National Issues
Osun 2018: Gladiators, political parties strategise for epic battle
THOUGH 2018 governorship election in Osun is about 25 months away, politicians, political parties and aspirants for the coveted seat of the governor are not leaving anything to chance, as they have begun discreet mobilisation and sensitisation of people, with a view to currying favour and support from the electorate.
However, while many of the political parties are preparing their arsenals and holding consultations in view of the imminent battle, some of these parties are enmeshed in crisis, culminating in factions, which may, if not nipped in the bud, whittle down their chances before the 2018 gubernatorial election.
Deeply submerged in internal wrangling is the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is sharply divided into two factions.
Since the party’s state congress in May, 2016, the seeming unity and cohesion within the PDP in Osun has collapsed, leaving in its wake a fragmented political entity, which can no longer speak with one voice on cogent issues.
The leadership tussle at the national level of the party, leading into the emergence of two national executives of the PDP, led by Senator Alimodu Sherrif and former Governor Ahmed Markafi respectively have further exacerbated the crisis in Osun PDP. While one of the factions is being led by Honourable Soji Adagunodo as the state chairman, the other faction, believed to be loyal to Senator Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the PDP in the last election, is led by Dr Bayo Faforiji.
Regardless of the intra party squabbles, some of the notable members of the PDP in Osun, eyeing the governorship seat have not shied away from mobilising and making subterranean moves to create leverage for their ambition ahead of the election.
Notable among the PDP stalwarts, who have begun underground campaigns and nocturnal meetings include the former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Honourable Adejare Bello, who was the running mate to Senator Omisore in the last governorship election; Chief Lere Oyewumi; Dr Kayode Oduoye, who also contested for the seat of Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin in last House of Representatives election, among others.
However, pundits are of the view that the resolution of the crisis of leadership rocking the PDP in Osun and at the national level is a key factor for the chances of any of the governorship aspirant ahead of the polls.
One of the analysts, who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity said, “for the PDP to make any headway in the 2018 governorship election, there is an urgent need for the party to put its house in order. Failure to restore peace and non-resolution of the internal crisis may spell doom for the party in future elections.”
As the PDP battles to fix its internal crisis, the ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC) in Osun is also striving to rally its members to a common front, bearing in mind the need to retain the control of the state beyond 2018.
But, the task has been daunting as members across the three senatorial districts have become polarised along various political interests, considering many of its governorship aspirants jostling to secure the party’s ticket in the critical election.
Apparently realising the danger the towering ambitions of its members interested in the governorship seat may portend to the unity of the party, the Osun State chairman of the party, Gboyega Famoodun, in a recent statement, cautioned any member interested in the governorship ticket to halt their moves and desist from making any public declaration until the party gives its approval.
According to him, “the party will not take kindly to any violation of this instruction as there were more important things to do in service delivery to the people of the state,” adding that “what is most important for the party now is for everyone to join hands with the governor to solve problems confronting the state.”
The statement further reads: “the governor of the state, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, is right in the middle of his second term, grappling with the difficulties of economic recession. This is not the proper time for any aspirant to divert attention from the serious business at hand.
“Everybody with governorship aspiration should put it on hold until such a time that the party will consider appropriate. Only then will it make political sense for anyone to come out and talk about governorship aspiration.”
Notable among the party chieftains, who have commenced movements to boost their chances of clinching the governorship ticket of APC include the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon Lasun Yussuf; the incumbent Speaker, Najeem Salaam; Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Chief of Staff to Governor Aregbesola, Alhaji Gboyega Oketola, among others.
But, out of all of these aspirants, only Senator Adeleke, who was the first governor of Osun and who currently represents Osun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has publicly declared his governorship ambition.
Prior to the declaration by the Ede-born flamboyant politician and business man, there were speculations that Adeleke, a politician known with a trademark cone-shaped cap, was not tinkering with idea of vying for the ultimate seat in Osun come 2018.
But, his special assistant on media and public relations, Olumide Lawal, said the development forced the clarification from his camp. The strongly-worded statement signed by Lawal practically declared the readiness of “Serubawon” to once again take a shot at the oval office in Abere White House.”
Sunday Tribune reliably gathered that Adeleke’s declaration propelled the APC to issue a warning to those planning to succeed Aregbesola within its fold, but pundits hold the notion that the party’s statement was specifically directed to the camp of Ede-born politician.
Another dimension to the emerging struggle and intrigues that may shape the nature of the 2018 battle in Osun is the recent report, which surfaced in social media, of a meeting between a group of politicians loyal to Senator Omisore and Senator Bola Tinubu at the latter’s Lagos residence.
As close associates of Senator Omisore told Sunday Tribune, the former deputy governor is not comfortable with crisis in his party, though he is exploring many avenues to restore peace and unite all the factions.
On the other hand, Tinubu, a major deciding factor in Osun politics since 2005 may be moving ahead of forces, rooting for homemade and formidable politicians, like Omisore, who has consistently challenged him.
From this calculation, reaching out to Omisore is perceived as part of the moves by the APC leader to plug all loopholes within the ruling party and even outside it, by identifying and engaging forces that can be engaged by interests outside Osun to work against him.
To this end, meeting between Omisore’s camp and Tinubu in Lagos, taking into consideration the influence of the former in South-West PDP, is also being considered by some analysts as an indication that old allies in Alliance for Democracy (AD) of 1999 may realign to spring a surprise.
According to one of the sources to the meeting, “Senator Omisore was not in attendance, but Chief Bisi Akande, who was governor of the state when Omisore served as deputy governor, was present. The factional PDP leader in the state, Dr Bayo Faforiji was also said to have attended the meeting.”
Similarly, Diran Odeyemi, one of closest allies of Omisore and the spokesperson of the party, was said to be part of the meeting, while some major political players within PDP in Osun sympathetic to Omisore were also in attendance.
Though details of the meeting were kept under wraps, one of the insiders hinted our correspondent that issues relating to how to position South-West region in vantage position ahead of next general election dominated the discussion.
The Nigerian government spent a staggering $3.58 billion on servicing foreign debt within the first nine months of 2024, marking a significant 39.77% increase compared to the $2.56 billion expended over the same period in 2023.
This data, drawn from a recent report on international payment statistics by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), reflects a concerning rise in the country’s foreign debt obligations amid depreciating currency values.
According to the report, the most substantial monthly debt servicing payment occurred in May 2024, totaling $854.37 million. This is a substantial 286.52% increase from May 2023’s $221.05 million.
Meanwhile, the highest monthly payment for 2023 was $641.7 million in July, underscoring the trend of Nigeria’s escalating debt costs.
Detailed analysis of monthly payments further illuminates the trend.
In January 2024, debt servicing costs surged by 398.89%, reaching $560.52 million, a significant rise from $112.35 million in January 2023. However, February saw a modest reduction of 1.84%, with costs decreasing from $288.54 million in 2023 to $283.22 million in 2024. March also recorded a decline of 31.04%, down to $276.17 million from $400.47 million the previous year.
Additional fluctuations in debt payments continued throughout the year, with June witnessing a slight decrease of 6.51% to $50.82 million from $54.36 million in 2023. July 2024 payments dropped by 15.48%, while August showed a 9.69% decline compared to 2023. September, however, reversed the trend with a 17.49% increase, highlighting persistent pressure on foreign debt obligations.
With the rise in exchange rates exacerbating these financial strains, Nigeria’s foreign debt servicing costs are projected to remain elevated.
The central bank’s data highlights how these obligations are stretching national resources as the naira’s devaluation continues to impact debt repayment in dollar terms.
Rising State Debt Levels Add Pressure
The federal government’s debt challenges are mirrored by state governments, whose collective debt rose to N11.47 trillion by June 30, 2024.
Despite allocations from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and internally generated revenue (IGR), states remain heavily reliant on federal transfers to meet budgetary demands.
According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), the debt burden for Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) rose by 14.57% from N10.01 trillion in December 2023.
In naira terms, debt rose by 73.46%, from N4.15 trillion to N7.2 trillion, primarily due to the naira’s depreciation from N899.39 to N1,470.19 per dollar within six months. External debt for states and the FCT also increased from $4.61 billion to $4.89 billion during this period.
Further data from BudgIT’s 2024 State of States report illustrates how reliant states are on federal support. The report revealed that 32 states depended on FAAC allocations for at least 55% of their revenue in 2023.
In fact, 14 states relied on FAAC for 70% or more of their revenue. This heavy dependence on federal transfers underscores the vulnerability of states to fluctuations in federal revenue, particularly those tied to oil prices.
The economic challenges facing both the federal and state governments are stark. The combination of mounting foreign debt, fluctuating exchange rates, and high reliance on federally distributed revenue suggests a need for fiscal reforms to bolster revenue generation and reduce vulnerability to external shocks.
With foreign debt obligations continuing to grow, the report emphasizes the urgency for Nigeria to address its debt sustainability to foster long-term economic stability.
Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has called for a prompt investigation into the increasing occurrences of building collapses in major cities across Nigeria.
In a motion presented to the House on Wednesday, Oseni expressed deep concern over the alarming frequency of building collapses, emphasising the threat they pose to the lives and property of Nigerians.
The APC lawmaker, through a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, cited the recent collapse of a two-storey school building at Saint Academy in Busa Buji, Jos, Plateau State, on July 12, 2024. The tragic incident, which trapped 154 people and claimed 22 lives, is the latest in a series of similar disasters, raising serious concerns nationwide.
Oseni also referenced a report from The Punch newspaper, which revealed that Nigeria had recorded 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024.
“This figure is alarming and unacceptable,” he stated, stressing the urgency of preventing further occurrences.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Oseni reminded the House that the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other relevant professional bodies are responsible for ensuring compliance with building standards and practices.
“Despite these regulatory frameworks, the recurring collapses suggest that enforcement is lacking. The loss of lives, properties, and resources is staggering, and this disturbing trend must be addressed immediately,” he remarked.
He proposed the formation of an Adhoc Committee to investigate the underlying causes of these collapses and recommend both immediate and long-term solutions.
Also, he urged the House Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure swift implementation of any recommendations.
The House agreed to deliberate on the motion and is expected to present its findings and proposed actions within eight weeks.
The Vice-chairman of the Oyo Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of religious leaders in material pursuits, accusing them of abandoning their spiritual duties in favour of wealth and influence.
Oba Alao, who is also the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, made this statement during a visit from the leadership of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement “Ayo Ni O,” led by Baba Aladura Prophet Emmanuel Abiodun Alogbo, at his palace in Surulere Local Government on Thursday.
The monarch accused some religious leaders of sharing part of the blame for the moral and political crises that have engulfed the nation. According to him, spiritual leaders, once seen as the moral compass of society, have become compromised by corruption, aligning themselves with the very forces they should condemn.
Oba Alao was unapologetic in his criticism, stating, “Ninety-five percent of Nigerian leaders, both political and religious, are spiritually compromised.”
He argued that this moral decay among clerics has made it impossible for them to hold political leaders accountable or speak the truth to those in power, as their integrity has been eroded by their pursuit of material wealth.
“Carnality has taken over spirituality. Our religious leaders can no longer speak the truth to those in authority because their minds have been corrupted. Most of the so-called General Overseers (G.O.) are corrupt and perverted,” Oba Alao added.
He stressed that this shift towards wealth accumulation at the expense of spiritual values has greatly contributed to the country’s stagnation in development and social justice.
Olugbon urged both religious leaders and traditional rulers to reflect on their actions, reminding them that they would be held accountable for their stewardship, both in this world and the next.
“The prayers of sinners are an abomination before God, hence the need for our leaders to rethink,” he warned.
The monarch concluded by reiterating the transient nature of power and the importance of staying true to sacred duties, regardless of the temptation to indulge in worldly gains. “I am a traditional ruler. I don’t belong, and will never belong, to any occultic groups,” he emphasised, drawing a clear line between his position and the corrupt practices of some leaders.
In response to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement’s request for collaboration on community development projects, Oba Alao assured them of his support.
“Your requests are aimed at the development of the Orile Igbon community. I am assuring you that necessary assistance will be provided in this regard.”
Earlier, Prophet Alogbo requested the monarch’s collaboration on a range of community development projects. These initiatives include the establishment of a women and youth empowerment center, clean drinking water initiatives, a bakery, animal production facilities, and farm produce processing.
Other proposals included a diagnostic and medical center, a full-size recreational sports facility, and a home care facility for the elderly.
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