicious role lately.
Meanwhile, some opinion leaders, who spoke to OSUN DEFENDER under strict condition of anonymity, for security reason, expressed their disappointment in the embattled police boss. They however, expressed their reservations over his relationship with the PDP.
Some of them agreed that his imminent career somersault in the state could not be divorced from inducement and irresistible overtures from the state, declaring that his endorsement as touching the creation of ‘Eagle’ Squad for the whims and caprices of the establishment was a clear case of a sell-out.
It would be recalled that some armed men, suspected to be policemen stormed the residence of a former commissioner for health, Alhaji Layi Oyeduntan, where they violently killed his Alsatian dog on night guard before taking him away.
The same gang waylaid the state AC Director of Research and Strategies, Mr. Sunday Akere along Osogbo West-By-Pass and whsked him to the Eagle Squad in Osogbo.
Reacting, the state chairman of the Joint Action Forum (JAF), Comrade Aderemi Ayanlade condemned the uncivilized way of getting the people behind the bar with the unalloyed support of the police, stating that his group had long passed a vote of no confidence on the CP.
“We have heard about Mr. Moronike’s habit and how he enjoys the company of the PDP members. It may be true or not, but such a man does not stand for a principle, and he is not fit to lead an institution like police force” Ayanlade.