Former Ogun State Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel has said that the people of Remo in Ogun State are no longer pursuing the creation of a Remo State.
He recently revealed that the people are ready to collaborate with their Ijebu kinsmen in actualizing the creation of Ijebu Remo State out of the present Ogun State.
Speaking at his 4th Asiwaju of Remo Christians Choir Festival, held at Abraham’s Tabernacle Ecumenical Worship Centre, Sagamu, on Sunday, Gbenga announced that as long as their culture and identity will not be impacted negatively under the guise of state creation, the people of Remo have agreed to go with their Ijebu kinsmen.
He commended the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government’s efforts to guarantee good governance and make life better for Nigerians with several economic reforms and policies.
Otunba Daniel stated that Reno people would want the new state to be named Ijebu-Remo State, just like it was with Akwa-Ibom State.
On the current state of the nation, Gbenga declared that instead of concentrating on the discomfort that Tinubu’s economic reforms have been causing, Nigerians should focus on the positive results they would eventually yield.
According to him, President Tinubu is doing everything within his power to boost national stability and good governance, and the citizens will just have to remain supportive until we all build a Nigeria we can be proud of.
“For instance for some years now, the local government that are the closest to the people are not functional, they were not funded and could not do anything to improve the life of the people at the grassroots, but in the last few months and with efforts of President Tinubu, all of these are changing, money is now being released to our local governments.
Similarly, sometimes last year, we started an experiment on the Development Commissions. When we started this process, many thought that it was not going to happen, but today the President has assented to this bill establishing the Southwest Development Commission.
What this means is that aside from the federal, the state and the local governments, we now have a quasi-regional government and when you look at what the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo did when we had regional government, then you can begin to appreciate the strategic direction of Mr. President,” he said.
He further noted that because of the subsidy removal, the monthly allocation accruing to each state of the federation has increased massively, stressing that the decision will lead to more development in different Nigerian states.
He concluded by saying that by the time the newly assented bill on tax reforms becomes operational in 2026, each state might be getting four or five times its current allocation.
