States, Councils
Creation Dominate Hearing
Obiora Ani, Enugu and Lawan Hamidu, Gombe
Agitations
for creation of more states and local government councils
dominated submissions at the zonal public hearing on the review
of the 1999 Constitution, held across Nigeria.
At the Lagos, Enugu and Gombe centres of the constitution review
for the Southwest, Southeast and Northwest geo –political zones,
governors and representatives of the people are asking the
National Assembly to facilitate the creation of additional
states.
In the Southwest, four states - Oduduwa out of Osun, Ibadan and
Oyo from the present Oyo State and Ijebu State from Ogun State
are on the card, at the Lagos centre.
Two additional states are being canvassed for by the Southeast
people in Enugu.
In their separate presentations at the start of the zonal public
hearing of the Senate Committee on the Review of the
Constitution the representatives argued that the Southeast
geo-political zone required two additional states to measure up
with the other five zones of the country.
VON correspondent reports that the South Easterners turned out
in large numbers to make presentations to the forum.
Different Strokes
In Gombe state, the government has proposed devolution of power
to states to create local governments, retain states’ electoral
body and immunity clause as well as to increase age limit for
candidates contesting public office.
Presenting the state’s views at the North East Zonal Forum on
the review of 1999 Constitution, holding in Gombe, the
Commissioner of Justice, Zubairu Umar said these were to be
based on genuine demands and capability of states to sustain
them.
Barrister Zubairu Umar reiterated that the state’s position was
informed by a genuine desire and quest for advancement of
democracy.
Borno demands
The Borno state government on its part demanded a clear stand on
local government creation, suggesting that the process should
start and end in the state houses of assemblies.
The state also advocated for 30 percent increase in local
governments allocation as well as abolishing of Joint Account
which according to the state, militates against the performance
of local governments.
Other issues raised include cross carpeting by politicians and
the constitutional roles of traditional institutions.
Most of the representatives, including individuals and civil
society organizations, argued against cross carpeting, saying it
is politically immoral and unjust to transfer the mandate given
to a party to another.
Attitudinal change
The Senate President, David Mark called for attitudinal change
among Nigerians for the proposed constitutional change to be
effective.
Senator Mark said the future of Nigeria would be guided by the
proposed changes, thus the proposals must be tailored to the
desire of the country to develop.
The senate President who described the process as a unique
opportunity for people to express their views said the senate
would not relent in its efforts at having a revised constitution
that meets the demands of Nigerians.
Qasim/Yinka
