Why Oyo town should be state capital

The agitation for creation of more states in Nigeria is suspended, but not abandoned. Every Oyo town person wants Oyo to be capital of a state any day. Any opinion against this does not appreciate the history and the status of Oyo town in time past. Personally, I don’t support those that deleted History from course of studies in schools. Everything or everybody has a past.

Oyo town has historical antecedent which makes her fit for a capital: 1. Oyo Empire: Oyo was capital (stretching to Republics of Togo and Benin and beyond) 2. Oyo Province: Oyo was capital 3. Oyo Division: Oyo was capital 4. Oyo East LGA, Atiba LGA, Oyo West LGA and AFIJIO LGA, Oyo town is being looked up to and recognised as capital 5. Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo 6. Federal School of Surveying, Oyo 7. Federal Government Girls’ College, Owinni, Oyo 8. Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo.

In the olden days, there were contact offices in Alaafin’s palace for Portuguese, Spanish, French, British, etc. All these show that Oyo Town is not a mere town. These show that Alaafin is a paramount and permanent ruler of Oyo kingdom; no controversy.

Oyo kingdom which was and still is thickly populated deserves to be capital of a new state out of the present Oyo State. Again, out of all the former provinces, Oyo Province is the only one whose capital city has not been made capital of a State. This omission is human-doing. Oyo State derived her name in recognition of the uniqueness and historical role of Oyo Town, even when Osun State was with us. The Bible says “If God is our Father, where is His honour?” Therefore, if Oyo has been a powerful kingdom, where is her honour today?

When a big punishment fells you like a tree, small punishments will climb on you! That is why some towns are struggling with us to be capital of a new state. A new happening that makes Oyo feel short-changed is the case of creation of new local council areas: Oyo four, Ogbomosho seven, Oke-Ogun eight, Ibadan 12. Where and when was the referendum conducted to prove that allotment right? This need be reviewed as the arrangement is patently unequitable.

Please, in the scheme of things which will benefit people, consider Oyo first. We deserve to have and enjoy the presence of both the Federal and State Governments’ projects more than we do now. Conclusively, our historical antecedent and status should be enough to speak for us. History will carve a beautiful niche for those now in authority if Oyo is elevated to her long-overdue and well deserved status. It is better to be late than never.