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Thursday, January 28, 2021

politics

IS NIGERIA PRACTISING DEMOCRACY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT OR PSEUDO-DEMOCRACY SYSTEM?
By: Olamide Akinwumi

After gaining independence in 1960 from Great Britain, Nigeria fell prey to civil war and the first of so many military coups in 1966. Democracy was briefly restored from 1979 to 1983 to the country, but for most of its independent history, Nigeria was ruled by a series of military juntas. The last major military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, died suddenly in 1998. His successor, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar promised a transition to democracy, and accordingly a new constitution was adopted on May 5th, 1999. Elections
Democracy ought to refer to ‘government of the people, by the people and for the people. By this simple definition, a layman can easily comprehend the meaning of the meaning of this. A system of government whereby people or citizens of a country elect a government by themselves to protect and assist them in realizing their life dreams and expectations. But can we say we are practising this in Nigeria?
Democracy in Nigeria has since changed to the government of the politicians, by the politicians and for the politicians only. Just look around you and see. There is no manifestation of democracy on the faces of the masses, the have-nots, the down trodden, the masses despite the noises about democracy and its invincible dividends, they are still wallowing in abject poverty, squalor, hunger, disease, underemployment, and other nefarious man-made problems. How else can one explain the bloated salaries allotted to the high ranking public officers and the servants are being owed many months of pay despite the meagre amount?

Even the educated ones among the masses, graduates of various fields of ten to twenty years in service aren’t even enjoying the dividend of the so called democracy. This is because the salaries of the so called educated man are struggling to meet up with the demands of the society. Majority of government facilities enjoyed by the masses such as portable drinking water, electricity, good health care system, free education etc. are all a story of the past. The common man has even become his own government, providing power, security, water and so on by himself.

From 1999, since the civilians took over governance under a democratic arrangement, we have suffered progressive deterioration of not only the country’s infrastructural network, practically all our institutions critical to socio-political and democratic advancement have collapsed. Even governance itself is grinding to a halt.

What is evident beyond any dispute is that most politicians, especially of the ruling elite have no positive idea what democracy is about, and it is debatable whether they have any clear cut plan for moving the nation forward. If our experience thus far is the benchmark, then we won’t be wrong to say that for the current breed of politicians in power, democracy is a government of the privileged few for the benefit of themselves, their families and their friends. The democracy we practice here at this point in time is one that fosters the most despicable level of corruption ever known in Nigeria since independence. It is choking the life out of majority of Nigerians.

Therefore, as far as an ordinary Nigerians are concerned, democracy is not for them, but for the politicians and their cronies. The masses are yet reap any dividend if ever there is any, of their democracy. What the masses are expecting to see is genuine, real and concrete improvement in their standard of living, and not fleet of foreign flash luxury cars, mansions and paraphernalia. We are tired of empty promises, rhetoric propaganda and long grammar. We need to see action, real action and not deception. Let the masses see the dividend of democracy on ground; we want to see it with our naked eyes, not on paper or on TV screen.
It is high time we stop living in a world of illusion, deception, hypocrisy or hide and seek game. We should face reality and stop deceiving ourselves. The world is changing very fast, some smaller counties, less endowed than Nigeria have gone far in terms of human development. Some countries are going nuclear, while we are still backsliding.

This is a plea to Nigerian politicians to emulate honest leaders like Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Gen. Muritala Mohammed, and the likes who are all of blessed memory. All these people did not accumulate billions at the expense of the masses. They did not acquire or pile fleet of expensive cars while majority of the people (electorates) are suffering in silence. Our present political leaders should remember that they are not going to stay in this brief world over hundreds years. All of us in one way or the other will leave this world, whether we like it or not and definitely account for our deeds. It will be too late to cry when the head is cut off.

Okay, Nigeria clearly is not in tandem with the tenets of democracy, check the last EIU report on democracy and you will come to realize that Nigeria practices what is at best termed: “pseudo-democracy”.

Haven said that, for me that’s not even the discuss we should be having. The key converse here is: Is Democracy working for Africa? Is Democracy working for Nigeria? Do we need to sit down, design a form of government that can deliver the sort of social, economic and political growth and development that we sort and begin to practice it? Is it only Democracy that functions in other developed societies?
Japan is a highly structured and developed economy (in fact the third largest economy in the world) does not practice Democracy. Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong have made giant strides since 1960 till date and are highly industrialized. Do they practice democracy? Who says democracy can work for Africa. Is there any African nation where Democracy works and they are making significant progress? Don’t even mention South Africa, because it is not even making progress. Its GDP for instance is on a slide, there is high unemployment rate (over 20%), there is high crime rate, there is high HIV prevalence, and so on). Ghana is certainly not making significant progress, with inflation rate skyrocketing of recent, North Africa have been forced to embrace Democracy and since then, its been chaos upon chaos, wars here and there, which has continue to spiral to other nations (butterfly effect), with weapons finding its way into the wrong hands…

Our socio-cultural diversity makes democracy a difficult form of government for our continent, the bitter truth is: IT CAN’T WORK FOR AFRICA, not now, not in the near future. Perhaps, in further future.

There are stages in the life of a nation, just as there are stages in the life of a human being. When a nation is still at cradle stage, it certainly cannot adopt democracy to function or grow, just as a child cannot be left to choose just whatever he/ she wants. As the child develops and grows, then it begins to have some level of independence to choose and at adulthood, it can completely choose for itself. A nation must also be seen this way.

Third world nations must adopt a different form of government from Democracy at this crawling stage, when giant strides of development take place, then and only then, can such grown and educated populace begin to adopt democracy as a form of government. The nations where democracy works are made up of highly educated populace who mostly understand what leadership means and what is best for them and certainly practice almost similar form of religion (with a clear majority religion to add to that).

Third world nations are made up of highly uneducated populace, who do not understand leadership, and who do not know what is best for them (or do know but choose to turn blind eye to it) and highly diversified ethnicity and religion. (Even North Africa that is dominated by Islam cannot survive democracy, there Elder Brother Saudi Arabia does not practice democracy, yet peaceful, yet the United States is their friend and do not intend/ plan to force democracy on them). Just for information purpose, Saudi Arabia is now the largest importer of Arms and ammunition, the largest spender: spending over $10 billion for their defense. That is a working nation: without democracy.

It is high time, Nigerian youths began to have such discuss as: Can Democracy even work for us? If not, then what system can we design and adopt? Or is it that we are so dumb as to not be able to think and design our own functional form of government? During our best years between 1960-66, 1970-1979, when we were net-exporters, when naira was stronger than dollars, what form of government did we practice? Was it this pseudo-democracy or regional form of government. If we can’t go back to regional form of government, then do we follow Singaporean model with a tweak, or what? Let’s think, the world only stands up for those that THINK. Democracy or pseudo-democracy that we currently practice can simply NOT work for Nigeria.

PAMBAZUKA NEWS VIEW AND OPINION ON DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IJ NIGERIA
DEMOCRATIC DISAPPOINTMENT
With such a low dividend on democracy, and with ‘democracy’ being so costly and toxic to the body politic, it is no surprise that many Nigerians have begun to question their loyalty to the received wisdom that democracy is superior to its alternatives.
For many Nigerians and Africans democracy has failed. It has failed to live up to its publicised benefits – tangible and intangible. So glaring is this failure and so painful are the betrayals of Africa’s ‘democrats’ that ten thousand Nigeriens recently poured into the streets of Niamey to rally in support of the new military regime there. Westerners may be scrambling to comprehend this dramatic reversal of public opinion from a craving for a democratic overthrow of a military dictatorship eleven years ago to an enthusiastic embrace of a military overthrow of a ‘democratic’ regime today. But this is something that people in neighboring Nigeria can explain and understand. The exuberant Nigeriens at the rally were not expressing a preference for military autocracy. They were voicing their disillusionment with a failed democracy.
Nigeria’s democratic setbacks may not yet entitle us to reject democracy altogether or to be receptive to military rule. But we are at a crossroads, and if we continue with this charade, a Niger-like scenario of democratic disillusionment may be in the horizon. We cannot continue along this path: Abusing democracy, invoking it to legitimize all that is abhorrent but neglecting to fulfil its utilitarian promises to Nigerians.

America and the rest of the West have the luxury of evaluating democracy from a purely idealistic standpoint. They can afford the long wait necessary for democracy to register – the gestation period needed for democracy’s more visible benefits to trickle down and permeate society. They can comfortably absorb the overhead cost of democracy and the financial and political burdens of partisan gridlock. Their economy is big enough to soak up the imperfections and dysfunctions of democracy – which are many. Their political system is decentralized enough to withstand partisan and procedural impasse at the centre. Not Nigeria and Nigerians.

Our perception of democracy is a purely utilitarian one. Americans obsess intellectually about what democracy means; Nigerians ask what it can deliver to them. Nigerians evaluate democratic practice not in abstract or futuristic terms but in terms of its immediate benefits to their lives. Democracy will only be as popular as the results it delivers for Nigerians. Nigerians want democracy to deliver quantifiable gratifications, and they cannot wait too long for these. Eleven years is long enough.

It is not the fault of Nigerians either. The rhetoric of democratic advocacy in the military era made glib, enticing connections between Nigerians’ economic plight and the lack of democracy in their country. The suggestion was clear: Democracy brings development and improved living. Nigerians’ expectation of democracy rests on this promise. It is time they began to see some of the promised returns. If they don’t, they have a right to question the assumed connection between democracy and development and to become disillusioned.

It is unrealistic to expect that in a developmentally-challenged country where poverty is an inescapable companion, citizens would perceive democratic governance from a non-materialist perspective. Their needs are starkly material, so are their expectations from democracy. Nigerians should not be expected to muster the idealism and patience required for a long-drawn process of democratic maturity when their bellies are empty.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
There is no innate or sacred loyalty to democracy in Nigerians – or, for that matter, in any other people. The degree of Nigerians’ attachment to the concept corresponds to the benefits that they see it delivering or the damage it is doing to their lives. This is why democracy is suffering setbacks across Africa.
So what’s the alternative to a broken, dangerous democracy? It’s not so simple. Dambisa Moyo, the Oxford-educated Zambian author of Dead Aid, offers one of the most eloquent critiques of democratic practice in Africa. Democracy –multiparty democracy – prevents timely action that may be the difference between a life-saving economic initiative and life-taking inaction, gridlock, or disaster. Democracy fosters costly ethno-partisan impasses that stifle development and productive economic change. She climaxes her critique by prescribing ‘benevolent dictatorships’ as the practical model for Africa. At least dictatorships get things done – if they want to, and are capable of pushing needed reforms through without the costly and time-consuming observance of democratic rules and processes. The procedural red tape of democracy is an enemy of development, she argues.

It’s hard to disagree with Moyo’s critique of democracy in Africa. But it’s hard to sympathize with her prescription because benevolence and dictatorships rarely co-exist in Africa, or anywhere, and it takes a naive mind to assume that they could. Nonetheless, she deserves commendation for going against the grain of universal democratic orthodoxy – the unquestioned dogma that democracy can simply be transplanted to Africa in its Western form with its stifling multiparty squabbles, expensive electoral rituals, and costly, divisive deliberative quagmires.

Here is the bottom line: This democracy is fatally broken. We are headed for an implosion if we fail to do something. Ikheloa may be hyperbolic in his characterization, but the disenchantment with democracy and its many failures is real. We ignore this reality at our collective peril.
Events in the last few weeks have underlined the anxieties that underpin this reflection on democracy. Yar’Adua’s sneaky re-entry into the country and the gale of confusion and scramble that it unleashed exposed the fragility and shallowness of our democracy.
The debate over the succession crisis devolved quickly and predictably into familiar North-South brickbats. The nation truly screeched to a frightening halt; a tepid shove would have taken us over the cliff.
So, again, much as we are inclined to defer the discussion and to toe the politically correct line of advancing democracy as its own cure, we are frequently being confronted with political crises that threaten the very foundation of the union. The question is: What is democracy worth if the way we practice it imperils our country and its people and widens the crevices that divide us? Would we rather preserve a pretentious democracy and lose the nation?

WHAT ARE THE CHOICES BEFORE NIGERIA?
Earlier, I introduced Dambisa Moyo’s prescription of ‘benevolent dictatorship.’ It’s not a new idea. It’s been around since the 1960s. It used to be called developmental dictatorship. The poster country of that model today is China. But China is China and Nigeria is Nigeria.

Because of Nigeria’s history of military rule and because of the strong elite unanimity in opposing non-representative political templates, this model would only heighten our crisis of governance and stifle development. In other words, it would be a dictatorship but it would be anything but developmental. Even if the contraption were possible in practice, its deficits would wipe out its benefits.
How about military rule? I have found that most Nigerians do not share the irreconcilable hostility of the schooled elite to military rule. Much of this hostility is founded on abstract, theoretical objections, not on crude or even enlightened interests. Most Nigerians are more pragmatic. They would prefer an effective military regime that consciously improves their lives to a ‘democratic’ regime that is preoccupied with a systematic violation of their lives and rights.

Nigerians are not the only ones who entertain episodic fantasies about the virtues of decisive autocracies during moments of democratic disappointments and stalemates. Even the Americans occasionally bemoan the problems of democracy and its elevation of bickering above action. Frustrated that some of his agendas were stuck in the traffic of congressional partisanship, former President George W. Bush famously remarked that ‘a dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier.’ He was joking, of course. But he was also expressing a genuine frustration at the slow pace of democracy – at the roadblocks that democratic rules and procedures place in the way of policy, initiative, and problem-solving. The frustrations of democracy are more intense, more burdensome, and more consequential in Nigeria than they are in America.

Nigeria’s intellectual and political elites are fond of saying that the worst democratic regime is better than the best military regime. This is at best elitist, out-of-touch rhetoric, a talking point of pro-democracy advocacy. Most Nigerians would reject this proposition outright. The poor, anguished farmer in my village who desires the positive physical presence of government in his life and community would disagree with it. So would the slum-dwelling day labourer in Kurmin Gwari, Kaduna. He would gladly accept a performing government of any stripe.
This is, of course, a false choice scenario. Most Nigerians would prefer the ideal: A democratic government that is also an effective governing machine, a prudent, fair, and humane allocator of resources. In the absence of the ideal however they would settle for a regime – any regime – that gives them the roads, schools, water, healthcare, electricity, and food security they crave.
A critique of democracy is not an endorsement of military rule. It need not be. The enlightened segments of Nigerian society are firm in their agreement that democracy is inherently better than military rule. Since these segments, not the brutalised and desperate masses, are the drivers of political paradigm shifts we can take the military rule option off the table.
But that does not mean that we have to engage in the fatalism of accepting the invidious, ‘democratic’ status quo. It means that we have to craft something in its place.
For starters, why can’t we modify this unwieldy American presidential system that is undermining our people and our country? Even the Americans, with all their wealth and strong institutions, are complaining about the financial cost (transaction cost, to use a chic political science jargon) of their democracy and its divisive, do-nothing hyper-partisan gridlocks. Our gridlocks are more costly because they are not just partisan; they are complicated by our ethno-religious and regional fissures.

Why do we need to have two legislative, money-guzzling legislative chambers instead of one lean, inexpensive one? Why, in the name of all that is good, do we have three senators from each state when we could have just one and spend a fraction of what we do now to maintain them and get them to actually work and earn their pay? The Americans that we ape have two senators representing each state, not three.

Many African cultures are authoritarian in nature. The figure of the big man who sits atop the political food chain with magisterial command, taking care of his subjects’ needs but demanding total subservience from them, is very seductive. When the American executive power system and this preexisting cultural reality converge you end up with the kind of vulgar abuses of power we are seeing from our executive office holders across the country. We don’t need a system that intensifies our authoritarian cultural disposition. We need a system that attenuates it. Such as a parliamentary system or any other arrangement that approximates its virtues.
These are just a few examples of how we can reform and customize our democratic practice to fit our peculiar needs, problems, and pocket. The choice is not between military rule and the unsustainable status quo.

Abuja will understandably oppose reforms that will reduce executive power and its abuse, shrink the stealing field, and expand the pool of resources available for developing the lives of Nigerians. Already, its answer to the problem of dwindling developmental revenue (caused by excessive democracy expenses and corruption) is to inflict more taxes and levies on Nigeria’s economically beleaguered middle and lower classes.

This is a welcome blunder. It should backfire with a positive outcome. With taxation comes the clamor for accountability, hostility to government recklessness, and demands for effective representation. With taxation comes citizen vigilance.
Maybe the failures of this democracy and Abuja’s frantic reaction to them will fertilize the ground for corrective action and for the installation of a true, concrete democracy.

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Hon. Bunmi Tunji Ojo (Bto): A Rock Which Cannot Be Pulled Down.

Alas, it was recorded and accounted in the scripture that Israelites had decades suffering from the trauma of the giant and hefty Philistine man called Goliath, the tireless intimidations which obviously wrecked havoc to the teemed populace of Israel until the Lord delivered them through the young man called David. (1 Samuel 1:17).

However, the famous scriptural account could be attributed to the current saga in NDDC which has generated global discourse in recent time, having the saint BTO as the chairman of the committee.

Apart from the salient fact that BTO stands distinguished and truthfully reserved amongst the equal, it should also be a known fact to all and sundry that his appointment as the Chairman of the commission was a divine arrangement which no man born of human could Stand against or else he or she should be ready to face the full wrath of God as happened to the adamant Biblical Goliath of old.

We are confidence to say that no amount of intimidation, threat, deceit, conspiracy, whatsoever from anyone could afford our hard earned integrity. 

Normalize speaking to people in a way that if they die the next day you'd be satisfied with the last thing for you said to them.

We stand for the truth and we shall continue to allow the truth to prevail in the commission as we remain THE ROCK WHICH CANNOT BE PULLED DOWN by anyone.

In united will stand, divided will fall.

Sunday, March 29, 2020

PCEYF LAUDS EKITI STATE GOVERNMENT EFFORT, TOWARDS FIGHTING COVID-19.

The Progressive Coalition of Ekiti Youth Forum, has lauded the effort of the state Governor, DR John Kayode Fayemi, for his unrentless service towards the curb of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
In a statement made available by leadership of the  Association; Mr. Adebomi Adeniyi, Mr. Amodu Abiola, Akinwumi Olamide, to journalist in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state capital On Sunday.

According to the release,  His Excellency, Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John  Kayode Fayemi, has perform wonderfully in curbing the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic virus in the state. 

Below are what the Association lauds the governor for'
His Excellency,  Dr. John  Kayode Fayemi, Executive Governor of Ekiti State has adopted some proactive measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic Which was in line with the advised given by the World Health Organisation that each political entity should not boast that the virus cannot pay a visit but that arrangements must be made to attack a first (index) case.

Firstly, Gov. Fayemi, has been able to set up a 40 – person Ekiti State Task Force on Covid-19 under his direct leadership with representatives from all relevant sectors including Medical experts, State and Local Government officials, Legislature, Religious bodies, Traditional institutions, NURTW, Market associations,CSOs and Development Partners.

Also, Personal Protective Equipment for health workers will be provided for all public health facilities in the state. 

Also, the Governor has provided a Well trained medical personnel and well equipped health workers will be available at all public health facilities in the 16 LGAs of Ekiti. 

The taskforce has charge with the responsibility to Commence an extensive community sensitization by health educators across towns and villages in all the 16 LGAs in Ekiti State. 

Also,  Ekiti State has conducted a vulnerability map of all land borders and major motor parks leading into Ekiti State and measure will be put in place to screen inward bound passengers from heavy inflow areas first at motor parks of departure and at border towns. Ekiti State will work with the NURTW to maintain passenger manifests for fast traceability if the need arises. 

Further more, the state government has Activate on the mass public awareness on all radio and TV stations in Ekiti State to educate, enlighten and correct rumours and misinformation on the threat of the virus. 
In addition, In line with National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),Ekiti State Government have designated an isolation centre in the state to quarantine and /or treatment if necessary. Ekiti is also affiliated to a network of NCDC testing labs for fast evaluation of samples.
Ekiti State Government has set up a 24/7 Emergency Operation Centre to coordinate its response to the virus . Dedicated hotlines have been made available to the public to call of they suspect infection.

 The National Emergency Number 112 is also active in Ekiti State. Citizens can call in free of charge to report any emergency.

However, The Progressive Coalition of Ekiti Youth Forum,  Urged the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi,  to made provisions for foods and drugs  for the people of Ekiti state as well as adequate payment of the salaries of the civil servant in the state as there i'll be total lockdown of the state as from march  30-april 13th 2020

The Association also,  advised  the citizens of the state  not to panic but adhere strictly to safety precautions against the global pandemic.
Signed; The Leadership of Progressive Coalition of Ekiti Youth Forum 
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Wednesday, December 18, 2019

CRISTIANO RONALDO NETS JUVENTUS WINNER ON RECORD NIGHT FOR GIANLUIGI BUFFON
A superb Cristiano Ronaldo header sent Juventus three points clear at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 victory at Sampdoria on Wednesday as Gianluigi Buffon matched the league appearance record.

Paulo Dybala's exquisite volley put the champions in front before Gianluca Caprari levelled, but a remarkable leap and towering header from Ronaldo on the brink of half-time proved decisive.

Ronaldo was denied his second goal by the offside flag late on, before Samp scorer Caprari was sent off in stoppage time when he was shown a second yellow card.
"The whole team showed the right attitude," Ronaldo told Sky Italia. "It was a good goal and I am glad to help the team with another three points.
"I had problems with my knee for a month, but that has gone now and I feel good physically."
It was a special night for Buffon as the veteran goalkeeper equalled Paolo Maldini's record of 647 Serie A appearances and set a new Juventus Serie A appearance record of 479 games, one more than Alessandro Del Piero.
Juve boss Maurizio Sarri fielded the attacking trident of Ronaldo, Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain for the second game in a row, and his side needed 19 minutes to find the opener as Dybala struck a sublime volley into the bottom corner.
Sampdoria drew level 10 minutes before the break when Caprari swept a finish past Buffon after a defensive mix-up.
But Juve went back in front through an extraordinary Ronaldo header, as the Portuguese was calculated to have jumped 71 centimetres off the ground to meet Sandro's cross at a height of 2.56 metres, before powering home.
"Ronaldo did something that you see in the NBA [National Basketball Association], he was up in the air for an hour and a half," said Sampdoria coach Claudio Ranieri.
"There's nothing you can say about it, you can only congratulate him and move on."
Ronaldo, who has six goals in his last five Juventus appearances, thought he had his second when he rounded goalkeeper Emil Audero to roll the ball into an empty net, but the effort was disallowed for offside.
The game ended on a sour note for Ranieri's side as Caprari caught Merih Demiral in the face with a flailing arm to earn a second yellow card.

Juventus head to Saudi Arabia this week, where they will face Coppa Italia holders Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana in Riyadh on Sunday ahead of the winter break, which runs until the first weekend of January.
BREAKING NEWS: TRUMP BECOME 3RD DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT TO BE IMPEACHED IN USA
US President Donald Trump was impeached on Wednesday by the Democratic-led House of Representatives for obstruction of Congress and abuse of power related to his dealings with Ukraine 

Wednesday's historic votes on impeachment comes after a two-month inquiry by House Democrats, who accuse the president of pressuring Ukraine to open an investigation into the president's political rival and former vice president, Joe Biden, who is also a frontrunner in the 2020 Democratic presidential race. They also charge that the president obstructed their investigation by refusing to comply with subpoenas and directing members of his administration to do the same.

Trump will became the third president in United States history to be impeached.

Wednesday's votes set the stage for a trial in the Republican-led Senate in January. No president has ever been removed from office via the impeachment process set out in the Constitution, and Republican senators have given little indication of changing that.

Trump is impeached with 222 votes in favour and 170 against the first article of impeachment. Thirty-four representatives did not vote.
THE SWEETEST OF DODO IKIRE: THE PRIDE OF IKIRE-OSUN STATE
Prince Akinere, a renowned elephant hunter from Ile-Ife , founded the Ikire Township. Prince Akinrere was said to have sought the permission of his father Ewuwemi, the Ooni of Ife, to undertake an adventure for establishing his own town that he would reign as Oba.
As it was the custom in those days, Ifa Oracle had to be consulted before important decision could be taken. In view of the pronouncement of the Ifa Oracle, Prince Akinrere was directed to worship Osakire, one of the most important deities in Ile Ife before commencing the adventure. The Prince was a favorite of his father Oòni because of his bravery and devotion to the worship of Osakire, which he later adopted upon founding his own town. While leaving Ile-Ife, Ooni Ewuwemi gave an all white-beaded Crown (Adé Séséefun) to his son with an instruction that he should not wear it until he succeeded in establishing his own town and raised a shrine for Osakire. Onifade of imota land was attend with us upper last week, his is Akinyemi ifaunde ojeniyi. alias Arole Eegun imota
Prince Akinrere later settled at a location now called Oko Adesile, a few kilometers off old Ibadan - Ife road. At that time, the place was called Odi Ayan-Nnagi. Ayan-Nnagi, “Idaro Omo_Oba Nla” was Prince Akinrere’s pet name given to him by the admirers of his military prowess and ruggedness. Olaberinjo took after his father Akinrere as a wonderful archer who had earned the reputation of killing elephant from a very tender age. Olaberinjo distinguished himself within a short time as a great hunter and later got married. His father Akinrere died as his wife gave birth to a baby boy who was later named Kujemilayo meaning literally: DEATH DEPRIVED ME OF JOY. 

Much as he would have rejoiced over the birth of his first son, the death of his father ironically made it almost impossible, lamented Olaberinjo. Kuje, his son, also grew up to inherit the family’s profession of elephant hunting. At a later stage, things were becoming increasing difficult for the inhabitants of Odi-
Ayan Nnagi due to acute shortage of water. Olaberinjo already ageing, instructed his son, Kuje to intensify his search for water (this later led him to the bank of River Osun) and that he should also not forget to carry along with him the deity of his father as well as the white beaded crown brought from Ile-ife to enable him establish firmly as a direct crown Prince from Ile-Ife wherever he might choose to settle. Kuje had many children with whom he moved to the bank of River Osun otherwise known as Ikire-Omi, that is “Ikire by the water side” while Osakire was located at Moosa, both within the vicinity of the present-day Ikire.

 Principal among Kuye’s children are Disamu, Oladekan, Olanbeloye, Onsokan and Akintula - Most of the past Akire’s were descendants of these Kuje’s children. Shortly after settling at Ikire-Omi, Kuje fell sick and died. His children faced yet another problem, this time not that of a drought, which drove them to their present site, but paradoxically, floods, as Osun River was incessantly overflowing its banks, thereby destroying their camps and other valuables.
This terrible situation set them off on a journey in search of a permanent flood and drought free settlement, which led them to the present site of Ikire over four centuries ago. Akire, which is the official title of the ruler of IKIRE, is a contraction of Akinrere; the founder of IKIRE while the town itself derived its name from Osakire, which is the Chief Deity of Ikire.

The old Irewole Local Government with its headquarters in Ikire was created in 1976 following the Local Government Reform of that year. In 1989 and 1996 the present Ayedade Local Government and Isokan Local Government areas respectively were carved out of the old Irewole area. With this development the present Irewole Local Government is made of people of Ikire who share common ancestry. Local Government Area in the South and Ayedire Local Government in the North. Irewole Local Government shares common boundaries with Ayedaade Local Government Area in the East, Ife-North Local Government area in the South East, Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State in the West, Isokan Irewole Local Government is situated in the South Western part of Osun State with altitudes of between 121.92 meters and 298.704 meters above the sea level.
Its landmass is about 978.67m2 with over 300 villages and hamlets. It lies in the rainforest belt of the country. Going by the provisional figure for the headcount of 1991,Irewole Local Government has an estimated population of 77,884. With the active participation of the people in the 2006 Census the population of the area will definitely record an increase.
However, Dodo Ikire is a traditional delicacy from Ikire in South-western Nigeria. It was originally made from leftover plantain but today, people prepare it from fresh ingredients which are: over-ripe plantains, pepper, oil and salt. Dodo Ikire is black and round or conical in shape. Plantain or cooking banana , which has been peeled, sliced and deep fried is called Dodo in some parts of Nigeria.


Oriki Ikire
Ewú ni wínrin,
Ọmọ àdalè gbin'ewùrà,
Ọmọ àdalè gbin isu Ìgángán,
Ọmọ ewú filè hàn mí,
Ọmọ ewú fònà hàn mí,
Ọmọ ewú kí kòjé fabuja ilé Ìkirè han ni,
Ọmọ àkànkù ilé,
Ọmọ àkànkù ọ̀nà èjìgbò,
Ọkan ókù oloku kò sin,
Ọmọ asákú mawo, marooyin,
Ọmọ àkànkù mawo maroyin
Ọmọ gbinrin ni yeye aro,
Ọmọ olóríṣà kò jẹ́kan,
Èyí taa mú ohun méjì sebo lọ́jọ́ gbogbo
ọmọ onígbó rúrú tí àjòjì ò́ gbọdò wò,
àjòjì kàjòjì tó bá wobè yio dẹni ẹbọ,
àjòjì wéré-wéré ọ̀nà Ìkirè,
èyí tí pani sí ju eji lọ....
Èyin ọmọ Ìkirè owó yín dá
Kí Èdùmàrè tún Ìkirè ṣe.
Kí ìpínlè Òsun má dàrú..
In conclusion, The town lies along the road from Ibadan to Ile-Ife. A collecting point for local cash crops (cacao, palm oil and kernels), it also serves as a trade centre for yams, corn (maize), cassava (manioc), palm produce, cotton, and kola nuts. Cotton weaving is a traditional industry of its Yoruba inhabitants. Pop. (2008 est.) 153,585.
Akire, is the official title of the ruler of IKIRE, the town headed by a king called AKIRE of IKIRE Land, Oba Olatunde Falabi ORISATOLA 111

*Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikire*
©OLAMIDE AKINWUMI JAMES, A student Journalist from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko. He is the Sports Editor of ECHO MEDIA NEWSPAPER (an campus newspaper, longest and only surviving in AAUA); CEO of Sky Media Consultant, A trainee Reporter at Radio AAUA 90 3FM, A freelance writer, An Activist; He can be reached via Akinwumiolamide09@gmail.com, 09068215955.

Friday, December 13, 2019

AKEREDOLU URGES VARSITY NOT TO DEPEND ON SUBVENTIONS
OLAMIDE AKINWUMI

The Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has impel the Management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, to look beyond state government subvention in maintaining the institution.

The governor made this known while delivered his address on the 9th Convocation ceremony of the institution. 
He said, "as an institution you must tap from the wealth experience and research conducted and generate fund through internal revenue such as agriculture, establishment of well medical center and  partnership with different organization nationally and globally, he explained."

However, Governor Akeredolu, offered the overall best graduating student of the institution, Ajakaiye Daniel Oluwatobi, graduating from the department of Accounting, with the CGPA of 4.76 an immediate employment. 

Governor Akeredolu, had earlier, congratulate Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, for the completion of his tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University, and wishes him success in all his endeavors.