By Suleiman Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is said to be backing the establishment of a new Ijebu State in Nigeria’s Southwest region. This proposed state would be formed from parts of Ogun State, responding to longstanding calls from the Ijebu people for greater autonomy and recognition.
Sources indicate that President Tinubu conveyed his support during a meeting with the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, at his residence in Bourdillon on January 5. During their discussions, Oba Adetona emphasized that Ijebu is the only former colonial province in Nigeria yet to achieve statehood, contrasting it with other provinces like Oyo and Sokoto, which have been divided into multiple states. He asserted that the Ijebu people have waited long enough for their own state.
“The president expressed his support without hesitation,” a source familiar with the meeting told People’s Gazette.
Oba Adetona also highlighted the region’s economic potential and existing infrastructure, including industrial estates, a new international airport under construction, and plans for a deep-sea port, reinforcing the case for statehood.
In December 2024, the monarch convened with other traditional leaders and stakeholders from the Ijebu area to strategize on the logistics of state creation, addressing key issues such as the location of the state capital, the establishment of local government areas, and the distribution of federal resources.
Confident in the region’s viability, Oba Adetona stated, “Ijebu province is economically viable and already possesses the necessary infrastructure to sustain a state.”
In a related move, 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 in November 2024. This legislation aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to facilitate the creation of the new state and has progressed through various legislative stages alongside proposals for state creation in other regions.
However, the push for Ijebu State has faced criticism, with some arguing that it is ill-timed amid Nigeria’s pressing economic challenges, including poverty, inflation, and insecurity. Political analysts have speculated that President Tinubu’s support for the initiative may be politically motivated, as new states could potentially strengthen his bid for a second term.
As of now, the presidency has not issued an official statement on the matter, likely to avoid igniting controversy among advocates for state creation in other parts of the country.
