*Seeks Oke-Ogun, Ijebu and Ife-Ijesa states
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary and the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Osun State, Hon Oluwole Oke has proposed a law seeking the creation of Oke-Ogun, Ijebu and Ife-Ijesa states.
Hon Oke is proposing creation of the the new states in a letter dated February 6, 2024, and addressed to the Clerk of the House, titled, “A Bill for an Act to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)”.
In the letter, Hon Oke stressed, “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.”
The legislation is seeking 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.”
According to 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.
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.
Ijebu State would comprise of Ijebu East, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu Ode, Ikenne, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Remo North and Sagamu LGAs with the proposed capital as Ijebu Ode while 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.
New Nigerian recalls that Section 9 (1) of the Constitution states that the National Assembly can only pass an Act to amend the Constitution when its proposal is supported by two-thirds majority of all the members of each chamber (72 senators and 240 House of Representatives members) and approved by the resolution of at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly (24 states).
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