Updated: Senate Clears Air on Alleged Proposed Creation of 20 New States
- The claims that the Nigerian Senate is proposing to create additional 20 states in Nigeria have been debunked
- Senator Ajibola Basiru, the spokesman of the Senate gave the timely rebuttal on Sunday, August 8
- Basiru clarified that the red chamber's position was grossly misunderstood and misrepresented, adding that it is not in a position to recommend such a legislation
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The Nigerian Senate has reacted to viral reports that its committee on constitution review is proposing the creation of 20 new states.
According to the upper chamber, this is nothing but gross misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the committee's position.
The Senate's spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, who spoke with journalists on Sunday, August 8, clarified that the House has no power to make such a recommendation, Channels TV reports.
Source: Facebook
Senator Basiru explained that what the committee only did was to "refer the requests to INEC to ensure compliance with section 8 of the constitution by conducting a referendum in the areas if the requests supported by at least two-thirds majority of members in the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly in the area.”
Report making the round indicated that the Senate committee on constitution review had recommended that 20 new states be created.
The committee reportedly reached this decision after it considered various factors including the ability of civilian administration to create states.
Sources told The Nation that referendum may be conducted for no fewer than 20 states.
Several bills for the creation of new states had been submitted to the committee on review of the 1999 constitution.
However, making clarification on the bills proposing the creation of new states, Ajibola Basiru, spokesperson of the Senate, said the committee received the proposals but never made any recommendation, The Cable reports.
The committee had reportedly recommended state status for the FCT. The list of requests for new states is said to be quite long. They are:
- ITAI State from Akwa Ibom
- Katagum state from Bauchi
- Okura state from Kogi East
- Adada state from Enugu
- Gurara state from Kaduna South
- Ijebu State from Ogun
- Ibadan state from Oyo
- Tiga state from Kano
- Ghari state from Kano
- Amana state from Adamawa
- Gongola state from Adamawa
- Mambilla state from Taraba
- Savannah state from Borno
- Okun state from Kogi
- Etiti state from the southeast zone
- Orashi state from Imo and Anambra
- Njaba from the present Imo state or the excision of Aba state from Abia
- Anioma state from Delta
- Torogbene and Oil River states, from Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states
- Bayajida state from parts of Katsina, Jigawa and Zamfara
Governor Uzodinma says Igbo people want 6th state
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state is one of the people advocating for an additional state for the southeast region, The Punch reports.
According to him, the creation of a sixth state for the region will make the Igbo people very proud.
While geopolitical zones have at least six states, the southeast has five, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia and Anambra.
The last time states were created in Nigeria was on October 1, 1996, by the late military head of state, General Sani Abacha. The states created were Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nasarawa and Zamfara.
Northeast stakeholders demand creation of Savannah state
With the ongoing 1999 constitution review, stakeholders from the northeast region have called for the creation of a new state.
The stakeholders said the creation of the new state would help curtail the various crisis and unrest bedevilling the nation.
According to the group, the call for the creation of Savannah state was made in 1991 alongside Yobe but was denied.
Source: Legit.ng
Nkem Ikeke (Copy editor) Nkem Ikeke is currently a copy editor who also writes for the politics and current affairs desk on weekends. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2010), and has over 10 years of work experience in the media industry (Reporter, News Agency of Nigeria). Email: n.ikeke@corp.legit.ng
Onyirioha Nnamdi Onyirioha Nnamdi is a graduate of Literature and English Language at the University of Lagos. He is a Politics/Current Affairs Editor who writes on news and political topics for Legit.ng. He brings into his reporting a wealth of experience in creative and analytical writing. Nnamdi has a major interest in local and global politics. He has a professional certificate from Reuters and was awarded the editor with the best listicle for 2021. Contact: 08062988054, o.nnamdi@corp.legit.ng
