A bill seeking the creation of additional three states in the South-West has been listed for presentation in the House of Representatives.
The Bill sponsored by Honourable Busayo Oluwole Oke, representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Osun State, (Osunr-PDP) is seeking the creation of Oke-Ogun, Ijebu and Ife-Ijesa states respectively.
The proposed legislation is titled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)”.
It is seeking “for an amendment to the First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution to read, “The First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution is amended by introducing new states and reducing the number of local government areas.”
According to Oke, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Ife Ijesa State is to be made up of 11 local government areas, made up of Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Boluwaduro, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Oboku and Oriade.
In a letter dated February 6, 2024, and addressed to the Clerk of the House, Oke wrote: “I wish to forward the above-mentioned bill to your office for further necessary legislative action to enable me to move same in our great Green Chamber. The South-West geo-political zone is currently made up of six federating states, which are Ondo, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti states.
If Oke’s Bill scales legislative hurdles, the region will surpass the North-West, which currently has seven states, the highest among the other zones of North-Central, North-East, South-West, South-South-South and South-East.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has stepped down a bill seeking to change the minimum requirement for election into the offices of president, vice president, National Assembly members, governors and other political offices from first school leaving certificate to a university degree or its equivalent.
This is as a result of the Bill sponsored by the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/ Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga.
The bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to alter the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to change the Educational Qualification for Elections into Certain Political Offices and for Related Matters,” enjoyed robust debate from two both sides as lawmakers took turns to make their contributions.
While leading the debate at the plenary, Onanuga, argued that the 1999 constitution of Nigeria should be amended to make it compulsory for elective office holders to have a university degree or its equivalent as against the current provision which allows a First School Leaving Certificate holder to vie for the highest office in the land.
Although, the bill enjoyed support from House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, Babajimi Benson, Kingsley Chinda and a host of other lawmakers; Aliyu Madaki, a lawmaker from Kano State and Ahmadu Jaha (APC, Borno) and others kicked against the proposed alteration.
A supporter of the Bill and member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Honourable Babajimi Benson said: “Anyone who is going to oppose this Bill should tell us if his son or daughter is in the university or not. I can’t believe that in this modern age, some people will say, “Don’t go to school, but go and be the president.”