By ABIODUN LAWAL

The Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, has urged the people of Remoland to strengthen unity and cooperation with their Ijebu kinsmen in pursuit of the proposed Ijebu-Remo state.

Akpabio, who made the call at the 2025 Remo Day celebration held at the Akarigbo Pavilion in Sagamu on Saturday, described harmony as essential to the realisation of the collective aspiration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is themed: “One People, Diverse Cultures, One Identity.”

He described the Remo people as industrious, enterprising and astute industrialists, noting that their spirit of cooperation would be pivotal to the creation of the new state.

“I want to urge the Remo people to continue to live in peace. Remo is blessed with hardworking industrialists, which explains the concentration of industries in this area.

“I want you to work closely with the Ijebu people towards the creation of Ijebu state. We at the National Assembly will support you.

“I’ll not speak about where the capital will be located, but you already know. However, the capital must be in a peaceful environment,” he said.

Akpabio said that the cultural celebration served as an opportunity for collective reflection and strategic thinking about the development of the homeland.

He added that his presence at the event symbolised Nigeria’s unity across ethnic boundaries, stressing that diversity should be embraced as a strength rather than a weakness in nation-building.

The senate president assured Nigerians that insecurity across the country would soon become a thing of the past, noting that President Bola Tinubu is working assiduously to address the nation’s security challenges.

Akpabio also commended Gov. Dapo Abiodun for his infrastructural strides across the state, singling out the Gateway International Airport, which he described as the best airport in the country.

In his remarks, Abiodun described Remoland as a land blessed with illustrious sons and daughters who had contributed immensely to the development of Ogun state and Nigeria.

The governor said that the massive turnout at the event underscored the unifying power of culture, warning that societies that lose touch with their roots risk losing their identity.

“Remo is far more than a geographical expression; it is a people defined by a rich and enduring history,” the governor said.

Earlier, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, said the vision behind instituting Remo Day was to celebrate, preserve and project Remo culture to the global stage. (NAN)