From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The Igbomina people, a sub-group of the Yoruba nation, have called for the creation of Igbomina State, which will be carved out of the present Kwara and Osun State. In a statement jointly signed by Chairman and Secretary on Igbomina State Creation, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, and Dr. Fatai Afolabi, made available to journalists on Friday, the people asked that Ila-Orangun in the Osun State should be made the capital of Igbomina State.
The promoter of the new state were optimistic that when created, all the Igbomina people, scattered across Kwara and Osun State, would be brought together under one governance system that aligns with Yoruba customs.
The explained that the movement was framed, not as a call for secession, but as a legitimate demand for reunification and self-determination, which is a part of rights enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution. The Igbomina people traced their lineage to Ile-Ife, under the leadership of Ajagunla, the first Orangun of Ila. They added that Igbomina have built a rich cultural heritage.
Noting that their political identity has been fractured since the 19th century, following the Fulani Jihad, which engulfed Ilorin and expanded its reach into Igbomina territories, they stated that the Igbomina and neighbouring groups lived under a participatory governance system, led by Yoruba Obas, a stark contrast to the autocratic rule imposed by the Fulani emirate.
“The initial betrayal that allowed for Fulani domination is well documented. Afonja, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Oyo, invited the Fulani warlord, Mallam Alimi, into Ilorin, leading to a disastrous turn of events. Following Afonja’s assassination, Ilorin fell under Fulani rule, which subsequently extended its control over Igbomina towns through coercion and cultural suppression.
“The British colonial administration, instead of correcting this injustice, perpetuated it by empowering the Ilorin emirate to govern the Igbomina people. Reports from colonial officials revealed the injustices faced by the Igbomina, yet little was done to address their plight. The Igbomina were subjected to heavy taxation, funding Ilorin’s development, while their own communities suffered neglect,” they said.
