By Halimah Olamide
The House of Representatives, have passed a bill seeking to split Oyo into two states for second reading.
The bill was sponsored by Hon. Adeniyi Adeyemi and six other lawmakers.
It also seeks to establish Oyo as the capital of the newly proposed state.
Leading the debate on the bill, Adeyemi established that the bill was not entirely new to the parliament.
He recalled that the bill was successfully passed in the Second Republic by both chambers (National Assembly) awaiting the presidential asset before military takeover.
Adeyemi explained that the National Assembly in 1983 successfully passed a motion on the creation of New Oyo State with Oyo Town as its Capital.
He also noted that the 2014 national conference which held in Abuja also recommended the creation of a new Oyo State.
“The 2014 National Conference held in Abuja also recommended in its final report for the creation of New Oyo State with Oyo town as its capital.
“This is stated in volume II page 708 of the report, It’s noteworthy that present Oyo State deserves to be split into two being the largest state in terms of landmass in the South-West geopolitical zone with thirty-three Local Governments and it has a population of 5,580,894 people (2006 census).
The bill is expected to be subjected to a public hearing ahead of the third reading and concurrence by the Senate.