OSUN STATE SERIES: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF OSUN STATE

Osun State was carved out of Oyo state on the 27^th August 1991; it came into existence after series of pressure that was mounted on the Federal Military   Government.  The demand for the state to be created could be traced back to 1975 and perhaps much earlier. This was as a result of the appointment of   Irikefe commission set up by the administration of the late General Muritala Mohammed   in 1975 to look into the demand for the creation of more states.

The Osun, Ijesa and Ife communities under the umbrella of Osun State movement requested   the Federal Government to have a state of their own, but it did not materialize in 1976 until May 1991 when the secretary to the Government of the federation, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed said in an interview that the Federal Government had not shut down the door against creation of states, with this  a formal petition was gathered by the council for the creation of Osun State which was presented to Governor Adulkarim Adisa in Ibadan on the 24^th of April 1991 by a powerful delegation of traditional rulers who addressed the then president. The delegation which was led by Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, included the Oragun of Ila Oba William Adetona Ayeni, the Ataoja of Osogbo Oba Iyiola Matanmi, the Timi of Ede Oba Tijani Oladokun, the Olukuku of Okuku, the Ogiyan of Ejibo Oba Omowunuola, the Alapomu of Apomu, the Alarun of Ikirun, the Owa of Igbajo etc. The petition was signed by 30 traditional rulers and 16 community leaders. On 16^th of June Osun forum sent a memorandum to President Babaginda demanding the creation of Osun state, it was signed by its chairman, his secretary and 17^th members. On 27 August 1991, President Babaginda created nine states including Osogbo as its capital

There were several reasons for the creation of Osun State and the other nine states, as mentioned by President Babaginda. These reasons were to fulfil the expressed wishes of the people and communities, to avoid divide and rule syndrome, the need to achieve a measure of relative balance in population and resource distribution, to maintain regional and state balance, ensure effective and efficient administration and lastly to strengthen unity of the country among others.

More so, when the State was created, the pioneer governor was Colonel Segun Ajiborisha from August 1991 to January 1992, followed by Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke who was the first Civilian Executive Governor, he was in power from January 1992 to November 1993 before the military aborted the transition to full scale civilian administration. In December 1993   Navy Captain Anthony Udofia was appointed military administrator until Colonel Anthony Obi took over him for two years 1996 to 1998. On August 1998 Colonel Theophilus Aduragbemi Bamgboye became the military administrator for the state and later handed over power later to the civilian administration in May1999 to 2003 headed by Chief Adebisi Akande. From May 2003 Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola became the Governor up to 2010 in which an election took place and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola emerged as the governor of Osun state, he was sworn in on Saturday 27 November 2010.Yet a few years ago Osun State became and has often been described   as the State of Osun (2011), this was carried out by the present regime of the Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

For more Knowledge on this, do check the reference

REFERENCE

1. Yemi Balogun., “The people of Osun State:A Historical Survey” in Siyan Oyeweso(eds), From Leo Ajiborisa to Rauf Aregbesola: perspective on Osun State at 20 (Ibadan, Osun State University, Ikire campus,2011.) p. 23
2. Odewunmi S.G., “Osun State: Basic geography And Natural Resources” in Siyan Oyeweso(eds), From Leo Ajiborisa to Rauf Aregbesola: perspective on Osun State at 20 (Ibadan, Osun State University, Ikire campus,2011.) pp. 1-7
3. Odua investment.com.ng/port folio.item/Osun state/.com
4. Olatomide Waheed Olowa and Omowumi Ayodele Olowa, “Sources of Technical Efficiency among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Osun State of Nigeria” in The Research Journal Of Applied Science, Vol 5, Issue 2, 2010. pp. 115-122
5. Odewunmi S.G., “Osun State: Basic geography And Natural Resources” in Siyan Oyeweso(eds), From Leo Ajiborisa to Rauf Aregbesola: perspective on Osun State at 20 (Ibadan, Osun State University, Ikire campus,2011.) pp. 10-15
6. Siyan Oyeweso (eds), from Leo Ajiborisa To Rauf Aregbesola: Perspective On Osun State At 20 (Ibadan, Osun State University, Ikire campus) 2011. p.864
7. Felix A. Adenaike, Nigeria: Osun state, (Ibadan, Syndicated Communication Ltd) 1991. pp. 1-5
8. Siyan Oyeweso (eds), from Leo Ajiborisa To Rauf Aregbesola: Perspective On Osun State At 20 (Ibadan, Osun State University, Ikire campus) 2011. pp. 862-863
9. Wole Adedoyin (ed), Osun State, a publication of Osogbo book club pp.3-7
10. Picture by Streetshots
11. Oliseh Kadishi,United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization and Food Security in Osun State 1992-2012.