Monarchs, SAN decry exclusion of Ilaje, Eduko in new states proposal 

• Yiaga Africa says 31 new states excessive
Reactions have continued to trail the proposed creation of 31 new states by the House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee, sparking controversy across the country.

The latest criticism came from traditional rulers in the riverine communities of Ilaje of Ondo State, who frowned on the alleged ploy to include their domains as part of the proposed Ijebu State.

Also, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohammed Ndarani, condemned the exclusion of Eduko State, a proposed state that was to be carved out of Niger State. He described the omission as a deliberate act of marginalisation against the Nupe people.

However, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Yiaga Africa, has criticised the proposal for the creation of 31 additional states in the country, describing it as excessive.

According to the monarchs, the riverine communities of Ilaje have, for ages, been part of Ondo State, harping on historical facts to back their claims.

In a communiqué, yesterday, the monarchs urged descendants of Ilaje origin to shun all forms of inducement that might compromise what they described as inherited territorial integrity.

In the communiqué signed by the Chairman of Ilaje Council of Obas, the Amapetu of Mahin, Oba Olusegun Akinyomi, and the Secretary, the Odoka of Obe-Ogbaro Oba Olufemi Ogbaro, the Ilaje people firmly rejected the inclusion of any part of their land in the proposed Ijebu State or any other state.

“The meeting was informed and took cognisance of agitations by different peoples and groups in Nigeria for the creation of states, with proposals to that effect submitted by members and published by concerned committees of the National Assembly, as reported in the media. One such proposal is the creation of Ijebu State, which, strangely, includes names of Ilaje communities.”

“The meeting resolved, without prejudice to the interests of those concerned, but for the avoidance of any doubt, that Ilaje people reject the inclusion of any part of Ilaje land in the proposed Ijebu State or any other state to the east or west of Ilaje land, as hereinabove defined.”

The communiqué further stressed that the meeting was briefed on the unwarranted crises being instigated by officials of Ogun Waterside Local Council and Ogun State at Irokun, an ancient Ilaje town and kingdom, “which lies outside the boundary with Ogun State. The Olurokun of Irokun has always been appointed under Ilaje and Ondo authority.”

SPEAKING on the new states, yesterday, the SAN expressed dismay that despite the 2014 confab’s recommendation for the creation of Edu State, now proposed as Eduko State, the committee overseeing state creation inexplicably removed it from the final list.

“It is unfortunate that Eduko State was excluded. The Confab deemed it fit, yet it has vanished from consideration. This raises serious questions. Why was it removed? It is evident that this is an act of marginalisation against the Nupe people,” he said.

He further emphasised that Niger State, with a vast landmass of over 72,000 square kilometres, “is more than capable” of accommodating an additional state. He insisted that Eduko meets the constitutional requirements outlined in Section 8(1)(2)(3), which is the legal framework guiding state creation in Nigeria.

THE Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, in an interview with newsmen, yesterday, in Abuja, described the 67-state structure as superfluous.

The House of Representatives disclosed that it received a proposal for the creation of 31 additional states to make states of the federation 67, and Abuja as the federal capital.

Itodo said while it was reasonable to create more states for those zones that fall short, especially the South East, it would be stretching the already strained resources too far to create 31 more.

He noted that the demand for additional states in Nigeria had been a persistent theme in constitutional debates, which was often driven by ethnic, political and regional considerations rather than economic viability.

“While arguments for equity, particularly for the South East to achieve parity with other geopolitical zones, are understandable, the proposal for 31 new states seems excessive, given the economic realities.

“Nigeria is already struggling with the sustainability of its 36 states, many of which depend heavily on federal allocations rather than internally generated revenue. Expanding the number of states without a strategic framework for economic viability, governance efficiency, and resource optimisation risks exacerbating the current fiscal crisis.

“A more pragmatic approach will be strengthening existing states, improving governance, and ensuring equitable resource distribution rather than multiplying administrative units that may further weaken the federation,” he said.