A valid question.
First of all, I had been talking about these ideas on irc before. When I asked about ducal independence, I was told that it would eventually get implemented. So hence why I was waiting. This, however, before I became ruler of Ibladesh. Back then I was already the judge of Ibladesh... but judges can't make those decisions, now can they?
Secondly, albeit Itorunt being conquered, the regions were in such a horrible shape that it took them nearly a year to recover (as in, they have recovered by now - but these are recent events). Next to that I was duke of Semall myself, and proposing the whole idea as a duke might come over wrong... although, clearly, this one does too.
Thirdly, another goal of mine was to turn Ibladesh into a more rigid Theocracy where religion would play a central role. I believe that has now been achieved, and hence there's room for the next step. We have managed to convert all of our regions and expand all of our necessary temples.