By Adeyemi Adeleye

The Ogbomoso Valliant Club, a forum of Ogbomoso elders, has advocated the creation of New Oyo State with the capital at Ogbomoso.

Retired Rear Adm. Jacob Ajani, President of the Club, made the call while presenting “A Bill to Provide for the Creation of the New Oyo State” to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, on Saturday on Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate Committee on the Constitution Review on Friday and Saturday conducted public hearings on requests for the review of the constitution across the geo-political zones.

Creation of new states is listed as part of the areas of focus for the public hearing.

Ajani said that Oyo State with approximately land mass of 28, 500 squares kilometres is excessively big, compared to the entire South-East states with about 29,300 square kilometres.

He said there was the need to create New Oyo State to de-populate existing Oyo State and develop the great potential of the proposed state.

“Oyo State alone is about the present South-East of five States. So, if they (South East) can have five states, it is not too much to ask for a New Oyo State with capital in Ogbomoso,” he said.

Ajani said that if Ibadan State was granted and probably Ibarapa, the rest of the local governments in the present Oyo State should form the new Oyo State.

According to him, in the South-West after Lagos, Oyo State is next in terms of population.

He said that the areas making the proposed state have tourist attractions, historical monuments, arable land and several institutions to make it a viable state.

Ajani also said if the proposed New Oyo State was approved, it would have 19 local government areas and, “that is far above what we have in Bayelsa as a state with just eight local governments”.

On why the capital should be in Ogbomoso, Ajani said that Ogbomoso is historically significant and that it is strategically located with a lot of economic activities.

He added that Ogbomoso has population advantage as it is the third most populated city in South-Western Nigeria, after Lagos and Ibadan.

“Also, Ogbomosho has plain land, water resources, four degree-awarding institutions, higher national diploma, and two teaching hospitals, technical colleges, markets and recreation centres,” he added.

Similarly, the Oke-Ogun Development Consultative Forum, presented a memorandum for the creation of Oke-Ogun State from the present Oyo State with the state capital at Agunrege.

Speaking on behalf of the forum, Dr Bimpe Aderonmu, noted that all the socio-cultural and traditional institutions in the 10 local government areas in the area had long been calling for creation of Oke-Ogun from Oyo State.

“We need this so that the government will come nearer to us, it will take care of the marginalisation and our under development,” he said.

Listing the 10 local governments in the proposed state to include Iseyin, Iwajowa, Kajola, Itesiwaju, Saki West, Saki East, Orelope and Irepo, Aderonmu said that the LGAs occupied two-third of the existing arable landmass in Oyo State.

“We have the population and our population covers what is substantial enough to be a state.

“This agitation has become so perennial and it is the oldest existing request for state creation as far as the issue is concerned,” he said.

Corroborating, Dr Seidu Bello, a member of the forum, added, “Oke-Ogun is a clearly defined geographical area and the people are so resolute that they want Oke Ogun State with capital at Agunrege.

“We are all united in this pursuit and we have a document signed by all the traditional rulers, elected representatives, religious and community leaders in all the 10 LGAs.”

Speaking on behalf of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Suleiman Adewole, the Chairman of the Council advocated creation of Ibadan State from the present Oyo State with Ibadan as capital.

“Without any fear of contradiction, we will all agree that of all the state creations presently being demanded, the creation of Ibadan State remains unique.

“When we had three regions in Nigeria, we had three headquarters—Enugu, Kaduna and Ibadan. Kaduna is already a state, so also is Enugu, only Ibadan has been denied that right up till 2025.

“Historically, it is clear that our demand is highly justified for equity,” he said.

He said that the entire people of Ibadan land and Ibarapa land comprise 14 LGAs of the 33 LGAs in present-day Oyo State.

Earlier, Sen Jubrin Barau, the Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee, said the constitution is explicit on how the assembly should regulate its proceedings.

Barau, who was represented by his Vice Chairman and Senate Leaders, Sen Opeyemi Bamidele, listed focus areas of the zonal public hearing to include constitutional rights and freedom, electoral reforms, federalism and resource control, judicial reform, human rights and socio-justice.

Other areas are: the legislature, inclusive governance, security and policing and devolution of powers, institutional reforms, traditional institutions, fiscal reforms, fundamental rights and state creation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Buhari Bolaji