BOMADI—Coalition of ex-militants, youth bodies, religious and cultural organisations from Ondo, Edo and Delta states has urged the National Assembly to include the creation of Toru-Ebe state among the proposed states, when President Goodluck Jonathan submits the final report of the just-concluded national conference for ratification .

The goups’ coordinator, Mr. Preye Ekpebide, who is the Delta State chairman of phase three amnesty programme spoke to journalists after its meeting in Bomadi, Delta State. He said the call became necessary following the failure of the just concluded confab to include Toru-Ebe among   the states to be created.

He argued that none of the proposed 18 proposed states did not meet 100 percent of the criteria for state creation except the Toru–Ebe state, lamenting that the delegates the people thought would speak for them were bought.

Ekpebide said the onus was on the National Assembly since they were vested with the constitutional right to include or expunge areas of the 1999 constitution, calling on Senator James Manager and all other Ijaw-speaking Senators and members of the House of Representatives to seize the unique opportunity to press for the creation of Toru-Ebe State state.

“Toru-Ebe state geography included Ijaws from Delta, Edo and Ondo and is economically viable as it account for 85 per cent of Nigeria’s wealth, with cultural infinity and homogeneity. Our demand for Toru-Ebe state dates back to the pre-independence era.

“The people of Toru-Ebe have been political, economic and socially backward due to balkanisation of the Ijaw nation, despite the huge revenue accruing from the area. The Senate Committee on State Creation must urgently address the situation when the President submits the proposal of the national conference recommendations for their ratification.”