The Osun Assembly in Nigeria has passed a bill reverting the name of the state from the “State of Osun” back to “Osun State.” The change in name was originally made in 2012 by former governor Rauf Aregbesola.
The bill, titled ‘Osun State Anthem, Crest and Flag Amendment Bill 2023,’ not only changes the name but also reverts the flag and crest of the state to the Nigerian flag and the Nigerian Coat of Arms. The new bill will replace the previous Osun Anthem, Crest, and Flag Bill from 2012. However, the State Anthem established by the old bill will remain the same. The bill will now be forwarded to the governor for assent before it can come into effect.
In November 2022, the Osun State House of Assembly expressed dissatisfaction with the decision made by the newly inaugurated governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to change the name of the state from “State of Osun” to Osun State. The Assembly argued that the state anthem, crest, and flag were established through a law that was assented to on December 18, 2012, and emphasised that no individual can unilaterally alter them.
Responding to the governor’s decision, the House, represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, Moshood Kunle Akande, issued a press statement on Monday, November 28, 2022, to address the matter. The statement stated the following resolution:
“The usage of the State Anthem, Crest and Flag is an enactment of the law and as such, its usage is a matter of law and not choice.
“The enactment ‘State of Osun Anthem, Crest and Flag Law, 2012’ assented to on December 18, 2012, contained in Schedule 1, 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 the 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.”
In addition to this development, the Assembly has also screened 13 out of the 25 commissioner nominees who appeared before them, and they are expected to consider their confirmation after completing the screening process.
Akinyode Oyewusi, the Chairman of the ad-hoc screening committee, while making recommendations, said all the nominees are competent and qualified to be commissioners. Oyewusi said the nominees met the requirements of the law and that they should be confirmed in line with section 192 (2) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (amended).
The speaker, Adewale Egbedun, however, said the nominees would all be considered for confirmation after the House is through with screening.