Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, yesterday disagreed over the creation of the proposed Ijebu state from the current Ogun State.
While the Awujale tasked Obasanjo to be fair to the people of Ijebu ‘in more years to come,’ the ex-president said he would only support the creation of Ijebu state if Ikenne was named as its capital. They spoke at a luncheon in Abeokuta to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the creation of Ogun State.
The event was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari; former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; wife of the Vice- President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Idiat Adebule.
The Awujale was the first to fire the salvo when he declared that Ijebu-Ode should have been made the capital of Ogun when the state was created on February 3, 1976.
Though the revered monarch commended Obasanjo for midwifing the state’s creation, he expressed reservation that the former president was somewhat unfair to the Ijebu.
He said: “When we talk of Ogun State at 40, we cannot but remember Chief Obasanjo who midwifed that occasion. We didn’t know, for me, that he was going to put the capital in Abeokuta. Because I believe, at that time, even up till now, that Ijebu has a better terrain which would have better accommodated a state capital.
“Thank you for midwifing the creation of Ogun State, it is however my belief that you (Obasanjo) would have shown more friendly attitude to the Ijebu in more years to come.” The Awujale then shouted; ‘Ijebu State,’ which some members of the audience, who apparently hailed from Ijebuland, responded; ‘Noi Noi (now now).’
When he delivered his address, Governor Ibikunle Amosun avoided the ‘controversy,’ but only jokingly retorted: “I will not join issues with the Awujale on the state capital.
But we want to thank somebody (Obasanjo) who facilitated the creation of our state.” However, Obasanjo, in his remarks, absolved himself from any blame, saying the creation of the state was the ‘collective decision’ of the then Supreme Military Council (SMC) headed by late General Murtala Muhammed.
He said: “As you know, to say that any of us was singularly or singly responsible for the creation of a state at that time will not be correct, because it was a collective decision of all of us.
“Awujale, on a lighter note, I have promised you that I would support the creation of Ijebu state if and only if the capital will be Ikenne.” Ikenne is much renowned for the sage and the former Premier of the old Western Region, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
