The House of Representatives has been presented with a bill seeking the creation of three additional states in the SouthWest.
The proposed bill which was sponsored by the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Osun State, Oluwole Oke, is seeking the creation of Oke-Ogun, Ijebu and Ife-Ijesa states.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)”, the legislation seeks an amendment to the First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution to read:
“The First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution is amended by introducing new states and reducing the number of local government areas.”
The draft bill sees the creation of Oke-Ogun State with Iseyin as the proposed capital city with 12 local government areas, including Olorunsogo, Irepo, Oorerelope, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South, Saki-East, Saki-West, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola and Iseyin.
Also Ijebu State was proposed to comprise Ijebu East, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu Ode, Ikenne, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Remo North and Sagamu LGAs, with the proposed capital city to be Ijebu Ode.
On the other hand, 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, Obokun and Oriade.
Oke, who chairs the House Committee on Judiciary, in a letter dated February 6, 2024, and addressed to the Clerk of the House, wrote:
“I wish to forward the abovementioned bill to your office for further necessary legislative action to enable me to move same in our great Green Chamber, sir.”
