A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohamed Ndarani, has called for the inclusion of Edu state in the proposed list of new states.
He said that the creation of Edu from the present Niger would give a sense of belonging to the Nupe people in Nigeria.
Ndarani, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, was reacting to statement by the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee.
The committee said it received a proposal for recommendation of the creation of 31 additional states in the country.
“Niger State’s geographical mass is unquestionably more than that of the entire Southeast and equal to that of the Southwest. It is vast and has a variety of solid minerals.
“The proposed Edu state is a prospective oil-producing state, and would be a viable and developed state with a capital in Bida,’’ he said.
Ndarani added that Edu state would comprise various groups from the present Niger, Kogi and Kwara states.
“Our national assembly members of Nupe origin from Kwara, Niger, and Kogi states, and the FCT should not fail to lend their support to the creation of Edu state.
“The original request for Edu state was presented to the National Assembly in September 2022 by a delegation of Nupe elders, leaders and representatives from Bida, Agaie and Lapai emirates.
“The request clearly meets with the provisions of section 8 subsections 1, 2 and 3 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), which form part of the best proposal.’’
He stressed that they were motivated by the economic viability of the proposed state and the endorsement by the 2014 national conference.
He said the agitation for the creation of additional states in Nigeria had been a sustained discussion, with proponents arguing that it would promote effective governance and development in the country.
“It will spread development across the area, and help bring the much-touted dividends of democracy to the door steps of the average citizen.
“It will also create more new jobs and ensure more rapid and even development of rural and urban areas, while enhancing the citizens’ living standards.
“Looking at the history of the creation of states, it has been an exercise that has brought about development; it has also brought government closer to the people,’’ he said.
NAN recalls that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has said that the applications for new states did not meet the constitutional requirements.
Kalu urged the applicants to comply with the constitutional procedures outlined in Section 8, Sub-sections 1 to 3 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He explained that to create a new state, the constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate, the House of Representatives, State Houses of Assembly, and local governments.
NAN recalls also that state creation began in Nigeria on May 27, 1967, when the administration of Gen. Yakubu Gowon abolished the regional structure of the country and created 12 states.
His successor, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, created an additional seven states in 1976, which brought the total number to 19.
Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, created 11 more states, bringing the number to 30 until 1996, when the late Gen. Sani Abacha, added six states, making it the current 36 states.