Politics
Legislator Drums Support For New State
Representative, Kamil Akinlabi (PDP-Oyo) has said that people of Oyo State wants the creation of New Oyo State, from the present Oyo State, to give the people a sense of belonging and for even development.
Our correspondent reports that the lawmaker representing Atiba, Oyo West, Oyo East and Afijio Federal Constituency, said that the creation of New Oyo State was long overdue.
Akinlabi said the request for the creation of the state dated back to 1979 when the defunct National Assembly in 1983 passed a motion for its creation.
He said that the present Oyo State has the largest landmass in the South West geo-political zone with more than 5,580,894 million people according to the 2006 population census and 33 local governments.
“It is a state that deserves to be split into two states of New Oyo and Ibadan. The area being proposed as New Oyo State consists of Oke Ogun , Oyo and Ogbomosho zones,’’ he said.
Akinlabi said the proposed new state would have 19 local governments and a population of 2.7 million, adding that the new state has rich cultural heritage, linguistic affinity and geographical continuity.
He said the capital of the proposed New Oyo State would be Oyo town because the old Oyo kingdom was the headquarters of Oyo Empire, which extended beyond the boundary of Nigeria.
The lawmaker said that all stakeholders in the state like the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, members of Oyo caucus in the National Assembly, religious and traditional leaders, had endorsed the request for the creation of the new state.
“I am convinced that the creation of New Oyo State is of strategic significance for the achievement of even and balanced development and peaceful co-existence in the South West geo-political zone and the country at large,’’ he said.
Akinlabi, who listed the potential of the proposed state in terms of education, commerce, international trade, infrastructural development and the political will of the people, said the creation would bring government closer to the people.
The Tide source reports that the memorandum for the creation of the new state was presented by the people of the area to the National Assembly for consideration by chairman of the group, Chief F.A.A. Taiwo.
With the presentation, the number of state agitators had increased to 20 with the presentation of memoranda to joint committee of National Assembly on the Review of 1999 constitution.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.