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‘Despite nature’s blessings, we live in dejection’, Osun community laments
The inhabitants of Atorin, a village housed by Atakunmosa East Local Government Area ( now Atakumosa East Central LCDA) of Osun state, reflect every moment and day, as whether the social contract advocated by Thomas Hobbes, the great philosopher of the ancient time, has been breached. As every partnership agreement are parties to it, so the government and the citizens form the contractual agreement to the Hobbesian law of social contract.
Atorin, the birthplace of late African warlord and the saviour of the Ijesha people, Ogedengbe Agbogungboro successfully accommodates no fewer than nine communities which included Temidayo, Olowu, Opesubu, Alapaede, Ayealuko, Aye oke, Oloko rebete among others.
According to the community, the contract is everlasting and monumental, so long the popular sovereign government respect the sanctity of the contract, and, thereby, provide the necessities for the citizenry. The necessities are expected to be directed towards absolute maximization of pleasure and minimization of various forms of pains.
Ifewara – Atorin Road
Despite nature’s blessings and agricultural prospect, particularly the large deposit of ‘precious metal ‘ popularly known as gold buried in the bowels of Atorin rich soil , which has attracted the activities of illegal miners, the village appears to have been forgotten, as its people languish in relative obscurity.
Because of its arable land, the major occupation of the inhabitants is agriculture as they grow both cash crops ( Cocoa, Teak) and food crops such as cassava, maize, yam, among others.
Sadly, Atorin people are suffering in the midst of abundance.
The village, connected by a deplorable earth road that leads from Ifewara is not only hilly, but dusty and disfigured with steep inclines that cause serious headache to those plying the route. Rainy season is always a period of pain for the inhabitants.
The road has been destroyed by years of neglect and trucks conveying agricultural produce to the market break down often due to the deplorable road. While the dwellers battle for survival without potable drinking water, they also lacks community health center.
Our reporter, who visited the settlement sighted an abandoned water project which was converted to a well; the only source of drinking water.
Source drinking water…
In a related development, the only existing health centre, facilitated by Hon. Israel Famurewa, a two term Federal House of Representatives member, who hails from Atorin Village is yet to be completed and equipped with both personnel, furniture, drugs and medical equipments.
Famurewa represented Atakunmosa East/ Atakunmosa West/Ilesha East/ Federal Constituency between 2011-2019 . During his tenure, he facilitated a block of 3 classroom to LA Elementary School, the only school in the village and a transformer.
Unfortunately,the Alatorin of Atorin (King) recently joined his ancestors, but the Women leader (Yeye Lobirin) and the Youth leader (Olori Omo Atorin) narrated their sufferings. They both cried out loud to any ‘messiah’ who could save them from their present predicament, especially infrastructural deficits and total neglect.
LA Elementary School, the only Education Center in Atorin….
The women leader, Mrs Bolanle Ojo lamented hardship resulting from the dilapidated state of the only major road leading to the settlement. According to her, the bad state of the road had made commuting unbearable for them.
She lamented further, “We are not happy with the deplorable condition of our road, this is really affecting us seriously. It is difficult for us to evacuate our farm produce to the urban communities. In fact, we cannot go to the market during the rainy season to sell our produce at Ifewara or Sabo market in Ilesha.
” We have not seen any government impact in Atorin and this neglect signified total disregard for the memories of Ogedengbe Agbogungboro who is described as the saviour of the Ijesha people. Despite nature’s blessings, we live in dejection”, Ojo added.
The Youth leader, Ayeni Ayodele also decried the living condition of his people, just as he called on the Gboyega Oyetola led Osun state government to help the community. Ayeni, however called on the well meaning sons and daughters of the town, particularly the Ogedengbes to rescue them from untoward hardship they are currently facing.
Mr. Busuyi Makanjuola, the council chairman of Atakumosa East Central LCDA could not be reached as he didn’t respond to telephone calls when contacted for his reactions
A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, has been sworn in as the Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging members of the party to rally support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeyemo formally assumed office on Friday following the inauguration of the newly elected State Executive Committee members who will manage the affairs of the party in the state for the next four years.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the party’s State Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, marked the climax of the party’s 2026 congresses in the state.
The South-West Zonal Legal Adviser of the APC, Kolawole Majaro, administered the oath of office on Adeyemo and 35 other members of the State Executive Committee.
The executives had emerged through a consensus arrangement during the March 3, 2026 state congress held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, under the supervision of a committee led by Amos Gombi from the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
In his acceptance speech, Adeyemo described his emergence as a renewed call to service, pledging to strengthen the party and sustain unity among members.
He appreciated party leaders within and outside the state for ensuring a smooth and successful congress process.
Adeyemo also commended members of the Local Organising Committee, particularly Fatai Ibikunle and Afeez Bolaji Repete, for their contributions to the success of the exercise.
He said, “This new State Executive Committee under my leadership is being put in place to add value and strengthen our great party in view of the challenges ahead.
“We have used the opportunity of the congresses to showcase our collective commitment to unity and harmony as progressives and democrats.”
The new chairman expressed optimism that the atmosphere of peace within the party would be sustained ahead of future party primaries and the 2027 elections.
According to him, the party’s target is to secure 90 per cent of the votes in Oyo State for President Tinubu while also reclaiming the state’s Government House in 2027.
Adeyemo praised the President’s leadership, saying the administration was delivering on its promises.
“President Tinubu is, no doubt, performing beyond our expectations and the best way to appreciate his good work is to retain him in Aso Rock until 2031,” he said.
“Against all odds, the President is pursuing his Renewed Hope Agenda with vigour and passion, while the positive results are being felt across sectors of the economy and national life.”
Other members of the newly inaugurated executive include Taofeek Lamidi as Deputy Chairman, Fatai Adesina as State Secretary, Adekemi Opatunde as Woman Leader, Olawale Sadare as Publicity Secretary, Olalekan Oladejo as Youth Leader, and Remi Adepoju as Organising Secretary.
Also inaugurated were Ajiboye Akinsanya as Treasurer, Sunday Aborisade as Legal Adviser, Tinuade Adigun as Auditor, Lukman Owonikoko as Assistant State Secretary, Fatimah Hassan as Deputy Woman Leader, and Jimoh Osundara as the Leader of Persons Living With Disabilities, among others.
The Kano State House of Assembly has initiated impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust.
The notice was presented yesterday during plenary by the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini Dala, who said the action follows Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dala said the allegations stem from Abdussalam’s tenure as Commissioner for Local Government (2023–2024) and his current role as deputy governor. He accused the deputy governor of diverting funds meant for the 44 local government councils.
According to the majority leader, Abdussalam allegedly received N1.5 million monthly from each council between June 2023 and January 2024, totaling N462 million. Between February and July 2024, he allegedly collected N3.255 million monthly from each council under the guise of special assignments, amounting to N726 million.
Dala also accused the deputy governor of abuse of office, claiming he facilitated payments of N10 million from each council to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited, totaling N440 million, in violation of state procurement laws.
“The misuse of official capacity to confer undue advantage constitutes abuse of power and undermines public trust,” Dala told lawmakers, adding that the allegations amount to gross misconduct under the Constitution.
The impeachment notice was reportedly endorsed by 38 lawmakers, meeting the constitutional threshold to proceed. The Speaker has acknowledged receipt, and the House is expected to serve the allegations on the deputy governor.
If approved, a panel may be constituted by the state Chief Judge to investigate the claims.
As of filing, Abdussalam had yet to respond publicly to the allegations.
The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that he had joined the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, made the announcement during a media briefing in Abuja, attributing his decision to what he described as irreconcilable differences within the PDP.
The lawmaker said the emergence of the NDC would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system by providing a credible opposition platform.
According to him, the party recently received its certificate of registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “Last week INEC issued a certificate of registration and we now have the newest party in Nigeria known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress and our symbol is victory, the victory sign.
“So, my dear Nigerians, you now have a credible alternative opposition party known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress.”
Dickson noted that although the party’s registration took longer than expected, its eventual approval was a welcome development for the country’s democratic landscape.
“Yes, it is coming at this time. We would have wished it started some years or months back. We don’t control INEC and their processes; they delayed. We don’t also control the judiciary, but thank God it has finally arrived,” he said.
The senator also stressed that Nigeria’s democracy must not slide into a one-party system, insisting that political diversity remained vital for national stability.
“This nation cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state.
“We are a very diverse nation culturally, religiously and politically and that is the beauty of our country.
“So anyone or any party promoting one-party rule in Nigeria is mistaken. We build political parties and get involved in movements to access power for the good of the people, not for our personal benefit,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission recently announced the registration of two new political parties.
The parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, bringing the total number of registered political parties in Nigeria to 21.
The announcement was made by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party stakeholders for 2026.
According to him, the Democratic Leadership Alliance completed the required verification process, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress was registered in compliance with a Federal High Court order.
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