President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reportedly supporting the establishment of a new Ijebu State in Nigeria’s Southwest region.
The proposed state would be carved out of Ogun State, fulfilling a long-standing demand by the Ijebu people for recognition as an independent entity.
This development was disclosed in a fresh report, citing a meeting between the president and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
During the meeting, held on January 5 at President Tinubu’s Bourdillon residence, Oba Adetona presented the historical and economic case for Ijebu State.
According to the monarch, Ijebu remains the only former colonial province in Nigeria that has yet to achieve statehood, unlike others such as Oyo and Sokoto, which have been divided into multiple states.
“The president did not hesitate to express his support,” a source familiar with the meeting told People’s Gazette.
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Oba Adetona highlighted the region’s resources and infrastructure, including industrial estates, an international airport under construction, and plans for a deep-sea port, as evidence of the region’s readiness for statehood.
The push for Ijebu State gained momentum in November 2024, when Senator Gbenga Daniel, representing Ogun East, introduced a bill in the National Assembly. Titled the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2024 (Creation of Ijebu State),” the bill aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the state’s creation.
The bill has passed various legislative stages amidst debates about its timing and implications.
In December 2024, Oba Adetona and other traditional rulers from the Ijebu region convened a meeting to discuss logistical aspects of the proposed state.
Topics included the location of the state capital, the creation of local government areas, and federal resource allocation.
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The monarch expressed confidence in the region’s economic viability, stating, “Ijebu province is economically viable and already has all the infrastructural facilities needed to sustain a state.”
Critics have questioned the timing of the statehood push, citing Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges, including poverty, inflation, and insecurity.
Political analysts speculate that President Tinubu’s alleged support for state creation might be a strategic move to garner political goodwill ahead of a potential second term.
The presidency has so far refrained from issuing an official statement on the matter, possibly to avoid fueling controversies among proponents of other state creation initiatives across the country.