President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reportedly lending his support to the creation of a new Ijebu State in Nigeria’s Southwest region, a move that has ignited hopes among the Ijebu people who have long sought recognition as an independent entity.
Emerging from a recent meeting at his Bourdillon residence, President Tinubu assured the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, that he is in favour of this long-awaited initiative. During this discussion on January 5, Oba Adetona made a compelling case, asserting that Ijebu is the sole former colonial province in Nigeria yet to be granted statehood, while regions like Oyo and Sokoto have been divided into multiple states. “We have waited long enough for our own state,” he declared.
A source close to the meeting told the People’s Gazette that the president did not hesitate to express his backing for the cause. Oba Adetona underscored the region’s wealth of resources and burgeoning infrastructure, citing industrial estates, an international airport under construction, and ambitious plans for a deep-sea port as compelling reasons for the proposed statehood.
In December 2024, the Awujale convened with fellow traditional rulers and community leaders from the Ijebu province to strategise further on state logistics. Their discussions centred on vital aspects such as the potential location for the state capital, the establishment of local government areas, and equitable allocation of federal resources.
Confident in Ijebu’s prospects, Oba Adetona stated, “Ijebu province is economically viable and already boasts the necessary infrastructural foundation to thrive as a state.”
Prior to this, in November 2024, Senator Gbenga Daniel, representing Ogun East, introduced the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2024 (Creation of Ijebu State)” to the National Assembly. This bill aims to amend the 1999 Constitution, paving the way for the inception of the new state.
While the bill is progressing through various legislative stages amidst similar initiatives for other states across the country, critics have raised concerns about the timing of this push for Ijebu State, given Nigeria’s pressing challenges of poverty, inflation, and insecurity.
Some political analysts suggest that President Tinubu’s support may be politically driven, as new states could bolster his bid for a second term by aligning with his administration.
Meanwhile, the presidency has opted to remain silent on the matter, seemingly to sidestep controversy among supporters of other state creation efforts nationwide.
