President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reportedly backing the creation of a new Ijebu State in Nigeria’s Southwest region
The proposed state would be carved out from Ogun State, following a long-standing demand by the Ijebu people for recognition as an independent entity, a fresh report has revealed.
Sources revealed that President Tinubu gave his assurances during a meeting with the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, at his Bourdillon residence on January 5.
During the meeting, Oba Adetona said that Ijebu is the only former colonial province in Nigeria that has not been granted statehood, unlike other provinces such as Oyo and Sokoto, which have been divided into multiple states. The monarch argued that the Ijebu people have waited long enough for their own state.
“The president did not hesitate to express his support,” People’s Gazette quoted a source familiar with the meeting as saying.
Oba Adetona had reportedly highlighted the region’s resources and infrastructure, including industrial estates, an international airport under construction, and plans for a deep-sea port, while making case for the state creation.
In December 2024, Oba Adetona, alongside other traditional rulers and leaders from the Ijebu province, held a meeting to discuss logistics for the proposed state. These discussions focused on issues such as the location of the state capital, the creation of local government areas, and the allocation of federal resources.
The monarch expressed confidence in the region’s ability to thrive as an independent state, stating that it is well-positioned for growth and development. “Ijebu province is economically viable and already has all the infrastructural facilities needed to sustain a state,” he had said.
Before that, in November 2024, Senator Gbenga Daniel, representing Ogun East, introduced a bill titled the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2024 (Creation of Ijebu State) to the National Assembly. The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow for the creation of the new state.
With bills for the creation of other states in other regions of the country, it passed various legislature stages.
Critics argue that the move for the creation of Ijebu State is ill-timed, given the country’s pressing economic issues, including poverty, inflation, and insecurity.
Some political analysts have speculated that President Tinubu’s alleged support for state creation could be politically motivated, as new states might be more inclined to back him for a second term.
Meanwhile, the presidency has reportedly avoided issuing an official statement on the matter, possibly to prevent sparking controversy among supporters of other state creation initiatives across the country.
