The clamour for the creation of Ibadan State, on Saturday, gained significant momentum, with stakeholders from various sectors coming together to support the initiative.
The show of support reflected at the South West zonal public hearing on the 1999 Constitution Review, which held at Water Cress Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, where traditional rulers, compound heads and other stakeholders from Ibadan, Oyo State, declared their backing for the creation of Ibadan State.
The public hearing provided a platform for the stakeholders to back the lawmaker representing Ibadan North East/South East federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Abass Adigun (Agboworin), on his proposed bill, which he titled: “An Act to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to provide for the creation of Ibadan State with Ibadan as the proposed Capital City and for Related Matters, 2025.”
The proposed Bill also seeks to create Thirty Two (32) Local Government Areas including Ibadan North LGA, Ibadan North East LGA, Ibadan North West LGA, Ibadan South East LGA, Ibadan South West LGA, Ibarapa Central LGA, Ibarapa East LGA, Ibarapa North LGA, Ido LGA, Akinyele LGA, Lagelu LGA, Egbeda LGA, Oluyole LGA, Ona-Ara LGA, Ibarapa North-West LGA, Akorede LGA, Ajorosun LGA.
Others are: Inukan LGA, Omi-Apata LGA, Oke-Badan LGA, Ibadan West LGA, Ibadan South LGA, Ibadan East LGA, Lagelu West, LGA, Lagelu North LGA, Aare Latosa LGA, Irepodun LGA, Akinyele South LGA, Akinyele East LGA, Ayelogun LGA, Apete LGA and Ibarapa North East LGA.
Agboworin is championing the course for the creation of the new state and local government areas.
Speaking at the zonal public hearing, the lawmaker declared pointedly that the new state, if created, had enouh human and capital resources to stand and compete with other thriving states in the country.
The two-term lawmaker, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Narcotic Drugs, believes that the creation of Ibadan State would promote national development, justice, and federal balance.
According to him, the creation of Ibadan State, apart from having a significant impact on the socio-economic and political landscape of the region, it would also enable the city to have more control over its affairs, make decisions that benefit its people, and unlock its economic potentials.
One of the representatives of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade, who made a presentation during the technical session at the hearing, expressed that Ibadan has all it takes to stand as a state.
He argued that the creation of Ibadan State was long overdue, saying that the population of the people in Ibadan, which he put at 4.2million, tripled that of other states, even as he noted that Ibadan alone has a land mass of 28,454 square kilometres.
“Ibadaland is the capital of Old Oyo State. Ibadanland is the current capital of Oyo state. If we dont have a state of our own, I think it is an injustice. So, we are requesting that Ibadan State is carved out of Oyo State.
“We have 11 local government areas in Ibadan. If the new Ibadan State is created today, we are 4.2million people. It is only Ibadan that has the highest number of research Institutes in this country.
“Ibadan has a rich history, cultural heritage, and economic potential that would enable it to thrive as a state. We believe that the creation of Ibadan State would unlock the potential of the city and its environs, leading to accelerated development and growth of the state,” he stated.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Niyi Akintola, who also presented a seperate memorandum at the event, noted that Ibadan, which is the largest state in the West Africa, has been left in the cold since 1967.
Speaking further, he stressed that Ibadanland has remained the capital of Yoruba nation and should not continue to be deprived to have a state of its own.
“So, I just want to say that in terms of land capacity, resources, we have all in Ibadan. Also, 93.7 per cent of all the resources of internally generated revenue IGR are from Ibadan,” he added.
The stakeholders’ support for the creation of Ibadan State is a testament to the growing consensus by critical stakeholders within Ibadan on the need for the new state.
While Agboworin’s stance on the issue has been instrumental in galvanizing support for the creation of Ibadan State, his efforts have brought together traditional rulers, Civil Society Organisations, and other stakeholders, demonstrating the broad-based support for the initiative.
With Rep. Agboworin at the helm of the advocacy, it is likely that the initiative would continue to gain traction, paving the way for the creation of Ibadan State.
The Mogajis at the event include Baale Ayorinde (Ekotedo) from Ibadan North West LG; Prof. Mogaji Abiodun Musa from Ibadan South West LG; Mogaji Sunday Akanbi, from Ido LG, Mogaji Abass Oloko, from Ibadan South East LG; Mogaji Olasomi Ademola, from Ibadan South East LG; Mogaji Waidi Ajobo, from Ibadan North LG and Mogaji Olasupo Ibrahim, from Ibadan North East LG.
Others who represented the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) were Mogaji Abayomi Gbadamosi, Mogaji Onigba; Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade, Mogaji Onilari; Second Assistant Secretary General, CCII, Chief Suleiman Iyanda Raufu.
Responding, the House of Representatives Deputy Chief Whip, and Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review, Dr Ibrahim Isiaka, assured stakeholders that the National Assembly would look into the demands.
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