About Osun

BY Editor

ABOUT OSUN STATE

Quick Facts

• State Capital: Osogbo
• Statehood Day: August 27 , 1991
• Population: 3,423,535( 1996 National Census)
• Area Size: 14,875 (square kilometres)
• Median household Income: $50,614 (11th)
• Occupation: Agrarian (256,000 Farming Families)
• Area Cultivated:149,478 Hectares
• Nickname: State of the Virtuous (Ipinle Omoluabi)
• Hotspots: Osun Osogbo Groove, Erin Ijesha Waterfall, Ile-Ife
• Religion: Christianity, Islam and Traditional

The name ‘’Osun’’ comes from a river that flows through the state. It is symbolic because it serves both spiritual and tourist purposes in the state. The river is worshipped annually by devotees. It is also a tourist spot as people from different parts of the country visit the Osun Groove in Osogbo. The river also provides water for irrigation for the agriculturally rich state.

History

Yoruba tradition has it that Ile-Ife in the State of Osun is where Olodumare started the creation of the world. It represents the beginning of life, the birthplace of civilization, the embodiment of all that we see or feel. Osun is the ancestral home of the Yoruba Race whether home or abroad. It is the central and most important location of this morally rich, culturally sound and highly sophisticated race in the world. It represents the spiritual, the physical and the technological.

Vision is the pathway and the guiding light into the future. This was what the founding fathers and agitators for the creation of a state to be named ‘’ Osun ‘’ had in mind and did everything possible to realise the vision. They weathered opposition and confronted obstacles for the  generation past, present and unborn.

Oduduwa Statue

Ori Olokun Statue

The struggle for the creation of Osun started as early as 1950. At that time, the present senatorial districts namely Osun West, Central and part of Osun East were subordinate towns under the administration of Ibadan District Native Authority but in there determination to get independence, traditional rulers and citizens of Osun Area submitted a petition to the British Colonial Administration in Nigeria demanding autonomy for Osun Division, with Osogbo proposed as the headquarters

To realise their aim, they pursued this agenda further in 1951, when a Commission Of Inquiry was set up the Colonialists, headed by H.L Butcher primarily saddled with investigating the crisis in Ibadan District Native Authority between Chief Salami Agbaje and Olubadan-in-Council. At this commission, named H.L Butcher Commission of Inquiry, a representation was made by people of Osun Area reiterating their resolve for autonomy. This demand was granted on March 17^th 1951, thus recommending autonomy for Osun District Towns on April 1^st 1951.

The resilience and doggedness of the founding fathers and crusaders for the creation of Osun was rewarded on August 27^th 1991, when the administration of Gen Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida created nine states with Osun created out of Oyo State with Osogbo as the capital. It was a dream fulfilled and hope achieved.

Osun emboldens the history of a people whose quest for freedom, self-actualisation, determination and hope for a better tomorrow fought and won the battle for its creation. It was a dream fulfilled and hope achieved.

Past Administrations in Osun

Col Leo Segun Ajiborisha was the first Military Administrator of the State and he governed from August 1991-January 1992 when he handed over to an elected governor, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke who ruled from 1992 to November 1993. The civilian rule in the state was terminated when Col Anthony Udofia,( Dec,1993-Aug 1996), Col Anthony Obi (Aug 1996-Aug 1998) and Col Theophilus Bamgboye (Aug 1998- May 1999) served as Military Administrators respectively.

Chief Bisi Akande was elected as the Governor and he served the state from 29^th May 1999- 29^th May 2003.Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola took over from Chief Akande and governed from 29^th May 2003- 29^th May 2007 for the first term. Prince Oyinlola had spent three and a half years out of his second term

until he was removed in a landmark judgement on 26^th November 2010, by the Court of Appeal, sitting in Ibadan which nullified his election and Engr. Rauf Aregbesola was declared the validly elected Governor in the 14^thApril, 2007 Gubernatorial Election. Engr Rauf Aregbesola is the present Governor of the State.

The people of Osun are politically sophisticated and their dynamism is seen in the ability to elect people who can serve their interest. Different political parties have ruled the state but the progressive nature is always reflected in their choice of leaders.

Geography

The State is situated in the tropical rain forest zone. It covers an area of approximately 14,875 sq km and lies between latitude 7° 30′ 0″ N and longitude 4° 30′ 0″ E. Though a landlocked state, it is blessed with presence of many rivers and streams which serves the water needs of the state.

It is boundaried by Ogun State to the south, Kwara State to the north, Oyo State to the west and Ekiti and Ondo State to the east. The state is within the tropical rain forest with abundance of resources. Minerals resources found in the state include gold, kaolin and others which are being extracted for the benefit of the state and the people

The state also has many hills in towns like Ikirun, Iragbiji, Ilesha, Ikire and Ile-Ife. These hills were fortresses for the people during the Yoruba wars and the Fulani expansionist period. Presently, they serve as beautiful sceneries and landscape to look upon when visiting or passing through these towns.

There are over 200 major towns and several villages in the state.

The People

Osun has a fairly large population. According to the 2006 National Population Census, the population of the state is put at 3,423,535. The state is rich in human and material resources

Historical evidence shows that the Yoruba tradition is one of the earliest and dominant traditions in Nigeria. The people of Osun are predominantly Yoruba. The state is composed of Osun, Ifes, Ijesas and Igbominas. Their language is Yoruba but there are variations in intonation and accent in across the towns and cities.

Commercial activities have brought the people of the state in contact with non-indigenes and foreigners who have adopted the state as their homes owing to the peaceful nature of the people and  prevalent atmosphere.

Osun is culturally rich and this can be seen in all spheres of life such as arts, literature, music and other social activities in the state. Similarly, the state is blessed with a highly literate and articulate populace which makes up a strong and productive workforce

Being an agrarian state, agriculture is largely practised both at commercial and subsistence scales and this attracts people from outside the state.

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