FEATURE: Osun In 2015

Aregbesola’s Victory at Election Petition Tribunal
The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal headed by Justice Elizabeth Ipejime on 6th of February, 2015 declared, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the August 2014 governorship election in the state.
Aregbesola defeated Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyiola Omisore in a keenly contested election. Aregbesola defeated Omisore with a margin of about 100,000 votes. Aregbesola scored 392, 284 votes to the 292, 742 ballots that Omisore got. Omisore however decided to contest the results at the tribunal.
When Justice Elizabeth Ipejime read out her verdict both candidates were absent in court. The matter went through Appeal Court and Supreme Court where Aregbesola’s election was upheld.
Judge petition against Aregbesola
The Osun State House of Assembly on 5th August, 2015 dismissed the petition by Justice Folahanmi Oloyede seeking for the impeachment of the State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, following the recommendation of the 7-man ad-hoc committee set up to investigate the petition.
The lawmakers said that the petition should be dismissed because the petitioner abandoned her claims by refusing to appear before the ad-hoc committee to substantiate the various allegations levelled against the Governor and the Deputy Governor of Osun State in her petition.
On June 23, 2015, the Osun State House of Assembly received a petition from Justice Folahanmi Oloyede, urging the House to investigate Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, Titi Laoye Tomori for misappropriation of state funds. Thereafter, the House constituted a 7-man ad-hoc committee with a mandate of two weeks to investigate the allegations levelled against the Governor.
Death of 50th Ooni Okunade Sijuwade
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubose II, is dead. He was 85 years old. The foremost Oba died in London at about 7:30pm on Sunday July 28th. The Ooni was rushed to London on Friday July 24, and was taken from Heathrow Airport in an Ambulance to the clinic where he passed on four days later.
New Ooni of Ife
During the year, the Osun State Government unveiled a new Ooni of Ife. He is Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, a 41-year old real estate magnate and prince from the Giesi Ruling House in the town. He became the 51st Ooni of Ife. The Secretary to the Osun State Government said the selection of the new Ooni followed the completion of all processes for the filling of the exalted stool.
Then Prince Ogunwusi was selected from 21 candidates presented by the Giesi ruling house for the exalted stool. The statement, made available to newsmen on October 26, 2015 said, “The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has approved the appointment of a new Ooni of Ife.
“He is Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi of Giesi Ruling House of Ile-Ife, State of Osun. This choice follows the completion of the due process by the kingmakers and the communication of their decision to Government.” The announcement of a new traditional ruler for the ancient town came 89 days after the death of Oba Okunade Sijuwade at a London clinic.
Ogunwusi receives crown
Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II on November, 24, 2015 was crowned with the traditional Ade-Are as the 51st Ooni to preside over the affairs of Ife Kingdom. The crowning confirmed him as substantive Ooni as against an Ooni-elect which he had been until his seclusion in Ilofi.
Oba Ogunwusi was presented with the crown by the custodians at a place called Oke-Ora located between Ile-Ife and Osu on Ilesa Road, Osun State. The monarch, who appeared in public for the first time after spending about 21 days in seclusion, was accompanied by indigenes of the town and members of Isoro cult.
New Oluwo appointed
The joy of indigenes and residents of Iwo land knew no bounds on Monday, 9th of November following the approval of the appointment of Prince Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi of the Gbaase ruling house of Iwo as the new Oluwo of Iwoland by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
The letter of appointment of the new monarch for Iwoland dated 9th of November, 2015 was signed by the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti.
Osun Names School After Soyinka
Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola on 23rd November, 2015 inaugurated the N750 million Wole Soyinka Government High School in Ejigbo, Osun State. The school is a 3,000-capacity complex with 72 classrooms of 49 square-metres, each capable of sitting 49 pupils. It has six offices for study groups.
It is equipped with six laboratories, 18 toilets for girls and 18 for boys, one science library, one arts library, facility manager’s office, a bookshop and a sick bay. Soyinka praised Aregbesola, saying he was elated that such honour was bestowed on him. He pledged to visit the school often to see how it was faring.
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