State creation: Concern as Remo committee insists on Sagamu as capital

A new dimension has crept into the clamour for the creation of Ijebu State from the old Ijebu Province, with Remo Committee submitting its report to the Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, and demanding that the capital of the new state be sited in Sagamu.

The Nation reports that the name of the new state and where the capital should be have remained areas of disagreement between the Ijebu people and their brothers, Remo, in the quest for Ijebu State to be created out of the present Ogun State.

While the Ijebu people, it seemed, want both the name Ijebu State and the capital to be located in Ijebu – Ode, the Remo people believe that if the Ijebus had the name, the state capital should inevitably be Sagamu.

However, a document signed by the Remo committee Chairman, Aare Kola Oyefeso showed that the Remo people are quite distinctive to Ijebu, having migrated from Iremo Quarters in Ile Ife and will never allow its distinctiveness to be subjugated under any guise.

The committee argued that the request for state creation is unique, considering that Ogun East, also known as Ijebu Province, is the only province created before independence in 1960 yet to be established as a state.

It added that it has consulted widely to arrive at its positions on where the capital should be – Sagamu.

The committee equally demanded the creation of more local governments as there are facts and figures to justify this demand, and to also accommodate the influx of people from the neighbouring Lagos State.

The communique partly reads: “The Remo people are distinctive from the ljebus, having migrated from Remo Quarters, Ile-Ife, and maintained contact with their roots.