#OSUN : The State of Osun Before And During Aregbesola

The struggle of the creation of Osun started in 1950 by the traditional rulers and people of Osun area under the then Ibadan District Authority. The vision and imagination of the people of Osun came true on the 27th of August 1991 when the military Head of State General Ibrahim Babagida created nine states. Osun state was created from the then Oyo State with Osogbo as its Capital...


Different individuals has governed the state since its creation, from the military administrator to the democratically elected governors. Such as;Segun Ajiborisha, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, Col. Anthony Udofia, Chief Bisi Akande, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and of course the present governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The Living Spring state welcomed Rauf Aregbesola, a Lagos based politician to put a "Lagos Touch" to the development of the state. But no one can understand the state and its political terrain than those who spent almost all their lives in the state i.e. the Osun state based politicians. 

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came in with six points agenda;

• Banish hunger, 

• Banish poverty,

• Banish unemployment, 

• Promote healthy living, 

• Promote functional education, 

• Promote communal peace and progress.

Upon assumption of office, Aregbesola hit the ground running by creating job opportunity for 20,000 unemployed youths, 800 students had the opportunity to be trained on calisthenics, the security forces and agencies in the state were equipped to curb crime and robbery. 

Understanding the importance of education and as part of his promise to the people of State of Osun, he took the education system to an advance level by introducing E-learning, 150,000 tablets were distributed to senior secondary school students in the state. 

Also, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state has improved tremendously from 300million to 1.5billion naira. Many he has done in his quest to move the state forward.

Unfortunately, Aregbesola's style of government did not suit the people of Osun. Some sees him as an achiever, but to the common man on the street reverse is the case. Making the masses happy goes beyond creating agencies like Lagos and some developed States in the country has done , it goes beyond giving tablets to young secondary school students, not even 20,000 jobs with inconsistent payment of stipends. All these are "Lagos Style" that did not work for the people of the state of Osun 

The masses are grumbling for Aregbesola's lack of foresight. Although, he has done his bit to ensure he delivers the dividends of democracy, but the state of Osun needs an indigenous politician, a person close to the people, someone who understand the needs of the people, a resident politician close enough to know almost all the people in his/her constituency . 

A man with listening ears, accessible, a messiah who knows how to systematically deliver the dividends of democracy to the doorstep of the common man.

The State of Osun needs a man who has being in the corridor of "Osun Politics" to re-brand Aregbesola's policies. A competent, dodged and seasoned politician that will deliver the actual dividends of democracy to the people and lead the State of Osun to an enviable height irrespective of age and religious background. 

The State of Osun can be great again, the Living Spring state can come alive, and the virtues of the State of the Virtuous can be seen beyond our shores. But we must be sensitive and wise enough to choose the right man, a man after the heart of the people to succeed the present administration.

God bless the State of Osun!

OGEDENGBE FEMI
FROM ILESA