Iheanacho Nwosu
1 July 2008
FRESH hope for the creation of additional states in the country was raised yesterday by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who said that the Upper House would support the proposal.
Speaking newsmen in Lagos, Ekweremadu also announced that the joint constitution review committee will observe some 'no go areas' in the amendment of 1999 constitutions.
The deputy Senate President, by the virtue of his position will head the committee which is expected to be inaugurated at the yet-to-be fixed date. He assured that move states would be created to help give balanced sense of belonging to the six geo-political zones in the country.
He however did not state the number of states that may be created and that time frame for such creation Ekweremadu assurance on the matter is coming less than a month after Senate President David Mark raised hope that the Upper House would give favourable consideration to the agitation. He sad that the demand by the Idoma, his ethnic group for the creation of Apa State, out of the present Benue State was legitimate.
Also, Senator Mark had while addressing a delegation of the Njaba State Movement in Abuja in April, vowed to mobilize support for the emergence of the new state.
The proposed state is expected to be carved out of the present Anambra and Imo States in South East geo-political zone.
Last week, Senate leader, Testim-Folarin canvassed the creation of Ibadan State from the present Oyo State saying that his people deserved a new state.
Ekweremadu said the Senate will examine the merit of calls by different associations and ethnic groups for new states.
"We will look at each proposal on its merit. We will look at the viability of such state if created", he said.
On what to look out for in the new bid for constitution review, the deputy Senate President, ruled out entertaining any proposal(s) on tenure for President, governor or other political offices.
"We will not entertain tenure elongation", he stated categorically, saying that his committee would not like a repeat of the last initiative which failed "because of tenure elongation".
He assured that the committee would be guided by fairness and equity in the discharge of its duties.
Commenting on calls for the pruning of the number of registered political parties, he stated that there was need to peg the number of parties to either two or three. He described that present arrangement as unwieldy, stating however that the situation is made possible by the constitution.
The lawmaker faulted criticism of the national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, by some people, auguring that the man has be fair to party members.
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IT WAS AGREED LAST TIME THAT ONE NEW STATE SHOULD BE CREATED IN THE SOUTH EAST WHICH HAS ONLY FIVE STATES WHILE EACH OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL ZONE IN THE COUNTRY HAS SIX STATES .THIS WAS TO BALANCE THE STATES IN THE FEDERATION. IF THIS IS THE STATE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT ,IT IS IN ORDER,BUT IF MR EKWEREAZU IS TALKING OF CREATING MORE OTHER STATES,IT IS UN NECESSARY BECAUSE EVERY VILLAGE WILL LIKE TO BECOME A STATE.IF NOT THAT THE MILITARY CREATED THE STATES,BY NOW WE WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP IN THE STRUGGLE TO CREATE STATES.
THE CREATION OF THE NEW STATES IN NIGERIA IS VERY IMPERATIVE, MORE ESPECIALLY IN MY STATE, (KANO). IF YOU LOOK AT KANO SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT, THE DISTRICT HAS 16 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH AT LEAST 3.36 MILLION PEOPLE, 14 DAMS AND SO MANY MINERAL RESOURCES.
Agitation for creation of more states and local governments will never end no matter how many we create now or in the future. However, a simple solution to end such angry agitation is to constitutionally empower all communities in Nigeria to elect their leaders in democratic way. Democracy is working in Federal, state and L.G. levels, the most prominent question is; why can't we extend the same democratic principles to our communities? In some states, it is the governors that appoint the traditional or religious rulers while in other states it goes to the mightiest who may even kill others to rule. Community leadership elected by the people of each community will be accountable and answerable to the people, and not the kingmakers and godfathers at Abuja or state capitals. Thank God we are about to review our constitution. Once the constitution guarantees that, then the traditional/religious rulers will have time to focus on their specific functions; which are: peace, unity, preservation of our culture/customs, building moral standards and performing ceremonial roles. Once we do these, not only will fierce agitation for more creation of states die, but socioeconomic development will reach our people who have been neglected for so long. Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!, Long Live Africa!!, WE SHALL OVERCOME!!!