The Nation Newspaper

Tag: OSUN

  • Sallah: Osun offers free train ride to travellers

    The Osun State Government is offering a free train ride from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states to Osun State and vice versa during the Eid-il Kabir celebration.

    The Ministry of Commerce and Cooperatives said the free ride would begin on Thursday and end on Sunday.

    Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives Ismail Alagbada said the train would leave Lagos for Osogbo, the state capital, by 9am daily.

    It will leave Osogbo for Lagos on Saturday and Sunday by 10am.

    Alagbada said the free ride would make the trips “stress-free” for the people.

    He said: “This gesture is from the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration to people who intend to come home during the festive period. The free train ride started last year and has become a regular gesture from the government during Christian and Muslim festivals. This administration wants transportation comfort for its people, who hitherto encountered hardship and fare hike during the rush period.”

    The commissioner urged travellers to make good use of the opportunity.

  • Police release detained journalist in Osun

    Mr Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Osun State Correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, who was arrested and detained on Monday by the state Police command, has been released.

    Gbolagunte was detained for several hours at the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Osogbo over a report which the Police criticised.

    Mrs Kalafite Adeyemi, the Commissioner of Police, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the matter had been settled while the case file had been closed.

    Mrs. Adeyemi said Gbolagunte was arrested in connection with the aftermath of students’ protest in Ila-Orangun College of Education in which he reported that one policeman died.

    She clarified that no officer died and no corpse was found anywhere in the town as reported in the newspaper, stressing that the report jolted the police.

    The commissioner, who cautioned reporters in their news reportage, called for full investigation of stories so as to avoid publishing lies to the public.

    Gbolagunte had recalled how the Police asked him to write a statement on what he knew about a story captioned: “Police Officer found dead after Osun students riot” on Friday.

    He recalled how he was arrested and whisked away by detectives without telling him his offence and how he was lumped up with suspected criminals in a cell.

    “The suspects gave me two slaps and hit me in the chest for not giving them the money they demanded as a new comer in the cell,” the journalist lamented.

    Gbolagunte said his release was due to the intervention of Alhaji Ismaila Ayodele, the chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), top government officials and fellow journalists.

  • Osun State or State of Osun?

    Osun State or State of Osun?

    What is in a name? In linguistic philosophy, name denotes as a sign for a thing, person or thought, or more accurately, of real or imaginary, mental or material phenomenon by which it is known. The sun, the earth, Osun State, the Emperor of Japan and the President of Nigeria are singular names that denote real things, including that of a person. In Yoruba language, a name not only denotes, but also has meaning (connotative). The same goes for Igbo and Hausa languages. Yoruba names are like sentences that have meanings. Thus we have Oluwabiyi (God has given birth to this (boy/girl)), Babatunde (dead father has come back to life, like in reincarnation), Omosini (child buries his parent) and Oluwarotimi (God stands by me). In Igbo, Chukwuemeka (God has done very well), Chijioke (God is the keeper and sharer of gifts and fortunes) and in Hausa, Maigari (one who owns the land). “Osun” and “State” are concrete and nameable things. What precisely then is the meaning of Osun State when translated into Yoruba language? It is simply Osun Ipinle. What is the meaning of Osun Ipinle? I really don’t know, but Osun Ipinle is an unmeaning mark or label because it is non- connotative. The same applies to California State (California Ipinle), New York State (New York Ipinle), Columbia District (Columbia Àgbègbè) etc. But we can give proper meaning to Osun State (Osun Ipinle) by renaming it State of Osun ( Ipinle Osun i.e. Ipinle ti Osun) because, unlike the latter, the former does not denote anything. If, for the sake of argument we say “to be is to denote”, then Osun State or Osun Ipinle is only officially recognised on paper or in the mind or imagination, but does not exist in reality as it does not denote anything.

    “Ipinle Osun” is meaningful while “Osun Ipinle” is not, in Yoruba language. Similarly, we can translate California State (California Ipinle), New York State (New York Ipinle) and Columbia District, CD (Columbia Àgbègbè, Ileto) to meaningful ones like State of California (Ipinle California), State of New York (Ipinle New York) and District of Columbia, DC (Agbegbe Columbia). We are not expected to treat Osun, California, New York and Columbia as if they are adjectives qualifying the word “state” and “district” precisely because they are not attributive of any quality, property or accident of an object or thing.

    We can now see that “Osun” and “State” are both proper nouns and concrete names where one cannot be used as an adjective qualifying the other as in Osun State. But we can use one as possessing or belonging to the other, like the State of Osun (i.e. State belonging to Osun), just as the State of California, State of New York and District of Columbia (DC) as states belonging to California territory, New York territory and District belonging to Columbia territory respectively. Which means that, in Yoruba language and probably Igbo or Hausa language, what we erroneously call Osun State, Anambra State, Bayelsa State, or Kano State is actually the State of Osun, State of Anambra, State of Bayelsa, or State of Kano.

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola has done well by pointing out the erroneous naming of a state by those who use the name of that state to qualify the word or term “state”, like the controversial “Osun State”. We can understand why this confusion has arisen. English is a foreign language which we can easily distort, maim or kill owing to lack of understanding of the linguistic analysis of the English language and consequently of our own language(s). But if we fail to understand this much, why then do we fail to understand the linguistic analysis of our own language by simply comparing it to an analysis of a foreign language like English? The interesting thing is that this Aregbesola’s version appears to be the one used in more civilized countries like the USA, where the State of California (Ipinle California) or State of New York (Ipinle New York) translates to Aregbesola’s State of Osun (Ipinle Osun).

    One would have said that Aregbesola prefers the version State of Osun to Osun State in order to align with the more popular names like State of California, State of New York or State of Colorado but for the fact that he seems to have relied purely on Yoruba linguistic convention which led him to the understanding of Osun State (Osun Ipinle) as The State of Osun (Ipinle Osun) or State of Omoluabi and not Omoluabi State. This is a result of original thinking which might have been the thinking behind the naming of states in the US. Perhaps the strong message Aregbesola wanted to send to all Nigerians is contained in his lecture entitled “Culture, Democracy and Good Governance” delivered at the prestigious Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University on July 17, where he sees his state, The State of Osun, as Ipinle Omoluabi (the State of Omoluabi) as a state of virtuous people. Hence, the State of Osun (Ipinle Omoluabi) is to give emphasis to the meaning of Omoluabi as a state inhabited by virtuous people and equally ruled by people of virtue, freedom, wisdom and profound thinking (ìfogbóntáyése)”a state whose leaders are carefully selected to bring good things, by means of good governance, to the state and the black race.

    From the look of things, it appears that other states would have to follow suit if they are to give effect to the proper meaning of the names of their respective states. In this connection, the State of Osun is not the only Ipinle Omoluabi in the country. All the ACN states are naturally known as Ipinle Omoluabi which other states in the federation can emulate in rapid succession. Why then the unnecessary controversy?

    As I have said, it is probably because of our lack of sufficient understanding of the English language and its import about which we have a control that we quarrel unnecessarily about the naming of a state (the word state not being our language). It is, therefore, surprising that an important figure like the Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, came out with his sermon that Aregbesola’s adoption of the State of Osun instead of the previous Osun State was either wrong or unconstitutional. Happily enough, the energetic and brilliant, activist, lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), had dismissed Anyim’s argument with a shrift, and thrown his (Anyim’s) sermon to the dustbin of legal history. Falana in The Nation newspaper Sept 29, p60), “it is not stated anywhere in the constitution that it is illegal to refer to any particular “state government” as “the government of a state” (italics mine). For the avoidance of doubt, he argued that Section 176 of the constitution refers to “the governor of a state” and not “a state governor” while Section 194 refers to “the government of a state” and not “a state government”. By the same token, Section 270 of the same constitution refers to the High Court of each state and not a State High Court; House of Assembly in each state and not State House of Assembly. He concluded that the Governor of the State of Osun, Aregbesola, has not violated the constitution while Aregbesola’s position is supported by the United States of America which, incidentally, operates a Presidential System of government which we claim to have copied.

    On a more serious note, I think if Anyim is to be taken seriously we should now talk of “President of Nigerian Federal Republic” instead of “President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. If we are to go by Anyim’s position, “Nigeria Federal Republic” is the right name while “Federal Republic of Nigeria” is not! But the latter is what properly is in use, and not the former. I think we should give honour to whom honour is due, in this case to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for telling us that he is better known as Governor of The State of Osun than Governor of Osun State, as Jonathan is better known as President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria than President of Nigeria Federal Republic.

    Other states should take a cue from Aregbesola’s insight and meaningful translation and consequent renaming of Osun State to The State of Osun. Enough of meaningless and misleading controversy that leads to nowhere. The bottom line is: The State of Osun or Ipinle Osun as Ipinle Omoluabi has come to stay. Anything to the contrary is a mere show of illogicality and primitive mentality on the part of politicians.

     

    • Professor Makinde is DG/CEO, Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance, Osogbo.

     

  • Two Osun College students die in accident

    Two Osun College students die in accident

    •Students ‘burn’ palace, secretariat  •Authorities shut school

    Two students of the Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, yesterday died in a road accident.

    Their colleagues went on the rampage, burning a part of the palace of the Orangun of Ila-Orangun, Oba Wahab Oyedotun Bibiire and other property in the community.

    It was learnt that the students burnt a part of the Ila Local Government Secretariat when their request to see the council chairman was not granted.

    Sources said the victims, simply identified as Sodiq and Wale, boarded a commercial motorcycle and were going to attend a morning lecture when the accident occurred.

    The protesters claimed that the deplorable condition of the road leading to the school and the alleged failure of the institution’s management to provide a decent transportation system was responsible for the accident.

    They made bonfires on major roads and popular junctions in the town.

    The Welfare Officer of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Mr. Tanimomo Opeyemi, alleged that the accident was caused by the heaps of sand on the road, which is under construction.

    He said the contractor handling the project had abandoned it and the students were victims of the institutional neglect.

    The authorities of the institution have closed down the college to prevent a further breakdown of law and order.

    In a statement, the Registrar, Alhaji G. O. Kolawole, directed all students to proceed on a mid-semester break and vacate the campus.

    He said the date of resumption would be communicated to the students through the media.

    Police spokesperson Folasade Odoro said the police are on top of the situation.

     

  • Anyim takes on Osun

    Anyim takes on Osun

    If anyone is in doubt just how zealously the federal government treasures its capacity to nurse malice, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, provides the perfect disillusionment. Late last week, when the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora paid him a visit, he betrayed his and, it seems, the government’s feelings on the supposedly rested but apparently still controversial issue of which takes grammatical and constitutional precedence over the other: the State of Osun or Osun State.

    A few months ago, it will be recalled, the country was set on edge by security reports suggesting that Osun was planning rebellion because it insisted that the state be henceforth called and regarded as the State of Osun, not Osun State, even as former documents remained valid. The security reports were too fantastic to be true, and so the matter came to an abrupt and comical end. Gingerly, Osun got to keep its newly adopted name, arguing that the constitution was silent on whether the name should be State of Osun or Osun State. Until the Anyim outburst, it was unknown to many that the federal government had merely gone underground with its malice and seethed dangerously like a volcano waiting to erupt.

    Finally, however, the dormant volcano spewed out its molten rock last week during the said visit. A member of the committee from Osun, Hon Ajiboye Famurewa (ACN), had introduced himself as the member from the State of Osun. This became a red rag to a bull. Hear Anyim: “That is unconstitutional. Let me also say, even though in a lighter mood, that the ‘State of Osun’ issue should be a serious matter. We should not trivialise issues regarding our nationhood. Particularly, where it could be misinterpreted and where it could affect the unity of the country. The constitutional name for each state should be upheld more particular by parliamentarians. Ordinary local politicians can try to politick with it, but not those of you who are to keep the country in shape and in firm stand. But, I think that there is nothing like the ‘State of Osun’ in the Constitution, we have Osun State, just like any other state. And we should honour our constitution that is the foundation of the basis of patriotism in the first place. We must have faith in our nation; we must have faith in our constitution. We must live it, we must preach it and we must act it. The ‘State of Osun’ is not in the constitution, it is Osun State.”

    First, State of Osun or Osun State is nothing but six of one and half a dozen of the other. The constitution, Osun argues, lists the names of state without saying whether ‘State of’ should come before or ‘state’ should come after. Why make a big issue out of it? Is it names of states that threaten national security or that recurring nightmare, Boko Haram, and its killing spree? Second, even though the federal government has the right to hanker after uniformity, it was deeply embarrassing to see Anyim speak down to the legislator, as if a colonial officer was reprimanding an ignorant native. It is unbelievable how legislators can sometimes be so tolerant.

    The federal government can pursue its nomenclatural games as fiercely as it wants, but the Anyim outburst reveals in all its ugliness just how perniciously that unseemly colonial mindset has permeated the thinking and perspectives of government officials. That kind of thinking makes nonsense of democracy and gives the unwholesome impression that the government is loth to relinquish its archaic privileges. But much worse, and this is not to denigrate Anyim’s learning, the outburst indicates that Nigerian leaders are still incapable, in spite of all their education, of deep reflection and proper understanding of the fact that leaders are in government to serve.

  • Osun, reaping from tourism development, says commissioner

    The Osun State Commissioner for Tourism Mr. Sikiru Adetina Ayedun has said the state has started reaping dividend from tourism. The commissioner said this was as a result of the state government’s effort to develop the industry. He said: “We are already generating revenue, I must be sincere with you. And if you ask round even from those doing the hospitality business, they will tell you they have been having dividends of the improvement we are talking about. We are already reaping the dividends of that investment. If you had been here like two, three years back, you will discover that the number of hospitality ventures we had then was not the same as what we have now. And more importantly, the peace that reign in the state today is encouraging and attracting a lot of people to this state. And even when you are talking of tourism, it is more than just going to the groove and all that. We have a lot of other things that attract tourists into the state. The Yoruba culture itself resides here in the State of Osun. The State of Osun is the centre of civilization. It is the navel of Yoruba civilization.

    And when we talk of this, we are talking about tie and dye which people come to pick. So, series of tourist attractions we have in the state are already attracting tourists. And naturally there is no way you come to this state, with the peace we are enjoying now and want to leave in haste. Today, hotel business is growing up every day. Restaurant business is growing every day. People are enjoying themselves and that is why I say there are direct dividends of our effors going to the people. Every hotelier is employing unemployed youth in the society. And that, at least reduces the burden of the government which is the essence of what the government is looking at in our tourism industry.

    “Tourism is the income generating aspect of the administration which we have started. First of all, we have started visibility studies on how to enhance tourist potential of the state of Osun through Public Private Partnership (PPP). This is because the financial involvement to transform the potential of tourism in the state to what we want it to be is very huge. And we know that the state doesn’t have that financial capacity and resources to do what we want to do in that regard. So, we have already done that and we are putting it on hold till the PPP arrangement scales through.

    But presently, what we are doing is that we have already internationalised our cultural festivals in the state. Recently, you are aware of how we celebrated Osun Festival, Osogbo, Olojo festival, Ile-Ife and Iwude Day, Ilesha. We made sure it is now an internationally accepted festival that people from the Diaspora would come to be part of in the state.

    Adetona said the Osun State Government has started developing the infrastructure in the tourism sites in the state: “Also, we have made improvement on some of our tourist sites. If you go to the groove, you will see the extent of work we have done. Initially, the place constructed for reception was not good enough. So, we are mounting a podium which, hopefully, would be ready for use next year.

    “We have also commenced work at Oluminrin waterfall at Erin-Ijesha. The road to that place is also under construction so that people can have easy access to the place. Same thing with Ile-Ife. Already, we are putting up what we can call The World Cultural Heritage at Ile-Ife. The Governor calls it Ife Tuntun (New Ife). We are putting it up to depict whom we are and how we are as Yoruba race. These are some of our efforts in tourism. But presently, the revenues that are being generated are direct revenues. We are using tourism in tripod stage. One, to create employment, revenue generation for the government and direct revenue for the citizens of the State of Osun.

  • Osun ACN congratulates monarch

    Osun ACN congratulates monarch

    The Osun State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has congratulated the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Rauf Olayiwola Olawale, the Adedeji II, on the conferment of a national award of the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) on him by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The party’s state Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, sent the congratulatory message to the monarch.

    He noted that the monarch deserved the honour because of his landmark achievements as a reputable banker and community leader.

    The ACN chairman described Oba Olawale as an unusual personality who has remained committed to the development of his domain since he ascended the throne of his forefathers over two decades ago.

    Acknowledging the roles of the monarch to the growth of the state, Adebiyi said he is also a lover of his people and community.

    The politician added that Oba Olawale is a quintessential leader whose love and support for the ruling party in the state is second to none.

  • Callisthenics display in Osun

    Callisthenics display in Osun

    Education is that process of physical and mental culture whereby a man’s personality is developed to the fullest – Obafemi Awolowo
    For reasons that may not be hard to figure out, there were many inhabitants and outsiders in the State of Osun who had asked whether any good thing could issue forth from the landlocked state again. That was in the seven years that the wastrels from the People’s Democratic Party ruled and rode roughshod on the people. But since the glorious advent of the visionary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the billow of doubt, despair and disillusionment that enveloped the minds of the people have given way to hope, joy, confidence, and assurance of a better secured future. With his Midas touch of people-oriented programmes, this governor has genuinely proven that he is not here for the riches of office but for the enrichment of lives! Among many others, the recently introduced callisthenics idea meant to enhance the production of mentally and physically healthy citizens attests eloquently to this claim.
    Anyone who witnessed the carnival-like atmosphere during the inauguration ceremony of the State of Osun School Callisthenics Programme would bear witness that the people of Osun are not only happy with their governor, but are also reaping bountifully from the different programmes of his administration. On that sunny Tuesday afternoon, the spacious bosom of the Osogbo City Stadium hosted a motley crowd of people from different parts of the state, who had come to witness the historic occasion. Neatly spread out before these happy spectators were the 8,000 resplendently attired students trained in callisthenics. As I stood there savouring the spectacular displays of these young minds, I felt a spring of satisfaction, happiness and pride welled up within me. I saw in the whole happening, a fulfilment of promise made. I saw in the event an evidence of a guaranteed future for the students in the state. It further dawned on me right there that a leader with the right vision and the passion to translate it into reality would always make difference in the lives of his people.
    Aregbesola’s consuming passion, as the callisthenics initiative shows, is to develop in the state a new generation of students who are physically fit and healthy; mentally sound and socially well-adjusted. As he spoke on that day, interspersing his lucid speech with choice songs and uncommon virtuoso displays, I could feel that passion in his voice. He caught the picture of a man of purpose and vision who knows what he wants and has a clear method of how to accomplish it. For him, the quality reform his administration is carrying out in the once-moribund education sector of the state will be one-sided and incomplete without its physical development component. That the idea will be sustained through and through is an indication of the unpretentious seriousness that his government accords human capacity development.
    It is not surprising that the kind of educational development Aregbesola is irreversibly passionate about is of the type that the equally visionary and cerebral Premier of the then Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, fervently promoted and untiringly worked for to the acclaim of all and sundry. In a lecture given to teachers in 1947, Awolowo noted explicitly that the education that would ensure the full development of a person would involve the three main constituents of their entity, to wit, body, brain, and mind. In his view, “a man whose personality is fully developed never fears anything; he cringes not, and never feels inferior to anyone; he is self-reliant and will resist any form of enslavement until the last breath in him is exhausted”.
    The sage further observed that the uneven development of body, brain, and mind is a potential source of danger. He said, “If the mind alone is developed and both the body and brain are neglected, then we have the sorry figure of a religious fanatic who condemns everything, and everybody but himself; and whose only prophecy is one of pessimism, catastrophe and gloom for mankind; he is a slave to imaginary fears, and drags into bondage with him, those who believe in his arrant doctrines”. Do the Boko Haram insurgents not confirm this?
    This three-fold development that ensures the emergence of well cultured, thoroughly refined and, sensibly patriotic citizens is the basic thrust of the functional education that the foresighted man at the helms of affair in Osun is providing for our children. I am happy that modern learning materials, school uniforms, conducive learning environment, and even quality food programme fervidly championed by this administration do much more to encourage our young ones to value the importance of the cultivation of brain and mind. The physical exercise initiative, beyond having the capacity to improve the mental health of students for effective learning, will also make it possible for them to delightfully learn the virtues of unity, harmony, and team work, which without any doubt are very essential for meaningful social interactions. A mind, brain and body so fully engaged cannot be a fertile ground for destructive pessimism, imaginary fears, and hobbling fanaticism. It is heart-warming that this administration has identified the path to the development of our people generally and the greatness of our state, and thus has elected to walk it without considering any sacrifice too great.
    My appeal is for all parents and stakeholders in the state education sector to support the government in its efforts to revamp the sector for the future well-being of our young ones and the state. We must do all in our power, both collectively and severally, to be instrumental to sustenance of this productive programme of the government. Also, while there is no doubt that Aregbesola is passionate about human and material development in the most modern sense, I would like to encourage him to see to it that this callisthenics programme does not suffer the same fate like it was in the past. The JSS I and II students targeted must be reached as promised in all schools in the state.
    • Adeyemi lives in Osogbo, State of Osun

  • Ex-Osun Speaker threatens to sue Commission of Enquiry

    Former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adejare Bello, has threatened to sue the Commission of Enquiry, if he is indicted in its report.
    He accused the commission of bias.

    The commission was set up by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to examine how loans and other major financial transactions were obtained under the government between May 2003 and November 2010.

    Addressing reporters at the Osogbo High Court venue of the panel’s sitting, Bello said it was wrong of the six-member commission not allow him give evidence before it ended its sitting.

    The commission, last Thursday, accused Bello, who was Speaker from 2007 till 2011, of refusing to appear before it.

    The former Speaker acknowledged that though the panel invited him, he was shocked that it had hurriedly wound up.
    The panel chairman, Prof. Femi Odekunle, told reporters on phone that he was not a politician and had no time for the former Speaker’s allegations against the panel.
    He said Bello was invited to give evidence before the commission, adding that he was said to have travelled abroad.

    Odekunle said the commission obtained the information Bello was to give from the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation when the N18.3 billion loan was procured.

    “I exchanged correspondences with the panel on two occasions. When they told me to appear, I said it was not convenient for me because I was going on a vacation to the US with my family by August ending…”
    I told them when I would be back in the country and they said I should pick between September 3 and 14, 2012. I called when I came back into the country and expressed my readiness to appear.

    “When the Chairman of the panel, Prof Odekunle, publicly said last Thursday that I refused to appear before the commission and that I was blowing grammar when they invited me, I was shocked. I was at the public hearing when he made this allegation and I raised my hand to object, but he ignored me. This is unfair. The panel refused to listen to me because they knew I would shed light on the lies being peddled before it.

    “The panel told me to appear before it on Friday. I am here today; where’s the panel? I demand an apology from the panel. I will fight to the Supreme Court if my name is maligned in the panel’s report. The panel has no right to query the authority or actions of the state House of Assembly.”

     

  • ‘Osun PDP should prove allegation against Aregbesola’

    ‘Osun PDP should prove allegation against Aregbesola’

    The Osun State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday said it would not dignify the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with an explanation on its allegation against Governor Rauf Aregbesola until it proves them.

    In a statement by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, CAN noted that the PDP allegations were made to attract undeserved attention to it.
    The statement reads: “We owe PDP no explanation as to how we run government because they have not demonstrated objectivity and a dependable ability to prove beyond all reasonable doubts their spurious allegations against Ogbeni’s government since he came to power in November 2010.

    “It is not in the public interest or that of civilised democratic practice for us to continually suffer fools that appear to abound in Osun.

    “If their spokesperson and informants have any sense of responsibility and seriously concerned that Ogbeni is doing anything in government that violates the law and diminish the ethics of civilised governance, they should go to court and seek redress; otherwise, they should stop this stupid business of making senseless noises to draw ignoble attention to themselves.

    “The ACN in the State of Osun sees the PDP as a pathetic collection of unserious and idle people who are not equipped with the normal sense and sensibilities to appreciate that politics is a lot more serious business than manufacturing lies against their political opponents to score base points.

    “Aregbesola’s trips outside the country are impacting significantly on governance and service delivery in the state of Osun. But if the PDP suffers such horrific impairment not to recognise it, they should not disturb public conscience with sick mentality.”