Tafa Balogun was appointed Nigeria’s 21st Inspector-General of Police on March 6, 2002, and left office in 2005.

He passed on in Lagos on Thursday, four days to his 75th birthday.

The funeral prayer was observed in accordance with Islamic rites at the Ila-Orangun Central Eid Praying Ground.

Chief Imam of Ila-Orangun, Dr Abdulhammed Salahudeen, presided over the burial prayers where he preached the need for humans to discharge good deeds as death is inevitable.

Former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, who spoke with newsmen at the side-line of the burial, described Balogun as one of the greatest gentle police officers Nigeria had ever produced.

Arase described the departed IG-P as a mentor and a father who impacted a lot of police officers intellectually.

“He was an operational icon, intellectual to the core; a cerebral officer. Even in death he remains my mentor and benefactor.

“He was like a big father when it comes to policing difficult issues. You can always go to him for advice and we will miss him for that,’’ Arase lamented.

The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Mr Olawale Olokode, represented the current Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba, at the burial.

Mr Ismail Omipidan, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun and the Osun Finance Commissioner, Bola Oyebamiji, both represented the state government at the funeral heavily attended by police personnel.

Source: NAN

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Waheed (real name held back because the family will be mourning for a long time) woke up that morning hoping the day would be better than the previous one. His wife was ill, and not getting any better. Another round of injections and the nurse who had been their care-giver called Waheed to go get a new drug at the pharmacy.

Waheed scrambled into his trousers, slipped into the nearest pair of slippers and dashed out.

He lived in Alekuwodo area of Osun state capital, Osogbo.  About five minutes walk from the proposed Olaiya Flyover.

“I’ll be back in no time”, he promised. True, he got the drug, but fate had another journey planned for him. He must have thought he had looked left, right and left again before he crossed the road. At Olaiya Intersection. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. The last thing he heard was a loud bang that threw him into the air, screams of people who watched the sad scene, and then silence.

Tragic things have happened at Olaiya. Things that we can do something about; something like a Flyover to keep our people safe, and even safer.

Good Samaritans rushed Waheed to the hospital hoping for a miracle. The drug he had gone to buy for his sick wife lay on the road, useless in Waheed’s blood on the asphalt. At Olaiya Junction.

The nurse, neighbours, Waheed’s wife waited at home for Waheed, and the drug he’d gone to buy. Impatient at first, then they got angry, exasperated and then desperate. Fear set in, as the sun went down, and Waheed was still nowhere to be found. But Waheed was gone forever, cold and stiff in the mortuary. The needed drug was at the accident scene. Waheed’s wife became a member of the widow’s club because of another accident at the Olaiya Intersection.

You have heard of many such sad stories coming from the famous Olaiya Intersection, right? Some of us have even watched gory sights, scenes that we still live with till date.

Tragic things have happened at Olaiya. Things that we can do something about; something like a Flyover to keep our people safe, and even safer.

So, why are some people angry that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola wants to keep Osun people safer, and stop the regular bloodshed at the Junction? Are they being plainly mischievous or they just love seeing blood at “Orita Olaiya”? I don’t even want to think it’s the latter. It’s safer to stick with the ‘mischief’ angle. Osun people are not like that. They don’t like bloodshed or blood spill, inadvertently or intentionally.

So, I ask again, why do those saying “Objection, Mr. Governor” saying it? Because it’s an expensive project? Ah, try telling that to those who are in wheelchairs or their loved ones who have to bear the burdens of care for a man who once was a bread-winner. Try telling a young widow, a grieving mother, a bewildered 10-year-old, that a Flyover would have saved them the pain they cannot explain, the tragedy they would have paid anything to avert.

Try telling a man whose ‘okada’, his only source of livelihood that he got on hire-purchase, was destroyed beyond repair at Olaiya Junction. And we can compare notes after they’ve bloodied your nose or knocked your jaw out of shape. Only those whom fate has forced to wear the painful shoes of tragedy can best describe how much it hurts.

What good thing is cheap? What lasting structures are built with coins? Flyovers are expensive because they are built to last and last. There’s a difference between costume jewelry and gold. There is a huge, unbridgeable gap between synthetic wig and authentic Brazilian weave.

Guys, ask your main chicks, or better still, your side chicks. You know how much you part with to make us, your investments, happy.

To some, there’s not enough traffic jam in Osogbo to warrant an investment in a Flyover but that’s why we elect good governors,  to look out for us. And Osun is blessed with a governor who wants to fix tomorrow’s problems today.

Again, there are those whose logic I have spent weeks trying to decipher. They said Olaiya Flyover is not priority. Wow! There’s God ooo!

When will it be priority? When fire trucks cannot get to burning buildings? When pregnant women in labour die in traffic jams? When ambulances cannot get to accident victims or cannot get accident victims to the hospital because they are stuck in gridlock, sweating and cursing, frustrated but impotent?

These ‘not a priority’ crooners, have they missed major interview appointments before? Have they lost loved ones because the doctor got stuck in traffic for hours? Have they watched their wives deliver in traffic and then watch the babies die slowly because they couldn’t get through gridlock?

These ones, have they been to Lagos or Port Harcourt before? Do they know what it is like to miss an important flight, or a connecting flight, the plane taking off while you are begging at the check-in counter?

Oh yes, they think it won’t happen in Osun. How? Osogbo, the state capital will suddenly stop growing so this will not to happen, right? The vehicular density will simply disappear?

I simply do not understand people who don’t make plans for tomorrow. Or what kind of father refuses to send his children to school because “it’s not priority”, and would rather wait until Chevron and CBN are recruiting before dragging his 30-year-old illiterate son to school?

To some, there’s not enough traffic jam in Osogbo to warrant an investment in a Flyover but that’s why we elect good governors,  to look out for us. And Osun is blessed with a governor who wants to fix tomorrow’s problems today.

Smart men plan. Great leaders look ahead. Visionaries make provisions for the future. That is why Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is getting ahead of the problem. That’s why the Olaiya Flyover will be built.

Guys, let’s do this.

*Egbemode is the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Osun State.

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The advice was given against the backdrop of the spread of coronavirus across the world.

Oyetola gave the advice that the citizens should not panic during a statewide broadcast on Monday on the measures put in place by his government to contain the spread of the disease in the state.

The governor who disclosed that there was no confirmed case of the virus in the state, called on residents to cooperate with the government to fight the virus, noting that “winning the war against Coronavirus is a collective responsibility.”

“Fellow Citizens, winning the war against Coronavirus is a collective responsibility. Let us all unite to fight the virus that is threatening our lives, our economy and all we labour and stand for as a people.

“Do not panic! But obey government’s simple instructions and directives. Follow simple hygiene. And together, we shall win the war against Coronavirus and keep our state safe and secure. Cooperate with government and endure the temporary hardships as no sacrifice is too much for our lives and those of our loved ones,” the governor added.

Speaking on measures taken so far to prevent an outbreak of the disease in Osun, Oyetola said the government had established three committees and had also created a holding centre to treat possible reported cases.

“As part of immediate measures to prevent an outbreak, we constituted three committees to decisively deal with the situation. These are the Technical Response Committee, the Economic Impact Committee and the Communication Committee. These three committees, which consist of experts in the respective fields, report directly to my office under my leadership.

“We have also created holding centre to isolate and treat possible reported cases.  The Emergency Hotline to call, should there be need is 293. Other phone numbers are: 08035025692, 08033908772 and 08056456250.

“We are also in partnership with the African Centre of Excellence in Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) at the Redeemers University, Ede, for easy investigation” he added.

Continuing, the governor stated that the state government had placed a ban on public gatherings, adding that a monitoring team had been mandated to enforce the ban.

“In addition to the proactive measures we have so far taken, we have also placed a ban on public gatherings. We wish to make it abundantly clear that the ban also covers unauthorised Mining Sites across the state, Churches, Mosques, Political Meetings and Night Clubs among others.

“We have also mandated a Monitoring Team to enforce the ban on public gatherings. We are doing all these to further ensure we are all safe.”

He appealed to residents of the state to avoid non-essential  travels within the country, while also urging them to report to appropriate authorities if they had travel history to or from nations identified as high risk countries or had contact with persons diagnosed with the Coronavirus.

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This disclosure was made after an extraordinary Executive Council Meeting in Osogbo on Thursday.

In a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, the state government said it had adopted and sent the popular “Amotekun” Bill to the House of Assembly.

“The State of Osun at an extraordinary Executive Council Meeting today considered the Osun Security Network bill, approved and sent it to the State House of Assembly. The bill titled ‘A bill for a law to establish the State of Osun Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps to Assist in Maintaining Law and Order in the State and for Connected Purposes’ was the sole business of the day at today’s council meeting.

“Though the usual weekly EXCO meeting had already been held on Monday, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola considers the security bill urgent and important enough to summon today’s meeting.

“The council considered the bill and adopted it for immediate transmission to the Osun State House of Assembly,” the statement said.

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He signed the budget in his office on Monday shortly after it was formally presented to him by the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye.

This is even as Owoeye noted that it was the first time in the history of Osun State that the budget for the next year would be completed and signed into law before the beginning of that year.

Oyetola, who described the size of the budget as most realistic, said the government would stop at nothing to ensure it full implementation.

He said the government decided to prune down the size of the budget compared to the 2019 budget, having realised the socio-economic realities and limited resources available to the state.

The governor who promised to continue to do things that would make life more meaningful, worthwhile and abundant for the people of the state, assured the residents of better days in the year 2020 and beyond.

He said the state would do everything possible to bring about the desired development across all the sectors as captured by the budget.

While commending the leadership and members of the State House of Assembly for a job well done, Oyetola  promised to maintain the level of understanding and cooperation existing between the three arms of government in general and the legislature in particular.

He added: “I am particularly delighted we were able to conclude the presentation, passing and signing of the year 2020 budget before the end of the year 2019.

“I must commend the leadership of the House of Assembly – the Speaker and other principal officers – for ensuring smooth passage of the budget and for ensuring they look at the budget critically which is ready for signing today.

“That is to show that we are ready to move the state forward come Year 2020. We do believe in budget size that will enable us carry out proper implementation. That is the essence of what we are doing today.

“The 2019 budget which is coming to an end two days from now, was about N154 billion, but we realised that we didn’t have too much of the revenue that we budgeted. So, we decided to trim down this year’s budget size to a size that we believe is realistic. And with it, we will be able to do a lot for our people within the limit of our resources.

“The budget size for the Year 2020 is N119.50 billion and we believe that, with that budget, a lot of things that we plan to do for 2020, we will be able to achieve them.

“We commend the members of the House of Assembly for their cooperation and support. I must also commend you for your spirit of oneness. There is no doubt that we have enjoyed a very robust cooperation from you and we promise to continue to do that. We thank you for seeing us as partners in progress.

“The way we went about the budget actually confirms that the leadership of the House is with us, particularly for the timely passage of the budget, unlike some states where there will be issues relating to budget size. We had gone through it together even before it was prepared, presented and signed.

“I thank the people of the state for believing in our government. The commendations we have received so far have been quite encouraging and I look forward for the same cooperation in the subsequent years, particularly in Year 2020”.

Earlier in his presentation, the Speaker who described the signing of year 2020 Osun Appropriation Bill as unique, noted that that was the first time in the history of Osun that the budget for the next year would be completed before the beginning of that year.

He described it as a show of commitment of Governor Oyetola to Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability.

Those in attendance are: Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi; Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye; Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola; Deputy Chief of Staff (General Administration) Mikhail Adejare Adebisi; Head of Service, Dr. Olowogboyega Oyebade; members of the House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, Permanent Secretaries and other top political and government functionaries.

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Let me make this categorically clear ab initio. This piece is about continuity. I have taken a decision to be this open from the outset to avert taking readers through needless interpretative exercise and in the course of that, get lost in the labyrinth of navigational dilemma.

For those genuinely concerned about real development in this part of the world, how governments (or should I say administrations) pass on development from one hand to another should be a major subject of interests. We have been confronted in the past by breaks in development transmissions such that when a people are blessed with a good visionary leader who sets in motion a new revolution, his exit, compelled by the dictates of the constitution, automatically brought an end to his good era. That has been one of the known causes of the retardations suffered by many parts of the country.

It is fascinating to discover that, a la individuals, there can be a systematic arrangement and order that a state could adopt to get a development template which would survive times, personae and conditions and yet, deliver on the goods.

If you define your goals, prioritize, set deadlines, understand your strengths and weaknesses, recognize opportunities and threats, develop new skills, take actions and get support, you are most likely to have achieved a reliable plan to follow in ensuring development for a people regardless of who is in the saddle. A consciously developed state plan is definitely at the heart of the transformations, which Lagos State has experienced.

Twenty years after the launch of a plan that has remained uninterrupted till date, Lagos, arguably the most stable, and most successful of Nigeria’s 36-state federation, presents development-oriented scholars the best example in the gains of continuity.

Today, you need not sweat much to convince anyone that the heights that Lagos has attained in the areas of its infrastructure, health, transportation system, housing, security and education have been part of the fruits of a single unified development template that has defied any form of interruptions since 1999.

The Lagos model becomes much more appreciable in this considering that part of the bane of development in Nigeria is the failure of cooperation between and among successive administrations at different tiers of government. This has bred so many unfinished projects and by extension, waste of scarce resources. Even successors on the platform of the same political parties had been known to jettison projects of their predecessors in order to, according to them “create their own identities.”

Welcome to Osun where, before former Governor Rauf Aregbesola rounded off his eight years in office, had prepared the collective psyche of the electorate well enough to embrace continuity as a strategy for sustaining the revolution which commenced under him in 2010. Understandably so, since the political leadership in Osun is also an offshoot of the development-oriented and ‘expansionist’ initiative of the Lagos political family, things could not have been done differently.

Less than a decade after, the story of Osun has changed for good. The eventual incursion of Oranmiyan (as Aregbesola’s political train would be called) had marked the beginning of a new phase.

Aregbesola, with his team, came with a unique agenda. They sought to make a loud statement in the need to develop other settlements that would offer great appeals apart from the known cities of Lagos and Ibadan in the South-West geo-political zone.

“Lagos would be in a mess if we fail to develop and make other cities liveable for our people,” I recall vividly Aregbesola’s constant admonitions as Governor. Hence his passion for sizeable and modest development policies that would ensure that Osogbo, Ilesa, Iwo, Ede, Ile-Ife, Ila, Ikirun, Ejigbo and others offer enough incentives for people to minimize rural-urban migrations which was the in-thing.

The ambitious urban renewal project, a partnership with the global Habitat initiative would later be an intervention project to change the face of our cities.

I once visited Dublin, in the Irish Republic. One of the glaring realities of this was the development that hallmarked smaller cities around Dublin such that residents of Adamstown, Ardgillan Demesne, Ashtown, Balbriggan or Balcartie never felt out of place in their small but comfortable settlements.

This is the observation as well in Switzerland, where apart from Geneva, adjoining cities like Nyon, Montreux, Morges, or Vevey though small, give residents quality living experiences.

The point of the above references is this: A well-thought out development strategy which took eight years to implement had laid a solid foundation for future development which incoming administrations would only require to build upon and then consolidate.

The strategic educational system, which left behind those gigantic schools infrastructure has created a new pathway for the future of the state in academic excellence. The gains are already coming in.

In the same vein, eight years of building a new network of durable roads to link communities and also enhance commerce had taken the entire Osun out of the woods; creating a new environment ready for an explosion in economic prosperity.

This was the Osun handed down to Oyetola one year ago.

One year after receiving the baton, it is sufficient to say that the people of the state are watching with bated breath if the promised goodies of continuity would come or not.

But the signs are there that there is nothing to fear.

Solidly laid foundations could become moribund without follow up super-structures. Conversely, constructing gigantic structures in the midst of poor foundations or none at all would literally amount to idiocy.

Of course, there is even a unique reason to expect the development template to continue. It is a known fact in Osun and beyond that the current Governor was more or less the “Assistant Governor” of the Aregbesola years.

Indeed, insiders are quick to admit that whatever had sailed through Oyetola’s desk as the Chief of Staff had passed the most difficult test and would therefore not have any issue on the table of Ogbeni. That was an eight years of perfect blend of administrative wizardry of Oyetola servicing the political sagacity of a master strategist. This is the ‘marriage’ Osun needed yesterday, needs today and must necessarily need tomorrow.

Amidst putting finishing touches to some of the initiatives that commenced under the Oranmiyan’s administration, it should be the vow of Ileri Oluwa (as Oyetola is better known now) to sail on with fresh ideas that would push further the beauties that continuity should naturally bring forth.

Instances of these include the Oba Adesoji Aderemi Second By-Pass Road, an 18 kilometre ring road which had attained about 70% completion before Aregbesola exited. The same goes for the Osogbo-Ikirun-Offa Kwara Boundary road and the MKO Abiola International Airport. Others include the completion of some of the schools such as the Iwo Government High School, one of the 11 eye-popping high schools many of which had been commissioned.

In his one year, the administration has created some heavy impacts with its massive renovation of the Primary Health Care Centres, which after completion, will have seen at least one PHC fully functional and located in each ward across the state.

Osun, under Ileri Oluwa, must continue to set the pace in other spheres such as the Social protection schemes. It is still a thing of pride to Aregbesola and Oyetola and their entire team that they gave the Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2015 ready-made answers to the then urgent need to halt the impending boom in social upheavals.

Tested programmes such as the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), the home grown school feeding programme and the special provisions for the elderly had gone a long way to make a huge difference.

The essence of continuity, and this passes for everywhere advancement is desired, should be the constant reviews of programmes and policies and tailor them along the line of prevailing demands. In other words, policies that worked for the good of Osun people some eight years ago must pass through period reviews to align them with current realities without obliterating their basic tenets.

After Lagos, Osun might just be the next poster-state, a specimen to preach continuity as necessary requirement for sustainable development.

*Okanlawon, Journalist, Author, Communication Strategist served as Special Adviser, Information and Strategy in Osun under Rauf Aregbesola Administration.

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At the weekend, while rounding off a four-day retreat organised for his incoming political appointees comprising commissioners and special advisers, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State announced the appointment of another deputy chief of staff.

The announcement came many months after Dr. Charles Akinola and Mr. Abdullahi Binuyo had been appointed chief of staff and deputy chief of staff respectively.

The latest addition, Mr. Mikhail Adejare Adebisi, who was designated as the deputy chief of staff in charge of general administration, had been a member of inner caucuses of both the incumbent governor and his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola, now Nigeria’s Minister of Interior.

Prior to the submission of the much governor’s anticipated cabinet list to the state’s house of assembly, rumour had been rife that Adebisi had clinched the slot for Irepodun Local Government Area of the state. However, the ‘gamblers’ were shocked that Adebisi’s name was conspicuously omitted on the list.

Mr. Adebisi, who until his new appointment, was the supervisor in charge of general administration, local government and chieftaincy affairs, had also served during the administration of Mr. Aregbesola as assistant chief of staff and special adviser.

The 53-year-old lawyer, who hails from Ilobu, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, had earlier graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife in 1993 with a B.sc Degree in Sociology and Anthropology. He also, in 1998, bagged a Master’s certificate in Public Administration from the same university.

In the year 2000, Mr. Adebisi enrolled at the university’s law faculty and graduated in 2007. He was called to bar in 2008, and had his Master’s in Law (LLM) from the same university in 2012, and he is currently on his PhD programme at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

Adebisi, who was elected a councillor and supervisory councillor for education in Irepodun Local Government Area in 1997, was also the chairman of the state’s chapter of councillors’ forum between 1997 and 1998.

Between 2003 and 2006, he was the publicity secretary of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Osun State, and served in various capacities since the formation of the Action Congress all through the party’s metamorphosis to ACN and now All Progressives Congress (APC).

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The confirmation was made on Wednesday with the unanimous adoption by all the members, a motion to that effect by Majority Leader of the House, Mr Moruf Olanrewaju.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Timothy Owoeye, who spoke on the confirmation at plenary, described the new commissioners as eminently qualified to help grow the state.

He enjoined them to join hands with the state governor, Gboyega Oyetola, to ensure the development of the state.

Recall that the list of the nominees was submitted in September on behalf of the governor by the Secretary to the State Government, Wole Oyebamiji while the governor was on the entourage of President Muhammadu Buhari to the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Below is the full list of the new commissioners:

Adebisi Obawale Simeon

Ibitoye Felix Adeniran

Oladepo Solagbade Atanda

Ajisefini Abiodun

Mumini Adekunle Raifu

Ogunfolaju Olusola

Oladimeji Samson

Agunbiade Nathaniel

Olaonipekun Henry

Oladoyin Olayinka

Adeleke Adebayo

Olamiju Olasiji

Yinusa Olalekan

Rafiu Isamotu

Oyebamiji Bola

Omowaiye Oluremi

Jamiu Olawumi

Femi Akande

Olawale Babatunde Olumide

Olaniyan Hussein Toke

Adeosun Adegboyega Rasaq

Badmus Olalekan Rahmon

Bakare Akande

Giwa Lateefat

Tadese Amidu

Adewole Adedayo

Idiat Babalola

Kolajo Aderemi

Egbemode Funke

Kareem Ismail Akande

Oyegbile Rufus

Olaboopo Olubukola

Bakare Akande

Tadese Raheem

Adewole Adedayo

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This is as he urged him to execute all the programmes of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and fulfill his campaign promises to the electorate.

The president made the commendation on the occasion of the governor’s 65^th birthday.

Buhari said he joined the Gboyega Oyetola family, friends and people of goodwill in wishing the governor good health, sound mind and more years of purposeful and visionary leadership for the good people of Osun State.

President Buhari charged the governor to use the special occasion of his 65th anniversary as another privileged opportunity to rededicate himself to do more service to God and humanity.

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The walk was a carnival procession of stakeholders in Osogbo to herald the 2019 Osun Osogbo festival.

The Governor of Osun State, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, leading the walk from Better Life through Ahmadiya; Oja Oba Junction;  Obate; Sabo Junction; Balogun Agoro; Isale Aro; Jolayemi; Isale Osun to the Ataoja palace, said the state government would provide adequate security during the celebration of the festival.

He assured that the government would continue to support and enhance the quality of Osun Osogbo festival and bring in more people to participate.

A statement issued in Ibadan by the lead consultant to Esquire Global, the official marketing company of Osun Osogbo festival 2019, Mr. Tunde Muraina, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, quoted Oyetola as disclosing  that record showed that the festival attracted different people from near, far and wide and in the diaspora.

He noted that the government had brought new tourist product, Karaole Odua, which would be used to bring Yorubas in the diaspora to Yorubaland so that they would come home to know their source.

Oyetola who was represented by the supervisor in charge of the Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism Ministry, Dr. Obawale Adebisi, said, “our effort is to plan strategically to bring them (Yorubas) home on annual basis between 10 and 21th of August during the celebration of Osun Osogbo Festival. It will enhance the quality of Osun Osogbo and bring in more people to partake.”

He reiterated that he would drive the state economy with tourism and his administration would continue to take active part in the annual Osun Osogbo festival and other festivals, stating, “what we are doing today is to ensure that we give necessary support to the community and we also get maximum support in return for government programmes and policies.”

“The festival every year brings millions of Naira to Nigeria. Though not directly to the purse of the state government but we are planning on capturing more data and register participants so that it can bring in revenue to the purse of the state government,” he said.

The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, while receiving the participants of the walk at his palace, said the insinuation that Osun deity had been sold was fallacy, explaining that the Walk for Osun was to create awareness for the people that the Osun Osogbo festival 2019 was around the corner.

Oba Oyetunji said: “Usually, the celebration of Osun Osogbo festival commences by cleaning of the town called Iwopopo whereby citizens of Osogbo and tourists gather to do the task. But this one is a special occasion, special in the sense that it is awareness to the public that the alleged stolen spirit of Osun is a fallacy. Osun deity remains there and we started this year’s own with Walk For Osun, where everyone regardless of the ethnic group came to me and we moved round Osogbo to tell people that Osun remains where she is.

“Osun Osogbo is a very significant festival. There is the involvement of UNESCO, which has made the site a World Heritage one. This places Osun Osogbo on the world map as a tourism destination and the federal, state and local government have shown enthusiasm in promoting Osun Festival. The state government is nearer to me and the celebration of the festival is not done only by the Ataoja, its custodian, and its people but in collaboration with the Osun State Government and they have been upright.”

The managing consultant of the firm managing and marketing the festival, Mr. Toye Arulogun, on his part  commended the federal and the state governments for their relentless efforts of improving on the security situation in the country, pointing out that the insecurity was not terribly bad as being painted.

Arulogun said that the Walk for Osun was an element of contemporary that was introduced into the celebration of the festival this year, explaining that, “today, thousands of people walked with us to herald the celebration of 2019 Osun Osogbo festival. The walk signifies peace and unity between different ethnic groups. What we are bringing in is an element of contemporary, as we cannot do anything about the tradition.”

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