…Rallies stakeholders to demand fairness, warns against reducing Osun to one-town government

The Osun Development Vanguard has thrown its weight behind the petition by the royal families of Osogbo over the exclusion of “Osogbo” from the signage and official identity of the Osun State Government Secretariat, describing the development as another troubling sign of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s unfair handling of sensitive community interests in the state.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Alhaji Karimu Adisa, the group said the concern raised by the Osogbo royal families should not be treated as a minor issue of inscription, but as a serious question of identity, fairness and respect for the capital city of Osun State.

According to the group, Osogbo is not a footnote in the history of Osun State. It is the capital, the seat of government and the administrative centre of the state. Any attempt to erase or reduce its name from official government identity, the group said, is provocative, needless and unacceptable.

The Vanguard said the signage controversy fits into what it described as a growing pattern under the Adeleke administration, where Ede appears to enjoy unusual preference over other ancient towns and communities, including Osogbo, Ido-Osun and several others.

“A governor is elected to serve the whole state, not to elevate his hometown above the state that elected him,” the statement read. “Osun cannot be governed as an extension of one family compound. Every town matters. Every community deserves respect. Osogbo, as the capital, must not be treated like an afterthought.”

The group said the Ido-Osun airport relocation controversy remains one of the clearest examples of the public concern over what many citizens now see as excessive hometown favouritism. It noted that the original Ido-Osun airstrip has deep historical value and that previous administrations had already committed huge public resources to the airport project before the Adeleke government announced a fresh airport direction around Ede, a move that triggered protests from Ido-Osun residents and accusations of nepotism from community leaders and critics. Reports at the time also quoted protesters as saying over ₦20 billion had already been spent on the Ido-Osun site.

The Vanguard said it was not enough for the government to dismiss public fears each time communities complain. It said leadership must be seen to be fair, especially where public assets, appointments, traditional institutions and capital projects are concerned.

The group also raised concern over repeated complaints about alleged imbalance in appointments, institutional leadership and recruitment under the current administration. It said when citizens begin to believe that access to opportunity is determined by closeness to the governor’s hometown, government loses moral authority and public trust.

“There is no development in injustice,” Adisa said. “There is no unity where one community is made to feel superior and others are made to beg for recognition. Governor Adeleke must understand that Osun belongs to all of us. Ede is important, but Ede is not Osun State.”

The group further noted that while the administration continues to advertise infrastructure projects, it must answer the bigger question of equity. According to the Vanguard, the issue is not whether Ede should develop, but whether state resources are being distributed in a manner that gives every zone, town and local government a fair sense of belonging.

The Vanguard called on Governor Adeleke to immediately address the concerns of the Osogbo royal families by ensuring that all signage, official descriptions, correspondence, publications and public references relating to the Osun State Government Secretariat clearly reflect Osogbo as the capital and proper location of the seat of government.

It also called on traditional rulers, community leaders, professional bodies, youth groups, market associations, civil society organisations and all well-meaning citizens of Osun State to speak up against any pattern of governance that appears to favour one town at the expense of others.

The Vanguard maintained that the petition of the Osogbo royal families should serve as a wake-up call to the government, adding that ignoring it would only confirm the fear that the administration is becoming insensitive to historical truth and community dignity.

“Osogbo must be respected. Ido-Osun must be respected. Every town in Osun must be respected. No community should be politically downgraded because the governor comes from another place,” the statement concluded.

Signed:

Alhaji Karimu Adisa
Convener
Osun Development Vanguard