Oluwole Oke, the representative for Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in Osun State, has proposed a bill advocating the creation of three new states within the South-West region.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” has been scheduled for presentation in the House of Representatives.
Oke’s proposal 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 proposed states are Oke-Ogun, Ijebu, and Ife-Ijesa.
In the draft bill, Oke-Ogun State with Iseyin as the proposed capital city would be made up of 12 local government areas, including Olorunsogo, Irepo, Oorerelope, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South, Saki-East, Saki-West, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola and Iseyin.
On the other hand, Ijebu State, when created, will comprise Ijebu East, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu Ode, Ikenne, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Remo North and Sagamu LGAs.
The proposed capital city for Ijebu State is Ijebu Ode.
According to Oke, who chairs the House Committee on Judiciary, 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, Oboku and Oriade.
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In a letter dated February 6, 2024, and addressed to the Clerk of the House, Oke 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.”
If successful, this move would elevate the number of states in the South-West, currently composed of six federating states—Ondo, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Ekiti.
The bill, submitted in a letter dated February 6, 2024, to the Clerk of the House, outlines the detailed composition of each proposed state. Oke, who chairs the House Committee on Judiciary, expressed his intention to move the bill through the legislative process.
If the bill clears legislative hurdles, the South-West region would surpass the North-West, which currently holds the highest number of states among the geopolitical zones.