As part of the process of amending the Nigerian constitution by the National Assembly to accommodate various interests, zonal public hearings are being convened across the country. Among the major issues that have dominated demands by various ethnic nationalities are the creation of new states and the adoption of regional governments that would enable each zone to develop at its own pace. These issues are generating both interests and heated debates for the future of the country.

?Each region had a specific product, which earned them money for effective participation and administrative management by the executives of each of the regional governments.

?Looking back, the trademark in the North was production of groundnuts; the East had coal and palm oil, while the West was rich with production of cocoa beans aside from other cash crops.

?This beloved country, Nigeria, thrived in those years by effectively managing and monitoring its activities to maintain itself. She was known for specific economic products at international levels. We did well.

?By the time 12 states were created, the original foundation got destroyed and unity became shaky.

?In the end, oil came and the seriousness of purpose got totally destroyed. As if that was not enough, we were further broken into 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory and we lost all completely.

?We lost our sense of direction. We lost our common goal. We lost our oneness and our common aspiration.

Spokesperson of the forum, Prof. Abubakar Jika Jiddere, told Sunday Sun that many states in the country have large population and land mass that qualify them for additional states and local government areas.

?If people have demands on the political system, they put it forward. If on the other hand they don?t have, like the South East, so be it. No one will ask or request the South East to demand for state creation if they don?t want any more state. The viability of a state depends on so many factors ranging from the availability of resources in the area, landmass, population to mention just a few.

?We have a large number of untapped resources which can be used to develop other sectors. We are still not cultivating up to 25% of the agriculturally viable lands in Nigeria. Agriculture is the largest employer of labor in Nigeria and the only sector that can stimulate economic growth and diversification easily. For instance, in Akwa-Ibom state, we can plant more than two million palm trees, in Benue we can plant five million, in Taraba we can plant 10 million.

?All the states from Kaduna to Lagos, from Taraba to Rivers are good for palm oil production and similar export commodities and which can stimulate industrialisation. The problem of Nigeria is leadership. If Dangote as an individual can establish one of the biggest refineries in the world why can?t we fix our existing ones,? NEF spokesperson said.

Only S?East deserves new state, restructuring ? Ohanaeze

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has renewed its call for the creation of additional states for the South East geopolitical zone, stressing that political leaders from other zones that are clamouring for an additional state are only hoping to rely on oil revenue of the country for survival.

?There is no doubt that the South East is the only zone that was treated unfairly during the successive state creation exercises by past governments. It is the height of injustice that for decades, the South East is the only zone with five states, when other zones have six or seven as the case may be.

?If we are truly talking of one nation and one people, rather than rhetoric and make-belief, justice demands that at least another one state should be created for the South East now before talking of new state creation in the country.

?You may recall that the 2014 National Political Reform Conference made a recommendation to this effect,? Mbata stated.

State creation okay, but we want restructuring ? Afenifere

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has declared that although it is not against the creation of new states in Nigeria, what is more important is the restructuring of the country.

National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Mr. Jare Ajayi, in a chat with Sunday Sun, threw a spotlight on the absence of good governance and fairness.

The organisation also emphasised the urgent need to restructure Nigeria in a way that would empower constituents to have more control over matters affecting them directly.

?Besides, it is a known fact that many existing states cannot thrive without monthly allocations from the central purse.

?What this means is that further balkanisation may make the states to be more at the mercy of the Federal Government.

?By the foregoing, we?re not saying that states should not be created where there are genuine reasons to do so.

?What we are saying is that the priority now should be to restructure the country in such a manner that the constituents would have more control over matters peculiar to them respectively.

?Were there to be good governance, agitations for state creation would be less, especially since viability must be an important factor in the determination of the issue,? he stated.

?There are places where you find just granite. You know how much you pay for granite tiles? So, even such places are viable. So in terms of viability, everywhere is viable.

?The military favored themselves and their cronies when they created and bloated some states with local governments, and they are using these local governments to siphon money from the centre, and shortchanging others who don?t have the requisite number of local governments. ?The future of Nigeria will be such that local governments will be taken off the radar, it will be the concern of the states, which are the federating units. If any state wants, it can create as many local governments as it desires, but they will not attract something from the Federation Account; they will be components or the development areas of the state. By the time such is done, the states being the federating units may then eventually congregate to form zones or regions like we have today, depending on what is beneficial to Nigeria.

?The creation of more states is trying to address our plurality because we were lumped together by the British through the bringing together of the Northern and Southern protectorates; and then in the North, they placed the Northern nationalities under the caliphate and Sultanate of Borno as satellite groups under the indirect rule principle. These areas continue to be the subjects or colonies of these emirates.

?So, creating states will free them out of these shackles of bondage so that they will be free people in the democratic independent Nigeria. It doesn?t matter how many states we create; every state in this country is viable if these resources are harnessed and utilised judiciously. All we are after is that something that works for Nigeria should be explored.?

Regionalism?ll stop the clamour for more states ? INC

The Ijaw National Congress says the adoption of a regional structure will put an end to the clamour for the creation of new states in the country.

Lawyers kick against state creation

Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Dave Ajetomobi, has voiced strong opposition to the ongoing calls for the creation of additional states in the country. His remarks come amid the proposed constitutional review currently being considered by the National Assembly.

Ajetomobi argued that the existing states are already grappling with limited resources and struggling to sustain themselves.

According to him, adding more states would only deepen the nation?s socio-political and economic challenges.

?In my candid view, existing states are struggling to survive. Creating other states will bring more crises into the federation,? he said. Rather than creation of more states, Ajetomobi advocates for a decentralisation of power, suggesting that more autonomy should be given to the regions to allow them to develop at their own pace.

Another lawyer, Ige Asimudara expressed the view that the creation of new states won?t solve Nigeria?s problems.

?We need to address the way and manner we hire our leaders,? Asimudara added.

Similarly, Chijioke Ifenkwe said that state creation is not a priority for now.

Ifenkwe in his opinion stated that while such a move could improve governance if handled properly, it is currently a distraction from more urgent national issues.

Ifenkwe acknowledged that state creation, in theory, could help decentralize administration and bring government closer to the people. However, he warned that Nigeria has more pressing challenges that should take precedence.

?If things are done properly, creating new states will not be much of a financial stretch. It may ease administration and governance,? he said. Despite this potential, Ifeknkwe cautioned against diverting attention from Nigeria?s core problems.

?This country has the pressing issue to address, state creation is just a distraction at this time,? he added. A human rights activist and lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu, criticized the ongoing agitations for the creation of new states in Nigeria, describing the move as insincere and politically motivated.

?Nigeria was once a country of just four regions, and there was development. When it became 12 states, there was still development. Even with 19 states, the country still progressed. The issue is not about the number of states, but about sincerity and good governance,? he concluded.

Akingbolu called for a shift in focus from state creation to strengthening existing structures and addressing the core issues of governance, accountability, and resource management. (Saturday Sun)

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