The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Osogbo

  • 75-year -old man burnt to death in Osogbo

    75-year -old man burnt to death in Osogbo

    A  75-year-old man, Lamina Ishola, has been burnt to death by a fire that engulfed his house at Isale-Aro street in Osogbo, the Osun State capital. An eyewitness account stated that the fire started at 9:00pm last Thursday, when Ishola was asleep inside his mud house.

    Thick flame was said to have been noticed coming  out of one of the rooms by the neighbours, who attempted to save the life of the deceased without any luck. They were said to have made frantic efforts to put off the fire before fire fighters arrived the scene of the incident. But the victim, father of a ten-year-old boy and a seven-year old girl, got burnt to death before help could reach him.

    The deceased’s 71-year-old younger brother, Ademola Oseni, said the fire broke out when Ishola mistakenly fell on a locally made kerosene-powered lantern. He disclosed that someone had bought the lantern for Ishola after the Power Holding Company of Nigeria disconnected electricity supply to his house when he could not pay his bill.

    According to him, Ishola has not been in good mental condition following an injury he sustained in an auto accident. The victim’s remains had been buried early Friday at the Isale Aro family compound according to Islamic rites.

     

  • Osogbo looks forward to another day of uncommon feast

    Osogbo looks forward to another day of uncommon feast

    The large expanse of Tunde Badmus’ compound at Government Reservation Area, Osogbo, Osun State reminds you of the fabled ‘Paradise City’ in James Hadley Chase. The GRA is where the affluent in the city resides. Like Paradise City, you only see the affluent drive in and out of the area. Gbenga Aderanti reports.

    But come next January, the barrier would be broken as the compound hosts the less-privilege and  the affluent in the town as they feast and dine under same umbrella..

    The only time one sees the retinue of the not so rich is the festive season when the Asiwaju  Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamis Tunde Badmus opens the door of his house for the less-privileged. That is a time for them to have unfettering access to the mansion of the Badmus’, whom majority prefers to refer to as ‘Tuns’.

    Since  another festive season is here again;  most of these ‘August visitors’ are already  looking forward to January when they would have an opportunity to dine  and mingle with other men and women of the ‘higher class’ without any hindrance.

    The gifts being distributed right now are in preparation for the grand finale which is hosting the less-privilege, which comes up in January.

    Known to be a festive season usually celebrated by Christians, it does not make any difference to Badmus. Even though he is a Muslim and the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, he is not bothered. He mixes freely by celebrating Christmas and the New Year like any other Christian. He proves his open and tolerant nature to people of other religion by hosting not only his close friends but other people from all walks of life.

     Like he has done in the past, Badmus will on January open the gate of his big compound to the less-privileged. The occasion always avail them the opportunity of not only seeing him personally but also hob- knobbing  with other men and women of high standing in the society.

     During the last Eid- el- Kabir, aside food and drinks, the ‘August visitors’ were also treated to music from different musical groups in the town.

    Millions of naira was spent for the needy during the last festive season, aside the food and other gifts they received from Badmus.

     Speaking during the event, Muhammed, who has been crippled from birth was full of praises for Badmus. He confessed to always looking forward to the festive seasons when he would have the opportunity to meet with people who ordinarily he would not have access to. “I have been coming here for the past three years, and I always look forward to festive season.”

     For 52 year-old widow, Taibat, Badmus is God-sent to the less-privileged. The woman who came with her two daughters said words could not express her feelings. “To me and my family, we always look forward to the festive season. It is the time we have the best of times, as we have unfettering access into his house”, she told the reporter.

     Suraju was one of the beneficiaries during the last Eid- el-Kabir celebration was struck by polio when he was young and now depends on crutches to walk. He was quick to add that Tuns’, uncommon generosity that is worthy of emulation.”

     Explaining the reason why he prefers to host the less-privileged during the festive season, Badmus asserted that the less-privileged in the society should not be left unattended to, saying that they should be made to feel the impact of the festive season. “As long as Sallah is ongoing, no family should go to bed with empty stomach,” he affirmed.

    The daily distribution of gifts by the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamis Badmus has been described as a worthwhile gesture by many who have been privileged to attend the ceremony.

     Reports had it that last year December, hundreds of truck loads of chicken, gizzard, Semovita, bottled water, loaves of bread were given out as Xmas gifts to the different class of people in the society. Beneficiaries range from Christian associations, government officials and individuals.

    Speaking, Mr Dawood Ajetunmobi, an aide to Badmus, said;  “What he did  last December is going to be replicated this December.”

  • Man electrocuted in Osogbo

    A father of five living at Ilesa Motor Park area of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, was electrocuted yesterday.

    The victim, simply identified as Majoko, was always helping residents to reconnect their cables whenever officials of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) disconnect them from the pole.

    Majoko, sources said, would, sometimes, take permission from PHCN before reconnecting the cables.

    But luck was not on his side yesterday, as PHCN restored light to the area while he was on top of the pole.

    It was gathered that Majoko, a fridge repairer, was invited by residents to connect a cable that was said to be overlapping at Zone C, Road 7, in Ago Ayo.

    Eyewitnesses said the late Mojoko had directed his wife to get him his glove but climbed the pole before she returned.

    His body was brought down by sympathisers, who rushed him to hospital. But he died a few hours after he was rejected by the hospital.

    Confirming the incident, PHCN Osogbo Region, Public Relations Officer, Miss Nike Owoeye, advised people to report every electrical fault to the PHCN.

  • Osogbo hosts bee keepers’ confab Nov. 9

    The Centre for Bee Research & Development (CEBRAD) is organising a three-day conference for key players in the apicultural business under the theme, “Maximising apicultural potential as a way forward to oil dependent economy in Nigeria”.

    The conference, the second Biennial Nigerian Beekeeping Conference, tagged, NIBEECON 2015, is aimed at providing updates of advances in all aspects of beekeeping and develop strategies for reaping success from this industry in the areas of dissemination of research findings, latest beekeeping technology, globalisation and trade issues as a better alternative to monolithic oil dependent economy.

    The event will hold on November 9, through at Brymor Hotels Ltd, Ilobu Road, Osogbo, capital of Osun State.

    According to the Director of the Centre, Mr. Bidemi Ojeleye, the conference is a major event in the beekeeping calendar and the nation’s biggest national beekeeping event because it will attract people from the hobbyist to the commercial beekeepers, MDAs relevant to beekeeping and economic activities of the nation, development programs workers, trainers and extension workers as well as parkers of beekeeping products, equipment fabricators, apitherapists, entomologists and academics, farmers, journalists, students and other interested members of the public.

  • Pensioners’ forum in Osogbo

    Pensioners’ forum in Osogbo

    A pension fund administrator, Oak Pensions Limited, is organising a special interactive session with its account holders in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    A statement by the company’s Southwest zonal head, Kayode Labade, said the interface would hold tomorrow at the NUT House, Iwo Road.

    Labade said: “All issues relating to easy access to individual retirement saving accounts, expert advice on wise investment would be addressed at the meeting. We enjoin all account holders to participate in this parley.”

     

  • Award for late engineer

    Award for late engineer

    The Osogbo Progressive Union will confer a post-humous award on the late Mrs. Comfort Olufunke Ponnle on November 22 at the City Hall, Olonkoro, Osogbo, at 11am.

    Mrs. Ponnle would have turned 70 that day.

    In a letter to the widower, Prince Tunde Ponnle, the union said the deceased contributed to Osogbo’s development and deserved to be specially recognised.

    The late Mrs. Ponnle, daughter of the late Bara of Osogbo, Pa Salami Balogun, served twice as chairperson of the town’s Oroki Day celebrations.

    The union said she facilitated the building of a school block in Oke Baale and always celebrated Christmas with physically challenged pupils.

    “We are also aware that she was the spirit behind the MicCom Foundation for Educational Development (MFED), a scholarship scheme that has been on for some 25 years,” the union said.

  • Osogbo gets chief imam

    Osogbo gets chief imam

    Sheik Musa Animashaun was installed yesterday as the 17th Chief Imam of Osogbo.

    The ceremony was attended by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Asiwaju Musulumi in Yorubaland, Alhaji Tunde Badmus and other Muslim leaders.

    The 78-year-old cleric succeeded Sheik Mustapha Ajisafe, who died on September 8.

    Speaking at the ceremony also attended by members of the League of Imams and Alfas in the Southwest, the Chief Imam of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdul-Ganiyu Oladosu, urged the federal, state and local governments to correct the imbalance against Muslims in appointments into public offices.

    He called on all citizens to learn to live together in peace and harmony.

    “We all hope today that as Muslims and Christians, we will work together for a United States of Nigeria, which has been the dream of our founding fathers.

    “And since God did not create humans to belong to one religion, everybody must respect the beliefs of others.”

    Badmus urged Muslims, Christians and traditionalists to work together for the nation’s development.

  • Photo: Farewell to Saudi

    Photo: Farewell to Saudi

  • Fake DSS operative returns to Osogbo court Sept 12

    Fake DSS operative returns to Osogbo court Sept 12

    •Ex-Ilesa West council chair arraigned

    The charge of impersonation against a young man, Victor Aladegbolu, will come before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for hearing on September 12.

    Aladegbolu, 22, was accused of parading himself as an operative of the Department of State Security (DSS) during the last Osun State governorship poll.

    The court, last week, ordered that the accused person be remanded in Ilesa prison custody till the adjourned date.

    The prosecutor, Mr. Biodun Badiora, told the court that the accused person conspired with others now at large to commit the offence on August 9, 2014 at about 12:00 p.m at City Hall, Ile-Ife.

    Badiora said the accused person, with others, was caught wearing a T-shirt with an inscription of Police logo in the front and DSS at the back, claiming to be DSS officers.

    He was apprehended by police officers.

    He alleged that the accused person disrupted the conduct of the August 9 election in Ile-Ife and its environs.

    He said the offence committed by the accused person was contrary to and punishable under Sections 517 and 109 of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol.11 Laws of Osun State, 2003.

    Badiora, announcing his appearance, said the state’s Attorney General was taking over the matter from the police to ensure diligent prosecution.

    Defence counsel Nnenna Ngwu did not object to the application by the state to take over prosecution.

    She said the court had been saved the rigour of stretched trial with the suspect pleading guilty to the two-count charges against him.

    The Magistrate, Mr. Olusola Aluko, who rejected the bail application for the suspect, urged defence counsel to apply for bail formally.

    He also ordered that the accused person be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter

    Aladegbolu, who was initially held in police custody before the poll, was released and later re-arrested.

    Both the state government and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had before and during the election raised the alarm over the presence of hoodlums impersonating men of the Nigerian Army, the Police, DSS and other security agencies.

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, last Wednesday, said  the election was nearly rigged and condemned the presence of hooded security agents.

    Also arraigned by the police was a former Chairman of Ilesa West Local Government, Mr. Ibukun Fadipe, who allegedly attacked APC members.

    Fadipe was last Thursday arraigned over a case of attack on some people in Ilesa in 2009.

    The former chairman, who appeared before Chief Magistrate A.O. Ijiyode, was accused of assaulting Alhaja Mulikat Odeyemi and others as well as damaging the speakers and engine of Isokun Social Elite Club in Ilesa on May 28, 2009.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The defence counsel, Oluwaseun Ajoba, urged the court to dismiss the case as all the complainants who were victims of the assault were in court, saying they had withdrawn the case.

    The prosecuting counsel, Promise Akanwa, opposed the move as he said the proper procedure was for the counsel to apply for bail.

    After much argument, counsel to the accused pleaded for bail, Fadipe could not jump bail as he was an immediate past council chairman.

    Ajoba argued that all the complainants, who were direct victims of the alleged assault, could stand as surety for the accused.

    The Chief Magistrate thereafter granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 and two sureties, who must be residents in Ilesa.

  • Low-key Osun Osogbo Festival

    Low-key Osun Osogbo Festival

    OSUN Osogbo, the annual festival for the worship and honour  of the Osun deity by devotees, is among the biggest tourism gatherings the country. It is a local festival that enjoys large international appeal. The lure of this festival, to many from within and outside the country, is both physical and spiritual.

    Within the realm of the physical, the gaiety, colour and revelry with which the festival is celebrated are what they enjoy. The feeling of being part of traditional rites that date back to more than 800 years is an added attraction to many.

    Spiritually, many come to the bank of the Osun River in search of spiritual solution to one ailment or the other. Even though the festival is marked for about three weeks, the focus is normally on the grand finale.

    Probably, there has never been a year in which hosting the festival has been as challenging as this year’s edition. The huge crowd that used to be a focal point in the celebration became a source of discomfort. This is as a result of the viral infection that the West Africa sub-region is currently battling with, the Ebola virus.

    This year was no key because of the state government’s effort to discourage the influx of people from within and outside the country.  Among the measures put in place is the issue of crowd control to minimize unhealthy contacts and consequent risks of contracting the dreaded Ebola(EVD).  It was obvious that while there was not outright ban of people travelling to Osun State for once,  Osogbo was not over enthusiastic to welcome visitors.

    The festival committee was also forced to issue a statement on how visitors and locals were to comport themselves for the festival. Committee said: “We all know that the OsunOsogbo Festival prides itself on being a festival that has been celebrated consistently since 1370 AD without any default. Even, when the presentation of the 2010 edition of the festival coincided with when the immediate Ataoja of Osogbo, the late Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi III joined his forefathers on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, the presentation of the 2010 Osun Osogbo Festival still held on Friday, August 27, 2010. Hence it is a festival that has withstood several challenges and will still withstand challenges even in the face of the current outbreak of Ebola in Lagos State. To this end, we want to implore each and every one of us to ensure that we moderate our reception of our visitors, either  from overseas and most especially from other states within Nigeria, where cases of this deadly disease are being managed. Also, we the organisers of the festival are in total support of the state government’s crowd control measures being put in place to minimize the risks of the spread of this disease during the Osun Osogbo Grand Finale coming up on Friday, August 22, 2014 (yesterday).”

    The festival’s consultant, Infogem Ltd, through its CEO, Mr. Ayo Olumoko, was also quick to point out that even though certain preventive measures were put in place to control crowd, including  having viewing centres, this year’s festival was still a success as these measures only affected the grand finale, which was yesterday. He was quick to point out that other activities of the festival had all been done with great success.

    For those unfamiliar with the festival, the grand finale involves the votary maiden, Arugba, taking off from the palace area carrying the calabash that contains sacrificial items and covered with cloth. Amidst celebratory atmosphere, she makes her way to the bank of the Osun River, inside the Osun grove. According to the tradition of the Osogbo people, the collective success and failure of the people of Osogbo in the next one year are predicated on the ability of the Arugba to successfully carry the sacrificial items to the Osun River. She must not stumble, she must not fall, and neither should the calabash. Based on the importance of the work of the maiden, a protective cordon is made round her as she makes her way to the river making stops at certain points along the way to acknowledge some personalities and families, according to the tradition, until she finally completes her assignment inside the old palace of the founder of Osogbo town in the grove.

    It is easy for one to dismiss the Osun Osogbo festival as a kind of predictable annual ritual.  But part of the allure of the festival is that each year, the celebration has its peculiarities which make it unique and both indigenes and Osun devotees would not miss it.

    In the 2010 edition of the festival, there was an empty throne, a crown without a head to wear it and no king to deliver a goodwill speech to the mammoth crowd that thronged the grove. This year was different. The state itself has seen a change in the baton of leadership.

    The ceremony, colour and festivity attached to the festival, according to Osun devotees,  has to do the deity  Osun. Osun and everything attached to it constitute part of the culture  of Osogbo and form the archetype of the people. Osun is largely regarded as to be the goddess  of fertility , divine favour, healing, protection and prosperity. Although Osogbo is the home of Osun, the deity is worshipped throughout Yorubaland and in the Diaspora. This makes this festival unique. It is to reverberate all through the land where Osun is worshipped.

    The town Osogbo basks in the popularity of the festival. It  has grown phenomenally on account of Osun. The creativity of the inspired by Osun made Osogbo a centre of arts where indigenous, but whole renowned artists emerged. It also attracted arts scholars from all over the world to the city. This truly is a heritage that we should nurture and treasure.