Constituents oppose proposed creation of Ose State from Ondo

By Boye Oyeyemi –

Indigenes of Owo/Ose Federal Constituency in Ondo State have opposed the proposed creation of a new Ose State, a bill currently before the National Assembly.

The proposal, sponsored by Ife Ehindero, the member representing the Akoko North-East/Akoko North-West Federal Constituency, has already scaled through its first reading, with Ikare Akoko suggested as the state capital.

At a community stakeholders’ conference held in Owo, prominent figures from the constituency unanimously rejected the plan, citing exclusion from the consultation process and expressing disapproval over the proposed location of the capital.

The communiqué from the meeting was read by Chief Gbenga Ale, former Chief of Staff to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

“The recent proposition for the creation of ‘Ose State’, with its capital unilaterally designated as Ikare-Akoko without due consultation with the indigenous people of Owo and Ose, constitutes a grave affront to the sensibilities, historical standing and aspirations of the two local government areas,” the communiqué partly read.

It continued, “The said proposal, conceived and driven largely by our Akoko brothers, is a repudiation of democratic ethos and a calculated attempt to erode the historical preeminence and strategic centrality of Owo and Ose within the subregion. Historically, Owo was the administrative headquarters of the defunct Owo Division… By every legal, historical and socio-political metric, Ogho (present Owo/Ose) remains the authentic fulcrum of governance, civilisation and development in the Ondo North axis.”

The resolution further stated that “the arbitrary and exclusionary proposal for the creation of ‘Ose State’ with its capital at Ikare-Akoko is rejected in its entirety, being procedurally defective, morally indefensible, politically provocative and economically untenable,” adding that any future attempt at state creation must follow constitutional procedure, inclusive consultation, and equitable representation.

In his remarks, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, called for unity among Owo-speaking communities, saying, “We are one and should continue to be united. Even if there are issues, we should sit down and resolve them… Henceforth, we must unite and move forward.”