Security  agencies have beefed up security across the 36 states of the federation as Nigeria prepares to  celebrate its 53rd Independence anniversary on Tuesday 
In Osun, correspondents report that  police patrol vans as well as vehicles with armed soldiers have been patrolling Osogbo and other major towns in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mra. Folashade Odoro, said, “We assure the people of the state of water-tight security during the 53rd Independence Anniversary of our nation. Our men are all over and police presence will be seen.”
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Swift Action Squad (SAS)

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Osun Ambulance Service ( O’ AMBULANCE)

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The governor of The State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has added to the number of prominent Nigerians who visited the recuperated chieftain of the newly registered All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his London home.
Fews days ago, Gen Mohammadu Buhari, Gov. Kayode Fayemi among others visited Tinubu allaying fabricated media fears about the health status of Tinubu after he recently went abroad for surgery on his knees.
Tinubu is fully recovered and set to return to the country.
OSUN DEFENDER

Osun has a fairly large population. According to the 2006 National Population Census, the population of the state is put at 3,423,535. The state is rich in human and material resources
Historical evidence shows that the Yoruba tradition is one of the earliest and dominant traditions in Nigeria. The people of Osun are predominantly Yoruba. The state is composed of Osun, Ifes, Ijesas and Igbominas. Their language is Yoruba but there are variations in intonation and accent in across the towns and cities.
Commercial activities have brought the people of the state in 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.
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
Being an agrarian state, agriculture is largely practised both at commercial and subsistence scales and this attracts people from outside the state.

Traditional Institutions

The Ooni Of Ife, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade
The traditional institution such as Kingship which dates back to pre-colonial era is still held in high reverence in the state. Their foresight, determination and aggressiveness led to the creation of Osun .Obas as they are called play pivotal roles in ensuring peace and stability in their domain as well as preserving the age-long tradition and culture
The State is blessed with qualitative traditional rulers, highly educated and sound in their various field of endeavour thus using it for the overall development of their people and domain. They are highly enlightened, widely travelled and committed to the progress of the state in general.
Foremost traditional rulers in the state includes the Ooni of Ife, The Ataoja of Osogbo, The Owa Obokun of Ijesa Land, The Timi of Ede, Oluwo of Iwo, Akinrun of Ikirun, and a host of other traditional rulers.

Socio-Economic and Cultural Background

The social environment in the state is characterised by a people filled with warmth, hospitable, tolerant and accommodating. The social relationship existent in Osun is a plus to the economic aspect because businesses and economy grows in an atmosphere of peace. This affords indigenes and foreigners the opportunity to carry out their commercial activities in a conducive environment devoid of violence and arson.
Being an agrarian state, the presence of food and cash crops pools traders and artisans to the state and this further helps in the economic development .The state is famous for many prominent markets such as Owena, Sekona, Ikirun, Ifon, Odo Ori markets and a whole lot of others
The presence of cottage industries provides jobs for the virile manpower abundant in the state. The railway track crossing in the state also helps in the economic development through movement of goods and people.
No state in Nigeria is as culturally rich as Osun. The state has produced cultural icons like Chief Duro Ladipo, Twin Seven Seven, Nike Art Gallery and the famous Susan Wenger popularly known as Adunni Olorisa. The state is famous for festivals such as Osun Osogbo International Festival, Olojo Festival in Ife, Iwude Festival in Ilesa. Osun is also blessed with numerous tourist attractions like the Kiriji War Museum, Erin Ijesa Waterfalls, Oranmiyan staff at Ife Ife Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University Zoological Gardens, Ayinkunigba water falls, Mbari-Mbayo Cultural Heritage, Idi Baba Cultural Centre, Igbo Sango at Ede. These tourists’ sites are potential sources of revenue generation.
 

Religious Environment

Osun is a multi religious environment with inhabitants practicing the Islam, Christianity and traditional worship. The diverse nature of their faiths and the peaceful nature characterising the way everyone goes about it harmoniously is a lesson in tolerance. The state has never witnessed a religious crisis whether minor or major since its creation.

Pastor E.A. Adeboye
It is also worthy of note that notable religious leaders have their roots in the state and this includes; Pastor E.A Adeboye of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Prophet S.K Abiara of Christ Apostolic Church,Sheik Ajisafe the Chief Imam of Osun, Chief Priest Yemi Elebuibon,Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Center and various legendary faith based organisations who have brought pride to the state.
 

Educationally Enriched

The thirst for western education has always being a thing of pride in the state making the literacy level to be on the high side. The presence of educational institutions in the state is a major advantage and is being run by both public and private sectors. The state boasts of Technical Schools, Schools of Health Technology, Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, two public polytechnics and three privately owned, two public universities and five private ones.

For more on the people and culture of the State of Osun, visit the website www.osun.gov.ng

The Yoruba people within and outside the country have been called upon to embrace peace and promote unity among themselves, so as to fast track development in all parts of Yoruba nation.
Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade and the Osile Oke Ona Egba, Oba (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso, Karunwi III made this call, on Friday, in Ile-Ife, Osun State, during the Odun Oranmiyan lecture, held at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, with the theme, “What is in a name?”
Aregbesola, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Olelakan Adeoti, while speaking on “Celebrating Yoruba’s common heritage, forging common front,” stated that celebrating culture should serve as bond of unity and rally point for all Yoruba people, noting that in celebrating Oranmiyan, “we’re identifying with the character of Oranmiyan, who had adept leadership qualities, virtues of compassion, which leaders of today should emulate”.
The governor said the enviable qualities in Oranmiyan made him to adopt him as his campaign symbol. This, according to him, enabled him to defeat his strong enemies during his tussle for governorship.
The Ooni of Ife, highlighted the importance of understanding history in sustaining and strengthening bonds of unity and harmony and not division. He also stated, “knowing the past helps us to understand the culture of today. The celebration of our cultural heritage helps us to sustain our own cultural identity,” and commended the governments in Yoruba states.
in “assisting in maintaining the cultural identity and strengthening the emotional, cultural and spiritual bonds that bind them to their origin, Ile-Ife, the Source.”
Sijuwade cautioned against the bastardization and politicisation of Yoruba tradition and culture and enjoined children to recognise, respect and appreciate their cultural heritage. He also tasked tourists to visit Ife to see the symbols of ancient Oranmiyan paraphernalia of office including his Opa Oranmiyan among others.
Oba Tejuoso, enjoined all Yorubas to stop all wars and needless bickering and rivalries capable of derailing meaningful progress.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

The Parents Association of Public Schools in the State of  Osun’s paid a solidarity visit to the Governor at his office in Abere, Osogbo on Thursday to express their  support on the on-going re-classification Scheme of Public Schools in the State.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Middle); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chairman, Re-classification Committee on Public Schools in Osun, Dr. Ayoodele Owoade (iddle back row); Chairman, Parent Association of Public Schools in the State, Hon. Olatunbosun Rotimi (3rd right); a parent, Hon. Kola Faesan (right) and another parent, Comrade Fajuyigbe Niran (left), during the Parents Association of Public Schools in Osun’s solidarity visit to the Governor to express their support on the on-going re-classification Scheme of Public Schools in the State, at the Governors office, Abere, Osogbo on Thursday 26-09-2013

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and Chairman, Parents Association of Public Schools in the State, Hon. Olatunbosun Rotimi, during the association’s solidarity visit to the Governor to express their support on the on-going re-classification Scheme of Public Schools in the State, at the Governors office, Abere, Osogbo on Thursday 26-09-2013

The governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Friday urged the National Council on Information to give thoughts to how governments at different levels can tap into the vast potentials of social media and Information Communications Technology to enhance accountability and transparency in governance.
Governor Aregbesola made this charge while declaring open the 44th National Council on Information (NCI) at the Women and Children Development Initiative Foundation (WOCDIF) Osogbo.
The governor charged NCI to outline the required steps to be taken in a bid to achieve efficient public information management in Nigeria. According to him, “you may also want to examine the lingering debate on whether social media is a public utility requiring government regulation.
“All of these are very important when you consider the huge damage that shoddy and inexpert handling of public information can cause at different areas in a country.” The governor pointed out.
He revealed that Osun in the last three years of his administration has witnessed the enduring benefits of good governance, adding that people-driven and people-focused policies of the government benefit substantially from the huge capacities of social media.
“We have healthy interactions and useable inputs from many of the citizens who have access to the different social sites. We are encouraging a culture of full and informed participation in governance through effective information management.
“Our unshaking commitment to the principles of accountability and transparency made us explore every opportunity that enables us to carry our people along as we work to transform their lives.” He stressed.
He noted that the new online platform his government launched recently is another means through which it seeks to deepen public engagement and popularise the Osun brand in the widening Nigerian online space.
The governor who showed the audience a documentary on the innovative learning device from the state Opon Imo said the device is a demonstration of his governments belief in the use of ICT to enhanc all facets of human life including education.  He said with the introduction of Opon Imo alone his government has beaten down the cost of and access to quality education in the state.
Aregbesola recieved repeated applauses as he reeled out the landmark achievement s of his government in less than three years.
On Social media Maku said that it has immense capacities for personalised content generation, and has very minimal barriers, including costs, information and opinion dissemination.
The Osun Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Sunday Akere in his welcome address said that Aregbesola since inception of office has employed the most effective Communication strategy to re-awaken the people and renew their sense of belonging by rebranding the state.
Akere revealed that the Osun governor knowing the essence of state owned medium, threw everything into re-making the state broadcasting outfits by setting up panel to set in motion new path for growth and development for Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) and other government owned stations.
According to him, ” our governor knows the essence of a state owned medium, thus his approval of funds for the purchase of exotic broadcast equipment for OSBC, mass training for all categories of staff for the first time in the state.
“We have a dedicated functional website where all relevant information can be found, we are still counting as various efforts are to ensure that all that should make information available to the people about the state and administration are done.” The Commissioner pointed out.

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku has called on Nigerians to “be alive to their corporate social responsibility to defend the agenda of the Nations democracy.”
He said this during a courtesy visit to Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Osogbo, the Osun state capital, where he is attending 44th edition of the National Council on Information themed “Social Media and Public Information Management”.
The Minister also said that Nigeria’s development and democracy can only be sustained when everyone decides to play a positive part devoid of selfish motive.
While highlighting some of the Federal Government’s efforts, he mentioned that the transformation agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration is visible in the power sector which the government is trying to commercialise in a bid to ensure Nigerians get stable power supply.
However, Governor Aregbesola stressed that recognising the significance of security to development should be the priority of the federal government for sustenance of the nation.
CHANNELSTV

The health management programmes of the present administration is indeed laudable. It is indeed a milestone.The idea of revamping nine hospitals in Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Ikirun, Osogbo, Ede, Iwo, Ikire and Ila-Orangun, is indeed novel and unprecedented and is worthy of emulation.
Apart from the physical infrastructure like Out Patient Department (OPD), mortuary, doctors’ quarters, roads and block fencing, there are plans to equip these hospitals to bring them to standards that are internationally-acceptable worldwide, and also to supply them with drugs.
Apart from all these, starting from the State Hospital, Iwo, the state government has been organising free surgical operations to remove hernia and other body lumps for all citizens in the state and indeed, the populace have really gained from these surgeries, as both the young, old and even babies have successfully being operated on across the nine state hospitals in the state.
The government even went ahead to organise free eye surgeries and distribution of eye glasses, which attracted MTN Foundation attention.
When the health of a people is secure, then there is tendency that the people would work well and be creative.
Kudos must go to the indefatigable Commissioner of Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Temitope Ilori, who has aligned herself with the aspirations of the state government in the provision of free health to its citizenry.
A visit to the state hospitals would confirm this, but with all these done, there is need for the health managers to make judicious and effective use of these equipment that would be installed, be up and doing and shun laziness and ensure prompt service delivery.
Government on its part needs to ensure adequate training and re-training of its health managers. With this, Osun would be the medical centre of Nigeria and this can be achieved.
OSUN DEFENDER