Daniel declares support for Ijebu Ode as Capital for proposed Ijebu State
Former governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State has supported the move to make Ijebu Ode as the Capital of the proposed Ijebu State.
This is coming after the Remo people are demanding the location of the State Capital for the new State in Sagamu, if the proposed Ijebu State is approved instead of Ijebu Remo State with capital in Ijebu Ode
But the position of the Senator representing Ogun East, who is the sponsor of the bill seeking the creation of the new state out of Ogun State.
Daniel while addressing newsmen on the sideline of the briefing held at the GRA Ijebu-Ode private residence of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, said he is not against Ijebu Ode as the Capital of the proposed state.
The former governor explained that Ijebu deserves to have the location of the controversial state capital because of its population.
For instance, the Senator added that while Remo zone can only boast of three out of the nine local governments, Ijebu has six local governments.
According to him, the population put Ijebu at advantage position to have both the name and the capital because whatever their position on the proposed state reflects the wishes of the majority.
"We are in democracy, the majority gets their way, even though the minority also has their say.
"I am not in any dilemma with the insistence of the Ijebus to have the proposed state carved out of the old Ijebu Province to be called Ijebu State with the capital also in Ijebu Ode
“All the area of Ogun East Senatorial District, which includes the Ijebus and Remos, have the right for self-determination, and my job is to facilitate their demands.
“However, six out of nine is a clear majority, so there is no dilemma about what the majority wants. Minority will also have their say, it is democracy at work, so let the music play.
“We might be lucky to get two states but if not, we will always find ways to unite ourselves across all the divides for the betterment of the country", Daniel said.
The briefing had in attendance, Chairman of the Implementation Committee, Chief Chris Okunowo, former Deputy Governor and erstwhile Senator representing Ogun East, Sen Adegbenga Kaka, Prof Segun Awonusi, former Vice-Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, and former chairman of ICAN, Chief Abdulateef Owoyemi.
Others were Dare Alebiosu, the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, who represented the six local governments in Ijebu land, Dr Fassy Yusuf, Chief Bambo Adesanya SAN, traditional rulers led by the Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo, Oba Lawrence Adebajo, Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, Oba Abdulrasaq Adenugba, among others.
