Member representing Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi in the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, has reaffirmed the commitment of members of the National Assembly from Okunland to the realisation of the age-long agitation by the Yoruba-speaking people of the state for the creation of Okun State.
To this end, Abejide, who is Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise, also pledged to lobby his colleagues to support the request, which is an initiative of the Okun Development Association (ODA).
There were meetings between the ODA leadership and members of the National Assembly from Kogi West Senatorial District in Abuja at the weekend.
Other federal lawmakers from the Kogi West zone, who met with the association, were Salman Idris and Danladi Aguye, representing Kabba-Bunu-Ijumu and Lokoja/ Kotonkarfe Federal Constituencies, marking a significant moment in the advocacy for the creation of Okun State.
The meetings, it was gathered discussed key issues affecting Okunland, including the creation of Okun State, development and security.
Discussions were centred on how to promote investments in extractive industries to leverage the region’s mineral resources for sustainable development.
Addressing the ODA delegation in his office, Abejide also promised to ensure the completion of the N300m “Okun House” in Kabba, another legacy project of the socio-cultural body, whose groundbreaking was co-performed by the lawmaker and the Obaro of Kabba/Chairman, Okun Area Traditional Council, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, in March 2022.
The meeting also expressed its support for Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration, acknowledging the establishment of Kogi State University in Kabba.
ODA’s National Publicity Secretary, Dayo Thomas, in a statement yesterday, noted that the creation of Okun State is indeed part of a larger proposal to create 31 new states in Nigeria. This proposal is currently being reviewed by the House of Representatives Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution.
Led by its President-General, Ambassador Akenson Rotimi, the team included Vice President North, Alhaji Adoga Ibrahim; Secretary of the Elders Council, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba; Abuja Liaison Officer, Bolanle Amupitan; Deputy Social Secretary, Hussein Folorunsho, and representative of ODA Committee on Restructuring, Chief J.O. Yusuf.
