Proponents of a new state for the Southeast may have crossed a major hurdle.
Members of the National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government agreed yesterday that the Southeast geo political zone should be at par with others. The Southeast has five states; others zones have a minimum of six states.
Though the proposal is subject to the approval of the plenary, there were no dissenting voices from delegates from other zones. Jubilant Southeast delegates praised the magnanimity of the Committee.
Besides, the Committee has adopted a simplified procedure if states wish to merge.
Members of the Committee were unanimous in supporting the creation of additional state for the Southeast.
But Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange warned that the creation would lead to a deluge of demands from other parts of the country. This, in his view, may be difficult to manage.
He said the viability of additional states should be considered as only five could be said to be viable of the 36 states. He said fiscal federalism would put a stop to agitation for state creation.
Senator Ahmed Aruwa said the Southeast demand was legitimate as the request had been on for long. States, he said, should be created where necessary – in line with conditions spelt out in the Constitution.
Yinka Odumakin supporting the Southesast demand, noted that frivolous demands for states would only cease when the injustice perpetrated by the government is addressed.
Senator Femi Okuromu argued that the merger of states was not the same as the creation of a new one that has stringent conditions stipulated in the extant laws.
He suggested that a referendum within the affected states should be enough to give legal backing to the merger.
But Malam Sule Hamma pointed out that a merger would mean that the constitution that gives recognition to 36 states would have been tinkered with, meaning that a constitutional amendment is taking place with such a merger.
Dr. Abubakar Mohammed said the committee should propose a process for state merger since it has to be initialed by the people of the states involved.
According to the co-chairman of the committee, delegates decided that the process must be simplified for a merger of two or more states to occur and without prejudice to the federating unit, it must go through a referendum of 75 per cent of the people.
In addition, two-thirds majority of the states affected must pass the resolution. A simple majority at the National Assembly should suffice.
Okuronmu said the committee’s decision was a slow progress for it on the demands of various interests in the group and the triumph of dialogue.
He noted that though the Southwest could not carry through its demand on regionalism, it gained some ground, with the adoption of merger of willing states.
“That is something that allows the West, if it wants to have a zonal government without prejudice to the states as the federating units.
“The implication is that each state would still get its dues from the centre as federating unit but they can come together as one, pool their resources to form a government for the progress and development of their people,” Okunronmu said.
The leader of the Southeast delegation and co-chairman of the committee, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, appreciating the “understanding” and “maturity” of the members on the demand of the Southeast for an additional state, said there might be a recommendation from the committee for equality of states in the zones.
He said with agitations from across the country, there is a need to listen to eliminate marginalisation especially when someone may find it easier to aspire for national political office than from his or her own state. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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That is one step forward.
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