The state of Osun was created on August 27, 1991 by the then regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. Known as the state of the living spring, Osun state is composed of Ifes, Ijesas, Oyos and the Igbominas; they speak Yoruba language with variations in intonation and accent in and across the towns and cities. Its major towns are; Osogbo, Ife, Ilesha, Ede, Ikirun, Iwo, Ikire, Ila-Orangun, Okuku, Modakeke, Ire and Esa-Oke. The major traditional rulers in the state of the living spring either practice Islam or Christianity faith.
The state of Osun as recently changed to by the incumbent Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, from Osun state, was carved out of the old Oyo state on August 27, 1991 during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, the state capital is Osogbo.
Osun, whose name is derived from the River Osun, a deified natural spring where annual traditional festivities are held, will clock 25 years of its creation this year; and is one of the six states that formed the South-west geopolitical zone of the country.
NAIJ.com can exclusively report that the state shares borders with Kwara state to the North, Oyo state to the West, Ogun state to the South and Ondo and Ekiti states to the East.
According to the 2006 National Population Census, the population of the state is put at 3,423,535 and the people of Osun are predominantly Yoruba.
Ile-Ife
The state enriched in cultural heritage is divided into three federal senatorial districts, each of which is composed of two administrative zones and Osun consists of thirty Local Government Areas, the primary (third tier) unit of government in Nigeria.
The State of Osun, according to an indigene of the state, Omogbolahan Odeyemi, uses its commercial activities to facilitate its indigenes’ contact with non-indigenes and foreigners who have adopted the state as their homes owing to the peaceful nature of the people and prevalent atmosphere.
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He said, “Osun is culturally rich and this can be seen in all spheres of life such as arts, literature, music and other social activities in the state. Similarly, the state is blessed with a highly literate and articulate populace which makes up a strong and productive workforce.
Major towns
The state of Osun is a developed state with towns which have been prominently recognised in the Old Oyo State and among these towns are; Osogbo, Ife, Ilesha, Ede, Ikirun, Iwo, Ikire, Ila-Orangun, Okuku, Modakeke, Ire and Esa-Oke.
Religion and traditional institution
Indigenes of the state of Osun are Christians, Muslims and traditionalists and co-exist harmoniously since the creation of the state in 1991.
Also, the major traditional rulers in the state either practice Islam or Christianity faith. For instance, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) and Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle (Aromolaran II) ascribe to Christianity; while Orangun of (Ile) Ila-Orangun, Oba Wahab Kayode Adedeji Oyedotun (Arutu-Oluokun Bibiire I), Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olaonipekun Oyetunji (Larooye II), Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal (Laminisa I) and Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul Rasheed Adewale Akanbi (Ilufemiloye Telu I) practice Islam.
Famous religious leaders
Osun is blessed with spiritual leaders who are sons of the soil and in Nigerian religious circle today, their names rings bell.
Among the famous religious leaders from Osun state are late Prophet G O Obadare, who hailed from Ilesha, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, from Ifewara, Pastor W. M Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Christian Mission, also from Ilesha; Prophet S.K Abiara of Christ Apostolic Church, also from Ilesha; Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Center and Pastor (Dr.) Johnson Ade Odewale of Christ Apostolic church, Calvary Assembly from Odeomu, who is based in Boston, USA, among notable others.
On the Islamic front, Osun has a London-based muslim cleric, Sheikh Dr. Abu-Abdullah Adelabu, who hailed from Osogbo, and late Sheik Ajisafe, who was the former Chief Imam of Osogbo.
Chief Priest, Ifayemi Elebuibon, an Ifa devotee, is also a notable traditionalist from the state of the living spring.
Notable festivals
As the State of Osun, it has many festivals which are parts and parcel of the various town and villages across the state. Odun Egungun (Masquerade festival), New Yam festival among others. But, three festivals are prominent among the people of the state, namely; Osun-Osogbo festival, Olojo festival of Ife and Iwude festival in Ilesha.
Osun-Osogbo festival
NAIJ.com gathered that Osun Osogbo festival usually last for two weeks – it is celebrated every year in August, the 2016 festival will start on Friday, August 19.
The festival commences with Iwopopo, the traditional cleansing of the town from evil, and three days after this the Ina Olujumerindinlogun (16-point lamp), a 600-year-old is lit up. Following this is the Iboriade, an event where all the crowns of the past kings or Ataojas are assembled for blessings by the sitting Ataoja of Osogbo, the Arugba, the Yeye Osun, and a committee of priestesses.
Olojo festival
The festival is the celebration of the remembrance of “Lord Ogun” the god of Iron, whose representative is believed to be the first son of Oduduwa, progenitor of the Yoruba people.
On this day, the Ooni appears after several days of seclusion, communing with the ancestors and praying for his people. This ritual is to make him pure and ensure the efficacy of his prayers. Before the Ooni emerges, women from his maternal and paternal families sweep the Palace, symbolically ridding the Palace of evil.
Ile Ife
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The Ooni later appears in public with the Are crown (King’s Crown), which is believed to be the original crown used by Oduduwa to lead a procession of traditional Chiefs and Priests to perform at the Shrine of Ogun.
The next stage of the ceremony is to lead the crowd to Okemogun’s shrine where he performs duties including the renewal of oath, divination for the Ooni at the foot of Oketage hill by Araba (Chief Priest), as well as visiting places of historical importance.
Iwude festival
NAIJ.com can authoritatively reveal that Iwude Ijesha is the festival that brings all Ijesa people together and it is a month – long festival which starts in the palace of Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland in Ilesa and also extends to other parts of Ijeshaland such as Ipole, Ibokun and Ijebu-jesa, before ending where it starts in Ilesa.
The festival, which does not involve only Ilesa, but other parts of Ijesa North and Ijesa South, as they are now called, symbolises unity among the Ijeshas and confers a deserving honour on the paramount ruler of the kingdom, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran. Kabiyesi, Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijeshaland.
As a festival of rich culture, cultural displays which include those of the royalty with the royal regalia of Kabiyesi Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, the royal beads, the royal crowns, the royal umbrella, the royal walking stick, the royal horsetail, the royal steps, the royal smiles and the royal dance are featured during its celebration.
Oduduwa, Opa Oranmiyan and Adunni Olorisa
Today world over, Ile-Ife, a town in Osun State, is unanimously believed to be the origin of the Yoruba race. And the history of Yorubas’ will not be complete without mentioning Oduduwa.
Also, Opa Oranmiyan till date still remains a myth in Ife. The contributions of Adunni Olorisa to the promotion of Osun Osogbo festival is still very much appreciated by the indigenes of the state.
Oduduwa
According to the historical account of Ile-Ife, Oduduwa, an emperor and first Suzerain of the Yoruba, was the King of Ile-Ife with the tithes “Olofin” and “Olufe”. His name, phonetically written by Yoruba language-speakers as Odùduwà and sometimes contracted as Odudua or Oòdua, is generally ascribed to the ancestral dynasties of Yorubaland because he is held by the Yoruba to have been the ancestor of their numerous crowned kings.
Following his posthumous deification, he was admitted to the Yoruba pantheon as an aspect of a primordial divinity of the same name.
Another Yoruba historical account calls Oduduwa, the power of the womb, adding that he represents omnipotency, the ability to affect and reconstruct the physical reality at will.
Oòdua first appears as one of the divinities of the Yoruba theology and the narrative indicates that Oduduwa denotes “the essence of reality” (Odu-ti-o-da-Iwa) or “the reservoir of existence”
Also, an Oyo account says Oduduwa was said to have come from the east, sometimes understood by some sources as the “vicinity” true East on the Cardinal points, but more likely signifying the region of Ekiti and Okun sub-communities in Yorubaland.
Opa Oranmiyan
NAIJ.com can report that Opa Oranmiyan stands over five meters tall in Moopa area of the town within a fenced wall in Ile Ife. A symbolic tree displayed around the staff with some dotted marks, which the custodian says are marks of bullet during the several wars fought by Oranmiyan who was the last child of Oduduwa.
Its custodian explained to NAIJ.com that, the staff was a war weapon used by Oranmiyan and the staff made of granite obelisk with iron stud stands within the Oranmiyan shrine manned by Chief Eredumi as chief priest who is the link between the dead and the living.
Adunni Olorisa
Born and named as Susanne Wenger in 1915 in Austria, she changed her name to Adunni Olorisa when she finally settled in Osogbo.
Adunni Olorisa, an Austrian artist, brought fame to the now internationally recognised Osun-Osogbo festival, which is celebrated every August and she died on January 12, 2009, and, interred in Osogbo.
Ori Olukun in Ile Ife
Olokun is one of the most powerful yet dangerous of the Orishas’ in Osha and Ifa. Its characteristics are found and displayed in the depths of the Ocean. The word “Olukun” is a contraction, “Olo” meaning “owner“, and “okun” meaning “ocean”.
Both of these words are the names given to describe a complex convergence of Spiritual Forces that are key elements in the Ifa concept of fertility.
Olokun, an Orisa known to help women that desire children. It is also worshipped by those that seek political and social ascension, which is why heads of state, royalty, entrepreneurs and socialites often turn to Olokun to not only protect their reputations, but propel them further among the ranks of their peers.
Olokun in female form among the Yoruba is symbolized by the sea and white she-goats are among her favorite offerings. She is represented by the number seven and her sacred day of the week is Monday. She is believed to be the wife of Olokun and also the mother of Obatala and Odudua.
Development
NAIJ.com can divulge that the state of Osun has an appreciable Federal presence in addition to thousands of kilometres of motorable roads across the state. Osogbo which is the state capital houses the National grid of the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN). In addition, a natural rail line cuts through the state capital.
In terms of the educational advancement, the state of Osun plays host to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Adeleke University, Ede; Redeemer’s University, Ede; Bowen University, Iwo; Fountain University, Osogbo; Osun State University, Osogbo; with its campuses in almost six towns within the state.
Others are: Igbajo Polytechnic, Igbajo; Joseph Ayo Babalola University. Ikeji-Arakeji, Ikeji-Arakeji; Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife; Osun State College Of Education, Ilesa; Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; School of Health Technology, Ilesa; The Polytechnic, Ile-Ife; Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun; Osun State College of Technolgy, Esa Oke and Universal College of Technology, Ile-Ife.
Mineral Resources and Tourism
Aside from the fact that the state of Osun is blessed with vast mineral resources, which include gold, clay, limestone, kaolin and granite, it also has many agricultural resources.
But for sightseers , the State of Osun should be their next port of call as it has many tourist sites that will gladden the hearts.
The current deputy speaker, Federal House of Representative, Lasun Yusuf hails from the state. The present Governor of the state of Osun is Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
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