Igbomina indigenes want separate state

CLAMOUR for creation of Igbomina State has been renewed by traditional rulers and leaders of the Igbomina sub-ethnic group in Osun and Kwara states.

The clamour was reechoed at the 10th Igbomina Day and the launching of N500 million development fund organised by a socio-cultural organisation, Omo Ibile Igbomina, at Ilala town in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The Igbomina land comprise communities in Osun State and three local government areas in Kwara State

Speaking at the occasion, the Orangun of Ila-Orangun, Oba Wahab Oyedotun, said the ethnic group deserves a state and urged collective efforts of the people towards realising it whenever creation of states is being considered.

The royal father, while responding to the request of the people that traditional rulers from communities of the tribe should have  a regular meeting among themselves to promote unity and create avenue to fostering common interests, said the rulers had acceded to the demand.

Also speaking,  the Chairman of Council of Igbomina Traditiional Chiefs in Kwara State, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Sikiru Woleola, said the creation of Igbomina State is desirable as he described the tribe as being huge in population and in land mass.

He appreciated the call for a meeting of the traditional rulers which he said was what they had been championing, adding that it had been resolved that the maiden edition of such a meeting would be hosted by the Orangun of Ila.

Earlier, the president of the Omo Ibile Igbomina, Mr Timothy Adebayo, emphasised the decision of the people on the need for meetings by the monarchs to promote sustainable peace, unity  and progress.

Also, the Jagunmolu of Igbomina land, Alhaji Abduraheem Oladimeji, urged the traditional rulers to love one another to be able to give their subjects a good direction for the development and progress of Igbomina land.

In her remarks, the member representing Irepodun/Isin/Ekiti/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, Honourable Funke Adedoyin, highlighted her undertakings towards ensuring attention of the government on development of the area and assured that she would soon, on her own, embark on drilling of boreholes in about 300 polling units in her constituency which includes a chunk of Igbomina land in Kwara state.

Kwara state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was represented at the occasion by the state Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Aro Yahaya, donated a sum of N5 million as he hailed contributions of the Omo Ibile Igbomina to devlopment of Igbomina land and urged other social groups in the state to emulate the association.