By Luka Binniyat

Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday, assured that no new state would be created in the country since the North had the final say on the issue, and did not support the emergence of new ones.

Chairman of ACF, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed said this yesterday while receiving a group from Itsekiri ethnic nationality, Delta State, which met with chieftains of ACF in Kaduna to solicit support against the creation of Toru-Ebe State from the Niger Delta.

Mohammed told the 15-man delegation, led by Chief Isaac Jemide that those calling for state creation in the South-South geo-political zone do not wish the Itsekiri well.

Jemeide said: “The purpose of our visit is to exchange ideas and seek areas of cooperation between the Itsekiri ethnic nationality and our Arewa brothers. This is not new.

“Such relationships once existed up to our independence. Our link then was late Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, whose relationship with the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, and the late Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, is well known.

“We are opposed to tenure elongation in any guise either by the ongoing charade called constitution amendment or by any presidential committee made up of government apologists.

“In their proposed Toru-Ebe State, lands owned from time immemorial and by court decisions by the Itsekiri in Delta State, Bini in Edo State and Ilaje of Ondo State are included. We are unable to accept a situation whereby the Ijaw premise their existence in the Niger Delta on the denial of the existence of other ethnic groups in the same region.”

“One of the prominent children of late Chief Okotie-Eboh, Adolor, is a member of our delegation present at this meeting. Our other brothers, Mr. Ejueyitsi and Allison Ayida were public servants and also related with some of you during your public service years.

“Today, Nigeria is passing through another phase in our struggle to build a united, peaceful and enduring nation where social justice and fair play will be the guiding principles.”