The Committee on Igbomina State Creation has told the House of Representative committe on the review of 1999 Constitution on Friday, that their advocacy is not a call for conflict but justice.
The committee which was appointed by the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Oyedotun and chaired by the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin led traditional rulers, districts heads, three senatorial districts, 16 Local Government Areas of Osun and Kwara State before the panel presided over by Hon James Faleke on Friday.
Speaking after the presentation, the Secretary of the committee, Dr Fatai Afolabi, he commended Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi and other stakeholders for supporting the advocacy for creation of Igbomina land.
He said, “For today’s presentation, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Raimi Adeoti and Dr Adeola Faleye spoke for us on the need for the creation of Igbomina State.
“The quest for the creation of Igbomina State is not a call for conflict but justice, it will signal unity and end oppression. The story of the Igbomina people has stood out as a tragic yet inspiring tale of resilience, cultural survival, and unyielding resistance to foreign domination.”
He lamented that the expansionist moves of the Ilorin-fulani swallowed Igbomina towns under their emirate’s authority, disclosing that, “This was not achieved through peaceful assimilation but through religious deception, intimidation, and later colonial administrative fiat.”
Afolabi noted that Igbomina is vital sub-group of the Yoruba nation whose lineage can be traced to Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race, under the leadership of Ajagunla, the first Orangun of Ila.
“Before this invasion of Fulani, the Igbomina and their neighbours—Ekiti, Ibolo, Moba, and Yagba—lived under the participatory governance of Yoruba Obas, whose authority was checked by councils and guided by community consensus until the subjugation of the Fulani
“For over a century, the Igbomina have endured what no free people should endure—rule by an alien authority that does not reflect their identity, values, or aspirations. The time has come to right this historic wrong.”
He noted that their demand is for creation of a unified Igbomina State with Ila-Orangun as its capital, regrouping all Igbomina under one roof where they can govern themselves in line with Yoruba customs and participatory governance.
“This is not a call for secession or conflict. It is a legitimate call for reunification, an exercise of the same right to self-determination enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution. The Igbomina have no quarrel with Ilorin’s right to exist as a Fulani emirate; they simply insist that they are not part of that story.
“A unified Igbomina State will not only restore cultural dignity but also unleash economic potential. Local governance aligned with local identity breeds development. Cultural institutions will thrive, local councils will flourish, and generations of Igbomina youth will grow up under rulers they know, respect, and trust. The ancestral bond with Ila-Orangun will once again be the rallying point for unity, progress, and self-determination.”
