By Peter Dansu The Ogu General Assembly (OGA), a socio-cultural umbrella body representing the minority Ogu ethnic nationality in Lagos an...
By Peter Dansu
The Ogu General Assembly (OGA), a socio-cultural umbrella body representing the minority Ogu ethnic nationality in Lagos and Ogun States, has made a bold and comprehensive case for the restructuring of Nigeria during the ongoing constitutional review process at the National Assembly.
In a detailed memorandum presented to the Senate and House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee, OGA urged the federal government to grant full autonomy to local governments and create a new Badagry State, arguing that the current structure marginalizes both the Ogu people and other minority ethnic nationalities.
Founded on the need to amplify the voices of the Ogu, the Assembly said it consulted widely among its traditional institutions, community leaders, diaspora stakeholders, and grassroots representatives before reaching its positions. The Ogu are indigenous to several local governments in Lagos and Ogun States, including Badagry, Ojo, Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and parts of Abeokuta, Ipokia, and Yewa.
At the core of OGA’s submission is a passionate demand for the creation of Badagry State, carved from the historical Old Badagry District — now largely encompassing Lagos West and Ogun West Senatorial Districts. The group argued that these areas have remained the most underrepresented and neglected in terms of development and political recognition in both Lagos and Ogun.
“The creation of Badagry State, with its capital in Badagry, will bring governance closer to our people, correct historical injustices, and foster lasting peace and unity,” the group stated in its memorandum signed by 13 prominent Ogu leaders, including Prof. Jendele Hungbo, Dr. Tony Dansu, and retired Commodore Festus Hodewu.
OGA also called for a shift from Nigeria’s expensive and allegedly lopsided presidential system to a more cost-effective, inclusive parliamentary structure. Under the model proposed, the president would be elected by parliament and share executive responsibilities with a speaker, with both coming from different geo-political regions to ensure balance.
Addressing one of Nigeria’s most pressing grassroots governance challenges, OGA insisted that local government autonomy must be constitutionally guaranteed and protected from state interference. The current constitutional provisions that place local governments under state houses of assembly, they said, must be reviewed. Any manipulation or diversion of local government funds by state governments, they argued, should be criminalised.
In its recommendations on fiscal federalism, the Assembly proposed a radical overhaul of the national revenue sharing formula. It suggested a 30 percent allocation to local governments, 35 percent to states, and 35 percent to the federal government — a departure from the current model that disproportionately favours the federal tier. This, they said, would help drive equitable development across all regions.
The memorandum also contained strong proposals on judicial reform. It advocated for an autonomous judiciary with limits on the number of cases a judge can handle and clear timelines for the resolution of civil and criminal matters. Additionally, OGA pushed for more courts at all levels, including an Appeal Court in every state and Supreme Court benches in all geopolitical zones.
On security, OGA recommended the establishment of state police and the formal recognition of local vigilante outfits, arguing that localized security would lead to better intelligence sharing and community safety. It also called for the active involvement of traditional rulers — known as Aholu in Ogu culture — in security and governance structures, stating that their roles should reflect their cultural authority and be constitutionally recognised.
The Assembly further proposed the establishment of a Border Area Development Commission (BADC) to address the unique challenges faced by Nigeria’s border communities — including Badagry and Ipokia. It demanded that 10 percent of all government revenues generated through border activities be returned to the host communities, citing environmental degradation, economic exclusion, and loss of cultural identity as serious issues requiring redress.
In a striking cultural appeal, the group decried what it called a systemic erasure of the Ogu identity. They lamented that Ogu children are taught in English and Yoruba in schools, contrary to the National Language Policy which supports mother-tongue instruction. To prevent language extinction and promote inclusion, OGA urged the National Assembly to enshrine cultural protections for all minority languages and peoples, including formal recognition of Aholu as kings in their communities.
They also weighed in on broader constitutional reforms, including opposition to extending immunity beyond governors and the president; a push for part-time, unicameral legislature to reduce costs; and allowing states to control their mineral resources while remitting royalties to the federal government and affected local governments.
Perhaps most crucially, the Assembly called for a change to the cumbersome process of state creation. They proposed replacing the current requirement of a two-thirds majority of state houses of assembly with a simpler majority, to allow genuine geo-cultural aspirations like the creation of Badagry State to be realised.
The memo concluded with a firm expression of patriotism: “We believe in the sanctity and unity of the Nigerian state and will continue to work towards the realisation of a better structured Nigeria that works for all.”
The Ogu General Assembly’s submission marks one of the most sweeping and inclusive memoranda received in the ongoing constitutional review process and signals a growing push for deeper federalism, justice for ethnic minorities, and grassroots empowerment.
As the National Assembly continues to receive input from stakeholders across the country, eyes now turn to whether these bold demands — particularly the creation of Badagry State — will make it into the next constitutional amendment.
ليست هناك تعليقات