STATE CREATION: MOVE LUDICROUS, ILL-TIMED, SAYS NNPP
State Creation: MOVE LUDICROUS AND ILL TIMED - NNPP.
The Joint Committee on Amendment of the 1999 Constitution has resolved to create additional states to the existing 36 across the country.
The committee co-chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jubrin Barau, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has received 55 requests for more states.
However, only six proposed states seem to have got the nod of the committee, igniting several opinions from most prominent Nigerians/ Stakeholders on the plan as well as its implications for the Economic, and socio-political impact on the country.
Many have criticized the move hinging on the large economic implications imperative if it finally passes legislative approval.
Both notable Nigerians in government and the opposition have learnt their voice on these issues ranging from Political figures, Political parties, 'A' Grade Traditional figures, Professionals and many more.
Amongst all these the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), gave their view through their National Publicity Secretary, Barr Ladipo Johnson while sharing his thoughts with a Connect TV correspondent.
Johnson described the action as ill-timed and ludicrous, adding that the move is basically aimed at serving some political interest and not in the interest of the country. “We feel that it is absolutely ludicrous at this point for us to be thinking about creating more states.
How many of the existing ones are truly viable? We should be working towards making the states viable, efficient, and weaned as much as possible from the umbilical cord of the Federal Government!
”We urge the members of the National Assembly to think about the well-being of our federation, and jettison the idea of creating states, at this point,” he said “we don’t need more states in the country. He cited bias and selfish motive behind the call for the creation of more states the only want to control their area and gain more access to the national Treasury....that's all'
He noted that, 'What will eventually happen is that the new states, which will be mostly unviable, will eventually constitute a drain on the resources of the viable ones...this is not what we should be looking at presently amidst the major glaring issues in the country that urgently call for government attention.
While some others differ from the above view, seeing it as a welcomed development, noting that, agitating for state creation, is a fundamental right enshrined and in our constitution. However, satisfying the criteria for state creation is a different ball game. The most important criteria is the economic viability and whether it goes down well with other constituent units in the state in relation to the split inorder to erode the thought and concept of marginalization witnessed in some communities.
Believing it will facilitate accelerated development especially for those areas yet to experience rapid development and dividends of democracy.
A prominent figure in Ibadan during a chat with our correspondent, have his reasons why Ibadan should be amongst those to be considered as a state 'On Ibadan State, he said, it is obviously long overdue. Ibadan is quite big, and there is no reason why it should not become a state'
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