Are We Out Of The State Of Osun? By Hammed Tajudeen

The State of Osun , a phrase adopted by the immediate past adminstration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to replace Osun State as recognized at the national level .

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the past governor of the state who is also the incumbent Minister of Interior of the Federal Republic of Nigeria took over leadership of the Osun Government from Prince Olagunsoye Oyinloa of the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, after over three years of legal battle to reclaim his mandate.

One will imagine if the present administration under the leadership of Governor Gboyega Oyetola, who was the Chief of State to Aregbesola for eight years is pleased with the phrase “State of Osun” which made the state address to differ from her counterparts across the federation.

Casting our mind back to the introduction of the phrase “State of Osun” in 2010 , Aregbesola led government vigorously fought with the federal government under Dr Goodluck Jonathan to accept the new phrase citing countries like India and America are making the use of State of to address their states.

One will also think that the disapproval of the phrase by the then federal government of Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, was about party differences , Ala’s investigation has shown that members of the same party with the immediate governor are not okay with the phrase.

Special Adviser to the incumbent governor of Osun on Education, Mr Jamiu Olawumi who showed a very strong disapproval to the phrase in an interview with a an online medium last two years explained that the state is addressed as Osun State beyond her shore.

In the interview the SA further explained that majority of documents with international organization to aid the state on different programs are written as Osun State not State of Osun.

The recent launched Osun State Youth Policy document by the state Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola has again pointed out the government’s plan to return address of the state to Osun State.

The Commissioner on Youth and Sports, Mr Yemi Lawal was heard repeatedly during the launching of the youth policy document organized by his ministry addressing the state as Osun State contrary to State of Osun and was never cautioned by his principal.

Should youths of the state confidently boast that they have been returned to the old state by the Oyetola led administration as created by their founding fathers in 1991 ?