A bill aimed at creating Ibadan State has successfully passed its second reading at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
READ ALSO: Ibadan taught me to turn everything into opportunity – Shettima
The constitutional amendment bill, sponsored by Akeem Adeyemi (APC, Oyo) and six other lawmakers, proposes the division of Oyo State into two. The new Oyo State would have Oyo town as its capital, while the remaining part of the state would be renamed Ibadan State, with Ibadan as its capital.
The bill was referred to the committee on constitutional review by Speaker Tajudeen Abass without any debate. “The bill is straightforward legislation that does not require debate,” Abass stated during the session.
Oyo State was originally established on February 3, 1976, under the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed, following the division of the former Western State. Osun State was later created from Oyo in August 1991 during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
Efforts to create Ibadan and Oke Ogun States from the present Oyo State have failed in the past. In the ongoing constitution review, another bill to create Oke-Ogun State has been introduced, sponsored by Oluwole Oke (PDP, Osun).
Ibadan taught me to turn everything into opportunity – Shettima
Earlier, Daily News 24 reported how the vice President, Kashim Shettima described the ancient city of Ibadan as home, where he learned to turn everything that came his way into opportunity.
Mr Olusola Abiola, Director, Information, Office of the Vice President, said in a statement, that Shettima spoke at a wedding reception at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
The wedding was between Ibukun Okunmadewa, the bride, and Obafemi Omitiran, the groom.
The bride, Ibukun, is the daughter of Prof. Folusho Okunmadewa, whom the Vice President described as ‘my beloved teacher’.
Shettima, who laced his speech with the lines from ‘Ibadan,’ a poem by one of Nigeria’s greatest poets, John Pepper Clark, said that he was in Ibadan, not as a guest, but as a member of the bride’s family to receive guests at the wedding.
“So, I’m here to receive you as guests in this ancient city of memories. Ibadan is a home to me, a home that formed me and taught me to turn everything that comes my way into an opportunity.
“This would not have been easy without the patience of my beloved teacher, Prof. Folusho Okunmadewa, whose daughter, Ibukun, and her groom, Obafemi, we are here to celebrate as they embark on a beautiful journey of discovering the essence of life.”
The Vice President said that the gathering for the wedding was not that of mere friends but of a closely-knit family united by the traits of time, education, and unbreakable bonds.
“As I look around this room, I’m not only reminded of a city that has woven its culture, values, and aspirations deep into my being, but also of how fate has played a part in expanding relationships and families,” Shettima stated.
