ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The House of Representatives has received a pivotal bill advocating for the establishment of three additional states within the South-West region of Nigeria.
Oluwole Oke, the legislator championing the bill, disclosed this development to the Peoples Gazette on Tuesday.
Representing the Obokun/Oriade federal constituency, Mr. Oke aims to garner support from at least two-thirds of his colleagues in the lower chamber to endorse the dissolution of existing local government areas and the formation of independent states namely Oke-Ogun, Ijebu, and Ife-Ijesa.
Under the proposed framework, Mr. Oke envisions Ijebu being recognized as a distinct state, with Ijebu-Ode designated as its capital.
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He suggests Remo North, Ikenne, Ijebu East, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu Ode, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, and Sagamu as its constituent local government areas.
Similarly, the bill advocates for the recognition of Oke-Ogun as a separate state, with Iseyin designated as its capital.
The proposed local government areas include Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South, Olorunsogo, Kajola, Irepo, Oorerelope, Saki-East, Saki-West, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, and Iwajowa.
Additionally, the bill seeks the creation of Ife-Ijesa state, with Ife Central, Ife South, Ife North, Ife East, Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Boluwaduro, Oboku, and Oriade designated as its local government areas.
If ratified, Mr. Oke’s bill would elevate the South-West, currently comprising six states—Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo—to the region with the highest number of states in Nigeria.
In a letter addressed to the parliament’s clerk, Mr. Oke expressed his intent to submit the bill for further legislative deliberation, stating, “I wish to forward the above-mentioned bill to your office for further necessary legislative action to enable me to move same in our great Green Chamber, sir.”