The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II has warned against alleged politicization of the tribal clash between Yoruba and Hausa indigenes in the ancient city.
 

He spoke during a condolence visit by leaders of Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, to him and victims of the crisis in the palace on Wednesday.
 
During the visit, the Yoruba leaders met with Yoruba and Hausa leaders and also distributed relief materials to victims. The Ooni appealed to the Yorubas to understand that violent reactions will worsen the crisis.
 
He explained that persevering and admitting any alleged wrongdoing against Yorubas doesn’t translate to being weak.
 
He also urged youths in the ancient city to use their strength for productive activities rather than violence. He said, “The unity of this nation is very important and we must all defend it.
 
We must all ensure peaceful co-existence. Painfully, the misfortune has happened but we just have to allow peace to reign. We cannot settle violence with violence. We all should persevere and realise that people of different tribes live in other parts of the country. It is patience that we need to get this case resolved.
 
“I have communicated with necessary authorities in the police force over the matter. There is a unique co-existence among people of different tribes and religions here and we must maintain that model.
 
“We only know the beginning of a war, nobody knows the end. I plead with Afenifere and other groups to let peace reign so that the crisis will not degenerate.”
 
He lamented that youths were mostly affected in the crisis, adding that yoruba elders should play reconcilatory roles. He added, “Youths should not allow this issue be turned to a political one. They should be careful and not allow this issue to be politicised.
 
We should remember that most of these politicians don’t come to Sabo to render assistance until the misfortune that happened.” Speaking earlier, one of the leaders of the group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, accused the police of being biased. He explained that it was wrong to arrest majority of Ile-Ife indigenes.
He said, “We are not happy with the crisis. The reason for the clash is still surprising because for over forty years that Yoruba and Hausa have been co-habiting, there have not been any record of violence between the two tribes.
“Even during Ife/Modakeke crisis, nobody attacked the Hausas in Ife. The Police are to be blamed for this crisis.
 
They caused the crisis. They arrested only Yoruba people after the crisis. It points to the fact that the arrest was pre-planned. The Police appear to be against the Yoruba and the Inspector General of Police has said he doesn’t have any apology.
 
“What Afenifere is saying again is that the arrest is one-sided. Some of the people that died in the clash are Yoruba and their houses torched. Nonetheless, we are here to sympathise with both the Yoruba and Hausa residents of Ife.”
 
 
Among the delegation to Ooni’s palace are the former secretary to the federal government Chief Olu Falae, Spokesperson of the organization, Yinka Odumakin and foremost Ife son, Chief Iyiola Omisore among other notable members of Afenifere.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday described former Governor of Lagos State and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as one rare breed of a pathfinder. Aregbesola, saluting Tinubu on the occasion of his 65th birthday (which comes up today Wednesday) said history has already recorded the former Governor as having found ways where there were none and created opportunities for humanity where many did not see any.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola along with other prominent Nigerians graced the occasion of the 9th Bola Ahmed Tinubu Colloquium held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.
See pictures below 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 
 

The peace and serenity of Sabo, a section of this ancient city of Ile Ife was shattered when violence erupted among some hoodlums, leading regrettably to loss of lives and destruction of property. May the souls of the departed find eternal repose and may the peace of the Almighty God reign supreme in Osun and in our nation.
 

 
The State Government of Osun, the then Acting President and law enforcement agencies immediately stepped into the matter. Normalcy and peace were immediately restored to the affected area. The police have arrested some suspects. Some were immediately released when sufficient ground for their continued retention could not be established. The police and other law enforcement agencies have assured all of even-handedness and that the rule of law will be strictly adhered to and prevail. We owe them support and the need for patience until the final outcome, since investigation into the matter continues.
In light of ongoing investigation, therefore, we do not want to pre-empt the outcome by making statements prejudicial to the efforts of the law enforcement agencies. However, we have no doubt that this is not an inter-ethnic, inter religious or inter regional conflict by any stretch of the imagination. It was just an ugly development, a breach of public peace, masterminded by hoodlums and criminals resulting to loss of lives and property.

While not denying the political and economic roots of conflicts in our land, every infraction of the law is primarily a law and order matter. Even while we seek political solutions to a problem, the first line of approach is law enforcement. This is why even our armed forces, armed and ready to be deployed in war, are technically instruments for enforcing laws, protecting our territorial integrity and promoting our foreign policies.
We should all therefore disabuse our minds of ethnic bias by denying the narrative of inter-ethnic conflict between the Yoruba and Hausa community in Ile Ife, because it was not. It is the duty of government to guarantee the welfare and security of all people in its area of jurisdiction. This we shall do to the best of our ability and with all the resources at our disposal, without fear or favour.
Some people, for reasons best known to them, might decide to fan the embers of discord, division, even separation and incite one group against another, with a false narrative of Yoruba-Hausa conflict and call to arms. They are wrong and have to be unhinged in their bid to promote needless strive and protracted inter-ethnic crisis.
On September 23, 2016 we held the 123rd anniversary of the 1893 Kiriji War Armistice, at which the warring parties in the 16 long years of destructive Yoruba civil war, decided to sheathe their swords and embrace peace for the peace, unity, progress and prosperity of the Yoruba nation. On that fateful day, the warring parties, principally the Ijesa and Ekiti confederate army and the Ibadan army, signed a peace treaty. It was in the words of the partisans, that ‘the Kiriji war ended all wars in Yorubaland’.
For 16 long years, the Yoruba nation was consuming itself and thankfully the armistice came, giving us the opportunity for peace, healing and progress. One critical lesson learnt from the war was that it was destructive and retrogressive and we should avoid any situation that will put our nation and people in harm’s way.
Civilized people should avoid destructive actions and promotion of conflicts. War is bad and must be avoided by all means.  We must always first explore and exhaust all options for peace and seriously consider the cost of conflict before promoting it. The consequences of war in Libya, Syria, Yemen and South Sudan are sufficiently frightening enough to check any thought of war by any one.
Secondly, Yoruba people are OMOLUABI; very loving, fair-minded, justice seeking, hospitable and accommodating to a fault. This is why other people flock to us. Likewise, the Hausa community in Ile-Ife and other parts of the state.
It might interest us to know that many of these non-Yoruba people are fourth and fifth generation settlers whose forebears have been with us for more than a century and have little or no connection to their nativity. Many of them bear Yoruba names and have intermarried with our people. While there are occasional quarrels within the Yoruba and between Yoruba and other nationalities, violence and destruction of this magnitude were rare and puzzling and should call for deep reflections and soul searching among us all.
Whereas Yoruba and Hausa people had been on different political camps for decades without recourse to bloody conflicts, how come we are witnessing this isolated mayhem in Sabo when the mainstream Yoruba and Hausa people share the same political platform?
We are therefore determined to get to the root of the matter, mete out appropriate sanctions on the instigators and perpetrators of the mayhem and prevent such occurrences in the future
The report that small arms and light weapons were deployed freely during the crisis was disturbing and frightening. It has implication for security of lives and property and the potential for more conflicts beyond the immediate theatre of war, if not nipped in the bud. I want you to look into this. The sources and the current location of these arms and their custodians should be investigated and determined. They should all be recovered.
There are also reports that cultists who have no regard for human lives were recruited into the mayhem for a fee. This is most disheartening.
We want justice for all, like Martin Luther King Jr, once said, ‘Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream’, to the victims and the perpetrators alike.
•Excerpted from the speech delivered by Governor Rauf Aregbesola  at the inauguration of a six-man commission of inquiry into the civil disturbances in Ile-Ife

State of Osun House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt.Honourable Najeem Salam has felicitated with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the Celebration of his 65th birthday.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the Assembly described Tinubu as a quintessential, larger than life politician, with passion for democratic ideals and commitment to national development.
It noted that the former governor of Lagos state is a man of many parts, a bridge builder, philanthropist, master strategist and patriot who in many ways has raised the standard of civilization and human dignity. Osun Assembly maintained that Nigeria owes Tinubu a huge gratitude for his determination, consistency, doggedness, vision and fearless disposition in the strengthening and enthronement of good governance in the country.
The parliament noted that Tinubu, who is acknowledged by friends and foe, far and near, as a rounded politician, pathfinder, investor, generous and people person, said, through his extra ordinarily large heart and unusual magnanimity of character, he had raised countless men from miry clay, produced several remarkable politicians and business leaders.

The statement pointed that Tinubu warm disposition, visionary leadership and cares for the oppressed and the under-privileged had endeared him to all and sundry. The Assembly then advised him to remain focus in the days and years ahead at ensuring that democracy which he bravely fought for is not left to drift or suffer any form of setback. While wishing him many more years in radiant health, State of Osun Assembly added that his many legacies and contributions to nation building, party politics and wealth creation are eloquent testimonies of his great personality as a distinguished Nigerian and pan Africanist.

One of the reasons the conservative party won the UK elections in 2010 was their relentless attack against the then Labour Government on the issue of national debt. They labeled Labour party ‘reckless’ for plunging the country into more DEBT. They said the only language Labour understands is “Borrowing, borrowing and more borrowing”. The conservative manifesto also read: “Failing to control our debt would be more than an economic failing, it would be a moral failing – leaving our children and grandchildren with debts that they could never hope to repay.” People bought it and they voted Labour out.
 

 
The Conservative Party came to power in 2010. By 2013, they had borrowed ‘more’ in 3 years than Labour did in 13 years. In 2016, it was reported, the conservative party had created more DEBT than every Labour government in history i.e created more debt in 6 years than Labour did in 23 years. Isn’t that incredible!
My point is, no state or nation can pursue any meaningful programmes or projects without borrowing, regardless of their IGR or how stable their economy is. Politicians or parties that say otherwise are simply not telling the truth, just like the UK conservative party. And anyone with knowledge of governance wouldn’t believe it a bit.
States like Osun, with huge infrastructural deficit, poorly skilled working population and decayed educational system, lack the most basic of elements that attract investors. That is a fact. No investor will bring their money to a state with dilapidated infrastructures, a poor skilled working population. And that is what Osun was before Aregbesola. Some do say states should look inward. Of course, they must do so. But they can only go so far in improving on their IGR if they don’t invest in infrastructures and develop human capacity. Boosting economic growth and building IGR that knows no bounds requires investment in critical sectors complemented with progressive policies; this will ultimately create an enabling environment for businesses. No two ways about it.
According to Awolowo, three things must be worked on by any government to boost its economy: Infrastructure, Education and Health. On Health, he further said, it is safer and economical if a government pays more attention to preventive medicine which consists of measures taken for disease prevention, as opposed to disease treatment. Since Aregbesola came to power, all his policies and programmes have revolved around these three key elements.
Since he came to power in 2010, Aregbesola has built more roads than all democratically elected governors of the state combined. It earned him an epithet from the populace, ‘Ona baba ona’. Road constructions/improvements decrease transportation costs, improve access to markets, foster economic integration and provide a number of other wider economic benefits. This is why roads construction/improvements are frequently proposed as a strategy for economic growth, integration and local economic development. His government has constructed over 1000km high class urban and rural roads.
Osun is not the first state to initiate a school feeding programme in Nigeria. It has been done by some other states, but they failed. When Aregbesola started Osun free school feeding programme, many people said it will also fail just like those before it. They said it was a white elephant. The programme is now over 4 years old, and it is still going strong. The state has now become a model to all states of the federation in the area of the school feeding programme. Niger state recently sent a delegation to Osun to understudy the programme- not to mention the FG delegation. The programme was also well applauded by the international community. The Governor was invited by Imperial College London, where he was the keynote speaker, he spoke on the success of the state’s school meal programme. The programme feeds over 250,000 children every school day. It provides direct employment to over 3,000 women, with indirect employment of over 7,000 and purchases food from over 1000 local farmers.

School enrollment has increased by 62% since the inception of the programme. What the state is doing on education is as clear as daylight; and it is not just structures like some do say. The impact reflects in the performance of students from the State. The WAEC success rate in Osun was 6.86% in 2007, it is now 46.3%. Of course it can be better, but there has been a giant leap in the performance. The State of Osun is now among the top 3 states with highest university admission in the federation. All these do not happen by sheer coincidence.
Before Aregbesola came to power in 2010, the IGR was about N300 million monthly; now it swings between N1 billion and N1.2 billion. The highest was N1.5 billion but dropped due to the current economic situation. The few programmes I highlighted and many others require funding to put in place. Relying on IGR and FAAC alone cannot just do it. Osun used to be a civil servant state. What that means is, the government only pay salaries to civil servants, 99% of the populace benefits close to nothing and all these left the state completely stagnant. Since Aregbesola came on board, the resources of the state is being evenly spread. I doubt if there is any household in Osun that has not been positively touched one way or the other.
The Nigeria Extractive Transparency Initiative, NEITI recently reported that Osun debt stands at N165.91. To put this in perspective, the state has put a burden of N5.56Kobo on every citizen (4 million) of the state. Osun feeds every pupil in the public school with N70 every school day. This and other achievements of Aregbesola since 2010 that has catapulted the state from completely nowhere to be ranked top of the lowest unemployment rate in Nigeria today; Second after Lagos with the least poverty rate in the whole federation and one of the state with lowest crime rate.

I sincerely believe the debt profile of the state is nothing, compared to what has been achieved in the state. We can moan and moan about debt or size of it, it won’t stop any government that aspires to positively transform the state to the benefit of the people in borrowing to facilitate its agenda.
Naturally, politicians and political parties will prey on the ignorance (on the part of some citizens) but the truth is when they get there, they will do the same or even worse. The other thing that can also happen is, not to borrow and allow the state to remain stagnant just like some governors are doing. Governors are elected to move their respective states towards prosperity and not just to pay salaries or do nothing, just like some are also doing. It is no coincidence that the least indebted states like Zamfara, Yobe, Plateau are also the states with the highest level of unemployment and highest poverty rate in Nigeria. I will rather have a Governor who will borrow to invest in critical sectors of the state and the citizens, move the state positively from what it used to be than the one who will borrow to loot or only pay civil servant salaries and stagnate it.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday described former Governor of Lagos State and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as one rare breed of a pathfinder.
 

 
Aregbesola, saluting Tinubu on the occasion of his 65th birthday (which comes up today Wednesday) said history has already recorded the former Governor as having found ways where there were none and created opportunities for humanity where many did not see any.
The Osun Governor’s message signed by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, recognized Tinubu’s immense contributions to the political and economic growth of Nigeria and indeed Africa.
It said that Lagos began to emerge as a truly habitable state after what he described as “Tinubu’s mega-development vision” adding that the success story of Lagos has rubbed off on South-West, Nigeria and indeed, the whole of Africa.
Aregbesola said Tinubu’s capacity for talent hunt and leadership recruitment are unparalleled adding that his unique ability to spot the best hands for crucial assignments have elevated him to that pedestal of rare leader of men.
“Today, we are celebrating a giant pathfinder; one whose contributions to Nigeria’s political and economic growth have provided development scholars serious models for academic studies.
This is one Nigerian politician whose politics is known to have impacted heavily on humanity. From Lagos where God used him for the emergence of a new state, to Nigeria as a whole and indeed, the continent of Africa where his influence continues to be felt, Tinubu manifests in our lives in all ramifications,” the statement said
The Governor prayed for longer life for Tinubu just as he expressed the wish that his visions of a greater Nigeria and indeed, the Black race would continue to blossom.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has called for the cooperation of security agencies in the process of unravelling those behind the March 8 mayhem in Ile-Ife.

Aregbesola stated this on Monday in Osogbo shortly after inaugurating a five-man judicial commission of enquiry into the communal clash in Ile-Ife on March 8, where no fewer than 46 persons reportedly died.
The pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has declared its support for the panel of enquiry set up by the governor three weeks after the crisis in the ancient town.
Afenifere’s spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Monday, stated that the governor was the one constitutionally empowered to investigate the crisis.
Odumakin stated, “We accept the investigation which we hope will unearth the truth of the crisis in Ife even though we have yet to see the composition.
“The investigation should be impartial so as to show the sense of justice and respect for truth which we cherish as a people. We eagerly wait to see if a proper investigation can turn up the same verdict which an ethnic-driven police in Abuja have prematurely turned up out of primordial consideration.”
The police had paraded 20 suspects of Yoruba extraction in Abuja for allegedly masterminding the riot in the ancient town.
But Afenifere objected to the arrest and parade of the 20 suspects in Abuja by the police.
Members of the Osun panel, who have been given four weeks to submit their report, are Justice M. A. Adeigbe, who is the chairman; DCP Bose Dawodu (retd.), Mr. Ismail Ajibade, the state Commissioner of Police, the state Director of the Department of State Services and Mr. Bisi Babalola, who is the secretary.
The governor charged the commission to investigate and determine the remote and immediate causes of the disturbance; identify the perpetrators and the extent of their involvement; and determine the extent of injury suffered by any individual or group.
They were also mandated to recommend appropriate civil or criminal actions to be taken against the perpetrators; and make appropriate suggestions to the state government towards the prevention of future occurrence.
The panel is also mandated to recommend appropriate monetary sum as compensation(s) for damage or injuries that might have been suffered by any individual or group of individuals in respect of matters received by it.
Aregbesola added, “The report that small arms and light weapons were deployed freely during the crisis was disturbing and frightening.
“It has implication for security of lives and property and the potential for more conflicts beyond the immediate theatre of war, if not nipped in the bud.
“I want you to look into this. The sources and the current location of these arms and their custodians should be investigated and determined. They should all be recovered.
“There were also reports that cultists, who have no regard for human lives, were recruited into the mayhem for a fee. This is most disheartening. Please investigate this and unearth the roles they played and let the law be applied without fear or favour.
“I charge this commission to be courageous and fearless. Undertake this assignment with all seriousness and the fear of God. You should pursue the truth and not fear where it will lead to.”
He believed that the crisis was not an inter-ethnic, inter-religious or inter-regional conflict.
He described the mayhem as just an ugly development, a breach of public peace, masterminded by hoodlums and criminals, which resulted into loss of lives and property.
Aregbesola stated, “In the light of ongoing investigation, therefore, we do not want to pre-empt the outcome by making statements prejudicial to the efforts of law enforcement agencies.
“However, we have no doubt that this is not an inter-ethnic, inter-religious or inter-regional conflict by any stretch of the imagination. It was just an ugly development, a breach of public peace, masterminded by hoodlums and criminals resulting to loss of lives and property.
“We should all therefore disabuse our minds of ethnic bias by denying the narrative of inter-ethnic conflict between the Yoruba and Hausa community in Ile-Ife, because it was not.”
The governor called on all and sundry to always explore the options of peaceful resolution of conflicts before crisis, saying crisis would always leave both parties in pain and agony at the end of the day.
In his response, the chairman of the judicial commission of enquiry, Justice Moshood Adeigbe, promised that the commission would discharge its job without fear or favour.
He stated, “Mr. Governor, I assure you that we will not let you and the people of the state down. We will carry out this task you have given us to the best of our ability.
“My members and I will ensure that the perpetrators of the sad event, which occurred at Ife, are brought to book.”
Meanwhile, the pan-northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, on Monday, cautioned its Yoruba counterpart, Afenifere, over comments on the mode of arrest of suspects in the aftermath of the Ile-Ife crisis.

Northern Socio-Political group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday urged Yoruba elders to restrain from giving ethnic coloration to the crisis that erupted in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
 

 
The Northern socio-cultural group, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Muhammadu Ibrahim, said:
 
“Unfortunately, subsequent events after the preliminary investigation report of the police into the Ile-Ife crisis, there have been accusations by some Yoruba leaders that the police report was biased, as the suspects paraded by the police were alleged to be mainly Yoruba.
 
“ACF’s position in this regard is to appeal to the respected elders of Yoruba not to give unnecessary ethnic coloration to the unfortunate Ile-Ife clash as criminality knows no ethnicity or religion.
 
“Any slightest disagreement between individuals or groups of persons that are regarded as ethnic or religious tend to deepen hatred and division among Nigerians. Elders are known for their wisdom in settling disputes and not to fan embers of divisions.”
Osun governor has raised a five-man judicial commission of inquiry into the disturbance of public peace that claimed some lives in the ancient city of Ile-Ile town on March 20. The committee has four weeks to turn in its report.
The move came even as the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and the Arewa Consultative Forum (OPC) disagreed on the reactions trailing the mayhem, especially the arrest of 20 suspects.

In a statement, OPC President Fredrick Fasehun accused the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris of bias, tagging him an ethnic jingoist for arresting the hosts in a clash involving resident-settlers. He called for the police chief’s sack “over charges of tribalism and prejudice”.
But in another statement through its Publicity Secretary Muhammed Ibrahim, the ACF warned Yoruba leaders to be cautious in their reactions, saying that crime and violence have no ethnic colouration.
Reiterating his administration commitment to the promotion of communal peace in the Living Spring State, Aregbesola called for cooperation with security agencies in the process of unravelling the masterminds of the March 8 mayhem.
In his speech entitled “Justice for all, never again in the Land of the Virtuous (Ipinle Omoluabi), shortly after inaugurating the five-member panel at the weekend, the governor tasked the committee to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the crisis.
He named Justice M.A Adeigbe as the panel’s chair. Other members are:  Mrs. Bose Dawodu DCP (rtd), Barrister Ismail Ajibade, the State Commissioner of Police, the State Director of DSS and Mr. Bisi Babalola who will act as the secretary.
He urged the panel to identify the perpetrators and their extent of involvement, determine the extent of injury suffered by any individuals or group.
The committee was also mandated to recommend appropriate civil or criminal action to be taken against the perpetrators, make appropriate suggestions to the State Government towards the prevention of future occurrence and also recommend appropriate monetary sum as compensation(s) for damages or injuries that may have been suffered by any individual or group of individuals in respect of matters received by it.

He said: “You have four weeks to carry out this assignment. The report that small arms and light weapons were deployed freely during the crisis was disturbing and frightening.
“It has implication for security of lives and property and the potential for more conflicts beyond the immediate theatre of war, if not nipped in the bud.
“I want you to look into this. The sources and the current location of these arms and their custodians should be investigated and determined. They should all be recovered.
“There are also reports that cultists who have no regard for human lives were recruited into the mayhem for a fee. This is most disheartening. Please investigate this and unearth the roles they played and let the law be applied without fear or favour.
“I charge this commission to be courageous and fearless. Undertake this assignment with all seriousness and the fear of God. You should pursue the truth and not fear where it will lead to.
“We want justice for all, like Martin Luther King Jr, once said, ‘Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream’, to the victims and the perpetrators alike, as I wish you success on this crucial assignment.”
The governor warned against pre-empting the outcome of on going investigation, saying it will be prejudicial to the efforts of the law enforcement agencies, he however expressed confidence that the crisis is not an inter-ethnic, inter religious or inter regional conflict.
In his response, Justice Adeigbe promised that his panel will discharge its job without fear or favour.
He said the commission would go all out to ensure that the real perpetrators of the dastardly act are brought to book and ensure that all warring factions are appeased.
The panel chair said: “Mr. Governor, I assure you that we will not let you and the people down. We will carry out this task you have given us to the best of our ability.” Myself, and my members will ensure that the perpetrators of the sad event which occurred at Ife are brought to book.”
Fasehun, who accused Idris of acting an ethnic script said: “The IG just confirmed that only Yoruba were arrested in a conflict between Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani people; that is prejudicial and that is unacceptable.
“Idris is a man with an agenda. He has shown himself a bigot. And he is unfit to be the IG of Police in a cosmopolitan and pluralistic country like Nigeria. Before he smears President Muhammadu Buhari, the President should offload him.”
According to the OPC leader, for the IG to have made such a statement was “an admission of tribalism, unbefitting of the exalted position of the Inspector-General of the Nigerian police. It is a confirmation that the police under Mr. Ibrahim Idris took the prejudicial step to arrest only Yoruba people although the crisis pitched two tribes against each other.”
Fasehun accused the police chief taking sides and that contrary to his training and oath of office, foreclosed an open case between two conflicting groups.
“The IG has admitted that only Yoruba suspects were arrested and that it was deliberate. It is a clear case of prejudice,” he emphasised.
He called for the immediate release of the Ife-20, saying, their arrest neither followed due process nor the facts on the ground.
Fasehun warned that such a prejudicial stance by security agents like the IG could embolden herdsmen to inflict violence and death on communities across the country.
Fasehun said: “Is there any wonder why under Idris’s watch, the police has been unable to apprehend, prosecute and check the mayhem inflicted by Fulani herdsmen at Agatu in Benue State, where they have sacked communities and continue to graze their cattle with impunity, in Delta State, in Ekiti State, Ogun State, Nasarawa State, Benue State, in Plateau State and in Southern Kaduna?
“Despite the havoc being unleashed and continued against citizens in Southern Kaduna, the police under Idris has been unable to apprehend and prosecute a single culprit.
Pointed out that the police have swing into action only in cases where victims put up resistance against, he alleged   that the police often arrest people defending their homes and farms against invaders.
“Everywhere communities rise up to resist agents of death, Idris would quickly rise up to arrest citizens for daring to protect themselves,” Fasehun reiterated.

Leadership and members of the ruling party in Osun state, the All Progressive Congress (APC) have commended various economic initiatives introduced by the present administration in the state, saying the programmes are serving as a stimulant for its economy to grow and develop.

According to them, Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s introduction of certain economic turnaround initiatives, had prevented the state from feeling, fully the crushing weight of economic recession ravaging the country at the moment.

Speaking at a programme tagged: “Enroute Rauf: A discourse on Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the polity of the State of Osun”, the state chairman of the party, Gboyega Famoodun, who chaired the first session of the discourse, said introduction of initiatives like “O’ Yes”, ” O’ Reap” and School Feeding Programmes, had assisted the state in revamping its economy through creation of new spenders of money.

Through creation of new spenders that are separate from the regular salary earners, Famoodun said more money is being pumped into the state’s economy using robust economic activities.

But, the Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti, urged governor to support only aspirant capable of continuing the six-point Integral Action Plan of the present administration.

The SSG said “They should say whatever they like. Whoever wants to succeed Aregbesola must be ready to continue his six-point integral action plan.

“The policy laid down by Asiwaju Tinubu was sustained by Fashola and Ambode is building on it. That is why Lagos state is progressing. We are satisfied with the six-point integral action plan of Aregbesola and we would not allow anybody that is not ready to maintain and sustain the success achieved by the governor.”

In his remarks, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, explained that the debt profile released by Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, was exaggerated.

He said the N165.9 billion debt as released by NEITI was nothing, compared to the development Osun has witnessed in the last six years of his administration and promised to complete all the ongoing projects before the expiration of his tenure in November, 2018.

In his welcome remarks, one of the conveners of the discourse, Rasheed Ropo Raji, said the event was organised to ensure that the ruling party does not lose sight of its humble beginning.

He said such discourse should be organised frequently for younger generation and new members to have good idea of how the enterance of Aregbesola into Osun’s politics revolutionised it and did the unthinkable of returning power to the opposition.