₦airaland Forum

Civil society groups under the aegis of the Network of Osun Civil Society Groups, on Monday, staged a protest demanding the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan.

The protesters, joined by residents and students, alleged that the police commissioner had failed to address the rising cases of political violence in the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The protesters marched from Old Garage through Oke-Fia to Olaiya in Osogbo, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Gotan Must Go”, “We Want Unbiased Policing in Osun”, and “We Demand Non-Partisan Policing”.

The protesters urged the inspector-general of police, Tunde Disu, to immediately transfer the commissioner out of the state.

Speaking during the protest, Olowu Emmanuel of the Social Economic and Civic Rights Advocacy group said the demand for the redeployment of the commissioner was necessitated by the political crisis that had persisted in the state over the past two months.

“Our demand is premised on the political crisis that has been taking place in the state in the past two months. Political billboards have been torn down, yet the CP did not respond as expected.

“Last week, suspected political thugs invaded the state, shot sporadically, and injured several people, and no one has been arrested or prosecuted.

“The implication of these incidents is that they could lead to voter apathy and the disenfranchisement of voters during the Aug. 15 governorship election. That is why we are calling on the IGP to redeploy the CP and bring in someone who will tackle the growing political crisis without bias,” he said.

Also speaking, Wale Balogun of the Mekunnu Koya Movement said the group had lost confidence in the commissioner’s ability to provide adequate security during the election.

“As things stand, we no longer have confidence in CP Gotan’s efforts to guarantee security during the Aug. 15 governorship election in the state,” he said.

Similarly, Oluwole Aboke, former general secretary of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone, said students and youths joined the protest because they had lost confidence in the police commissioner.

Mr Aboke noted that although the police had directed political parties to suspend rallies over security concerns, some parties ignored the directive and proceeded with their campaigns

“This is why we are calling for the redeployment of the CP and demanding that the IGP appoint someone competent who can protect lives and property and ensure a free and credible election on August 15,” he said.

Addressing the protesters, the divisional police officer of Dugbe Police Station, Joshua Owolabi, urged them to remain peaceful.

Mr Owolabi assured the protesters that the commissioner of police remained committed to safeguarding lives and property across the state.

He said the CP had directed officers and men of the command to continue providing adequate security for residents.

“I want you to be peaceful. Any request that you have, present it peacefully because without peace, we cannot move forward,” he said.

https://gazettengr.com/csos-protest-in-osun-demand-redeployment-of-commissioner-of-police/

Government exists for the people. That is the ABC of good governance, straight and simple. Good governance is not about big offices or power; it is about making life easier and better for ordinary men, women, children, youths, and even the most vulnerable in society.

It means helping children learn properly, keeping families healthy, paying workers fairly, creating opportunities, protecting the people, and making sure nobody is left behind.

This is exactly the kind of leadership Chief Obafemi Awolowo practiced and preached. He built his legacy on free education, accessible healthcare, infrastructure that served everyday people, and programmes that truly lifted lives. Awolowo saw citizens as the center and purpose of government.
In Osun State today, Governor Ademola Adeleke is walking faithfully in those same footsteps. His administration runs a genuinely people-centered government, where every policy and project is designed to touch real lives directly.

From schoolchildren to workers, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, youths, and even prison inmates, the focus remains on welfare and practical solutions that people can see and feel every day.
Education Sector

The administration is renovating schools, upgrading facilities, and promoting quality, practical learning at all levels, just like Awolowo did. It has introduced bursary awards for students in higher institutions and the Imole Scholarship Scheme to reward excellence. Most heartwarming is the Imole School Eye Health Programme, where hundreds of thousands of pupils were screened and over 42,000 received free eyeglasses so they can see clearly and learn better.

At the tertiary level, significant progress has also been recorded. Long-abandoned projects at Osun State University have been completed, including new office complexes and student hostels. The administration has also fully accredited and strengthened University of Ilesa, giving it a stronger foundation to serve more young people in the state.
These moves are expanding access to higher education and improving its quality across Osun.

Health Sector
Hundreds of primary healthcare centres have been upgraded across the state. Free medical outreaches, including the Imole Surgical and Medical Outreach, have provided thousands with life-changing surgeries and treatments.

The government has also rolled out health insurance coverage for the elderly, persons living with disabilities, prison inmates, and other vulnerable groups. Support and assistive materials for people living with disabilities form part of this inclusive approach, ensuring nobody is forgotten.

Workers and Retirees
The government implemented a new salary structure regarded as one of the best in the country, maintained regular payment of salaries even during difficult times, and cleared huge salary and pension arrears.
This has restored dignity and stability to civil servants, local government workers, and pensioners.

Security
Security has improved significantly across the state. The administration recruited over 1,000 personnel into the Osun Amotekun Corps to strengthen security architecture across Osun. A few years ago, an entire senatorial district was practically left without banking services as armed robbery attacks forced banks to shut down operations in some areas.
Today, many residents can sleep with greater peace of mind because deliberate efforts have been made to improve safety and restore public confidence.

Youth and Women Empowerment
Youths and women have not been left out. Through the Imole Youth Corps and related schemes, thousands have gained skills training, entrepreneurship support, and interest-free loans to start or grow businesses.
Many infrastructure projects are also deliberately awarded to indigenous contractors, creating jobs and ensuring money continues to circulate within Osun communities.

Infrastructure and Rural Development
The Adeleke administration has embarked on genuine urban renewal through landmark infrastructural projects, including historic flyovers in Ile-Ife and Osogbo, as well as dual carriageways in Ilesa, Ila, Iwo, and Ede.

Other people-focused interventions include sinking boreholes in wards across the state, rehabilitating hundreds of kilometres of roads, restoring waterworks, building flyovers, and supporting agriculture with tools, seedlings, and value-chain support to help farmers increase productivity and earnings.

Governor Adeleke often says the principal goal of government is the welfare of the people, and his actions continue to match those words. Whether it is giving eyeglasses to schoolchildren, strengthening institutions like UNIOSUN and the University of Ilesa, paying salaries promptly, caring for the elderly and persons living with disabilities, supporting prison inmates’ healthcare, or empowering youths, this administration has kept its focus where it belongs; on the people.

This is the spirit of Awolowo alive in Osun State: development with a human face, one meaningful improvement at a time. When government remembers that it exists for the people, the whole state grows stronger together.

These efforts must continue beyond 2026 in the interest of the people of Osun State.

Ebenezer Oluwa[b][/b][b][/b]segun Ige writes from Ada, Boripe Local Government Area.

In 2022, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke made a solemn pledge to the people of Osun State, a clear, people-driven 5-Point Agenda anchored on welfare, development, transparency, and justice.

Almost four years after, the verdict is clear: every promise was honoured.

Across Osun State, the impact is visible and measurable. Workers and pensioners are paid, families are supported, farmers are empowered, traders are thriving, while youths and women are opening new frontiers of opportunity. This is governance that listens, feels, and delivers.
This is why people call him Mr Talk and Do!

Let us analyze the promises Adeleke made in 2022 and how far he has gone in fulfilling them.

THE 2022 FIVE-POINT AGENDA:

1. Workers’ and Pensioners’ Welfare Restored
Prompt and consistent payment of salaries
Clearing of pension and gratuity backlogs
Restoration of dignity and confidence in public service

2. Economic Revival and Business Support
Empowerment programmes for SMEs and traders
Strategic partnerships to stimulate local enterprise

3. Home-Grown Infrastructure Development
“Osun Money Serving Osun People”
Local contractors empowered
Roads, schools, and health facilities upgraded
Jobs created for youths, artisans, and professionals.

4. People-Centred Social Policies
Reforms in public education
Expanded healthcare delivery
Improved security and social protection systems.

5. Agro-Based Industrialization
New agro-value chains
Stronger support for farmers
Youth and women empowered through agro-industrial jobs

What is Adeleke promising in 2026.

THE UPGRADED 5-POINT AGENDA FOR 2026.

Building on a solid record of delivery and fresh from his resounding ACCORD primary victory, Governor Ademola Adeleke presented an Enhanced and Upgraded 5-Point Agenda that is bold, strategic, and deeply people-focused:

1. Integrated Citizens’ and Workers’ Welfare
A holistic welfare system that protects workers, pensioners, and vulnerable citizens while strengthening social safety nets.

2. Infrastructure Consolidation for Economic Growth
Completing, expanding, and optimising critical infrastructure to unlock productivity, mobility, and shared prosperity.

3. Expanded Agro-Industrial Development for Youth Empowerment
Scaling agro-industrial hubs to create sustainable jobs for youths and women while boosting food security and exports.

4. Innovation in Health, Education, and Social Services
Harnessing technology, reforms, and partnerships to deliver smarter, more accessible public services.

5. A Better Business Environment for Investment and Job Creation
Creating a stable, investor-friendly climate that attracts capital, supports local businesses, and creates quality jobs.

Ademola Adeleke can be trusted to religiously follow through on this Enhanced 5-Point Agenda.

Because he promised and he delivered.

Because he consistently puts the people first and above politics.

For Osun’s progress.
For continuity and stability.
For the future of our children.

ADELEKE IS THE CHOICE AGAIN IN 2026.

#ImoleBack2Back

Ebby Oluwasegun Ige
Media Director, Imole Independent Support Forum

- Ser to Petition US, UK Bank Regulatory Agencies


For alleged underhand dealings in the handling of deposited Osun state local government funds, a group called Labour Alliance (LA) has concluded arrangements to picket the offices of the United Bank for Africa(UBA).

Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke; the House Speaker, Rt Hon Adewale Egbedun and the State ALGON under elected chairmen and councillors of the Peoples Democratic Party had accused the the immediate former Governor, the UBA and the court sacked APC chairmen of tampering with local government fund in violation of local finance laws.

The PDP ALGON particularly alleged that over N50 billion of local funds have been shared among the APC chairmen even when no single kobo has been paid to local health and education workers.

Reacting to the development, the Labour Alliance without affiliation to the state NLC is reported to have met and finalised a plan to picket and expose UBA complicit in the ongoing diversion and mismanagement of Osun LG fund.

A credible source at the meeting of the group held this afternoon disclosed that the group is set to storm UBA branches alongside strongly worded petitions to regulatory authorities at home and abroad.

“We met and approved a plan to call out the UBA by storming their branches. We want to show the world the active involvement of the bank in ongoing illegality. We will encourage our people to boycott the banks as it has elected to serve the interest of Illegal occupants of our local governments.

“We are raising strong petitions to the United Kingdom bank regulatory authority. We will send the same petitions to regulatory authorities in the United States. We will list how UBA is violating regulatory laws, local laws and how the bank is endangering depositors’ funds.

“ We will write shareholders associations at home and abroad to alert them of illegality and criminal conduct of a supposed international bank. We will run massive local and international campaigns until the bank abides by Osun laws and stop aiding and abetting diversion of LG funds by APC unelected officials”, the group asserted in a statement circulated among its key leaders.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17foJhj3Qx/

The Osun APC “Yes or No” local government chairmen, in collaboration with officers of the Nigerian Police, Osun State Command, today took advantage of the resumption of work by members of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to allegedly molest and dehumanize some local government staff who reported for duty in compliance with the directive of the state NULGE.

Recall that the police hierarchy in Osun had issued a stern warning days earlier, cautioning all political actors to stay away from council secretariats during the resumption of work by NULGE members. It now appears that this warning was selectively applied, apparently to prevent the authentic chairmen from resuming office, while allowing APC members unrestricted access to the councils.

The conduct of the Osun State Police raises serious concerns, as it appears the command is not prepared to ensure a level playing field as the Osun election draws closer.

A political party is, in many ways, a vehicle. One of Its primary purpose is to convey a candidate to the desired destination: elective office. And like every traveler, a political actor has the right, and indeed the responsibility, to choose the vehicle most capable of completing the journey.

We have all seen travelers reject a particular vehicle because it appears too old, too slow, or too unreliable to complete the trip efficiently. And more importantly, even when a traveler has already boarded a vehicle and it suddenly develops mechanical, electrical, or structural faults, common sense demands that he disembark and seek a safer, more reliable alternative.

This analogy perfectly captures the current situation between Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP was the vehicle that successfully transported the Imole movement to Abeere in 2022, the Governor embarked on the journey with a party that seemed stable and functional. But today, as the 2026 destination draws near, that political vehicle has suffered a total breakdown.

The tyres are flat with no replacements in sight, the engine has knocked due to internal negligence and sabotage, and the party as currently structured has become incapable of moving anybody forward.

The Osun people, however, are already gathered at the destination, eagerly waiting to speak with their thumbs come August 8, 2026. Time is ticking, and waiting.

The real question before us is: What should Governor Adeleke do in these circumstances? And just as importantly: Will the people follow him if he chooses a different, more viable platform?

Recent statewide survey findings by the Imole Independent Support Forum (IISF) provide a clear and decisive answer.

62.2% of respondents stated they would vote for Imole regardless of the political party he contests under.

26.7% said they would support him but not under the APC.

11.1% expressed neutrality.

These numbers confirm a political reality: Governor Adeleke commands a unique, organic followership strong enough to win the 2026 election even with zero party structure. This is an extraordinary asset, and it is one he must deploy wisely and timely.

The Governor must therefore carefully review the available political platforms and avoid parties battling their own internal crises, so as not to move from frying pan to fire. Stability, cohesion, and readiness must guide his choice of vehicle for the 2026 journey.

Respondents in the IISF survey consistently emphasized one reason for their unwavering support: Governor Adeleke’s exceptional performance in office. His governance has delivered results, touched lives, expanded infrastructure, and restored hope. The people do not want this progress interrupted; they want the good work to continue unhindered.

The truth is undeniable: Imole is no longer just a political slogan, it has become a people-driven movement.

And movements, unlike parties, do not break down on the road. They find new roads, new vehicles, and new strength to reach their destination.

References abound in this regard. History was kind to Alex Otti when assured of the support of the people he dumped the APC and joined the relatively unpopular Labour Party barely 10 months to the Abia Gober election. Otti wasn't even a governor then, but he has the biggest political asset; the support of the people.

There is also the case of Gov Ortom of Benue, as a sitting Governor, Ortom jumped ship from the All Progressive Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party 8 months before the general election, he won.

The common factor for these Governors that left for a new platform is that they had the support and trust of the people and they built on it, they galvanized the people and the people rewarded them with their votes

The Imole Movement has outgrown the confines of a party in disarray. It has become a mandate of the people: fierce, loyal, resilient, and ready to follow their Governor anywhere he chooses to stand. The 2026 election is not about party colours; it is about continuity, stability, and the protection of the progress already achieved under his leadership.


Comrade Ebby Oluwasegun Ige
Director of Media (IISF)
18th November, 2025

This piece of news is totally fake, Gov Ademola Adeleke is prudent and very sensitive to the plight of Osun people. If the state has this amount of money to throw around, Gov Adeleke will rather direct such to paying backlog of salaries and pensions owed by previous administrations like he has been doing.

Disregard this completely please.

How does taking photo shots in from of LG councils amount to taking over the councils. You guys are just dramatizing. Thank God Adeleke for towing the path of peace.
Election on Saturday is sacrosanct, no going back!

TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY TEAM OF CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY

We are selected leaders of the civil society in Nigeria on a review and assessment mission to Osun state. We represent a wider group whose goal is to hold leaders accountable and ensure delivery of good governance.

We are not card-carrying memberss of any political group and we are not part of any partisan caucus. We have a history of activism as veterans of p4o-democracy movement in Nigeria.

We have been in Osun State about a week ago and we have taken a tour of major towns including the capital city. We had taken a tour of major towns - Ife, Ede, Ilesa, Osogbo and Ifon Osun among others. We had an unguarded tour of the various projects of the current government. We also had exclusive interactions with residence in some Local Governments, who briefed us of the good governance they are experiencing under Governor Ademola Adeleke's administration in infrastructural, human development, and people friendly administration that listens to the opinions and critiques of the residence/citizens which we believe would have proppeled the Governor to have achieved the length of success within 2 years. It's on record that during the last administration in Osun State we conducted a similar exercise, which to us as unbiased umpires could say boldly that the current administration under Gov.Ademola Adeleke has done so much so far that he deserves our commendation and not a total vote of confidence, for him to do more for the people of Osun State.

We also attended an expanded town hall meeting held on the 27th of November, 2024 where the Governor spoke extensively about his scorecard. We had compared on site visitations with the submissions of the government and we are here to present our findings as follows:

The current Osun state government has been faithfully committed to the implementation of its agenda. We can get affirmed that significant delivery has taken place from the promises made by Mr. Governor to the people of Osun State.

Our findings also shows that the current government enjoys enormous goodwill of the people as never seen in the recent past. To us the enthusiasm displayed so far by the citizenry in the course of our activities affirms a high popularity acceptance rating for the state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke;
The performance review of the state governor is strongly positive on all indices and we therefore declare him a true agent of good governance;
Our findings also show a strong grassrooted hold and influence of the Governor on the state.

On the strength of the above findings , we call on the Governor to sustain the temporary effects of his high performance and never to get distracted by political shenanigans. He must stick to his high service delivery standard and further expand the scope of his democratic delivery.
Finally, as the voice of the voiceless that we are we stand to say that we commend where commendable and we condemn when necessary.

1 Comrade Declan Ihekaire (Spokesperson)
2 Comrade Gbenga Ganzalo(member)
3 Comrade Funmi Jolade Ajayi (member)

We thank you for listening

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who belong to The Osun Progressives (TOP) caucus of the party were yesterday attacked by hoodlums.

The TOP members, according to eye witnesses, were attacked around 5pm at St John's Grammar, Oke Atan, Ilode Area, Ile-Ife, the venue of the meeting.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the hoodlums who were about 20 in number stormed the venue of the meeting with guns, cutlasses and clubs, and started unleashing attack on the TOP members.

One of the victims of the attack, Sikiru Owojori said: " I'm one of the people attacked at St johns today, it was so deadly and I know Allah is there to judge. The boys that came to attack us are those loyal to Hon. Tajudeen Lawal. They are all from Okerewe ward 2.

"They wounded me on my left leg. They beat and left Tony to die, Hon. Rafiu was beaten like a baby. Alhaji Apari was wounded, photos don't lie. May we all live to see the end of evil perpetrators. I'm still on treatment bed."

Barr Gbenga Awosode, one of the APC leaders in Ife-East Local Government, also confirmed the attack.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the case had been reported at Agano Police Station.

Some of the victims of the attack are:
1. Alhaji Muritala lawal
2. Anthony Adeyemo
3. Hon. Oyewole Rafiu
4. Kunle Oguntoke
5. Owojori Sikiru
6. Iyabo Olufisayo
7. Ademola Adegoke
8. Awosemo Kehinde
9. Ayinla Serifa


http://www.osundefender.com/thugs-attack-top-members-in-ile-ife/

The Rauf Aregbesola Colloquium is an annual colloquium to commemorate Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s birthday.

The theme for this year is Government and Big Development: Realities and Solutions for Nigeria.

Different facets of our national life have been stagnant, while some have purely regressed.

The speakers intend to discuss how we got here, what we did right and those we got wrong. The aim is to have the supposedly difficult conversations that will spring forth solutions that are homemade and practical.

The event will hold virtually at 11am prompt on May 29, 2021.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will be the Keynote Speaker

The Special Guest and other speakers include:
Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressive Congress

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State.

Senator Kashim Shetimma, Fmr. Governor of Borno State.

Senator Eke Ekweremadu, Frm. Deputy Senate President

Comrade Ayuba Wabba, NLC President


To register visit ogbeni.info




http://www.osundefender.com/aregbesola-colloquium-holds-tomorrow/

Men of the Osun State Command of the Nigerian Police yesterday engaged some hoodlums at the Don Plaza, MDS area Osogbo.

The engagement led to the exchange of gunshot with several vehicles destroyed and scores of passersby injured.

Trouble started when some unidentified hoodlums approached the CEO of Don Plaza to demand for "settlement" with some amounts of money.

After all efforts to have Don Plaza settle them proved to be unsuccessful, the hoodlums threw caution to the wind and started causing trouble within and around the plaza, as well as harrasing other people within the vicinity.

According to an eyewitness account, at around 3pm, when the behaviour of the hoodlums seems to be going out of hand, the police invaded the premises allegedly on the request of the CEO of Don plaza to chase the hoodlums away.

However, upon arriving, the police men began to shot to scare the hoodlums away, but they didn't just shot into the air, they shot at the hoodlums too.

Innocent people in the MDS area soon became the victims of the sporadic shooting between the police and the hoodlums, leading to the destruction of several cars parked around the area.

In an attempt to take cover from the flying bullets, some people also sustained various degrees of injuries.

Some of the affected victims described the manner of the police shooting as totally unprofessional, many wondered what warranted such shooting when it was not an armed robbery scene. Insisting that the police should have approched with more caution.

One of the victims who spoke to Osun Defender, Mr Olarenwaju Yusuf, who owns a photo studio in the area said he is still in shock. He showed the bullet holes on his car's windshield and ask that the matter must not be swept under the carpet.

He blamed the police for the destructions and demanded that the police should fish out the it's men that carried out the shooting at Don Plaza to prevent future occurence. He also ask that those whose cars were destroyed should be compensated by the police.

Another eyewitness simply identified as Ahmed, a furniture maker, said he escaped the gunshots by the whiskers, wondering why the police should turn against the people they are meant to protect.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, while responding to enquries by Osun Defender said, policemen were only preventing hoodlums from invading the plaza and extorting traders there and that some of the hoodlums were armed with dangerous weapons and were unyielding to the civil plea of the policemen.

According to her, "the police shot into the air to disperse the crowd of the hoodlums who were obviously waiting to commit crime and disturb the public peace, our men didn't shot at the people, they are professionals".

She also challenged anyone that claims he or she was shot or has gunshot injury to come out and report at the police headquarters.







[url][/url]http://www.osundefender.com/police-engage-hoodlums-in-osogbo-scores-injured-cars-destroyed/[url][/url]

Following the expiration of the tenure of the Provost of the Osun State College of Education Ila-Orangun, Prof. Isaac Olayinka Oyewole, the Governor of the State, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has approved the appointment of Professor Jimoh Atanda Afolabi as the Acting Provost of the College.

Professor Jimoh Atanda Afolabi obtained his First and Second Degrees from the University of Ibadan and his PhD from the Federal University of Technology, Akure in Ondo State.

He served as a Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics in the Federal University of Technology, Akure from 2013 till his new appointment.

He is widely travelled, locally and internationally. He is married with children.





http://www.osundefender.com/just-in-osun-college-of-education-gets-new-provost/