The Senate President, Senator David Mark has expressed his support for the agitation of more states to be created in the country saying that the creation of more states will ensure rapid development at the grassroots.
Mr Mark made this known on Sunday in Ijebu-Ode, at the annual Ojude-Ode festival in Ogun state.
He made the remark while responding to the call for the creation of Ijebu state by the traditional ruler of Ijebu land, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
“Creation of additional states can only make government closer to the people contrary to the view being expressed in certain quarters that we do not need additional states.”
Senator Mark declared his support for the creation of Ijebu State out of the current Ogun State, arguing that new states would address the issue of marginalization.
There are presently calls for the creation of about 60 states before the National Assembly with the on-going amendment of the constitution.
Oba Adetona had in his request expressed the need for the creation of Ijebu state from the existing Ogun state, urged the National Assembly to remedy the injustice being done to Ijebu people by ensuring the creation of Ijebu State as one of the original 24 provinces of Nigeria that was yet to become a state.
“We have been on this issue of creation of Ijebu State since 1975. The justification for it is clear, the most worrisome aspect of it was the total neglect of Ijebu community in the State creation exercises that have taken place.”
“It is lamentable that Ijebu which in the colonial era was one of the 24 provinces that made up Nigeria and cannot today boost of being counted as one of the 36 States that presently constitute the country,” Oba Adetona said.
Speaking as the special guest at the festival, the Senate President also challenged Nigerians to use their cultural diversity as a potent weapon to ensure unity, and socio-economic development of the country.
He urged Nigerians to come together and emphasize those things that unite us as a nation.
Ojude oba, the Ijebu festival of colour, glamour and glitz has become a veritable avenue where sons and daughters of Ijebu origin pay homage to their traditional ruler and chat new course for progress and the development of Ijebu land.
Addressing the audience, the governor of Ogun state, Ibikujnle Amosun, assured the people of the state of even and rapid development across the three senatorial districts of the state
Highpoint of the celebration was the display of horseback by head warriors from different families.
