By BASHIR ADEFAKA
It is no longer rumour that effort is ongoing create three additional states to emerge from the existing six in the South West geopolitical zone of Nigeria as a proposal to the effect has just been submitted and is now scheduled for consideration on the floor of the country’s House of Representatives.
The DEFENDER reports that the bill, which is miles apart from a problematic albeit unconfirmed seven-state structure per each region with Kwara State brought into South West being allegedly proposed by Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government, is sponsored by Honourable Oluwole Oke, the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Osun State.
Specifically, the suggested legislation aims to increase South West to a nine-state structure, going by the bill to establish separate states namely Oke-Ogun, Ijebu, and Ife-Ijesa through the suggested legislation is named “A Bill for an Act to modify the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as revised)”.
The proposed idea is to make changes to the First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution. The suggested amendment involves adding new states and decreasing the number of local government areas.
According to the proposed bill, the region of Oke-Ogun State, with Iseyin as its capital city, would consist of a total of 12 local government areas, including Olorunsogo, Irepo, Oorerelope, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South, Saki-East, Saki-West, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, and Iseyin.
Ijebu State, When formed, it will consist of Ijebu East, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu Ode, Ikenne, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Remo North and Sagamu LGAs. The proposed capital city for Ijebu State is Ijebu Ode.
Ife Ijesa State is to be made of 11 LGAs made up of Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Boluwaduro, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Oboku and Oriade.
It is not clear as at the time of filing this report what the position of other regions mainly North and South East worth be to the South West’s agenda being front by Honourable Oke, however, the coast the matter will be clear sion as the bill seeking axpansion of state-structure in the ‘Ngbati’ region will be laid on the floor of thevgreen chamber for consideration and, possbly, debate.
