The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution had disclosed receipt of proposals for creation of 31 additional states to increase the total number of states in the country to 67.
Speaking at a press briefing, on Friday, in Lagos, the President-General of the group, Prince Iwamitigha Raphael Irowainu, on behalf on behalf of traditional rulers and natives of Ilaje land emphasised the need to retain the present Ilaje local government area in the present Ondo state.
He appealed to the Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, to protect the Ilaje Communities, alleging that indigenous people of the communities have been subjected to severe threats by security officers from Ogun state.
He said, “This briefing is predicated upon the narratives making the rounds of intent to include Ilaje land or part of Ilaje local government area in the proposed Ijebu State if and when created.
“Going into a short historical excursion, we recalled that on 1st January, 1914, the northern and southern Nigeria were amalgamated into the colony and protectorate of Nigeria by Sir. Frederick Authur Lugard (Later Lord Lugard). This major political development was followed by a complete re-arrangement and restructuring of the administrative set-up which led to the creation of the southern provinces, namely Abeokuta, Benin, Calabar, Ibadan, Oyo, Ondo and Warri. It is pertinent to state here that Ondo province came into being through government notice No. 99 published in Gazette No. 67 volume 2 of 23rd December 1915, the Ondo Province emerged from the merging of the them Ekiti and Ondo divisions. Subsequently, four administrative divisions were created to constitute the new province.
“They were Ondo, Owo Ekiiti and Okitipupa Divisions. In 1968, the Ondo then province of the western state was further divided into nine divisions, namely, Akure, Ondo, Owo, Okitipupa, Akoko, Ekiti South, Ekiti Central, Ekiti North and Ekiti West. In February 1976, the then Ondo province was created as a state, that is, the present Ondo state of Nigeria.
“It is instructive to point out that through the aforementioned government notice No 99 contained in Gazette No 67 volume 2 of 23rd December 1915, Ijebu Province which had earlier been created in January 1915 through government notice No 11 of that year contained in volume 2 of 21st of January 1915 was abolished and subsequently merged with Abeokuta province.
“Like the former Ondo province, which was created into the present Ondo State, the Abeokuta province, made up of Egba, Ijebu and Egbado divisions formed the basis of creation of Ogun State in 1976.
“It is very transparent from the brief historical facts given above that Okitipupa division and indeed any other part of old Ondo province had no administrative and political affinity with the Ijebu to justify the alleged inclusion of Ilaje land or any part of Ilaje Local Government Area in the Proposed Ijebu State.
“Our association politically and administratively has been with old Ondo province and the current Ondo state. Culturally, The Ilaje, Ikale, Apoi, Ondo, Idanre, Owo etc. have many things in common. We have been linked together administratively over the years. In the desire for the creation of states and local government areas, we have always shared common aspirations.
“The desire is that all these entities should stay together in the present Ondo State. As far as we are aware, the move to include Ilaje land or any part of Ilaje local government area in the proposed Ijebu state does not enjoy the support of any section or kingdom in Ilaje land.
“In the current ongoing state and local government creation proposed before the National Assembly, we made bold to confirm that there was never any request to include Ilaje land in the proposed Ijebu state.
“If we had wanted such a demand. We could have submitted such desire to the committee on the proposal of state and local government areas creation at the National Assembly.”
He further dissociated Ilaje land and local government area from any groups or associations clamouring for the inclusion of Ilaje in the proposed Ijebu state.
He said, “We wish to stress that we do not have any objections to the creation of the proposed Ijebu state. If approved. We, however, want to make it abundantly clear that we have not mandated any group(s), person(s), organization(s) within or without the area to demand on our behalf to be included in the proposed Ijebu State or any other proposed state of whatever name called.
“We affirm that our consent was not sought on such a far-reaching political decision and arrangement. For the avoidance of doubt, we shall under the law resist vehemently, any attempt to include Ilaje land in the proposed Ijebu state or any other proposed state of whatever name called.
“The Ijebu can have their state, but we do not wish to be part of it. That is all we are saying. Furthermore, we are using this medium to appeal to the federal government to ensure that, Ilaje town and villages which were merged with the present Ogun State in 1976 are returned to their kith and kin in Ondo State as advised by the Irikefe panel on the creation of states and boundary adjustment in 1975.
“The affected villages and towns which are mainly Ilaje before the creation of states in 1976 are: Itebu Manuwa, Ajegunle, Ayetumara, Igboedu, Obinehin, Arijan etc.”
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then