Oba Adetona, who lauded Mark for honouring him and the Ijebu people with his presence on the occasion of the 2012 edition of Ojude – Oba festival, said, “it is embarrassing and a glaring act of injustice that Ijebu which formed one of the 24 provinces of Nigeria has not morphed into a state of its own whereas each of the other provinces have been broken into two or more states.”
The Awujale of Ijebuland, who spoke while delivering his welcome speech for the festival said the Ijebu people have been clamouring for a state of their own since 1975 and have remained consistent with the agitation, adding the way to assuage the pains of the “marginalisation of the Ijebus in the Federal Republic of Nigeria” is for Ijebu State to be created on or before the next Ojude – Oba festival.
The monarch also proposed Ijebu – Ode, the Royal home, to serve as the capital of Ijebu State if eventually carved out from the present Ogun State.
In attendance at the festival in Ijebu – Ode are – Senator Mark, who was the Special guest of honour, the host Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, his wife Olufunso Amosun, Senator Mamora Olorunimbe, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Gbenga Obadara(Ogun Central), Senator Lekan Mustapha, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Mr. Tunji Ayanlaja(SAN) and the Ogun State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye.
Others are – Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, Amb. Gbenga Ashiru, Dr. Subomi Balogun, the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Ogun State Commerce and Industry Commissioner, Mr. Bola Ashiru, Olori Kemi Adetona and the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, among others.
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