Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State and senator for Ogun East, stated Thursday that he has no problem with Ijebus’s insistence that the proposed state be created from the old Ijebu Province and named Ijebu State with Ijebu-Ode as its capital. This goes against the Remo people’s position, as three of the nine local governments in the Ogun East Senatorial District have also stated that the proposed state should be named Remo Ijebu, with Sagamu as its capital.During a briefing hosted by the Implementation Committee on the creation of Ijebu State, which was established by the Awujale, Oba Adetona, at the private residence of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, GRA Ijebu-Ode, Daniel hinted that Ijebu has six local governments, meaning that anything that comes from the axis only reflects the wishes of the majority, even though the minority also has their way in a democracy.Among those present at the briefing were Chief Chris Okunowo, the chairman of the Implementation Committee; Sen. Adegbenga Kaka, the former deputy governor and senator representing Ogun East; Prof. Segun Awonusi, the former vice-chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun; Chief Abdulateef Owoyemi, the former chairman of ICAN; Dare Alebiosu, the chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, who represented the six local governments in Ijebu land; Dr. Fassy Yusuf; Chief Bambo Adesanya SAN; and traditional leaders Oba Lawrence Adebajo, Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, Oba Abdulrasaq Adenugba, and the Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo, among others.
Daniel said, “All the area of Ogun East Senatorial District, which includes the Ijebus and Remos, have the right for self-determination, and my job is to facilitate their demands.
“However, six out of nine is a clear majority, so there is no dilemma about what the majority wants. Minority will also have their say, it is democracy at work, so let the music play.
“We might be lucky to get two states but if not, we will always find ways to unite ourselves across all the divides for the betterment of the country.”
Speaking earlier, Okunowo said that the committee has submitted its memorandum to the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee, demanding that Ijebu State be created with Ijebu-Ode as its capital.
He revealed that the Ijebus have what it takes to achieve the long-held dream of Ijebu State from the old Ijebu Province, with or without the support of their kindreds from Remo land.
Okunowo explained that of the 24 provinces created by the colonial government in 1923, only the Ijebu Province has not been allowed to metamorphose into a state, whereas other provinces like Oyo, Kano, and Sokoto have been split into two or more states.
He stated that the renewed call for the creation of Ijebu State with Ijebu-Ode as the state capital was a result of the letters jointly agreed and signed by both the Awujale, Oba Adetona, and the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, sometime in April 2020 and April 2024.
He said that these letters were later received by the National Assembly, Abuja, and formed the bill for the creation of Ijebu State with Ijebu-Ode as capital, and that bills both at the Senate and the House of Reps have reached the second reading stage.
Okunowo, however, disclosed further that, after the December 17, 2024, stakeholders meeting in Ijebu-Ode, which had in attendance representatives of both Ijebu and Remo Divisions supporting the position of the joint memorandum submitted to the National Assembly in 2020 and 2024, respectively, the Remos’ enthusiasm for the previously accepted positions waned.
He stated further that when the National Assembly said that the Expressions of Interest submitted by new state agitators did not meet the constitutional requirements, and therefore requested for submission of fresh memoranda in line with the provision of Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Implementation Committee on March 4, 2025 submitted its new proposal for the creation of Ijebu State with Ijebu-Ode as capital.
He revealed that all the National Assembly members (Senate and House of Representatives), House of Assembly members, Council Chairmen and Councilors from the six Local Government areas of Ljebu Division endorsed, with verifiable
Answering questions from journalists during the briefing, Okunowo said, “The criteria for state creation talks about the 2/3 of people living in a particular area as well as the elected officials to make such a demand, and what stops Ijebu from requesting a state after meeting the constitutional requirements, absolutely nothing.
“That is what it is, and that is what we have done. The Remo also have the inalienable right to request a state of their own, and we are already aware that they have done so, so no problem whatsoever. We are not begrudging anyone.
“We were at the meeting held in Sagamu sometime in January when the Remo said they would go with us as far as the creation of the new state is concerned, but if they have now decided to choose a different path, why should we allow them to determine our destiny for us.”In any event, our demand dating back thousands of years has been to establish a new Ijebu State from the old Ijebu Province, with Ijebu-Ode serving as the State Capital.”
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