The Senate President, David Mark, has assured state creation campaigners not to be disillusioned as there is still an opportunity to address the issue.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Mark described the issue of state creation as “a chapter not closed.”
He was speaking to members of the Idoma National Forum (INF), who said they were unhappy that the committee on the review of the constitution had rejected requests for the creation of more states.
He assured them that, “the National Assembly will revisit it to assuage the aspirations of those asking for states.’’
Mark, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the drawback in the recommendation was that the constitution made it cumbersome to actualise creation of states but he tempered this assertion, saying that the system was being “streamlined” to enable agitators to realise their aspirations.
He sounded quite emphatic at times while he was speaking. For example, this statement:
“I have never minced words about my position for the creation of additional states. It is not that we cannot live together with our brothers and sisters but I am a firm believer that states creation will bring more development and progress nearer to the people.
“You should continue with the agitation for state creation and work towards meeting the requirements. I am sure that when the conditions are met, states would be created.
“Milk may have been spilled but not fallen over. There is still a window and the National Assembly will hearken to the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry,” Mark explained. He urged the people to maintain peace and unity for progress, adding: “your strength is in your unity.’’
The Senate President promised to continue to be good ambassador of the Idoma nation, Benue and Nigeria at all times.
Earlier, the INF President, Okopi Momoh, urged the National Assembly to review requests for the creation of states considering that there were 61 requests from different groups across the nation.
The Senate had recently rejected state creation, one of the more contentious of the various issues raised by the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, because none of the provision for the creation of a new state in the constitution.
There are some voices though that do not like the idea at all, and even have an issue with the present 36 states.
[READ: Magic wand: Why an elder statesman wants all 36 states and LGs scrapped]
Nigeria is called a democracy for a reason.
[Photo H/T: DailyPost]