Osun LG Election: JDPMC withdraws its Observers from the election, laments irregularities.

/0 Comments/in /by


NOTICE OF DISENGAGEMENT FROM OBSERVATION OF THE FEBRUARY 22, 2025,
OSUN 2025 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION


CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF OSOGBO
JUSTICE DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE MAKERS CENTRE (JDPMC) OSOGBO
February 22, 2025


JDPMC as an organization that advances the social doctrines of the Catholic Church and is thus
committed to advocating for democracy and electoral integrity, has since the announcement of the
Notice of Election by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) in February 2024
working closely with all election stakeholders including OSSIEC, INEC Osun State, Inter Party
Advisory Council (IPAC), the Law Enforcement Agencies especially the Nigerian Police Force, Civil
Society organizations, faith-based organizations and the entire citizenry to ensure a free, fair,
transparent and credible Local Government election on February 22, 2025.


The organization has since provided avenue of dialogue for stakeholders through stakeholders
dialogue forums involving INEC, OSSIEC, the law enforcement agencies, the media, PWDs and
CSOs, conducted series of advocacy to OSSIEC, Nigerian Police Force and IPAC, supported the
training of OSSIEC, carried out series of voter education through the media and provided radio airtime
for youths and women contestants across all political parties, and organized avenues for OSSIEC to
enlighten the public to ensure a peaceful and participatory election. JDPMC hereby commends all the
above-mentioned stakeholders for the active collaboration and participation of these stakeholders in all
the remote pre-election activities it organized for a free, fair, transparent and credible election in all the
activities between February 2024 up till February 8, 2025, when JDPMC met with the executive of
IPAC. Since the ruling of the Court of Appeal sitting that sat in Akure on February 10, 2025, JDPMC faced
extreme difficulties in furtherance of its pre-election activities as OSSIEC had become less engaging
and accessible ever since. This frustrated efforts to get very useful information about the election for
further engagement with stakeholders and the citizenry ahead of the election. With other consequent
developments from the court’s ruling such as incidents of violent bloodshed, lawlessness,
politicization of court ruling among others since February 17, 2025, JDPMC began to observe fast
degeneration of confidence in the entire process in many stakeholders. While the organization
continued to mobilize for the restoration of peace, order and cooperation among stakeholders, it
proceeded with all preparatory activities including deployment of observers to various polling units on
February 21, 2025.


However, JDPMC observed that since the “legal lock jam” resulting from the directives of the
Attorney General of the federation and order of the High Court that sat in Ilesa on February 21, 2025,
the Nigerian Police Force and OSSIEC openly disagree on the conduct of the Osun Local Government
election on this 22nd day of February 2025. While the Osun State government and OSSIEC have
decided that the election holds, the Nigerian Police Force through the Force Public relation Officer
ACP Muyiwa Adejobi in a statement issued on February 21, 2025 “strongly advised” the Osun state
government to suspend the election.

For JDPMC, this disagreement between the two major pillars of a peaceful, transparent and credible
election, namely the Election Management Body and the Law Enforcement Agency, makes it
impossible for the organization to undertake a credible election observation exercise in strict
adherence to its principles based on best practice. JDPMC hereby withdraws all its observers from the
various polling units with immediate effects and so announces its discontinuation of observing the
February 22, 2025, Osun Local Government election. The organization regrets this unfortunate but
inevitable development.


It must be emphasized that this does not in any way have the implication that the organization agrees
with any of the interpretation of the contested judgement of the appellate court. The decision is strictly
based on the disagreement between the police and OSSIEC on the conduct of the election which for us
cannot guarantee the atmosphere required for the conduct and observation of a credible election. The
evident absence of the security agents IN the polling units and the non-enforcement of curfew directed
by the state government for the conduct of the election strongly reinforced our understanding of the
statement of the Nigerian Police PRO given that we sought without success for the interpretation of
the statement without success from the authorities of the Nigerian Police Force Osun State Command.


The organization thanks all partners who offered funding and technical support, and enriched its
strategy through knowledge sharing namely, Misereor Germany, EU-SDGN Phase II project, YIAGA
Africa and Kimpact Development Initiative. Appreciations also to all the major stakeholders: INEC,
OSSIEC, IPAC and the security agencies in Osun state for the outstanding cooperation that
characterized the fruitful remote pre-election activities. Above all, the organization wishes to
appreciate the bishop, the priests and religious and the lay faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo
for the inevitable support given to the organization. Special thanks also to the Bishops of the Mainline
churches in Osogbo. Finally, the management of the organization expresses special thanks to the team
of courageous and resilient staff of the organization and the team of field observers earlier trained and
deployed for the observation of the election despite the threats of violence. We look forward to the
stabilization of democracy and electoral integrity in Osun state and in Nigeria.


We are urging all stakeholders, particularly the Federal and State governments, OSSIEC, security
agencies, political parties, and civil society organizations, to take immediate steps to safeguard the
electoral process and ensure that citizens can exercise their civic rights without any fear.
JDPMC remains committed to promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance. We stand
in solidarity with all stakeholders working towards peaceful and transparent elections and hope for
conditions that will enable meaningful observation in the future.


Rev Fr Peter Akinkunmi
General Coordinator

Economic Austerity: Bishops tap the conscience of Osun State Govt, demand pain relief interventions for the poor

/0 Comments/in /by

As part of the effort to identify and solidarize with the people of Osun, especially the downtrodden masses in this ongoing economic hardship, the Leaders of the five mainline churches have charged the Osun State Government to find quick pain relief interventions for the people of Osun. Below is the excerpt from the press conference statement jointly signed.

Be Attentive to the Sufferings of the Poor

We call on the government not to wait for aggression from the people before empathy would move them to do whatever is necessary to alleviate the difficulty citizens go through to survive. The growing validation of financial crimes especially internet fraud is not disconnected from the economic woes that have besieged many families. Many small businesses especially vendors of food items and other household utilities are folding up because many households are unable to pay debts the owe such businesses. The standard of life of our citizens has dropped abruptly by over 50% in the last one year because of the surge in inflation. For the majority who live in multidimensional poverty, it means not being able to afford up two decent meals in a day. Many children now skip school for lack of transportation fees or the inability of parents to provide fees. Numerous families hardly go for weekly religious exercises because of the inability to afford transportation. It is not strange any longer to see how many houses are left in darkness at night even when there is power supply. The reason is simple, many are no longer able to pay their bill for light not to talk of powering generators. The unaffordability of clean cooking fuel is driving many of our people to the crude means of cooking energy such as excessive use of charcoal and firewood which continue to encourage deforestation and desertification. The government must let the masses know that they are both aware and are disturbed by their situation and are as well working hard and honestly to relieve the pains and misery.

We hereby appreciate the commitment of Governor Ademola Adeleke to the palliative arrangement of the federal government for the relief of civil servants. Even though the federal government that made the arrangement of an additional thirty-five-thousand-naira to monthly wages of civil servants as palliative has only paid it once, the state government of Osun State has paid up to January. We also applaud the state government’s inclusion of retirees in this palliative arrangement, including the continuous repayment of the arrears of half salary owed to workers by the previous administrations. Government must however bear in mind that civil servants make up only 1% of the population of the state while their dependents are 2%. Catering fairly for 3% of the population of over 4 million is far below average performance. The remaining 97% of the population of the state must as well be met with effective relief support programme in order to preserve the dignity and welfare of all in the face of the present misery. Government must among other things work hard to reduce the cost of living by providing palliatives on domestic energy and transportation in Osun State. Subsidizing critical food items is more beneficial to all than sharing some indecent quantities of grains to unknown faces as relief.

We are aware that the Osun State 2024 Appropriation law tagged “Budget of Reconstruction and Recovery, 2024” signed into law by the governor on the 29th of December 2023 witnessed 98% increment when compared to 2023 budget. This might be taken as confirmation by the government implicitly that there is an increment in the revenue of the state from the monthly FAAC and that the same has been factored into 2024 budget of the state. We implore our governor to implement the planned budget primarily for the betterment of the citizenry. Osun citizens are watching with eagle’s vigilance.

Subsidy: Money of the Poor and Vulnerable

There has been since June 2023 a massive increment in the monthly Federal Allocation to all states. We must, however, not fail to note that this increment is not the result of any improvement or boom in the economy. It is majorly the money of subsidy which in previous funding arrangements the federal government directly availed the people to relief the cost of transportation, goods, and services. The subsidy on fuel constituted the major direct benefit that the common man especially the extremely poor get directly as relief from the common treasury. It is understandable that to protect this share of the poor from continually being preyed upon by marauding beasts among us, it has been reallocated to states to enable them to design other means by which such relief would reach the citizens of their various states either in service delivery, critical infrastructural developments or programmes that would bring the most needed relief to the people in a sustainable manner. As God’s messengers, we wish to tap the conscience of our political leaders by reminding them and all their collaborators that the transformation of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (commonly called petrol) and on diesel into Federal Allocation to State and Local Governments simply implies entrusting of the property of the vulnerable and the poor to powerful trustees who are deemed to be more accessible to the poor. State government should keep in mind the strong spiritual implication of this trusteeship.

The government in many states of the federation have been reluctant to disclose the new federal Allocations as well as other relief packages deployed to the state to relieve the masses of the ongoing economic woes. It is shameful to note that even material reliefs earmarked by the federal government for the poor are dissolving into thin air or are being rebranded with no credible information on their whereabouts and the intent for such in many states of the federation. It is totally inappropriate for the government to fail to disclose to the public about such allocation and the mode by which it shall reach the people. This tragic mystery which has shrouded the deployment of the reallocated subsidy and relief packages to various states in the country raises doubt as to whether the government is intent on acting with clear conscience before God in handling of the belongings of the poor in their custody. We therefore remind the leaders and all stakeholders that it is a grave offense before God Almighty to ever deploy such funds for any other purpose than the good of the masses. Diversion of such funds is tantamount to stealing from the poor and it is repulsive to God.

Click below for the details of the press conference statement.

Press-Conference-Statement-of-the-Mainline-Bishops-in-OsunDownload

Osun Nomination: JDPMC expresses concern over poor observation of 35% affirmative action by Gov Adeleke

/0 Comments/in /by

The concern of JDPMC on the Growing Marginalization of Women and Degeneration of Participatory Democracy in the Governance of Osun State.

The Justice, Development and Peace Makers Centre has been actively engaging state and non-state actors as well as the citizens of Osun state on the way out of degenerative acts of marginalization and exclusion of women in governance and participatory democracy in Osun state. We hereby express our deeper concern about the new development today, which rather indicates a worsening situation in spite of the multi-stakeholders’ efforts to chart a way forward for the state. The concern is as a result of the recent list of Commissioners and Special Advisers’ nominees released by the State government and announced through the Speaker of the House.

In collaboration with local and international partners, JDPMC along with other Civil Society Organizations, the media and numerous groups and concerned citizens have actively and tirelessly engaged the political leadership in the state to map out strategies towards a political reengineering of participatory democracy that reflects a steady increase in the inclusion of women in governance in Osun State with a vision beyond the 35% Affirmative Action. Sadly, as the team of JDPMC analyzed the lists submitted to the State House of Assembly, it is discovered that women make up only 8% (2 women out of 25). This is not only unreasonably below the 35% Affirmative Actions for women inclusion governance, but it also clearly indicates a sharp drop in the percentage of women inclusion in the history of Osun State within the last 8 years.

It should be recalled that at least, Osun State was close to halfway to achieving the 35% affirmative action for women. Between 2014 and 2018, the state government led by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had 38 executive members comprising 22 commissioners and 16 special assistants, 6 out of these 38 were women making up 15% of his cabinet. During the immediate past administration led by Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, 5 out of the 35 commissioners and Special Advisers, were women making 14% of the women in his cabinet reflecting a 1% drop.  In the immediate past 7th Assembly of the State legislature, 2 out of 26 members were women. In the current 8th Assembly of the State, there is no woman as a member of the House out of the 26 members in the State’s legislative arm of government. This constitutes Osun State as the only State in the entire Southwest Nigeria to reflect such degenerative development in terms of women’s inclusion.

  JDPMC considers this development to stand contrary to the Osun Women Policy Agenda that was developed by Osun Women and stakeholders championed by JDPMC and which was signed by His Excellency, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Jackson Adeleke on the 2nd of July, 2022 at his country home, Ede ahead of the July 16, 2022 governorship. He strengthened the pact with words of promise to personally champion the implementation of the 35% affirmative action in the appointive positions in Osun State. This pact which was widely circulated and reflected in several political conversations ahead of the election is significant to the massive support of women that Senator Ademola Adeleke enjoyed during the election.

We, therefore, urge the government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Jackson Adeleke urgently re-address the situation in keeping with his promise and as well as ensuring that his government’s decision reflects the evolutional progress of inclusive participatory democracy in Osun State.

JDPMC retains its sole vision of working neutrally with all people of goodwill for the emergence of a developed, just, peaceful and stable society that creates the right atmosphere for all peoples to actualize their potential, in the promotion of shared common humanity

Long live Osun State.

signed

Rev. Fr. Peter Akinkunmi

General Coordinator

Justice, Development and Peace Makers’ Centre, Osogbo.

Heads of mainline churches kick against Owo massacre, call for peace in Osun guber poll

/0 Comments/in /by

SUSTAINING PEACE AND UNITY AHEAD OF, DURING AND AFTER THE 2022 OSUN STATE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

(A press release by the Conference of Heads of Mainline Churches in Osogbo, Thursday, 16 June 2022)

  1. We heads of the mainline Churches in Osogbo namely the Bishop of the Catholic Osogbo of Diocese, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Osun, the Bishop of the Osun Diocese, the Bishop of the Osun-Central Diocese of the African Church and the President of the Osun Baptist Conference, hereby commend and appreciate the individual and joint-efforts of traditional institutions, religious leaders, leaders of various stakeholder-groups and unions in Osun state; together with the governments of the various states of the south-west to sustain and promote peace and unity across Yorubaland in spite of the advancing reign of terror and bloodshed across our country Nigeria.
  2. In spite of this, we cannot fail to express with profound bitterness of heart the terrible wound inflicted on our collective consciences as citizens of Nigeria and in particular members of the Body of Christ arising from the shedding of the blood of our Christian and Muslim compatriots simply for their expression of the religious views or attachment to the symbols of their religion. We therefore condemn vehemently the brutal attack and cold blood murder of numerous faithful at worship on a solemn day such as the day of Pentecost at St Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State. This atrocious incident transcends the growing disregard for the sacredness of human life in our country. To have invaded the House of God and murdered His children in His presence at his own sanctuary is a tragic act of assault on the person of the Almighty God. The hitherto brutal death suffered by Deborah Samuel in Sokoto in the hands of religious fanatics; and the cruel shedding of the blood of the pregnant Harira Jubril and her four children for their likely attachment to their Islamic religious symbol in Orumba, Imo State are indications that all hands must be on deck to ensure religious fanaticism does not aggravate the already overwhelming rate terror in the land.
  3. We appreciate the fact that few days after we joined our voices with all stakeholders formerly as a body, the Electoral Act 2022 was signed by the presidency and has since taken effect. We consider this development a renewal of hope and reinforcement of faith in the stability of democracy in our dear country Nigeria. We therefore call on all eligible citizens who have registered to ensure that they collect their Permanent Voter’s Card and prepare to participate actively in the coming gubernatorial election which is barely a month from today. The furtherance of the use of technology by the new electoral law as well as the efforts of INEC to decentralize the polling units to encourage voters to at closer proximity to their homes with less stress, INEC’s continuous engagement with all relevant stakeholders and enlightenment of the citizenry have set in motion an atmosphere that manifests a significant improvement on the past.
  • We commend also our politicians in Osun, who up to this point have significantly reduced verbal and physical assault of opponents in campaign activities. It is however disheartening that we already observe triggers of violence around our major cities such as the destruction of posters and symbols of candidates of various parties. While we appeal to politicians to continue to use verbal and body languages that promote peace as we approach the election date, we encourage all young persons in Osun state to make a personal commitment to contribute to the joint effort for the fostering of peace and progress in Osun State.
  • We shall not also fail to mention with dismay, the worsening shameful ugly trend of money politics during the recently held primaries of various political parties. All citizens of Osun and indeed our nation Nigeria must in the spirit of patriotism and sense of common vehemently renounce the marauding beast of vote buying which makes our polity vulnerable to cowards in the political space who mean nothing good for our common existence.
  • We encourage politicians to enliven the pre-election atmosphere with the issue-based campaigns and demonstrate respect for the citizenry by ensuring that their manifestos get to the reach of the common man at the grassroots to prepare them for voting from a free and informed conscience. In this respect, we call on the media to manifest high sense of professionalism as we appeal to all citizens to eschew fake news and hate speech and avoid their dissemination by whatever means. We must use social media conscientiously with respect for the dignity and safety of our fellow human beings.
  • We call on security agencies to be committed to the protection of all citizens of Nigeria and to create an atmosphere of security most needed for the conduct of a participatory credible election. They must perform their duties with an absolute sense of neutrality. We appeal to citizens also to be law abiding and cooperate with the security agencies to enable them to serve everyone effectively.
  • We encourage victors during the election to be magnanimous in victory and constitute an inclusive government that would give everyone a sense of belonging and would foster collaboration in peace for the progress of our dear state.
  • Finally, we call on all religious communities to put our state in prayer and encourage all the faithful of their religions to work with their compatriots for a peaceful and progressive Osun State and Nigeria as a whole. Prayers should be offered to reach out for the mercy of the almighty God upon our land.

Long live Osun State, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Co-Signed:

Most Rev. John Oyejola                                                     Rt Rev Amos K. Ogunrinde

Catholic Bishop of Osogbo Diocese                                  The Methodist Bishop of Osogbo Diocese

                    

Rt Rev Dr Foluso Olugbenga Babatunji                          Rev James O. Bamidele

The Anglican Bishop of Osun Diocese                            The African Church Bishop of Osun Central Diocese

Rev Dr Paul Kolawole

Conference President, Osun Baptist Conference

Decline in Campaign Activities, a calculated ploy to a vote inducement by Rev.Fr. Peter Akinkunmi

/0 Comments/in /by

JUSTICE, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE MAKERS’ CENTRE CAMPAIGN FINANCE MONITORING PRE-ELECTION STATEMENT FOR THE 2022 EKITI STATE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

Introductory Remarks

The wheels of campaign activities for the 2022 Ekiti State gubernatorial election have finally ground to a halt with less than twenty-four hours to the commencement of polls. The period of preparation ahead of the elections has clearly been very engaging for all stakeholders particularly the INEC, contesting political parties and candidates as well as their supporters, law enforcement agencies, the media, Civil Society Organizations and the general populace.

The General Campaign Atmosphere

JDPMC deployed 16 campaign finance trackers to all the LGAs of the State to provide real-time information of the dynamics of campaign expenditures of all contesting political parties, their candidates and supporters using the Parallel expenses tracking method: a  JDPMC in the last 30 days of the campaign period for the Ekiti State gubernatorial election considered to be the peak period of campaign activities, observed an unprecedented vitality in the activities of stakeholders especially the political parties, INEC, CSOs and the Media. This cannot be dissociated from the fact that this is the first election that would be regulated by the 2022 Electoral Act with its significant innovative policies.

The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) with the current perception of its capacity to make votes count and reduce significantly the tendency of contestants and their supporters to tamper with election results among other factors such as an increase in the rate of voter education, seems to have significantly reduced voter apathy, especially among the youths. This is observed to have enlightened extraordinary passion, enthusiasm and zeal of contestants and their supporters to rally the support of voters. This no doubt had a significant effect on trends and patterns of election campaigns in Ekiti state as observed in the last thirty days of campaign activities.

Preliminary Report on Campaign Finance Pattern

As technological innovations, developments in legislation and observed behavioral changes continue to improve the electoral processes in Nigeria, there has been a significant decline in the capacity of many electoral malpractices to undermine the credibility of elections. However, the inducement of voters has not only remained resistant to transformative initiatives so far, but the rate of its growth had also assumed a scandalous and unacceptable dimension between the last four years when Ekiti held its last governorship election in 2018 and the present. The trend of voter inducements in Ekiti State political campaign is observed to have logically connected Ekiti to the trajectory of the reckless fast-growing trend of a political campaign in which voter inducement is assuming prominence compared to established campaign activities. In this regard, Ekiti in the last thirty days of the campaign period which is usually the peak of campaign activities manifested a drastic decline in campaign activities despite the relatively peaceful atmosphere. This along with other observed trends of voter inducement actively in motion through the pre-election period are primary indicators that voter inducement is prioritized in the struggle of contestants to rally the support of voters ahead of the election thus setting a background for massive vote-buying on election day.

The campaign finance tracking activities of JDPMC were not isolated from the awareness of the revolutionary character of the scandalous rate of open voter inducement during the 2018 Ekiti State gubernatorial election within the overall trajectory of voter inducement and vote-buying within the last decade of the fourth republic in Nigeria. Since then, findings from the tracking of all stand-alone gubernatorial elections as well as the presidential election between 2018 and 2022 have revealed a chronological rise in the amount which prominent political parties spend on voter inducement relative to the amount spent on campaign events and items generally. This continuous rise from one election to another peaked in the 2020 Ondo gubernatorial election which was the last to have been fully observed by JDPMC ahead of the Ekiti 2022 Election. In the Ondo 2020 specifically, it was observed that the amount spent by the winner of the election on vote-buying on election day alone was almost double the total amount spent in the 90 days of campaign activities tracked by the deployed observers of JDPMC using the Parallel Expense Tracking tool. https://jdpmcosogbo.org.ng/breaking-jdpmc-releases-report-on-amount-spent-during-2020-edo-ondo-guber-elections

The outlook of campaign activities ahead of the Ekiti 2022 elections when the preeminence of voter inducement is considered, fitted it as a furtherance of the generally observed trend of voter inducement by the major political parties at all major elections. The very high rate of voter inducement observed in the pre-election atmosphere in Ekiti indicates also that the issue of vote-buying as far as the Ekiti State election is concerned is unlikely to be a departure from the outrageous trend of vote-buying and financial inducements observed in previous elections and during the party primaries of the major political parties ahead of the general election of 2023 respectively.

Pre-election incidents observed in Ekiti included various forms and degrees of financial and material inducement of voters during door-to-door campaigns, cash and online fund transfers to the tune of N20,000 were shared at rallies and town hall meetings, distribution of fuel to commercial cyclists (Okada riders), other materials such as generators and motorcycles were used for voter inducement by the major contesting political parties.

Conclusion

As the observation of JDPMC in the peak period of the campaign in Ekiti days has not indicated any departure from the growing trend of voter inducement in previous elections, JDPMC is concerned the consolidation of these acts of recklessness in the pre-election atmosphere of Ekiti State tragically threatens the credibility of the election and the emergence of credible governance in Ekiti.

We therefore call on all people of goodwill across Ekiti State to resist voter inducement on election day and vote for candidates of their choice in good conscience for the sake of the common future of the state and of our country Nigeria. In past elections, JDPMC has observed that security agents at polling units seem not to include as their election day duty the prevention of voter inducement, as JDPMC observed the complacency of security agent to such activities within the vicinity of polling units. We therefore call on security agencies to be active in deterring acts of voter inducement in the vicinity of polling units.

ANALYSIS-OF-CAMPAING-EXPENDITURESDownload

Rev. Fr. Peter Akinkunmi

General Coordinator, JDPMC, Osogbo

Build first the bridge of education for your Girl Child-JDPMC enjoins parents

/0 Comments/in , /by

The need to build a strong bridge of education that will measure up Nigerian-girl children to the technological advancement in their daily endeavour has been stressed.

This was made known in an International day of girl child’s message by the General Coordinator, Rev.Fr.Peter Akinkunmi of the Justice, Development and Peace Makers’ Centre (JDPMC), osogbo.

Speaking on this year theme: “Digital Generation” Fr. Akinkunmi noted that it is a great joy the world is now being driven by digitilization and technology which made every girl child to be involved in digitilization but beyond this, it is important to build a solid foundation of educational bridge upon which this realistic technology could stand.

“It is a good thing that girls are getting involved in technology, that is, now at the centre stage of digital world of limitless possibilities but It is also strongly believed that educating any girl child is key. Between every disadvantaged girl child and her goal, a bridge is needed to connect them for actualization,” he said.

He therefore advised parents to prioritise education for their girl children before any other factor in order to instill cultural software of excellence in them and better headstart among their equals particularly their male counterparts.

While congratulating all the girl children, adding that JDPMC would not desist from putting culture of gender balance into proper perspective in Osun state.

Women’ Equality Day: Avail yourselves of political office for a better Nigeria – JDPMC

/0 Comments/in , /by

Women across the length and the breadth of Nigeria especially in Osun state have been charged to brace up and wake up to the current challenges bedeviling the Country ranging from insecurity, economic instability and other social crisis.

The General Coordinator of the Justice Development and Peace Makers’ Centre (JDPMC), Osogbo Rev.Fr. Peter Akinkunmi stated this in his Women’s Equality Day’s message made available to the Newsmen in Osogbo.

Fr. Akinkunmi said that the women’s indifference across the country in the nation’s affairs has been a big minus to her socio-economic and political developments which would not be too good for her.

He noted further that the significant potentials of women in this contemporary world cannot be overemphasized particularly to Democracy and Good Governance and this is why women have to rise to the occasion by availing themselves of political offices for a better Nigeria.

While commending Nigerian women who have been standing out in their various chosen careers and fields like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and among many others. He enjoined other Nigerian women to take a cue from these women of substance.

“Non-participation of women in Nigeria’s political space, key policy-making and economic planning is a big minus to the nation’s good governance and her progress. I think it is high time Nigerian women braced up and harnessed their God-given potentials for the development of Nigeria as this is not the best time to play indifference at least for the sake of posterity.

He however used the medium to celebrate all the Nigerian women across the country as the world marks International Women’s Equality Day while expressing his optimism in a better Nigeria through women’s participation in politics and community development.

Yes, you can but embrace good values and shun bad conducts-JDPMC urges youths

/0 Comments/in , /by

As Nigeria joins the rest of the World today to commemorate this year’s International Youth Day, youths across the length and breadth of the country have been advised to imbibe the culture of good values that will promote good leadership and representation at all strata of Governments.

The General Coordinator of the Justice, Development and Peace Makers’ Centre Osogbo, Rev.Fr.Peter Akinkunmi gave this admonition in his World Youth Day’s Message.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration that says”Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health ”. Fr.Akinkunmi said that it is true that Nigerian youths have technological advantages to transform the fortune of every sector of this country for the better.

He however stressed further that to steer the affair of a country like Nigeria requires good values and moral conduct as that it has been a great missing link between the Government and the Governed.

while enjoining them to eschew every sharp and unhealthy practice more importantly vain glory that will not take them far but rather should ensure that they participate in the nation’s policy formulation where and when the need arises.

Insecurity: JDPMC organizes a one-day Symposium for way forward

/0 Comments/in /by

It is no longer news that the country is currently experiencing insecurity such as banditry and kidnapping for ransom has significantly worsened the situation of her citizenry. In the same way, there have been different calls for secession among different ethnic groups in the country.

In commemorating this year Democracy Day and reflecting the mood of the season, the Justice Development and Peace Makers’ Centre (JDPMC), Osogbo will be organizing a one-day symposium to engage the public, particularly the youths for a debate and discussion to find lasting solutions to the issues bedeviling the country.

You are therefore invited to share your views on the burning issues and offer likely lasting solutions where necessary in order to restore back peace to Nigeria. it should be noted also that every opinion will count in this symposium as they will form a comprehensive report to be pushed forward to the affected relevant stakeholders in the security sector in Nigeria.

2020 Human Rights Day: Join the conversation with JDPMC on 91.7 fm

/0 Comments/in /by

Justice, Development and Peace Makers’ Centre (JDPMC), Osogbo is a registered Faith-based, Charity, Non-Governmental, Non-Political, and Not–for-profit Organization established according to the mandate of the Vatican’s Department of Church and Society of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo. It carries out the prophetic mission of the Church in the world through the social transformation of the society without any bias to race, gender, religion, tongue and colour.

The Justice and Human Rights Department of the Organisation focuses on the promotion of fundamental human rights through the Championing of legal reforms, defense of vulnerable persons and human rights education. As part of its activities to mark the 2020 Annual Human Rights Day, the Department is organizing an on air panel session to discuss the appearing problem of human rights violation in Nigeria in relation to civil protests.

We therefore write to respectfully invite you to the programme coming up as follows:

 

Topic: Human Rights in the light of Civil Protest in Nigeria.

Date: 10th day of November, 2020

Time: 1-2pm.

Venue: Rave Fm, Agunbelewo, Osogbo.

While thanking you for your consideration and anticipated acceptance, we ask the Lord to bless you with uncommon wisdom and keep you safe at all times.