Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Osun State House of Assembly has cautioned the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, over the reversal of the slogan and name of the state as well as non-compliance with the rendition of the state anthem.
Adeleke had in his inaugural speech issued an Executive Order, reversing the name of the state from ‘State of Osun’ to ‘Osun State.’ He also changed the slogan of the state from ‘State of Virtue’ to ‘State of the Living Spring.’
The governor, it was gathered, has also shunned the state logo, opting for Nigeria’s coat of arm logo.
At the swearing-in of his appointees on Monday, he state anthem was reportedly not rendered. The pulpit of the governor also carried an emblem that is not the state logo.
It was further learning that the state’s flags have been removed and replaced with those of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Governor’s Office in Abere. The PDP flags have been hoisted at Oke Fia park as well.
But the state’s House of Assembly has now cautioned Adeleke, saying that the usage of the state anthem, crest and flag is an enactment of law.
A statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Moshood Akande, on Monday evening, said the assembly would not be drawn into the matter because the case was still pending in court.
“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 enactment ‘State of Osun Anthem, Crest and Flag Law, 2012’ assented to on the 18th of December, 2012, contained in Schedule I, Il, Ill, 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, Schedule III is the symbolic significance of the elements in the Flag.
“Lastly, while we are aware of a court judgment in effect recognizing “Osun State”, the Assembly, pending the determination and exhaustion of all legal means would not be drawn into this matter.
“However, the State shall and will continue to be described as the State of the Virtuous (Ipinle Omoluabi),” the statement read.
