The Osun State House of Assembly, on Monday, November 28, 2022, frowned on the decision of the state’s newly inaugurated governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to rename the state from “State of Osun” to Osun State.
The Assembly argued that the anthem, crest, and flag of the state was an enactment of a law assented to on December 18, 2012, and no person can exact force to change it.
The PUNCH had reported that Adeleke during his inauguration on Sunday, November 27, 2022, reversed the name of the state from “State of Osun” to “Osun State” and also reversed its appellation from “The State of the Virtues” to ‘The State of the Living Spring”.
Adeleke also reversed all appointments made by the immediate past governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, effective from July 7, 2022.
He also ordered that all government bank accounts be frozen, adding that all actions of the Oyetola-led administration from July 17 will be revisited.
In a reaction to the governor’s decision, the House, through the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Moshood Kunle Akande, wrote a press statement dated Monday, November 28, 2022, to dispel the action, it partly read, “The State of Osun House of Assembly having reviewed the inaugural speech of the Governor and the activities of the inauguration hereby resolves as follows;
“The usage of the State Anthem, Crest, and Flag is an enactment of the law and as such, its usage is a matter of law and not choice.
“The enactment ‘State of Osun Anthem, Crest and Flag Law, 2012’ assented to on December 18, 2012, contained in Schedule 1, II, III, IV and V, which carefully details every component of this law is not in ambiguity.
“Schedule I is the State Anthem, Schedule II has to do with the State Crest, and Schedule III is the symbolic significance of the elements in the Flag.
“Lastly, while we are aware of a court judgment in effect recognising ‘Osun State’, the Assembly, pending the determination and exhaustion of all legal means would not be drawn into this matter.”
The lawmakers further said that the state will continue to be described as the “State of Osun” and “Ipinle Omulabi” (State of the Virtuous).
First Move: Governor Adeleke Freezes Osun Bank Accounts, Vows To ‘Correct Past Injustices’
One of Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke first acts in the office is to direct that all the bank accounts belonging to the state to be frozen till further notice.
He gave the directive shortly after he was sworn in as the sixth Governor of the State.
He also reversed policies introduced by former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and vowed to review all appointments by his predecessor, former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, since July 17th 2022 when he lost election.
Adeleke, who was sworn in at the Osogbo Township Stadium on Sunday, November 27, 2022, promised to deliver all his campaign promises.
“Under my watch, I will correct past injustice, corrupt acts or policies by the previous administration which are against the collective interest of our people,” he declared.
He gave an Executive Order to reverse the policies of Aregbesola, which recognised Osun State as State of Osun.
He also announced that the slogan of the State will no longer be ‘State of Virtue’ but ‘State of Living Spring’.
