Mark said the creation of new states or the agitation for same does not mean people do not want to live together anymore but because additional ones would ensure that many Nigerians have a sense of belonging or governance that is closer to them.
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The Senate President spoke in Ijebu – Ode, Ogun State, as a special guest at the Ojude -Oba annual cultural festival of the Ijebu people.
He urged the National Assembly to work towards the country having more states.
Mark was responding to a complain-cum appeal by the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, that the National Assembly should help facilitate the actualisation of Ijebu state.
The monarch, who lauded Mark for honouring him and the Ijebu people, described it as “embarrassing” and a glaring act of “injustice” that Ijebu which formed one of the 24 provinces of Nigeria has not morphed into a state of its own whereas each of the other provinces have been broken into two or more states.
Adetona lamented that the Ijebu people have been clamouring for a state of their own since 1975 and have remained consistent with the agitation, adding that the way to assuage the pains of “marginalisation is for Ijebu state to be created on or before the next Ojude -Oba festival.
The monarch also proposed Ijebu-Ode, to serve as the capital of Ijebu state, if eventually carved out from the present Ogun State.
Mark said he was in full support of Ijebu state and would urge the National Assembly to work towards it.
He said: “ I have received the delegation from Ogun State who are the main committee members for the creation of Ijebu state.
“I’m here to say one thing that I’m fully in support of the creation of Ijebu state.
“My good friend, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, is here and he also supports the creation of Ijebu state.
“Let me make my point clear. Where I stand in politics is never in doubt. I support the creation of Ijebu state.
“I support the creation of (more) states in this country. And the National Assembly must work towards that.
“When we create states, it is not because we cannot live together but because we want to bring governance closer to the people.
“A lot of people desire and deserve to feel a sense of governance in this country and when we create states, that is what would happen.”
Also present were Amosun’s wife Olufunso; Senator Mamora Olorunimbe; Senator Iyiola Omisore; Senator Gbenga Obadara (Ogun Central); Senator Lekan Mustapha; Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Tunji Ayanlaja( SAN) ;Police Commissioner Ikemefuna Okoye; Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East); Prof Adebayo Adedeji; Foreign Affairs Minister Amb. Gbenga Ashiru; Dr Subomi Balogun; the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Bola Ashiru; Olori Kemi Adetona; Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun among others. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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UNCLE MARK, PLS REMEMBER THAT OGOJA AND IJEBU ARE THE REMAINING PROVENCES OF THE OLD NIGERIA THAT ARE YET TO BE CREATED AS STATES OF THEIR OWN. WE IN OGOJA ARE ALSO AGITATING AND CLAMOURING FOR OGOJA STATE. REMEMBER US IN YOUR KINGDOM OF THE SENATE
ReplyDeleteDoes it mean the SE will get 2 states. I admire how the SW can easily agree on what the new states should be. The SE is still fighting over what state they should get, to the point that the FG may get feedup and leave the matter entirely or create only one state when they could have had 2 if they planned it with a good common approach.
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