The call by the newly installed Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, for the creation of Ibadan State has sparked mixed reactions across the Southwest. The proposed state, which would be carved out of the current Oyo State and parts of Ondo State, has reignited long-standing regional and political discussions about state creation in Nigeria.
Oba Ladoja made the appeal during his coronation ceremony in Ibadan, urging President Bola Tinubu to prioritize the move. “My people sent me a message to Mr. President. Mr. President, they said the creation of Ibadan State is their priority,” the monarch said.
The demand coincides with legislative progress at the House of Representatives, where a bill seeking to create Ibadan State recently passed its second reading. Sponsored by Hon. Abass Adigun, representing Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency, the bill aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to officially recognize Ibadan as a state.
Adigun argued that Ibadan, historically the capital of the old Western Region, deserves statehood given its population size, economic strength, and landmass. He claimed that a single Ibadan local government is larger than three local councils in Bayelsa State combined.
However, the proposal has drawn mixed reactions. Akindele Adeniyi, Senior Special Assistant on Mobilization to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, cautioned that state creation should not be a priority for the Southwest. “We should focus on stabilizing existing states and implementing developmental projects that improve people’s lives,” he told newsmen.
Conversely, Seye Oladejo, Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, said Ibadan State’s creation would bring political, economic, and administrative benefits to the region. He argued that the new state could decentralize governance, increase federal representation, and strengthen the Southwest’s influence in national politics.
Oladejo added that with its industrial legacy, Ibadan could evolve into a major economic hub, complementing Lagos in driving growth and innovation.