Reputed for his unsparing remarks when and where inevitable, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun has made a public appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging the immediate release of the withheld Local Government allocations meant for Osun State.
At the grand finale of the Osun Osogbo Festival 2025 inside the historic Osun grove in Osogbo, the monarch alerted that the ongoing financial blockade is hindering development, destabilizing grassroots governance, and inflicting hardship on ordinary citizens across all 30 local government areas.
Despite an Appeal Court sitting in Akure has issued two separate judgments, over five months LG allocation is been withheld. With these rulings, Osun State has been denied access to federal allocations for all 30 Local Government Areas for over five months—crippling service delivery, infrastructure projects, and livelihoods throughout the state.
Oba Olanipekun emphasized that the state should not be singled out for politically motivated punishment under a democratic government and also noted that the hardship affects citizens across party lines and all communities in the state.
“This is not about politics; this is about people. The suffering is real, the hardship visible, and the delay unjustifiable. Osun must not be punished while other states receive their constitutional entitlements,” he declared.
The Ataoja noted the irony that President Tinubu himself was once a victim of similar injustice during his two-term governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007.
He recalled, “Mr. President experienced this very injustice in Lagos. It was condemned then, and it must be condemned now. History must not repeat itself under your watch.”
Oba Olanipekun praised Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s achievements despite adversity, pointing to road projects, community initiatives, and pro-people governance as evidence of what can be accomplished when states receive proper funding.
“The progress Governor Adeleke is making is unparalleled, yet this momentum is being stifled by a politically motivated financial blockade. If Osun receives its rightful funds, we will continue to grow—and we will remember who stood by us.”
The traditional ruler declared that the people of Osun, led by their traditional rulers, are prepared to deliver massive electoral support for President Tinubu in 2027, provided justice is done now.
“We will deliver over one million votes, but only if fairness prevails. Let governance, not politics, guide this administration’s decisions.”
He called on the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers to lead an official delegation to Abuja to present the united voice of the Osun people.
“We are ready to speak truth to power. Osun is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, but that hope must be real for our people. Enough is enough.”
The Ataoja concluded by expressing gratitude to development partners, cultural stakeholders, and visitors—both local and international—for supporting Osun in preserving its heritage and advocating for economic justice.
The festival, which started on July 28, as usual witnessed a large traffic of tourists from different religious backgrounds, all reveling in the mood of the occasion where drummers, chanters, singers and other cultural personalities converged.
While all important features of the festival were recorded, an oddity was, however, spotted in the new Arugba, the votary maid, accompanied to the grove without bearing the sacred calabash.
TheTabloid.net gathered that the nine-year-old Osunbunmi was saved of the physicality required to perform that task, a walk that cover over a kilometre distance from the Osun House in the Ataoja’s Palace.
Aside Osun State Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi who represented Adeleke, other important personalities inside the grove included Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Abiodun Ojo. The Araba Awo of Osogbo, Ifayemi Elebuibon, another Ifa Priest, Chief Ifagbenusola Atanda, the Asiwaju of Osogbo, Retd Kunle Adeigbe, Aare Ona Kakanfo Gani Adams, Founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief Nike Okudaye and other dignitaries also attended the grand finale.
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