A new book that tells the definitive history of Osun State, from its creation in 1991 to the end of Rauf Aregbesola’s administration in 2018, is set to be launched on 27 August, the same day the state celebrates its 32nd anniversary.
The book, titled “Courage & Character: The Definitive History of Osun State”, is written by The Erudio Alphabet Company, a publishing outfit that specialises in documenting the stories of people and places. The book is a 460-page coffee table book that features rich narratives, photographs, and facts about the state and its people.
The book is dedicated to “The Omoluabi of Osun” described as “brave hearts, unrelentingly optimistic, and flinty in their determination” and “to the abiding memory of the first executive governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke”.
The book has a foreword by President Muhammadu Buhari and a preface by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the immediate past governor of the state. The book is divided into four parts, covering the story of Abdulsalami Agbaje, an Ibadan high chief who was instrumental in creating the Oshun Division in the 1940s; the struggle for state creation and the role of various groups and individuals; the highlights of each state administrator or governor from Col Leo Ajiborisha to Rauf Aregbesola; and the achievements and challenges of each administration.
According to Temitope Lakisokun, the CEO of Erudio Alphabet, “the Osun story is essentially about a people’s rejection of subjugation and oppression; their quest for independence and sovereignty, and the struggle for survival and relevance.”
The book is expected to be a valuable resource for students, researchers, historians, journalists, and anyone interested in learning more about Osun State and its people. The book is also part of a trilogy that will cover other aspects of the state’s culture, economy, and development.
The book will be available for purchase at major bookstores and online platforms from 27 August.