- The demands were made public on Friday at the South-West Zonal Public Hearing on the bills to further amend the 1999 constitution held in Lagos
The South West has presented its economic, political and social needs to the national assembly in the ongoing consultations for the review of the 1999 constitution.
The region is demanding the creation of five new states, additional local governments and constitutional recognition for the Local Council Development Areas created by the Lagos State government in 2003.
Constitutional roles for the traditional rulers is also among the demands the region tabled before the Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution.
The demands were made public on Friday at the South-West Zonal Public Hearing on the bills to further amend the 1999 constitution held in Lagos
The Deputy Senate President and Chairman Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution, Jibrin Barawu, represented by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate leader said, “The request of the people of the South-West before us include Bill for creation of Ijebu State from Ogun State, Bill for creation of Coastal State from Ondo as well as Igbomina State from the three states of Osun, Ekiti and Kwara, bill for creation of Ibadan State from Oyo State as well as New Oyo State also from Oyo State with state capital in Oyo.
“Others are bills for listing of created LCDAs into the constitution so as to be recognised as local government, bill for the excision of Orile Oko from Remo North Local Government into Obafemi-Owode Local Government of Ogun State, bill for boundary adjustment of Isheri Olofin Mole between Lagos and Ogun State as well as Bill to change Irewole Local Government in Osun State to Ikire.”
Barawu said that other demands that the 10th Senate is equally passionate about are constitutional roles for the traditional rulers as well as reserved seats for women at both national and state assemblies.
He added that in as much as the national assembly has always in the past wanted roles for the traditional rulers to be included in the constitution, the amendment had always failed because of the refusal of the 2/3 of the state House of Assembly of the federation to support the passage of this bill as ordered by the constitution.
Barawu explained, “The last 1999 constitution amendment that we did during the 9th Senate, we almost got there, we almost succeeded with having constitutional roles for our traditional rulers but the law says that constitutional amendment required the approval of 2/3 of the state assemblies in our 36 States.
“That is where it got stalled but I want to advise that as traditional rulers, you have to do a lot of advocacy, you have to take your case to conference of Speakers of the state House of Assembly to get their support. You have to do a lot more too to talk to governors, present your case before the Governor’s Forum because that has always been where the challenge lies.”
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi said that the demand of the traditional rulers to be given constitutional roles is not because they want to be rubbing shoulders with the government but to rather complement government’s efforts and be on the same page in providing qualitative leadership for the people.
Speaking on behalf of other first class traditional rulers, Oba Ogunwusi underscored the need for the constitutional amendment to prioritise the recognition of the traditional institution roles by constitutional roles as it willenhance good governance in the country.
The royal father said that already the traditional rulers are doing a lot in terms of providing security, conflict resolution and general sociocultural and socio-economic development of the country saying that having constitutional backing will further help to do so much for the betterment of the country.
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