Osun State entered the Nigerian federation on 27 August 1991 following the nationwide restructuring exercise carried out by the Federal Military Government under General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. This new state was carved from the old Oyo State, creating the need for an independent administrative system that could begin functioning immediately. Colonel Leo Segun Ajiborisha became the pioneer Military Administrator entrusted with guiding this newly created state through its earliest months and preparing it for civilian leadership. His brief tenure marked a transitional phase that linked the moment of state creation to the first democratically elected government of Osun State.
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The Creation of Osun State
The announcement of Osun State’s creation formed part of the Federal Government’s effort to decentralise administration and improve regional representation. Towns and communities that had previously been under the political and administrative authority of Ibadan now required their own governmental machinery and institutional foundation. The creation was formalised in the Official Gazette issued on 27 August 1991. It was at this point that Colonel Ajiborisha assumed responsibility as the officer appointed to set the administrative groundwork of the new state.
Ajiborisha’s Appointment and Tenure
Colonel Leo Segun Ajiborisha assumed office as the first Military Administrator immediately after Osun State was established. His tenure ran from 27 August 1991 to early January 1992, concluding with the formal handover to the first elected governor, Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. The electoral process took place under the National Electoral Commission as part of the planned transition to the Third Republic. Ajiborisha’s tenure therefore functioned as a bridge between military administration and the return to civilian rule in the new state.
Foundational Structures Established Under His Administration
Given the brief period in which he served, only a limited number of administrative actions are officially recorded. However, these documented steps proved indispensable in shaping the early functionality of Osun State.
The Osun State Civil Service Commission
One of the earliest institutional frameworks established during this period was the Osun State Civil Service Commission, inaugurated on 30 September 1991. The Commission became responsible for recruitment, regulation and development of the state’s civil service workforce. Its establishment was a necessary step in enabling Osun State to function as an independent administrative unit separate from Oyo State.
The Osun State Broadcasting Corporation
The administration also oversaw the establishment of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation. The state’s radio station reportedly began transmission on 25 November 1991. This development was significant because it provided an official medium for disseminating government information, promoting public awareness and supporting communication between the government and the people of Osun State.
The Transition to Civilian Rule
The period between August 1991 and January 1992 was marked by nationwide preparations for the transition to democratic governance. Ajiborisha’s duty was to ensure that Osun State was administratively ready to participate in the scheduled elections and to function effectively once a civilian government took office. The successful governorship election that followed led to the emergence of Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke as the first elected governor of Osun State. On 2 January 1992, Ajiborisha formally handed over authority, marking the conclusion of his assignment and the beginning of democratic administration in the state.
Public Service After Osun State
Following his handover, Ajiborisha returned to military and public service. He went on to hold senior positions including Director of Operations at the Defence Headquarters and later served as Principal Staff Officer to the Head of State during the late 1990s. His name also appeared in national discussions in the 2000s when he was cleared of allegations related to oil block allocations. He was recorded as serving as President of the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria, in 2010. These verified positions highlight a continued involvement in national service after his foundational work in Osun State.
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Legacy of a Foundational Administrator
Colonel Ajiborisha’s contribution to Osun State remains linked to the formative moment of its creation. Although his tenure was brief, it was historically significant. He guided the new state through the earliest administrative steps, supported the establishment of essential institutions and ensured a smooth transition to civilian rule. His role represents a specific and important phase in the state’s early development, marking him as a central figure in Osun State’s origin story.
Author’s Note
The formation of Osun State in 1991 stands as a defining moment in its history and Colonel Leo Segun Ajiborisha played a key role in guiding that transition. His administration established foundational structures, including the civil service framework and broadcasting corporation, and managed the shift into democratic leadership. His legacy rests in his contribution to the birth of Osun State and the smooth transition that followed.
References
Federal Government of Nigeria. Official Gazette on the Creation of States. 27 August 1991.
Osun State Government Archives. Records of the Inaugural Administration. 1991 to 1992.
National Electoral Commission. Transition to Civil Rule Programme Reports. 1991 to 1992.
Public biographical records summarising Ajiborisha’s military and administrative service.
