Lawmakers in the Osun House of Assembly appears to be set for battle with the new Governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, as they insisted the state must have the identity of “State of Osun” and not “Osun State” as the new governor altered.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, on inauguration, directed the reversal of the stat6e name from State of Osun to Osun State without recourse to the State House of Assembly, a decision that was made in the administration of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Members of the Osun House of Assembly, over ruled Governor Adeleke, arguing that the change of name and use of the “State of Osun” passed through legislative process and is was “a matter of law”.
The lawmakers in a statement by the House Committee Chairman on Media and Publicity, Kunle Akande, declared: “The usage of the state anthem, crest, and the flag is an enactment of the law and, as such, its usage is a matter of law and not choice.
“The enactment of ‘State of Osun anthem, crest and flag law, 2012’ assented to on the 18th of December, 2012, contained in Schedule I, 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 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.
“However, the State shall and will continue to be described as the state of the virtuous (Ipinle Omoluabi).”