Friday, 16 November 2012
CLAMOUR for creation of six new states in the South-West geo-political zone and grant of autonomy to local government administration in the country topped the submissions of a cross section of people, including eminent personalities that attended the sitting of Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution which took place on Thursday in Lagos.

This is as the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, demanded that the amended constitution should give special status to the state backed with adequate funding.

The event, which witnessed a large turnout at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, was conducted by the Senate Committee on Review of 1999 Constitution headed by Senator Ganiyu Solomon. Others on the committee include Senators Gbenga Kaka, Hosea Agboola, Sola Adeyeye, Oluremi Tinubu.

The new states being demanded included Oduduwa, Lagoon, Ijebu with Ijebu-Ode proposed as the capital, Ibadan, Oluwa from present Ondo State and Igbomina.

Moving for the creation of Oduduwa State, Secretary of South-West Traditional Rulers, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, recalled that everyone at the gathering was a Yoruba with roots in Ile-Ife and Oduduwa regarded as father of the race.

The traditional ruler  argued that there was an imperative need for the creation, which he said was long overdue, adding: “If you are going to create any state in the South West, it must be Oduduwa.”

Presenting the case for the creation of Ijebu State, Mr Arekola Aregbe, said the position arose from the conclusion arrived on Wednesday at the meeting of stakeholders in the state, submitting that the stakeholders also agreed that Ijebu Ode should also be made the capital of the proposed state.

According to Chief Olu Akingba, the clamour for Oluwa State had been a long agitation that had featured in past constitution review. He said he was not opposed to the creation of new states as being proposed before the committee by various bodies and group, but urged that Oluwa State should be created now.

“We are not opposed to creation of any other state, but we want ours to be created,” he pleaded.

Chief Olaitan, who represented the Olupo of Ajasse-Ipo, Oba Sikirullai Sanni, noted that the proposed Igbomina State would comprise the Igbomina people living in the present Osun and Kwara states and their kiths and kin in Ekiti State, noting that the affected Yoruba should be brought back home from the North, where he said they did not belong.

“All that has been said here since morning was good but you should ensure that Yoruba from the North are brought back because they are not comfortable there,” he added.

According to Chief Jimoh Sowemimo, who spoke on behalf of the Movement for Creation of Lagoon State Chairman, Chief B. O. Benson, the proposed the creation of Lagoon State from present Lagos State would have a population of 5.4 million population going by the 2006 Census figure.

He argued that, that figure was more that those living in Ekiti, Gombe, Yobe, Bayelsa, Niger States, among others, adding: “The viability of Lagos is in no doubt and, therefore, Lagoon State once created would enjoy viability as well.”

On the clamour for the creation of Ibadan State, World Islamic Foundation, headed by Imam Busari, expressed the view that Ibadan, as it currently stands  in Oyo State was too big and, therefore, a state should be given to it.

President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has advised that priority should be given to issues affecting the generality of the people, as efforts are ongoing to amend the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

The Senate President gave the advise in his opening remarks at the ongoing two-day public hearing on the review of the constitution, held in Lagos.

He also supported the call by the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola and the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, for a special status for the state.

Senator Mark, while noting that all issues in the memorandum submitted should be prioritised, said any amendment that would address security and facilitate an all-round development of the people should be given a priority.

He said the issues must be addressed from a patriotic sense of view, calling for the involvement of the people in the exercise so as to have a people-oriented constitution as against the military constitution currently in use in the country.

The Senate President, who said he would not dwell on his well-known position on state police, restated the importance of security to national development.

He also said he was very passionate about the issue of indigeneship, saying there was nothing stopping anybody from enjoying the benefits accruable to a place where he or she was resident, his or her place of origin notwithstanding.

He said the review of the constitution would be a continous exercise, adding that it would often be revisited as often as it is necessary in order to change the life of the people for the better.

Speaking with newsmen on his request for a special status for Lagos State, Governor Fashola said what he meant in essence was in terms of funding to support the infrastructure and assets bequeathed to the state by the Federal Government.

“We are asking for a special status in the sense of financial support for the infrastructure and assets that were built here. They were built at the time Lagos was the Federal Capital Territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“And in all the other jurisdictions where the capitals had been moved, there has always been that special status by way of funding for the old capitals,” he said.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/51001-swest-asks-for-5-additional-states-mark-backs-lagos-request-for-special-status

Everyone wants to govern a state; extending the means of looting! I mean, is this what Nigeria needs now? IMHO, Regionalism (Federalism) is the key to unity and good Governance in Nigeria.

On another funny observation, if the SW is granted 5 additional states, definitely other regions must be granted theirs (say, 5 additiona states) too; and this will sum up to 66states! ie, 30 new plus 36 current states

Kwara south will be free, saraki is gone now...Igbomina state, leggo!

Gowon regretted creating 12 states.

with 36, there is confusion, when more is created there would be destruction.

this is not democracy
its demo=crazy.