Details As Osogbo Affairs Forum Charts Path For Unity & Development

The Osogbo Town Hall, located on Obafemi Awolowo Way, Olonkoro, Osogbo, Osun State, was filled to capacity on Saturday, January 4, 2025, as members of the Osogbo Affairs Forum (OSAF) convened for the second edition of the Forum’s General/Town Hall Meeting.

Themed “Galvanizing Osogbo Indigenes Towards Unity, Patriotism, and Goal Getting,” the event brought together stakeholders from across Osogbo society, including traditional leaders, professionals, community leaders, politicians, and other prominent indigenes of the town from around the globe. Participation was recorded both online and offline.

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

In his opening address, the representative of the Ataoja of Osogboland stressed the need for a critical appraisal of the challenges confronting Osogbo, proposing actionable solutions to tackle them. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Ataoja-in-Council to safeguard the town’s interests and ensure sustainable progress. Notably, he drew attention to territorial challenges posed by smaller neighboring towns and urged for unity in addressing these concerns.

The meeting featured a three-session agenda, addressing key issues such as unity, patriotism, development, and the welfare of Osogbo indigenes. Below are details of the sessions, panelists, and resolutions:

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 recognized Osogbo’s wealth of educated and resourceful indigenes and advocated for the promotion of love, unity, and cooperation to strategically position the town for greater opportunities.
2. The Osogbo Progressive Union (OPU) was identified as a critical unifying organization. The panel stressed the urgency of resolving its leadership crisis and reconciling differences between the Olomo Obas and the Ataoja.
3. Specific steps toward achieving unity include:

Resolving the Ataoja’s pre- and post-office assumption issues.

Avoiding the public airing of sensitive town matters on social media platforms.

4. Politics must be conducted in a way that fosters unity, with support for Osogbo sons and daughters in various political parties being sacrosanct. Collaboration, rather than antagonism, was strongly recommended.
5. A comprehensive database documenting Osogbo indigenes in various professional and political positions will be created.
6. A blueprint for reviving Osogbo’s industrial and economic base will be developed to restore its status as a thriving business hub.

Session 2: Prioritizing Community Interest Over Political Alignment

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

1. Community interest will henceforth take precedence over individual or political ambitions.
2. Efforts will be made to restore the OPU’s former glory by withdrawing all pending lawsuits and initiating reconciliation among all warring parties.
3. OSAF will establish itself as a unifying platform and develop mechanisms to strengthen unity among Osogbo indigenes.
4. Politicians from Osogbo, regardless of their affiliations, are to collaborate to achieve common goals that benefit the town.
5. A long-term plan will be drafted to position an Osogbo indigene for the governorship of Osun State.
6. Osogbo’s human and natural resources, both tapped and untapped, will be identified and promoted for the town’s development.

Action Committees

Two committees were constituted to oversee the implementation of the resolutions from both sessions:

Committee 1 Members:

Hon. Gani Olaoluwa

Rt. Hon. Akintunde Adegboye

Prof. Ademola Adeleke

Hon. Adeoye Adelakun

Comrade Amitolu Shittu

Alhaji Muniru Raji

Mr. Waheed Adediran

Alhaji Oluwatoyin Yusuf

Mr. Asimiyu Olawale Badru

Committee 2 Members:

Prof. Grace Akinola

Alhaji Rasheed Bolarinwa

Dr. Rasheed Adebiyi

Dr. Maruf Hassan

Dr. Busari Salawu

Mr. Obasanjo Onibonokuta

Dr. Sarafadeen Aderemi Adeagbo

The meeting ended on a high note with a unanimous commitment to implement the resolutions aimed at fostering unity, patriotism, and sustainable development in Osogbo.