There is a bill scheduled to be presented in the House of Representatives that aims to create three more states in the Southwest.
The proposed law, which is being supported by Oluwole Oke, the member for Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in Osun State, calls for the creation of the states of Oke-Ogun, Ijebu, and Ife-Ijesa.
“A Bill for an Act to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)” is the name of the proposed law.
It proposes changing the First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution to say, “The First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution is amended by reducing the number of local government areas and introducing new states.
“According to the draft bill, Oke-Ogun State would consist of 12 local government districts, including Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Olorunsogo, Irepo, Oorerelope, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South, Saki-East, Saki-West, and Iseyin. Iseyin would be the proposed capital city.
However, Ijebu East, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu Ode, Ikenne, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Remo North, and Sagamu LGAs would make up Ijebu State when it is established. Ijebu Ode is the suggested capital city of Ijebu State.
Ife Ijesa State would consist of 11 LGAs, including Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Boluwaduro, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Oboku, and Oriade, according to Oke, the chair of the House Committee on Judiciary.
“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,” Oke said in a letter dated February 6, 2024, addressed to the Clerk of the House.
Six federating states currently comprise the South-West geopolitical zone: Ondo, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Ekiti states.
The region would surpass the North-West, which now has seven states, the highest among the other zones of North-Central, North-East, South-West, South-South-South, and South-East, if Oke’s plan clears parliamentary obstacles.
According to Section 9 (1) of the Constitution, the National Assembly cannot pass an Act amending the Constitution unless the proposal is approved by a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly (24 states) and receives support from a two-thirds majority of the members of each chamber (72 senators and 240 members of the House of Representatives).