Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has defended his role in the agitation for the creation of Ethiope State, saying the proposal failed to advance during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari because the Federal Government was opposed to the creation of new states.
Omo-Agege, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Strategy and Communications, Godwin Anaughe, in a statement issued on Monday, said his position on the agitation had remained consistent and was guided by constitutional realities rather than political expediency.
The statement was issued in response to recent exchanges among stakeholders involved in the campaign for the creation of Ethiope State, during which references were made to comments Omo-Agege reportedly made while addressing a delegation of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) in September 2020.
According to the statement, Omo-Agege, who served as Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, had advised the UPU delegation that state creation was a constitutional process requiring broad national consensus, bipartisan support and cooperation from the executive arm of government.
The former lawmaker maintained that he did not abandon the agitation but used his office to ensure the aspirations of the Urhobo people were presented at the highest levels of government.
The statement further revealed that Omo-Agege, alongside the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, met with then President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss more than 100 constitutional amendment proposals, including requests for the creation of new states.
According to him, Buhari made it clear that his administration would not support the creation of additional states, making the prospect of successfully passing any state creation bill virtually impossible.
“President Buhari’s position was clear and final. He stated unequivocally that his administration would not support the creation of new states. With the executive opposed, any attempt to force a state creation bill through would have been legislative theatre, not governance,” the statement said.
Omo-Agege argued that the political environment had changed under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he said had publicly expressed support for state creation, creating what he described as a fresh opportunity to actualise the long-standing aspiration of the Urhobo people.
He challenged serving federal lawmakers representing Delta Central Senatorial District to put aside political differences and work together to sponsor and advance the Ethiope State Creation Bill while the opportunity exists.
“The window is open and it will not stay open forever. The time for legislation is now,” the statement said.
The former Deputy Senate President also called on the Urhobo Progress Union, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Urhobo people, to provide non-partisan leadership and mobilise support for the renewed push for Ethiope State.
The statement criticised Senator Ede Dafinone, accusing him of failing to support the agitation and of previously making comments that undermined those championing the cause. It alleged that Dafinone declined to lead the campaign when approached and instead supported the creation of another proposed state.
Omo-Agege, however, said he had consistently refrained from attacking supporters of the Ethiope State project and remained committed to its actualisation.
He pledged that if Ethiope State is not created before the 2027 general elections and he returns to the Senate, he would sponsor the Ethiope State Creation Bill during the first legislative session and work across party lines to secure its passage.
“Should Ethiope State remain uncreated before the 2027 elections, Senator Omo-Agege will, upon his return to the Senate, table the Ethiope State Creation Bill in the very first legislative session and dedicate his efforts to mobilising bipartisan support until the state becomes a reality,” the statement added.
The former Deputy Senate President urged Urhobo leaders and stakeholders to set aside political differences and unite behind the quest for Ethiope State, describing the demand as a constitutional right and a collective aspiration of the Urhobo Nation.
The statement was signed by Godwin Anaughe, Special Adviser on Strategy and Communications to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
