By Hugo Odiogor, Deputy Political Editor

LAGOS—THE National Assembly Committee on States Creation has outlined stringent conditions to be met by agitators for new states.

The committee which is set to revisit the issue in the second constitution amendment exercise, said it had received no fewer than than 33 demands including the latest by Ibirapa people calling for a New Oyo State.

Vanguard learnt that the NASS will soon close the window for submission of demands to enable it to deal with the request so far received.

A source said: “We have received over 33 requests and I think it is time we begin to study the various demands based on merits.”

The first schedule to the 1999 Constitution, Section 8(1) (a-d) provides that an Act of the National Assembly was required for the purpose of creating a new state only when: (a) a request is made and supported by at least two-thirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new state) in each of the following:

“The Senate, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly in respect of the area, and the local government councils in respect of the area, and presented to the National Assembly;

“Thereafter, the proposal approved in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people of the area where the demand for creation of the state originated;

“The result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority of all the states of the Federation, supported by a simple majority of members of the Houses of Assembly; and;

“The proposal is approved by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of members of each House of the National Assembly.

Conditions

Sources close to the NASS Committee on State Creation said agitators for new states must work hard to fulfil some stringent conditions which include:

The economic viability of the area demanding  the new state, especially the ability and potentials for sustainable internal revenue generation

Provable cases of demographic strength and under development arising from denial of access to human development;

Provable evidence of socio-cultural affinity and geographical contiguity;

The need to redress lopsided cartography and boundary lines resulting in endless border and resource based conflicts;

Provable instance of consensus among the demographic groups demanding the  new states;

The ability of the new states to provide their structure and resources take off;

Ability to ensure internal security and cohesion and peaceful co-existence with their neighbours;

The existence of human resource and personnel to run the state.

Ekweremadu assures

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, had assured the nation that the issue of creation of states would be the main focus of the National Assembly when it resumed work on the second part of the constitution amendment which would centre on the first chapter of the first schedule to the 1999 Constitution.

The part of the constitution just amended covers mainly areas of elections and process of governance in the country.

The Deputy Senate President had noted: “There is need to ensure equity and justice in the country as well as promote rapid physical and human development of the country by bringing government closer to the people, who are the essential philosophy behind the issue of creation of states.”

However, there are fears that creating the new states before the elections may affect the election process but sources said the areas where new states would be created might be administered by administrators for a period of 12 months before elections could take place in those states which would have their own Houses of Assembly, Senators and House of Representatives members.

Asagba of Asaba’s wish

At his 85th birthday anniversary in Asaba, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Joseph Edozien who is championing the demand for Anioma State said his birthday wish and desire in life was to see the creation of a socio-political unit that would give the Ika, Osamari and Igbo-speaking people on the west bank of the River Niger their long cherished political identity and demand for self-determination with the Nigerian federation.

Duty of NASS

Ekwerenmadu had told Edozien that as “the representatives of the people, it is the duty of the National Assembly to listen to the demands of the people and do their wish. It is not our duty to abridge the rights of the people. We are here to do their wish and if the people say that they want new states, so be it.

“Our recent experience with creation of states in the country has shown that contrary to the scepticisms and pessimism by some people, the exercise has promoted rapid infrastructural development and expanded political participation. When we look at places where states have been created, we can see that skeptics have been proved wrong because it opened up the political space and ensured greater spread of national resources.”

Many states should be created

Chairman of the House Committee of Judiciary, Bala Ibn Nala, who represents Kebbi State shared the views of the Deputy Senate president, when he said that the ethnic chauvinism, political intolerance among the majority ethnic groups in many old states had continued to fuel the demand for creation of new states in the country.

He said: “Left to me, I would want as many states as possible to be created. Let the people go and decide what to do with their revenue and their future.”

Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole said: “All those who have come to present their demands for new states should go back and do their home work because no state will be created on a platter of gold. You must broaden your level of consultation and lobbying; ensure that they carry their people along.”