Ismaeel Uthman
A former military administrator of the State of Osun, Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (rtd) has described the people of the state as vibrant, intelligent, making the state to be very difficult to govern.
According to Bangboye, who ruled the state between August 1998 and May 29, 1999, Osun is a complex society with every zone of the state demanding equal development.
Bamigboye spoke in a telephone interview on Tuesday in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the state’s creation.
He said: “I am feeling good and I want to congratulate the government and good people of Osun on the 30th anniversary of the State. I am glad that I am part of the history. Osun went through me and I went through Osun.
“For our birthday, 30 years is no joke and I pray that Osun and her good people continue to enjoy peace and progress.”
Speaking on his experience in governing the state, Bamigboye said: “I must confess, it was a complex situation because a lot of things happened but I faced everything with prayers. To govern Osun state is not an easy thing. It is a complex society.
“Osun people are very vibrant, intelligent and all the segments are looking forward to equal development. That is some of my experience and it was on like that throughout my stay in Osun State.
“I was being told then by the people that ‘look, we struggle for the creation of Osun State together, so the dividend should be spread across the entire state’. It was good but honestly, it was not easy. We thank God we are able to do the little bit that we did.”
Bamigboye shared his experience on how he was able to restore peace and brought to an end the Ife/ Modake war, attributing his success to God and determination to succeed.
“It is by the grace of God and the power of prayer and my determination to succeed because from the moment the announcement came up that I am being moved from Bauchi to Osun State, people are calling and wishing me well because of the problem around Ife/Modakeke then. I thank God that we were able to do our bit then.
“When I resumed on August 12, 1998, I listened very well to the people of Osun and they were all asking me to do something about Ife/Modakeke issue. We were able to restore peace right from January 2, 1999, killings and arsons stopped and I was happy. So, we thank God for our little achievement and I pray that peace will continue to reign in Ife/Modakeke in particular.
“Call me a prayer warrior. I pray fervently for God to assist and put me through because it was a big task and I say well, people have been trying their best before me and here I am now, God lead me and show me the way.
“I was happy when I was able to bring together the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Francis Adedoyin. We spoke and prayed and we were able to achieve something. Thereafter, we started enjoying peace and good atmosphere in Ife/Modakeke axis.
