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Bill to establish new Oyo State and rename existing one to Ibadan State passes second reading in House of Reps.

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A bill aimed at creating a new Oyo State and renaming the existing Oyo State to Ibadan State has successfully passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.

Ekwutosblog reported that the  bill, sponsored by Akeem Adeyemi, son of the late Alafin Adeyemi, along with six other lawmakers, proposes that Oyo Town will serve as the capital of the newly established state, while Ibadan City will remain the capital of the renamed Ibadan State.

The constitution alteration bill was approved during a plenary session on Tuesday and will now be referred to the Constitutional Review Committee for further legislative scrutiny.

This development follows the passage of a similar bill last week aimed at creating Ogoja State from Cross River in Nigeria’s south-south geopolitical zone, as part of ongoing efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution.

Notably, no new states have been created since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.

The proposed legislation also includes plans for the division of the existing 33 local governments between the two states, which has sparked discussions about governance and resource distribution in the region.

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You told Nigerians not to vote for you if no electricity – ADC reminds Tinubu

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of breaking his campaign promise of providing Nigerians with 24-hour electricity.

In a post shared on Sunday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said more than 90 million Nigerians still have no access to electricity, over two years into President Tinubu’s administration.

“Today, we just want to take some time to remind President Tinubu that he promised Nigerians uninterrupted electricity within four years. Yes, that’s right, Mr. President promised us 24/7 power. All by himself.

“Yet today, the facts speak louder than Mr. President’s penchant for broken promises.Since Tinubu took office, electricity tariffs have jumped by 240%, but the grid has collapsed 12 times, plunging millions of homes and businesses into repeated darkness.

“Over 90 million Nigerians still lack electricity, and those who have access only get four to six hours a day. In rural communities, most of Nigeria’s 50 million families remain completely off the grid, with no access to electricity at all,” Abdullahi wrote on X.

He added that despite all this, there has been no major reform, no clear roadmap
and no urgency from the Tinubu-led administration.

“We are past the halfway mark of this administration, and millions of Nigerians are still charging their phones at mobile charging kiosks, and spending hundreds of thousands to fuel their generators,” he added.

He reminded the President that he once promised to fix electricity or not expect votes in return, and said Nigerians have not forgotten.

The ADC called on President Tinubu to explain why the electricity situation is not improving and asked how much longer Nigerians must wait.

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Emir of Daura throws weight behind Tinubu’s 2027 bid

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The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar, has declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid should he decide to contest in the 2027 elections.

He openly declared his support on Saturday during a condolence visit by First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to the family of the late President Muhammadu Buhari at Daura, Katsina State.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu led a delegation comprising wives of key political figures, including the spouses of the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, governors, ministers, and military chiefs.

The entourage offered heartfelt condolences to Hajiya Aisha Buhari and the extended Buhari family.

Receiving the entourage at his palace, Emir Farouk paid tribute to the late Buhari’s statesmanship and patriotism.

In a bold political declaration, the Emir used the occasion to throw the full weight of his Emirate behind President Tinubu’s leadership, affirming Daura’s loyalty and political alignment.

“President Bola Tinubu remains our choice for 2027,” the monarch declared.

“We stand firmly with him and will continue to support his administration as it strives to deliver on its mandate to the Nigerian people.”

Senator Tinubu, in her remarks, celebrated Buhari’s legacy of integrity, sacrifice, and national service.

She said Nigerians would continue to remember his legacy.

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Obolo: Akwa Ibom groups clash in Calabar over demands for new state

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Many groups that traveled from Akwa Ibom State to Calabar, capital of Cross River State, venue for the South-South Centre B Zonal Public Hearing on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, clashed over their demands for the creation of Obolo State from present Akwa Ibom State.

Pro-groups and anti-groups competed in shouting matches and for spaces to display their banners and posters at the venue in a bid to arrest the attention of the lawmakers and other dignitaries present.

Some of the banners against the creation of Obolo State carried inscriptions such as: We Say No to Obolo State on Ibibio Ancestral Land, Don’t Create Obolo State, Entire Akwa Ibom Coastline is Ibibioland, No Inch of Ibibio Land Will Be Ceded to Settlers for a State.

Pro-banners had messages like: Please Create Obolo State. We’re Marginalized, We’re Tired of Deprivations, We Own Oil Wells But No Development, etc.

The pro-groups demanding the creation of Obolo State, which they listed should comprise the five existing LGAs making up Oro Nation in Akwa Ibom—such as Oron, Okobo, Uruefong Oruko, Mbo, Udung Uko, as well as Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, and Andoni in Rivers State, complained of alleged “mindless marginalization” and deprivation by the domineering and majority Ibibio people.

They insisted that they can no longer be denied their freedom and greater opportunities, including infrastructure and development.

They refuted the claims by the larger ethnic group of Ibibio that they are settlers on their lands.

Speaking about the imperatives for the creation of Obolo State, President General of Oro-Obolo Peoples’ Union, Engr. Ngerebara Sampson Adumu, said the creation of Obolo State will right historical wrongs and unlock the vast potentials of the people to the country.

Citing historical and legal documents, Adumu refuted the claims by mainland people of Akwa Ibom State that the people who constitute the Obolo are settlers.

Pleading with the National Assembly to consider the creation of Obolo State, he disclosed that they have a population of over 1.3 million and vast oil potentials, and can survive as a state.

“The claims of Ekid-Ibibio ownership over Obolo, particularly Ibeno lands, are unfounded in law and history, with no credible evidence supporting them.

“We’re not settlers. We have a centuries-long history of habitation along the Atlantic coast, with a distinct cultural identity shaped by our maritime traditions and trade with European merchants dating back to the 17th century.”

One of the leaders of the Ibibio groups, Chief Umoh Ime, insisted that historically the Obolos were originally fishermen who came from today’s Rivers State and were allotted the lands by their forebears.

“They can’t come to claim our lands. They should leave the land, as we shall never cede any parts for a state to be created inside our state.”

Addressing journalists, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, Mr. Kingsley Chinda, disclosed that the idea of holding zonal engagement was for the Representatives to speak with the people on their concerns on the 1999 Constitution.

Chinda, who is the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, said they want to ensure that Nigerians own their constitution by making inputs on its amendment.

“We want to make our Constitution one that is owned by the people, which is why we are speaking with the people who elected us.

“In this Centre B, we have discussed with the people of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, and we have gotten their inputs. We will take these inputs back to the Parliament for further deliberations,” he noted.

“Some of these inputs will reflect in the about-to-be-amended Constitution, but it would be sent to state assemblies to look at and return to them to conclude actions.”

Several groups from Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River States attended the session and made their presentations.

Two groups from Rivers State also presented their pleas for the creation of Bori and Atlantic City States.

Movement for the Creation of Ogoja State also made input.

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