Osun Assembly on Monday, passed a Bill reverting the name of the state to ‘Osun State’ from the ‘State of Osun’.
Recall that the state’s name was changed to ‘State of Osun’ in 2012 during the tenure of former Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
The Assembly, through a Bill called ‘Osun State Anthem, Crest and Flag Amendment Bill 2023’, has now reverted the name of the state to what it was before the change in 2012.
After the Bill was passed for third reading at the plenary session, Mr Adewale Egbedun, the Assembly Speaker, said the Bill would be forwarded to the governor for assent.
He said the new Bill, after it is assented to by the governor, would replace the Osun Anthem, Crest, and Flag Bill 2012.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new Bill, aside from reverting the name of the state, also changes the flag and crest of the state to the Nigerian flag and the Nigerian Coat of Arms.
The State Anthem established by the old Bill was, however, sustained by the new Bill.
The Assembly, thereafter, screened 13 of the 25 commissioner nominees who appeared before it, after the report of the ad-hoc screening committee was adopted.
Mr 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, Egbedun, however, said the nominees would all be considered for confirmation after the House is through with screening.
In a related development, the Osun State Muslim Community, OSMC, an umbrella body of Muslim groups in the state, during the week exonerated Governor Ademola Adeleke of any wrongdoing in the compilation of the list of his cabinet nominees.
Addressing newsmen as part of the one-week event to mark the 1445 Hijrah Calendar, the President of the group, Sheikh Mustapha Olayiwola, said the governor has been balanced in his appointments, so far.
His words: “The Governor had first appointed his kitchen cabinets, who are all Muslims. His Chief of Staff, the Secretary to the State Government and his spokesperson are all Muslims and powerful members of the administration.
“Besides, the appointment of commissioners is not an exclusive duty of the governor, so many factors are considered in concluding, but so far, we believe the governor has done well and has not marginalised the Muslims in the state. Many appointments would still be done and more Muslims would be appointed.
“Our advice is that more Muslims should be involved in politics rather than staying away from it under the guise that it is a dirty game.”