OSU SONS AND DAUGHTERS PREPARE FOR 45TH EDITION OF IYO-OSU DAY.... OGUNBEKU, OCDC OUTGOING NATIONAL PRESIDENT GIVES ACCOUNT OF STEWARDSHIP IN THE LAST 6 YEARS

The grand finale of this year’s IYO-OSU Day, organised by  Osu Community Development Council (OCDC), holds at Atakumosa High School Field on Saturday 11th November, 2023.

The event, billed to start by 11am, will be graced by Osu sons and daughters from across the world.

HRM Oba Jethro Adegoke Adejola Aderintola II, Olosu of Osu, is expected to lead other notable traditional rulers, the Olosu in Council and dignitaries to the occasion that will also feature launching of a N100 Million Development Appeal Fund where Hon. Ibukun Fadipe, Chairman Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) will be  the Chief Launcher.

The Odun lyo-Osu Day Celebration, instituted in 1978 during the reign of Late Oba Omolade Adeyokunnu, the then Olosu of Osu to serve as a rallying point for all Osu indigenes in their bid to build up Osu Town so that it can take its rightful place among all the towns in ljeshaland in particular and in Yorubaland in general.

Historical, "Iyo" the Yoruba name for "Salt" played a prominent role in the founding of Osu town and has since then become the people's "Symbol of unity".

KAKAKIOODUA recently had a chat with the outgoing National Chairman of OCDC, the Very Rev. Dr. Biodun Ogunbeku in Osu town where he intimated our correspondent with the interventions of the OCDC executive committee under his watch that will be stepping down officially on the eve of this year’s Osu day precisely, on the 10th of November, 2023 which is the 45th anniversary of Osu day.

"Our first collective decision as OCDC excos was to Renovate, Rehabilitate and Reconstruct our legacy projects which are the Town hall and burnt palace. 

"We first had to settle for carrying out the majority decision of ensuring that the palace remains where it was earlier sited before the fire outbreak. We knew it will be expensive because the site is on a water way! We had to come to the fact that historical considerations far outweighs the economic impact. The exco therefore settled for the construction of a raft foundation which luckily had been incorporated into the architectural design freely prepared by Arc. Kunle Oyedola. 

"We took a holistic look at the flood channel from the town hall plots to the garage and with the technical inputs and advice from our project committee ably coordinated by Chief Femi Olanipekun, we decided to construct a gutter on the main road and linking the palace ground with same gutter on the main road. We succeeded in directing 80% of water away from the town hall and the palace ground. We ended the first year’s rehabilitation work on the legacy projects with the official foundation laying ceremony of the palace by the Olosu ably supported by his High Chiefs.

"Part of our legacy projects are the Ministry, Department and Agencies sited in Osu. 

"We renovated the Comprehensive Health Centre along Iloba road and called the government attention to the depletion of men and materials of the facility. We succeeded a little bit on the operationalisation of the facility but government could not sustain the tempo! 

"The Ward 1 primary health care centre which was located outside of Osu was brought back because we renovated part of the old garri processing factory (which was also a legacy project of the old Egbe Atunluse before it was taken over by the local government). 

"We improved the quality of odun iyo/Osu day celebrations with enhanced participation of many Osu sons and daughters as well as settlers. 

"We cleared the bush within the permanent site of the Technical college and renovated 2 blocks of classroom for immediate use of the teachers and the students. We also paid for about 30 students so that the school would not be closed because as at the time of our intervention, there were about 9 teachers and 7 students! 

"We also had to do further rehabilitation of the proposed Magistrate court to accommodate the police children school when we were threatened with closure of the school. 

"Our relationships with the immediate past Chairman of SUBEB yielded the dividends of the complete rehabilitation and renovation of Osu community grammar school. 

"Our activities were felt through the support of willing and dedicated donors during the COVID-19 pandemic as we provided cash and food gifts/items across all the quarters in Osu. 

"The convenience of the Olosu was also touched with the purchase of Toyota Camry 2010 model during the course of the year 2020. 

"These are the main highlights of our duty calls in the last 6 years. We couldn't have done so much without your sacrificial support and trust! We are more than grateful to all Osu sons and daughters and lovers! " Very Rev. Ogunbeku said

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