National Conference Vote For Rotation Of Presidency, 18 New States
The delegates of the ongoing National Conference agreed with a recommendation by Conference’s Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government which advocated creation of 18 new states in Nigeria and rotation of the presidential post between the South and the North.
In case the Federal Government embraces the suggestion, Nigeria will have a total of 54 states located in six geo-political zones, nine states per each of the zone.
An additional state would be created for the South East zone, which currently has only five states, i.e. Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
The Conference also offered rotation of the presidency between the North and South and among the six geo-political zones. The governorship seat would be subject to rotation among the senatorial districts in each state.
Ike Nwachukwu and Mohammed Kumalia, the two co-Chairmen of the Committee, emphasized that the idea of creating new states in Nigeria remained a highly-controversial political issue.
The report, issued on June 30, 2014, Monday, contained the names of the following new states for Nigeria:
1. Apa from the present Benue State
2. Kainji from Kebbi
3. Katagum from Bauchi
4. Savannah from Borno
5. Amana from Adamawa
6. Gurara from Kaduna
7. Ghari from Kano
8. Etiti from South East
9. Aba from Abia
10. Adada from Enugu
11. Njaba-Anim from Anambra and Imo
12. Anioma from Delta
13. Orashi from Rivers State
14. Ogoja from Cross River
15. IJebu from Ogun
16. New Oyo State from the present Oyo State.
Names and capitals of states # 17 and 18, which are to be created in South-West and South-South zones, are yet to be determined.
The criteria for existence of new states are sufficient economical strength and potential, presence of human, material and natural resources. A new state should have a minimum population of one million people.
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The Conference has also rejected a single term of six years and a unicameral legislature for Nigeria.
A Civil Society Organisation delegate, Femi Falana, was one of the first to react the resolution on creation of 18 new states, which does not appeal him at all:
“Having regard to the several resolutions of the National Conference on the need to reduce the costs of governance, I found the recommendation for the creation of additional 18 states rather contradictory.”
It would be noted that the resolutions of the National Confab would be submitted to the president, who could then propose them as bills to the National Assembly. Only in this case they have a chance to become a law.
Source: Legit.ng
