BREAKING: Remo Committee Submits Report, Proposes Remo-Ijebu State, Sagamu As capital

The Remo Committee on State Creation set up by the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, HRM Oba (Dr) Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, CON, to prepare a memorandum for creation of a new State out of Ogun State, has submitted its report, with Remo-Ijebu State as the proposed name, and Sagamu as the proposed State capital.

The Chairman of the Committee, Aare Kola Oyefeso presented the 66-Page Memorandum to the Akarigbo in his palace with committee members, some Remo royal fathers, youths, other indegenes and media men in attendance.

The Akarigbo, in his response to the summary of the report, made it clear that this memorandum reflects the position of Remo people and his own views on the whole new state creation palaver. He emphasized on the need for people to reject and forget all rumours and whatever anyone might have said he wrote or signed in the past, because this is the latest and authentic document on the State being proposed out of the defunct Ijebu Province.

While briefing the media men, Aare Oyefeso noted that the document contains critical reasons for demanding for the creation of new State from the defunct Ijebu Province, out of the present Ogun State. He stated the distinct identity of the Remo people, different from the Ijebus and the need to protect their cultural heritage.

WHY SAGAMU IS PROPOSED AS CAPITAL 

The press release the committee made available to media men stated strong reasons for backing Sagamu as the capital.

“Empirical data supports the siting of the capital in Sagamu, considering the exponential growth and developments in Remo Land over the last three decades,” the committee stated.

The committee also emphasized that Sagamu has naturally evolved into the commercial hub of Remo Land, making it a logical choice as the capital of the proposed state.

“The issue of making Remo Land or Sagamu the commercial capital is already settled by providence and doesn’t require any further endorsement,” the memorandum asserts.

PROTECTING THE REMO IDENTITY 

According to the committee, the core element of the memorandum is the protection of the unique Remo identity, which the committee emphasized must be safeguarded within the proposed state.

Remo people are historically distinct from the Ijebus, which the release is clearly stated in the memorandum, tracing their ancestry to Iremo Quarters in Ile-Ife, Osun State, from where they migrated centuries ago. Adding that they maintain their contact with their roots, Iremo Quarters.

It also stressed that any attempt to subjugate the Remo identity in the proposed State will not be acceptable.

 A CALL FOR MORE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Through the memorandum, according to the release, Remo people also demanded for creation of more local government areas (LGAs) within the proposed state.

The committee presented facts and figures justifying the need for more local government areas in Sagamu and Remo Land, because they are experiencing significant influx of people from Lagos and other areas.

Recommended News:

• Electricity Blackout: IBEDC Assures Improved Power Supply After Sagamu Youth Association Issue 48-Hour Ultimatum
• BREAKING: Remo Ijebu State Creation Committee Set To Present Report To Akarigbo
• SYA Joins Akarigbo, Umahi, Abiodun Other Stakeholders At Official Flag-Off Reconstruction Of Sagamu-Benin Expressway

The current structure of local government is inadequate to manage the growing population and economic expansion. And that creation of additional local government areas would enhance governance and facilitate even development.

A STRONG PUSH FOR STATEHOOD

The committee noted that Ogun East Senatorial District, also known as Ijebu Province, is the only province in Nigeria that was created before independence in 1960 but has not been uplifted to the status of a State.

This, they made clear, justifies the urgent need for the Nigerian government to address this political imbalance and grant the people of Remo and Ijebu their long-overdue statehood.

ROYAL AND POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS

The submitted report enjoys full backing from the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remo Land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, who confirmed that the memorandum reflects the collective position of the Remo people.

“The report of the committee represents the position of the Remo people, regardless of any previous documents,” the monarch stated.

Speaking further, the Committee chairman, Oyefeso said:

“We acknowledge and appreciate our Royal Majesty, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remo Land, for assembling the Remo Committee on State Creation and entrusting it with the task of consulting widely among our people and packaging their positions into a memorandum.”

“The request for state creation is unique, considering that Ogun East, also known as Ijebu Province, is the only province created before independence in 1960 yet to be established as a state.”

“In compiling the memorandum, we consulted extensively among our people, receiving numerous submissions that have been harmonized into a comprehensive document.” He added.

The committee then called for support from key political figures, including Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Senator representing Ogun East, and other critical stakeholders at both state and national levels.

“We humbly request the support of our Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun CON, who is making Remo proud by ensuring even distribution of dividends of democracy across the state. We also seek the support of our Ogun East representatives at the National Assembly and at the state level, for posterity to remember them for good in the fullness of time.”

After accepting the report Oba Ajayi noted that the next phase in the Remo-Ijebu State movement is the presentation of the memorandum to the National Assembly, where lawmakers will deliberate on the proposal.

Royal Fathers from each of the three local government areas were represented by the Onipara of Ipara Remo (Remo North), Onirolu of Irolu Remo (Ikenne) Elepe of Epe, Oba Adewale Osiberu (Sagamu), and others, who all endorsed the document.

Other members of the committee who were present, among who also spoke were: Aare Kola Oyefeso (Chairman), Otunba Tunji Lawal Solarin (Member), Sen Dipo Odujirin (Member), Chief Akin Soname (Member), Engr Dele Amoda (Member), Prince Abdul Abayomi (Member), Mr Fatai Folarin (Member), Mr Sesan Ogun (Member), Hon John Obafemi (Member/Technical Adviser), Mr Wole Awe (Secretary).

The House of Assembly member from Sagamu, Hon Adeniran Ademola Adeyinka,( a.k.a. Sapele) and his counterpart from Remo North Local Govt Area, Hon Dickson Kolawole Awolaja, were in attendance, apart from Senator Dipo Odujirin of the Second Republic.

The committee was formed following the decision of the Stakeholders Meeting on the State creation held in January 2025 inside the Multipurpose Hall of the Akarigbo Palace in Sagamu, Ogun State, which Oba Ajayi called for and invited the Oba Awujale and Ijebu people to attend, after the first one held in Ijebu Ode at the Palace of Awujale of Ijebuland, which Akarigbo said cannot be binding on Remo because Remo and Ijebu are two Divisions that formed the defunct Ijebu Province and one cannot be subordinate to another.