The Deputy Head of Political Section of the British High Commission, Abuja, Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Fleming, has lauded the progress being made by the governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.
Fleming, who was on a two-day visit to the state to assess progress that has been made a year after Aregbesola’s re-election, disclosed that what he saw on ground has testified to the fact that the governor is delivering on his promises to the people of the state.
The British envoy said he is moving round states in the country to scout for investment potentials for British companies.
He identified Osun State as one of the country’s leading agriculture-based states that is capable of meeting the needs of British companies, which now focus on agriculture-oriented businesses.
He noted that the governorship election of August 9 2014 in the state, which preceded the March 2015 general election in the country, was quite significant on the part of the state and the country at large.
Fleming affirmed that Osun is one of the investors’ area of interests, hence the visit and look around for available opportunities.
“Osun State is strategic in agriculture and business. It is pertinent for us to come visit a year after the election so as to see the progress being made.
LEADERSHIP

Osun is known as the land of living spring. The annual Osun Oshogbo festival displays the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba community for two weeks. The dense forest of the Osun sacred groove, on the outskirts of the city of Oshogbo, is one of the last remnants of primary high forest in the South West Nigeria. Regarded as the abode of the gods of fertility, Osun, one of the pantheons of Yoruba gods, the landscape of the grove and its meandering river is dotted with sanctuaries and shrines, sculptures and art works in honour of Osun and other deities. The sacred grove, which is now seen as a symbol of identity for all Yoruba people, is probably the last in Yoruba culture. It testifies to the once widespread practice of establishing sacred groves outside all settlements.
The form of all socio-cultural developments has some attributes of celebration and thanksgiving to the Almighty GOD. Festivals are, therefore regarded as important socio – cultural means of supplications to the Supreme Being, at most times through His intermediaries   according to different religious faith.
Consequently, the month of august of every year has become a unique month among people of Oshogbo land. It is the month of celebration, traditional cleansing of the city and the cultural reunion of the people with their great ancestors and founders of Oshogbo kingdom. The celebration of Osun Oshogbo festival is a period of stocktaking and assemblage of all sons and daughters of Oshogbo land as well as Yoruba people both in Nigeria and diaspora. The origin of the festival, according to historical records, was an account of the legendary encounter between the early settlers and founders of Oshogbo with the Osun Oshogbo deity. In about 1370AD the founder of Oshogbo, Oba Gbadewolu Larooye, and the great hunter, Olutimehin, settled in the sacred Osun forest to establish the kingdom and actualized a part of association and togetherness with the river Osun deity. Since then, Oshogbo has remained a peaceful progressive and benevolent city. This pact of association which rekindled every year in the month of August is the foundation of a cultural fiesta which has catapulted itself into world recognition as one of the largest tourist attraction locally and internationally. The festival which is the grand finale event of other programs of events starting with the traditional cleansing of the town called iwopopo, followed by the lightening of the 642 years old 16 Points lamp, called “atupaOlujumerindilogun” on the third day. This is followed by iboriade on the fourth day, the assemblage of all the crowns of past rulers (Ataojas) for blessings. Other festivals like egungun, oro, sango, ifa, obatala and Ogunare also celebrated during this time.
On the last day of the event, i.e. the grand finale, the town was filled with a multitude of people in various attire, mostly in the colour of white, all making their way to the palace of the Ataoja (king) Oba Jimoh Olanipekun. The roads were filled with human traffic, group of people were seen wearing the same colour dress singing and dancing. As an annual celebration, people from all nook and crannies look forward to escort the Arugba (the virgin who bears the calabash of sacrifice to the Osun goddess) from the royal family which is the ruling house. She is chosen divinely through the Osun goddess who makes her choice known through the ifa oracle. The Arugba is not just an ordinary teenager, her mission takes place right from her leaving her abode to greet the king with the sacrifice on her head which is covered with a thick orange cloth and she is guarded by bodyguards and Iya Osun. Her face is covered with a cloak and she is under a strong spell, one which gives her the strength she needs throughout the day. She is in trance as she walks the distance from the Ataoja’s palace to the Osun sacred grove, in which incantations are being chanted. The crowd does the same, for they pray and believe that all their problems are gone. Everyone that is around must repeat the prayer, it drives away curses and anyone who refuses to do so is in danger of attracting the rejected curses.
Present at this year’s festival were the people from Trinidad & Tobago, Austria, Philippines, Brazil, France, Cuba, Germany, South- Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. Nigerian artist and photographers were also present . The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) of Chief Gani Adams was conspicuously present at this year’s festival.Also present were Christians and Muslims, who prayed to seek answers to their problems in the midst of the crowd, holding hands together, they found their way to the front where a man was seen washing his face with water and also drinking it, while another woman brought in a child, chanting words of thanks to the goddess that allow her to bring the child every year as a gift. They all left with fulfillment.
According to Mr. Ayo Olumoko, the Managing Director of INFOGEM Ltd, a cultural consulting firm for the festival, there was an increment from eight foreign countries that participated in the festival last year.
“This is due to the mass publicity given to the festival this year. More participants indicated their interests to attend this year’s events because we do not have any cases of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) challenge the country faced in 2014,” he said.
Olumoko said that participation by those countries would strengthen their cultural relations with Nigeria. “It will enable citizens of those countries to know and understand the Nigerian culture”. He said that the festival would bring influx of tourists into Osun in particular and Nigeria in general.
The cultural fiesta was organized by the state government, with the support of National Commission for Museum and Monument (NCMM) and many private sectors bodies. The list of sponsors for this year’s event include:  MTN Nigeria, Nigerian breweries (Goldberg) Seaman’s Royal, and kasepreko.
The Osun groove was enlisted officially as a world heritage site by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO) in 2005.
AFRICAN TOURIST

Former Osun State Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration Ajibola Basiru reflects on the challenges confronting Rauf Aregbesola’s administration. He explains steps being taken to tackle the problems.  
As a stakeholder and former commissioner in Aregbesola’s administration, what is responsible for the financial crisis in the state?
It was not a financial crisis but financial challenges. The situation was not peculiar to Osun State. There are no less than 23 States that are facing similar challenges caused by the mismanagement of the nation’s resources by the visionless Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last 16 years particularly the Goodluck Jonathan regime. In July 2013, Jonathan admitted 400,000 barrels of crude oil were being stolen per day which was responsible for 40 per cent decline in national revenue earning. Oil theft is responsible for the glut in the oil market which is responsible for the slump in oil price. Governor Aregbesola was the first to alert the country of the impending financial crisis brought about by the activities of the oil thieves. Thank God, the problem is receiving the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari who is working seriously to restore sanity into the system.
It was the plan of certain rejected politicians in Osun to use the financial challenges as a launch pad in their preparation for power bid in 2018. Hence, heavy noise as if it was only Osun that owe workers salaries. Thanks to Osun workers for their understanding of the problem and co-operation with the state government. They have gone back to work. They have even partnered with the government in carrying out proper audit of the state workforce in order to fishing out ghost workers. That is to tell you the kind of rapport between the government and workers as against the impression being created by Iyiola Omisore and his hireling Yinka Odumakin.
What is the state doing to boost its internally generated revenue?
In 2013, the state allocation from the Federation Account was betweenN3.5 billion and N4 billion. The recurrent expenditure gulped N3.6 billion. By April 2014, the allocation dropped to N406 million. The Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in Osun in 2010 was between N280 million and N320 million. When Aregbesola came on board, the IGR has increased to N1.6 billion per month. The state economy is just developing under various programme put in place by his government. You can’t impose tax or cause inconvenience for the people because you want to generate revenue.
The economy is growing gradually. For instance look at the socio-economic benefits of our reformed education programme. We offer free meal to 252,000 pupils in public primary schools in the state. This programme alone has employed about 3,000 women who are caterers that prepare the meals. It has provided market for poultry farmers that supply eggs; bakers who supply bread and the cattle dealers that supply beef. It costs government N3.2 billion per annum to feed the pupils. The free school uniform has attracted the establishment of a leading garment factory in the state which is being supported by the Bank of Industry.
Critics say Governor Aregbesola embarked on grandiose projects that the state economy cannot sustain. Do you agree?
I am surprised by the allegation of grandiose projects because these are the same set of people alleging that there are no projects on ground. It is pedestrian for someone to argue that Osun with a population of about 3.2 million don’t require an airport. Is airport meant for passengers alone? The airport was not even initiated by Aregbesola administration. Between 2008 and 2009, there was a federal budget for airport in Osun. The airport site was the first airstrip in the whole of West Africa. It was chosen because of the topography of the area. One good thing about this project is that hanger facilities will be sited at the airport.
The Aregbesola administration has embarked on massive road construction across the state. These roads are there for everybody to see. You can’t grow the economy without providing infrastructure. The state government has built standard schools with equipped laboratories, libraries and halls. More than 45 of these schools are in use. It is not the right of the children of elites alone to attend standard schools.
The helicopter was not acquired by Aregbesola’s personal use as claimed by the opposition. It was acquired for security surveillance. It is meant to compliment command and control centres for quick response to emergency situations. I was amused when the critics say the helicopter was bought for $8 million. How much do they sell Boeing 727 aircraft? That tells you how ignorant some people are.
How has the government impacted positively in the life of the citizens?
The government has established Micro Credit Agency that provides loans with low interest to small and medium enterprises. About 800 Co-operative societies and 9,555 individuals have benefitted. The government started paying 13th month salary to the civil servants in 2010 and sponsor them for local and foreign training. It has opened up the rural areas through construction of roads to farmstead to ensure easy access to markets by the farmers. At least each Local Government constructed 10 kilometres within the first term of the administration. In the area of security, Osun State is secured; crime wave has been reduced to the barest minimum through provision of incentives and hard wares to the police.
Why was Osun singled out for bashing when other states are faced with similar financial problems?
Some people are genuinely concerned about the backlog of unpaid salaries because Governor Aregbesola has acquired so much credibility particularly in good governance and prudent management of public funds. As a result, he enjoyed good press. But for the PDP, it was a payback for Aregbesola for daring Jonathan’s administration. To the State PDP, it was an opportunity to re-launch their power bid ahead of 2018. They have failed to destabilise the state by setting the workers against the state government.
As a lawyer, are you surprised that a serving judge wrote a petition calling for the impeachment of Governor Aregbesola?
The content of the petition does not worth the ink for which it was written. The normal thing is that he or she who alleges must substantiate. There was no single document to back up the 39-page petition. She said she based her allegations on rumour. She alleged that the governor runs the state from Cuba, that he enriches his godfather and cronies, that the state owes about N500 billion and that there was no project on ground to justify the huge loan taken by the state government. The road in front of her house in GRA, Osogbo was tarred by this administration; the Accountant General has said the debt profile of Osun is N78 billion; the last time Governor Aregbesola travels to Cuba was in 2005, five years before he became governor.
The image of the judiciary should be salvaged from politicking. The sanctity of the judiciary should not be sacrificed on the altar of petty politicking by an individual. Anybody that is interested in politics should come out and should not use the cloak of the judiciary to participate in party politics. As an individual, you have the right to exercise your fundamental rights but the judicial code states that members of the bench should not do it in a way that will bring judiciary into disrepute. Aregbesola holds the judiciary in high esteem; that was why he refused to make comments on the baseless allegations contained in the petition.
A group Osun Stakeholders, held a summit at Ile-ife recently on the way forward for the state. What is your view on their recommendations?
There is nothing like Osun Stakeholders. It was certain failed politicians that wanted to use the financial challenges to seek relevance. The defeated PDP governorship candidate in the last election, Iyiola Omisore is the financier. He lost his petition challenging the victory of Aregbesola at the tribunal, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. His co-travellers are Akinlusi, former Head of Service and governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), he scored 600 votes. Former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Niyi Owolade contested governorship election and got less than 400 votes. Yinka Odumakin is known for jumping from one party to the other. At the so called summit, journalists who covered the event were more than those that attended. What are their resolutions or alternatives to what Aregbesola is doing?

The Osun State Government has said that it will not interfere in the selection process of the next Ooni of Ife in the face of rising controversies over who ascends the throne.
The Adetipe family within the Ogboru ruling house, which is contending for the stool, had on Monday called on the Osun State Government to assist the traditional institution in the state to ensure that the right person and ruling house produced the 51st Ooni of Ife.
The call stemmed from a brewing controversy on whose turn it is to produce a nominee for the Ooni stool.
The ruling houses from which the Ooni is selected on a rotational basis, include Osinkola, Ogboru, Giesi and Lafogido.
The late Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II came from the Ogboru ruling house and reigned between 1980 and 2015.
While it was thought that the Giesi family should produce the next Ooni, the Adetipe family, from within the Ogboru dynasty, has already submitted a expression of interest for the stool, on the grounds that the reign of Oba Sijuwade did not cover for their turn.
Reacting to the call on Wednesday, the Director of the Bureau of Communication and Strategy at the Office of the Osun State Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, told PREMIUM TIMES that the government viewed the situation as very sensitive and that which should be left to the traditional council to handle.
He noted that even with the current distance the government is keeping, there were already insinuations in the media that Rauf Aregbesola could be interfering.
“The Osun State Government is committed to the sincere and transparent process of producing the next Ooni of Ife,” he said.
“The government will not interfere in any manner, no matter the controversies involved.”
PREMIUM TIMES

The Deputy Head of Political Section of the British High Commission (Abuja), Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Fleming, has thumbed up the progress being made by the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Fleming, who was on a two-day visit to the state to assess progress that has been made a year after Aregbesola’s re-election, disclosed that what he saw on ground has testified to the fact that the governor is delivering on his promises to the people of the state.

The British envoy said he is moving round states in the country to scout for investment potentials for British companies.

He identified Osun as one of the country’s leading agriculture-based states that is capable to meet the needs of British companies, which now focus on agriculture-oriented businesses.

He noted that the governorship election of August 9 in the state, which preceded the March 2015 general elections in the country, was quite significant on the part of the state and the country at large.

Fleming affirmed that Osun is one of investors’ area of interests, hence the necessity to visit and look around for available opportunities.

“Osun State is strategic in agriculture and business. It is pertinent for us to come visit a year after the election so as to see the progress being made.

“We have seen progress in virtually all sectors, which shows that the governor is delivering on his political promises.

“This time round, we are here to assess the investment potentials in the state for British companies. We know that Osun is one of the foremost agriculture states in the country.

“Some of the British companies are interested in agriculture-based businesses now. So we want to know what the state is doing in terms of infrastructure and business opportunities available in the state,” Fleming said.

Responding on behalf of the government, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, commended the British Government for its intervention in the country’s general election, which guaranteed it’s free and fair conduct.

Adeoti said the state is a haven for investors because of the available infrastructure, peace and security which the Aregbesola administration takes with great interests.

He harped on the fact that power distribution and supply is central to investors and Osun is the nation’s centre of distribution, which guarantees regular supply of electricity.

He stated that a conducive environment also attracts investment, saying the state is one of the most peaceful states in the country.

He said: “Osun has been developed to attract investments. We have the least rate of unemployment and high turnover of skilled labour.

“Our government, since Ogbeni Aregbesola came to power five years ago, has been equipping the security agencies for effective policing of the state.

“The result is peace, law and order that are reining in the state. And this is very pivotal to any investor. Besides, Osun is the centre of power distribution, which means there is regular supply of power.”

Earlier, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry Cooperatives and Empowerment had presented to the team a comprehensive investment opportunities that abound in the state.

The presentation which was conducted by the former Commissioner for Commerce, Industry Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba Alagba and the former Special Adviser in the same ministry, Dr. Olalekan Yinusa, dwelt on masssive agro-based investment areas of the state and how the state had boosted agriculture and empowered farmers.

NIGRIA’S game of politics is too nauseating to percuss; and its government business environment too nasty to peregrinate. For many years, I had switched off Nigeria in my head; the choice to stay back in the United States basking in its refreshing winter and kicking back in its sweet summer has always been a safe one.
Last year, however, the intense buzz and bustle around the Governor of my home state Of Osun drew me back home and into a bit of its politicking.   The name Rauf Aregbesola didn’t sound familiar to many of us who’d been out of Nigeria for a while.
From different sources, my ears were filled with both sweet and sour stories flying around town about the Governor. I then went verifying the tales before riding alongside others on the vilifying- train throttled by those I didn’t even know.
What I saw in Oshogbo and surrounding towns in the spiraling asphalted roads, in the big bridges, the torn-down and towered-back-up High school buildings that stood in classic comparison with those in many US cities, made my heart throb in joy.
Friends, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the only man many of us in Yorubaland grew up to acknowledge as THE LEADER, died a great and accomplished man who stood on the side of his people.
Rauf Aregbesola as Governor of Osun may not be the Awolowo of this time, but his deeds qualify as fair-game comparisons to the late sage. Men with a populist ideology suffer long.
Sometimes they become as namby-pambies in the hands of wealthy lowbrows who contend with them for position and power.
When I left Oshogbo, I knew opposition against this man would be fierce and destructive. That’s the price populists’ pay. Men who stand by the people always get bludgeoned by those who have a preference for the continuation of status quo idiocy and depravity.
The initial noise around Rauf was actuated by non-payment of workers’ salaries. Osun owed 6 months, 22 other states including the administration of Goodluck Jonathan owed between 9 and 12.
Town-criers of persecution continued to berate only Osun and Rauf. Those who were not citizens of the state also enlisted in the army of pillory.
The Presidential election had just ended so we knew why many of them cried more than the bereaved. It was not about Osun workers’ welfare, it was about their king who had just forever auctioned off his crown.
Rauf is tough, strong, energetic and vibrant. He is a custodian of brain and brawn, and his opponents who wanted him out of power understood the tall order in the State’s last gubernatorial election.
Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, admitted that the task of uprooting Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress from Osun State would be difficult.
He told party ambassador Iyiola Omisore who concurred publicly that: “the task to uproot APC from Osun State is daunting…” That informed why on Election Day August 9th, a legion of attack-dogs came barking into the State accompanied by 90,000 errand-boys of lawlessness in masks and with ammunitions looking to hunt down Rauf.
Many major Osun cities were full of security operatives wielding and brandishing guns and shooting into the air. I was on ground and I saw it all.
But Rauf triumphed in a shellacking! The Governor will always let whoever cares to listen understand that he has done his best for his people.
Many people and Governments in and out of Nigeria agree with him; but the despising minority will not want you to know the truths.
In his creativity and from paltry fund coming into the State’s treasury, Rauf has managed to achieve some milestones. The milestone is in the N5.8bn in Omoluabi Conservation Fund; a wealth fund at a sub sovereign level geared toward promoting the Yoruba culture of leaving wealth for the future generation and planning for a rainy day.
The fund can be used as relief in harsh times only when the state income is almost ‘zero’. Primarily, it is set aside as Future Generation Fund.
The milestone is also in the State Shares and Equity worth N10bn that has not been accessed till today; and the milestone is in the Blue chip shares that were recovered from moribund investment managers and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
It was worth N3.2bn as at December 31st, 2013, but the value dropped to N2.7bn because of the present dismal state of the Global Capital Market.
Rauf’s milestone is etched in the State and local government investment in Federation Sovereign Wealth totaling 1.1m US dollars, which is 2.2b Naira; and also state and local government investments in the National Integrated Power Plants worth 2.2b Naira today. The State also has other investments in landed properties.
What about Security vote? Reportedly, nothing like that exists in the State of Osun. What the State has is a statutory provision by the House of Assembly.
It is only a figure on paper that can translate to money in case of emergency and only if funds are available. In a state that is numbered 34 out of 36 in money-bags states; show me the money? Osun earned only N204bn in 4 years, and more than N20bn of Osun N87bn loan was gulped by workers as salaries.
RAUF inherited the sum of N4.6bn pension debt when he was sworn in as Governor 2010. He has so far paid N1.6bn out of a debt he did not incur. He increased the IGR from 700 million Naira a year in the preceding administration to almost 10billion Naira in a year today.
Rauf is the only Governor in the country who gave a 13th month salary to his workers before the cash crunch hit in 2013. Why is this man not making enough noise about all of these milestones? Populists don’t usually make noise about what they have accomplished; their good deeds speak louder than words.
Royal fathers even from domains that weren’t fond of Rauf in the last election have all come out swinging in support of this man’s achievements since he became Governor.
Rauf stands on the side of the people, and a Labor Activist, Owei Lakemfa accurately captured it in his article titled “AREGBESOLA: THE IDEALIST AS POLITICIAN” published in a Nigerian Daily this week:“Aregbesola tends to be programmatic like Obafemi Awolowo, a populist similar to ‘Penkelemesi’ Adelabu Adegoke, an orator in the mold of Samuel Ladoke Akintola, with a Talakawa spirit like Aminu Kano.
But in a polity controlled by APC and PDP where all birds congregate; it is difficult to differentiate doves and pigeons from hawks and vultures”; Lakemfa wrote.
The hawks and vultures are mad as hell right now because Muhammadu Buhari is President, and Rauf was a verbose and loquacious facilitator of the sweet victory.
Anyone can petition the EFCC alleging corruption about anybody in Nigeria; that is the easiest part. But not everybody can stand to defend and prove their allegations as true.
Why did those who accused Rauf’s administration of profligacy and corruption take to their heels when the time came to defend their allegations? I don’t know. But what we know is that Rauf has done his best for Osun.
The testaments from his first term as Governor are now in the archives of history. Were there some inadvertent missteps, and are there some lessons learnt from them? Rauf will be the first to tell you that he has learnt a lot in the last five years. As for his foes; they will continue to tell you only what they want you to hear. SMACKDOWN!!!
THE GUARDIAN

The Osun Osogbo day goes gay in celebration of her founder’s day in spite of seeming economic challenges. AGOZINO AGOZINO, who followed this year’s event, offers a review.
The event, which is Osogbo’s biggest export, had begun two weeks ago; with the traditional environmental sanitation exercise called Iwopopo (cleansing of road). Thus all major roads in the city were cleared of debris and filth. Everywhere in the town must be made clean and tidy to celebrate the festival because the goddess abhors dirt, with her devotes always in clean white apparel.
Her steps were carefully calculated, firm and sure. Her face reflected the seriousness, and the commitment, of the task at hand. Oba Jimoh Olanipekun and his high chiefs followed her with bold assurance. The crowd was wild with joy. The atmosphere was one of communal participation, great expectations, and high drama as the Arugba Osun, the votary maid of the ancient festival, carried this year’s ritual calabash reverently towards the Osun River.
It was last Friday. And what was unfolding was this year’s edition of Osun Osogbo Festival. The procession from the aafin (palace) at the Oja-Oba to the Osun River marked the highpoint of the celebration of life by Osogbo indigenes.
The reason of the cleaning, according to some devotees of the river deity, is that while physically Osogbo’s roads have been cleared of dirt and obstacles, spiritually too, “our life is also cleared of anything that may hinder our progress in this life.” It also implies that spiritual security has been put in place at the strategic locations around the town.
However, there are other aspects of the two weeks fiesta, which are not meant for public consumption and these are usually restricted to the palace of the Ataoja.
The next public activity is the lighting of the Ataoja Olojumerindinlogun Osanyin, a 642-years-old lamp. The lamp has 16 wicks, and according to the tradition, must be lit at dusk and kept burning till dawn. The Ataoja, along with some of his chiefs, must dance round the lamp three times. While doing this, they all must invoke the spirit of the ancestors to bless them and the townsfolk. The festival was kicked off by the youthful Ataoja, Oba Olanipekun, and his chiefs.
Another significant rite is the Iboriade ritual. The crown and all other royal paraphernalia are put on display for members of every ruling family in Osogbo. Prayers are said for each of the past Ataojas for their contributions to the development of the town during their lifetime. This is rounded off by the reigning Oba who offers prayers for himself and all present.
After this comes the big one, the procession to the Osun riverbank by the whole town, led by the Arugba Osun. The main rituals are performed at the Ojubo, the sacrificial spot inside the Osun grove. According to tradition, the Ojubo is the very spot where the first Ataoja of Osogbo, Larooye, made his original pact with Osun, the goddess of the river, hundreds of years ago when Osogbo was founded. The Ojubo is located within Agbala Osun courtyard. Here, the Ataoja receives his chiefs, delivers his message and offers sacrifices; all the while sitting on the rock on which Larooye reportedly sat during his reign, the very spot where the story of Osogbo town began.
The Ataoja then feeds the fish in the river with items from Igba Osun, which include porridge, corn pudding eko and a vegetable stew, called yanrin. As these are thrown into the river, the crowd raises its voice in prayers, petitions and supplications, worship and thanksgiving to Osun, the Yoruba goddess of fertility, for her numerous blessings over the years. They wave caps, head-ties and hands in the air, while the priest and priestess chant incantations and break into panegyrics in praise of the deity.
At this stage, the Ataoja takes his leave to a cultural reception where different groups, in their numerous uniforms, perform to the delight of all guests, visitors and indigenes. Meanwhile, the crowd, particularly the women, rush into the river bank to drink or wash their faces in it for the water, so the myth goes, is medicinal. It is believed that the water from river, especially at the Ojubo, and particularly after the sacrifice, is potent enough to cure infertility and all kinds of illness.
The festival is also used by some Osogbo youths to settle personal disagreements. Young men are seen wielding long canes, whipping and lashing each other in a test of manhood and endurance. There are also those who use the opportunity to threaten to whip young ladies who may have rebuffed their advances in the past.
Despite the fervor with which many embrace the tradition, there are those who believe the festival is simply a fun and nothing else. One of such people is Fatai Ola, an Osogbo indigene and a “born-again” Christian. “The whole idea that the water can cure illness is false,” he said. “It is just because they have been told to believe such.”
Some of the tourists in this year’s festival came from countries such as Australia, France, the United States, Canada, Cuba, Brazil, Ghana. Last year, the festival was affected by the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and was nearly cancelled. This year’s event has, however, returned its groove and it appears the event is gathering more international recognition.
For many years, the Osogbo festival was promoted by the late Austrian conservationist and artist, Susanne Wenger, popularly known as Adunni Ibifunke Olorisha, who came to Nigeria in the late 1950s with late Ullie Beier. The couple helped popularise the Osogbo grove, leading to it being listed as one of the World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2005.
Jimoh Buraimoh, an Osogbo-based artist and key stakeholder of the festival, is particularly happy that this year’s festival is better than last year’s. “I am happy because this year’s event is better than last year,” he said. “The Ebola crisis almost denied us the opportunity last year; but you can see that all that has now changed.”
For Nike Okundaye, another globally respected artist of the Osogbo art school: “We are all happy because if you come here, you will see that everybody in Osogbo is happy. The festival this year is well organised because we were not happy with what happened last year.”
This year’s festival was sponsored by such brands as MTN Nigeria, Goldberg (Nigerian Breweries), Seaman’s Royale (Grand Oaks) and Alomo Bitters (Kasapreko).
According to the Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, the growing number of people from several cultures identifying with the festival shows how much of a world-acclaimed event it has attained. This, according to him, is critical in the preservation of culture and tradition.
“There is the need to fully appreciate and register my gratitude to UNESCO for not only designating the Osun Grove as a World Heritage Monument, but for also elevating the festival beyond the shores of Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, to the whole world,” he said. He also used the occasion to urge the Osun people, and Nigerians, not to emulate the attitude of people who throw away their culture. “Your culture is the only way that you can show

Photos showing the Secretary to the Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti who was representing the Governor, a member of the State House of Assembly, the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh  Olanipekun and others, during the 2015 celebrations of Osun Osogbo on Friday 21-08-2015

A Cuban Association comprising of Yoruba people, named Asociación Yoruba de Cuba has commiserated with the Yoruba race and the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on the transition to glory of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijade.
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The Association in a condolence letter sent to the Governor joined other Yoruba world over to mourn the transition of a worthy ambassador and a pride of the Yoruba race with deep sorrow.
The letter signed by its President, ‎Sir. Awo. José Manuel Pérez Andino, noted that the organisation and her people in Cuba share in the pain and sorrow of other Yoruba people, praying  that God will console the family over the loss of the late monarch.
The letter read, “With deep sorrow for the passing away of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Yoruba traditional leader and friend of Cuba, we join wholeheartedly the pain of the Yoruba People and his family for the loss of such a dear friend”.
Members of the Cuban based Association include; Council of Elder Priests of Ifa of the Republic of Cuba, Council of Elder Priests Oba – Oriaye of Cuba and Council of Elder Iyalochas Priestesses of the Republic of Cuba.
Others are; Council of Elder Babalochas Priests of Cuba, Council of Elder Arará Priests of Cuba and Council of Priests Chiefs of Cabildos of the Republic of Cuba.

Contradictions have become the hallmark of our national engagements almost at every level especially in our public life since the advent of democracy in 1999. They have come in diverse shapes and sizes and in various dimensions ranging from the ridiculous to the absurd and from the completely bizarre to the seriously paradoxical.
That a Senior Judge Osun  State judiciary Justice Folahanmi Oloyede who had made weighty allegations of financial impropriety against Governor Rauf Aregbesola and demanded that he be impeached is now running away from the responsibilities attached to her demands shows that she not only never had any grounds to have made that call in the first place, but may have also been instigated by other political jobbers who are intent on opposing the transformational efforts of the Governor. However, she has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to substantiate her claim but she also refused to appear.
It should be noted that the Governor never for one day sought to protest that allegation from the judge but chose to make himself available before the members of the State House of Assembly who summoned him and are the true representatives and conscience of the people of the state. He did not grandstand neither did he muster his political influences which is not insignificant in any way to dissuade the House from acceding to the request of the jurist. He made himself available for questions with candour.
Paradoxically, the one who has asked for the empanelling of the process to investigate the Governor has refused to come and make her case when summoned to do so by the House of Assembly. If this is not contradictory, I do not know any other thing that is. My thoughts are that it is both morally compelling and statutorily obligatory for the Judge to appear before the House to defend her allegations. That is the way democracies are run since she has been provided the right opportunity to nail the Governor in fulfilment of her crusade.
What she has done negates the fine principles of law that “he that alleges must prove”. It is unfortunate that she has chosen to abdicate this onerous responsibility especially when the whole nation awaited her testimony.
Judges have moral obligation to obey the law and for a sitting judge to refuse to conform to this dictate, not only makes herself incapable of continuing in that hallowed office but also throws scorn at the entire Judiciary. She has made her position very tenuous thus capable of contaminating the entire Judiciary. Having made her position in the judiciary inchoate thus of no repute bringing shame to the judicial processes what other moral basis would this judge and the Judiciary have to demand that other members and segments of the society obey their judgments?
It is therefore on this note that we say that this judge has grossly perjured herself and to inform her that the only path to self -redemption is an unreserved apology not only to the Governor but also the people of Osun whom she had denigrated by her false and malicious allegations then, immediate resignation from office if she still has any modicum of respect for her office and the judiciary. She has unfortunately made herself a cancerous tumour that has to be surgically excised before it becomes dangerously malignant and pollutes the Judiciary. That is why the NJC has an urgent duty to perform here by neutralising this poison in their chalice and setting in motion their in-house disciplinary machinery if she refuses to toe the path of honour.
However, the Osun State House of Assembly should step to the plate and invoke their constitutional powers to remove her from office if the Judge fails to resign or the NJC abandons its duty. Her removal will be a great service to all stakeholders in the Nigerian project especially the people of Osun.
In conclusion, it is apposite to commend the Governor for his deft and democratic handling of this duplicity by the judge. By refusing to arm twist the House and by making himself available to the House for proper investigation, he has shown himself once again a truly democratic leader worthy of emulation by other Governors and public office holders in Nigeria. His leadership qualities cannot be ignored if Nigeria is to make the desired change. He has once again demonstrated tremendous goodwill thus raising the bar of democratic standards in Nigeria.

• Jimoh, is the Deputy Majority Leader in the Lagos state House of Assembly representing Apapa II Constituency.

THE NATION