An Ogbomoso pressure group, Ogbomoso Capital City Initiative, has commenced a campaign for the creation of new Oyo State, with the ultimate aim of making Ogbomoso the Capital of the new state.
The group has advanced a robust argument for the creation of the new state and why Ogbomoso is positioned to be the State Capital.
In a letter seen by SaturdayTribune on Friday, signed by one of the coordinators of the group, Dr Akin Oladeji-Johnbrown, President of Ogbomoso Recreation Club, the group maintained that the issue of the creation of an additional new state is long over-due in Nigeria and it is in light of this that Ogbomoso to be accorded a state capital status.
The initiative group has obtained the buy-ins of strategic stakeholders in Ogbomosoland and the proposed new Oyo State is expected to have nineteen (19) Local government areas made of Afijio, Atiba, Atisbo, Ogo-Oluwa, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Ire, Olorunsogo, Oorelopo, Oyo East, Oyo West, Saki East, Saki West, Surulere, Ogbomoso North and Ogbomoso South and Ejigbo Local Government (in present Osun state)
According to the group and, based on the principle of equity, splitting Oyo state into two (Oyo and Ibadan states) should be highest in the priority of consideration by the relevant national assembly committees. Ogbomoso, currently has almost 15 percent of total land are of current Oyo State and the unique land mass and geospatial advantage guarantee space for the concomitant infrastructure required for the new state Capital