Be United, Patriotic, OSAF Tells Osogbo Indigenes As It Holds Townhall Meeting

The Osogbo Town Hall on Obafemi Awolowo Way, Olonkoro, Osogbo, Osun State was filled to the brim on Saturday, January 4, 2025 as members of Osogbo Affairs Forum (OSAF) converged there in their numbers for the second edition of the Forum’s General/Townhall meeting.

Themed: “Galvanizing Osogbo Indigenes Towards Unity, Patriotism, and Goal Getting,” the meeting brought together stakeholders from various strata of Osogbo society, including traditional leaders, professionals, community leaders, prominent politicians and other indigenes of the town from across the world. Attendance for the meeting was recorded both online and offline.

The Forum was moderated by President of Association of Corporate and Marketing Communication Professionals in Nigerian Banks (ACAMB), Rasheed Bolarinwa and a veteran Osogbo-based broadcaster, Alhaji Toyin Yusuf.

The representative of the Ataoja of Osogboland, who declared the meeting open, emphasized the need to critically examine the challenges facing Osogbo and thereafter proposed actionable solutions. He stressed the importance of working collaboratively with the Ataoja-in-Council to safeguard the town’s interests and ensure its sustained progress. He also highlighted territorial challenges posed by smaller neighboring towns and called for unity in addressing these concerns.

With a three-fold session, the meeting delved extensively on achieving unity, patrotism, goal getting,  development of Osogbo, welfare of indigenes, amongst others.

Details of the session topics, panelists and resolutions are as highlighted below:

Session 1: Galvanizing Osogbo Indigenes Towards Unity, Patriotism, and Goal Getting

Panelists: Dr. Sikiru Adetoro, Alhaji Muniru Raji, Comrade Amitolu Shittu

Resolutions:

1. The panel acknowledged Osogbo’s wealth of human resources and educated indigenes. Thus, the need to promote love, unity and cooperation to strategically position Osogbo indigenes for greater opportunities was agreed upon
2. The Osogbo Progressive Union (OPU) was identified as a critical uniting organization. The panel stressed the importance of resolving the leadership crisis within the OPU and reconciling differences between the Olomo Obas and the Ataoja.
3. Steps towards achieving unity include:
4. Resolving the Ataoja’s pre- and post-office assumption issues.
5. Avoiding the airing of sensitive town matters on social media platforms.
6. The panel resolved that politics must not be played in a way that will cause disunity, and that support for Osogbo sons and daughters in various political parties should be sacrosanct, with an emphasis on collaboration rather than antagonism.
7. Establishing a comprehensive database to document Osogbo indigenes in various professional and political positions shall be undertaken.
8. A blueprint for Osogbo Industrial and Economic Base is to be developed, with a view to reviving the town’s old “business hub” status.

Session 2: Prioritizing Community Interest Over Political Alignment

Panelists: Hon. Gani Olaoluwa, Rt. Hon. Akintunde Adegboye, Prof. Ademola Adeleke, Hon. Adeoye Adelakun

Resolutions:

1. The need to prioritize community interest above individual or political ambitions shall

henceforth be everyone’s focus.

2. Efforts shall be made to restore the OPU’s former glory by withdrawing all pending

lawsuits and immediately set machinery in motion towards a fruitful reconciliation of all

warring parties.

3. OSAF shall take steps and measures towards establishing itself as a unifying platform, and

develop mechanisms to strengthen unity among Osogbo indigenes.

4. Regardless of political affiliations, Osogbo politicians are to work together to achieve

common goals beneficial to the town.

5. A long-term plan is to be drawn up with a view to positioning an Osogbo indigene for the

governorship of the state.

After the two sessions, a committee to action the resolutions of the two panels was set up. The

committee comprised of the following members:

1. Hon. Gani Olaoluwa
2. Rt. Hon. Akintunde Adegboye

iii. Prof. Ademola Adeleke

1. Hon. Adeoye Adelakun
2. Comrade Amitolu Shittu
3. Alhaji Munirudeen Raji

vii. Mr Waheed Adediran

viii. Alhaji Oluwatoyin Yusuf

1. Mr. Asimiyu Olawale Badru

A former field commander of the Western Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun, Comrade Amitolu Shittu with another guest at the meeting

Session 3: Developing Targets, Goals, and Key Focus Areas for Osogbo

Panelists: Prof. Grace Akinola, Dr. Rasheed Adebiyi, Dr. Maruf Hassan, Dr. Busari Salawu, Mr.

Obasanjo Onibonokuta

Resolutions:

1. A data bank to document Osogbo indigenes in various professional fields and educational

institutions shall be created. This is to include the need to design:

1. A Google form to collect data about Osogbo indigenes in various spheres of life.
2. A special database for students of Osogbo extraction depicting their courses of

study, disciplines and areas of specializations.

2. Academically and professionally equipped Osogbo indigenes are to be identified and

mobilized for strategic placements and mentorship opportunities.

3. Influential personalities of Osogbo origin are to be mobilized to transform the Technical

College, Osogbo, into a Technical University.

4. Education infrastructures, digital platforms and resources within the town are to be mapped

with the aim of leveraging on them to move Osogbo forward.

5. Osogbo’s human and natural resources, both tapped and untapped, are to be identified and

promoted to enhance the town’s development.

At the end of the session, a committee to work on the resolutions of the panel was set up. This

includes the following persons as members:

1. Prof. Grace Akinola,
2. Alhaji Rasheed Bolarinwa

iii. Dr. Rasheed Adebiyi,

1. Dr. Maruf Hassan,
2. Dr. Busari Salawu,
3. Mr. Obasanjo Onibonokuta

vii. Dr. Sarafadeen Aderemi Adeagbo

Credit: newsclickng.com

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