By
Fawaz Adebisi
The House of Assembly in Osun State has rejected the decision of the newly elected Governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, to rename the state from “State of Osun” to Osun State.
The Assembly made this decision on Monday, frowning on the decision as it argued that the anthem, crest and flag of the state was an enactment of a law assented to on December 18, 2012, which no person can exact force to change it.
However, it was reported that Adeleke during his inauguration on Sunday, November 27, 2022, changed the name of the state from “State of Osun” to “Osun State” as he also reversed its appellation from “The State of the Virtues” to ‘The State of the Living Spring”.
Blackbox Nigeria earlier reported that he has reversed all appointments made by the immediate past governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, effective from July 7, 2022, as 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.
Reacting to this, the House, through the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Moshood Kunle Akande, released a press statement dated Monday, November 28, 2022, to reject 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 therefore maintained that the state will continue to be described as the “State of Osun” and “Ipinle Omoluabi” (State of the Virtuous).
