allAfrica.com: Nigeria: 'N/A 'll Ensure Creation of More States' (Page 1 of 2)

Hon. Chukwudi Mayor Eze, is a member of the House of Representatives representing Orlu/Orsu/Oru East Federal Constituency of Imo State, he is also a member of the House Committee on States and Local Governments.

In this interview with Amby Uneze, he bares his mind on the proposed constitutional review, agitation for the creation of more states. He also speaks on other sundry issues.

How prepared is the National Assembly for the constitutional review exercise?

Well, let me start by saying that the National Assembly is a very important democratic organ. By the nature of the National Assembly, no other organs of government in Nigeria is more important than the legislative arm. And so far, we have responsive and effective leaderships at the National Assembly. The 103 Senators that make up the Senate and the 360 members of the House represent all shades of opinion in Nigeria. I am happy to be a parliamentarian because it is the conscience of any democratic process in the world

Talking about constitutional amendments, the motion has come to the House and we have duly passed it. Earlier, the Senate had passed a similar motion on the need to review and amend the 1999 Constitution. Now, we are looking forward to the commencement of the exercise. No Constitution is perfect. The essence of the legislative arm is to review and amend the constitution periodically because issues at a particular point in time may be different at a particular time in future. That is why there is a standing legislature in any democracy at all times which looks into, improve, amend and bring new issues to the constitution. So far so good, we are on course. We need prayers from Nigerians because we are determined to do the right thing, to set an agenda for proper legislative and democratic development in the country.

But this matter when it was introduced in the last House, it was so controversial that the document had to be thrown out. Now how are you sure that its re-introduction will not be scuttled the second time?

I don't believe the House scuttled it that time, because they wanted the constitution to be reviewed. In fact, the entire National Assembly was interested in it because of the prevailing circumstances as at that time. I want to tell you that the circumstances are different now. I have no doubt because the National Assembly offers you that opportunity of seeing Nigerians everyday when you see members discussing national issues. One thing is certain; Nigerians want to live together as happy people. Nigerians want the enormous wealth of the country to be properly channeled to the development of this country. This country has no reason to smell poverty from 100 kilometers away . When the right things are done Nigeria will be the envy of the world. That is why this vision 2020 if properly handled, will yield a lot of dividends for the country.

But the issue is that the environment is now conducive to effective, rational constitutional amendment, devoid of unnecessary intervention and interruption from any quarter.

All the arms are ready to work. I keep saying that we are lucky to have a President who despite wielding immense powers and enormous resources available to him, he is still ready to tow the line of democracy and the rule of law. That has provided an enabling environment for the legislature to operate and I want to tell you that I have not noticed or heard of unnecessary intervention from the executive arm. So, he will be setting a standard for future presidents to work within the limits of the rule of law.

The creation of more states will be one of the main issues for constitutional review, how will the National Assembly ensure that more states are created in view of the agitations from the people especially in the South-east geo-political zone who want to meet up with other zones in the country in terms of the number of states?

I am not talking as a member of States and Local Governments Committee in the House of Representatives; I am not talking as the representative of the people of the south-east. I am talking as a rational Nigerian. I want to tell you that the issue of imbalance in the number of states in zones is prinking the conscience of Nigerians. The issue of short-changing of the entire South-east regarding states is a glaring injustice, and man's inhumanity to man. But I believe that in the National Assembly, I have done a lot of interviews with other prominent Nigerians, people outside Igbo land and no Nigerian has ever challenged the issue of the South-east having a minimum of six States like the majority of other zones. Because there is no criteria that gave others a minimum of six states that you cannot see in abundance in the South-east. So, I believe the sixth state for the South-east is a foregone conclusion.

I also believe that the Federal Government may decide in order not to create further problem relating to state creation, can create only one state in the South East. We are reasonable. We are not asking for seven states now. If the majority of other zones have six states we are just asking for a minimum of six states like other zones. First, if more states are to be created in other zones, then definitely South-east will have the number of states being created for other zones plus one in order to make up the age-long imbalance and injustice.

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