Mixed reactions have trailed the call by the newly installed Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, for the creation of Ibadan State, as the bill proposing the new state passes second reading in the National Assembly.
The proposed Ibadan State is expected to be carved out from Oyo State and parts of Ondo State.
Speaking during his coronation in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Oba Ladoja urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize the creation of the new state.
“My people sent me a message to Mr President. Mr President, they said the creation of Ibadan State is their priority,” he said.
The bill for the creation of Ibadan State is one of the 46 state creation proposals currently before the National Assembly, aimed at amending the 1999 Constitution to officially recognise new states across the country.
Leading the debate on the bill, Hon. Adigun described it as a major step toward “equitable development and true federalism,” adding that Ibadan deserves recognition as a state due to its size, economic capacity, and historic importance.
He argued that Ibadan, once the capital of the old Western Region, has remained without state status while similar regional capitals such as Enugu and Kaduna have long become states.
“Oyo State is one of the largest and most politically complex in the Southwest. Creating Ibadan State would correct long-standing concerns about the concentration of power and resources within the larger Oyo structure,” Adigun said.
He added that the move would give the people of Ibadan a distinct political identity, more representation at the federal level, and strengthen the Southwest’s influence in national politics.
Also commenting, the Publicity Secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the APC, Seye Oladejo, said the creation of Ibadan State would have “significant political, economic, and cultural implications” for the Southwest.
“Already one of Nigeria’s oldest and most industrialized cities, Ibadan could serve as a stronger economic nucleus — attracting industries, startups, and research centres to complement Lagos,” he said.
However, Hon. Akindele Adeniyi, Senior Special Assistant to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Mobilization, faulted the timing of the call.
He argued that the region should focus on stability and developmental projects rather than creating new states.
“We have six states in the Southwest; creating Ibadan State and removing part of Ondo to join another area is not what we should be doing now. The focus should be on regional development and improving living conditions,” he said.
The debate over the creation of Ibadan State continues to divide opinion, as supporters cite economic growth and fair representation, while opponents call for prioritizing existing developmental challenges in the Southwest.
