The case of Osogbo Technical school land partitioned by the ADELEKE/PDP government of Osun State that is hypocritically tagged with name of LSTC ESTATE is an adopted looting system, by using the State Power. Public Schools land partitioning is not new to Osogbo as a state Capital. Perhaps the intention of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was to develop the state capital genuinely or to use elephant projects for personal gain like what Governor Ademola Adeleke is doing right now. Ogbeni Rauf started partitioning public schools land to create more academic landscape like Osogbo High School while his mistake was the partitioning of Atoaja High School to the advantage of RAT construction company and Fakunle high school for Mall. The bad process started, as Ogbeni Rauf failed on genuine execution of Omoluabi Estate that some individual diverted for personal and commercial gain of some land developers. Ogbeni Rauf failed on school land partitioned, because some that were diverted from primary targets to personal gain of some developers.
Before dabbling into how Ogbeni Started partitioning of public schools land in Osun State, Osogbo Technical school land had been the target of Late Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke when he was the governor of Osun State, before his younger brother now became the governor of the state. The present scenerio of cutting part of Osogbo Technical school today by Governor Ademola Adeleke is the continuity of unsuccessful project of his Late brother who was the first governor of Osun State.
Osogbo Technical school land was donated by 3(three) prominent families, according to history but I perfectly aware of the fact that, Osogbo Technical school land was originated and belonged to Gbeemu Family. When Osun State was created, there was total confusion in Osogbo land, on where to use as Governor’s Office, Governors lodge, State House of Assembly, Government secretariat etc. The Late King Iyiola Oyewale Mantanmi rose to the aid of protecting the integrity bestowed upon Osogbo as the state capital, by providing land for rapid development without any personal demand.or interest. It was then, that Late Governor Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke was shown the building quarters of Osogbo Technical school to be used as temporary agencies quaters for smooth governance in 1992/1993. Recently an attack was raised against a lawyer at that Technical school area, where the Osogbo NBA rose to fight for justice, against the alleged individual who attacked a lawyer during court judgement execution at the part of that land.
If we would not forget that the present Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) was assigned on part of Osogbo Technical school, West African Examination Council (WAEC), Maternity Health Centre and Joint Admission Matrication Board (JAMB) quaters that is existing today as their headquarter in Osun. When got to certain stage, Osun State Capital Territory Office structure is also erected on part of Osogbo Technical school land. The land of Osogbo Technical school is a vast land of multi purpose function for development of government agencies and academic ground, instead of what Governor Ademola Adeleke recently turned to an annex of private gains. Where does academic premises interrelated with private usage that is commercialized?
We all know that, the legacy of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is what Governor Ademola Adeleke embarked upon since November 27th 2022 as the governor of the state is not genuine. Like we raised distress about Ogbeni policies on diverting public land to private function; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s aims maybe genuine but it was eventually twisted by some disgruntled elements under him. A case study was Osogbo Grammar School Land, Ataoja Science School Land at Africa and Abeere Land called Omoluabi Estate.
Osogbo Grammer school land was protected by the former lady, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola, who was an old student of Osogbo Grammer school. Some government officials took back door to encroach onto Osogbo Grammer school land at the back of the school and did a layout of the land and started selling it personally. These crooks used the Certificate Of Occupancy signed by the governor to divert public land to personal business. The outcry of Osogbo Grammer school Alumni saved the land, where that very portion was used for State capital developmental purpose eventually as academic institution called Smarty Technology School. Gratitude to Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola for protecting Osogbo heritage.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola failed Osogbo people by not monitoring the vast land he signed and approved for some developmental purpose, that is now diverted for private usage. Omoluabi Estate was approved to develop Osogbo town as the state capital, likewise Fakunle Comprehensive High School Land was changed to bring development into Osogbo Land. Ataoja school of science was also diverted, where part of the land is reallocated to construction company.
Though all land belongs to the government but how Governor Ademola Adeleke plans to use part of Osogbo Technical school land is not ideal and should not be acceptable by the Osogbo Sons and Daughters and elders of the land. We all remembered how Dr. Deji Adeleke sworn not to have a portion of land at Osogbo due to their collective hatred for Osogbo land. Blabbermouths spread how Ede land was fight boundaries issue from Ede to Osogbo Capital Hotel bridge some decades ago before truth emerged that the land belongs to Osogbo. Claiming land from Ede to Go Oluwa/Old governor’s bridge was another dramatic scenerio of Ede dreamers.
Past government used osogbo Technical school land to improve the institute and government agencies sustainability while the case of Governor Ademola Adeleke is quite contrary to what the land is designed for. The connived system of politicians and senior civil servants, using “C of O'” for self benefit gains should be stopped by Osogbo elders on osogbo land by protecting Osogbo beyond thoughts.
What could have benefited osogbo is by coming up with the school expansion by adding more classes where we can have agricultural training centres, skills, vocational institution or Governor should also bring more agencies to that area but the present government vision is not progressive in any form. Even if the land belongs to the state, must osogbo people home and abroad cross their fingers watching how their land has been diversified for personal interest and commercial infrastructure of Asiwaju Ede gains? No!
This present Osun State government policies execution is centred on personal gain and marginalization of Osogbo as the State capital. Osogbo should recall how this government abandoned Isale Osun projects and embarked on vast road projects in Ede town and suburbs. When releasing the kilometers of roads executed in Ede town successfully and ongoing road projects, the state capital has not experienced half of the project in Osogbo.
During a progressive and communal effort from Hon. Olalekan Badmus to support the government on sub road of project of Isale Osun, the present government scared away the representatives with thugs and bring some PDP leaders to the site on the following day. During the tenure of Senator Ajibola Basiru, he attempted the road project of his father’s land at Iso Ewe road channel and to link its to Asubiaro road major road, similar attacks were raised against the workers of that project. Is it a crime for Osogbo Sons to rise and assist the government on community projects that have been abandoned ?
When this present government under Senator Ademola Adeleke cluelessly abandoned Osogbo farmland roads, he diverted all his strength on white elephant projects that not yet needed in the state Capital. Osogbo became the high cost land on farm products when the roads are so worse and unmotorable for vehicles to roll out farm products.
Land dispute between osogbo and Ede is now a mockery matter against the state capital osogbo. We all know the constitutional support, aside the original and actual land size of Osogbo land that we have been deprived since governor Ademola Adeleke has been elected as the state governor. Osogbo had Baale Oke Pupa of Olokepupa, who was late Chief Alhaji Ajadi Aresa and since his demised, Osogbo has been silent on the next Oloke Pupa of Osogbo Land. Who has betrayed Osogbo on not installing another Oloke Pupa of Oke Pupa?
It is time for all Osogbo elders, sons and daughters to rise and protect osogbo heritage before Mr. Governor Ademola Adeleke uses all his state power to bereaving and deprivation of our right.
Osogbo must rise again.
Rise For Your Right!
Signed
Suurulere Osogbo Local Government
