State creation: Tension over moves to favour only Southeast

By Yusuf Alli

Senate President David Mark

Barely three days after the conclusion of its retreat, the Senate is gripped by tension over moves to create one state - from the Southeast only.
The Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Umaru Dahiru, yesterday said no such decision was taken at the retreat, adding that it is impossible to have new states created from one geopolitical zone alone.
After the retreat of the Senate Constitution Review Committee in Asaba, Delta State, the   Senate Leader, Mr. Victor Ndoma-Egba, was quoted as saying that the Senate had agreed to have a new state from the Southeast.
Ndoma-Egba said: “At the end of the retreat, the following were suggested as key issues that needed to be tackled by the Constitution Review Committee: creation of one state for the Southeast zone for equity and fairness.”
The Senate Leader’s statement has ignited tension, with most Northern Senators expressing surprise.
The National Assembly received 45 memoranda requesting for the creation of states from the existing 36. 
Although state creation is one of the issues before the Constitution Review Committee, there were fears that some forces were pulling the strings to restrict it to only the Southeast.
 A  Senator from the North said: “It must be a joke for anyone within the committee to assume that he can use influence to restrict the creation of state to only a geopolitical zone.
“The truth is that they cannot recommend a new state for the Southeast outside other geopolitical zones. Do not forget that there has been agitation for creation of states from some old provinces, like Zaria , Kabba, Oyo, Ijebu, Edu, Old Annang, Warri, Kontagora, Muri, and Ogoja.”
Another high-ranking Senator said: “Let them smuggle anything they want into the constitution review, the majority will decide at the end of the day. Those behind this latest seed of hatred can have their say; they will not have their way in the chamber.
“I am surprised that an exercise that has not started has been concluded. Things are not done this way at all.”
The Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Umaru Dahiru, said: “To the best of my knowledge, creation of new states did not come up at the retreat. It was surprising to hear that a new state for the Southeast was one of the issues suggested to the committee.
“Maybe Nigerians should ask how they arrived at that in Asaba. I am aware that there are many requests before the National Assembly, including those from the North, and the constitution review process has not even got to the level of giving any geopolitical zone a slot.
“I do not know if anyone has superior information that this Forum does not have.”
A Senator from the Southeest said: “I doubt it if the Senate Leader will make such a commitment. But if he did in Asaba, it cannot hold water at all. We cannot accept the creation of one state from a zone alone. It is impracticable.
“I am aware of the anger of some Senators on the purported statement of Senator Ndoma-Egba but I have not lost any sleep at all because the process of creating a state is not one-off thing.”
A Senator from the Southeast said: “The Constitutional Committee of the Sixth Senate had concurred that there should be a state from the Southeast. So, it is nothing new.
“I want to appeal to our colleagues not to politicise this matter at all.”
A Senator from Ogun State , Alhaji Gbenga Kaka, said: “I was at the retreat throughout. They just said they received 56 requests, which they said they were going to consider.
“So, all that we have received is the proposal. It is when we get there that we will know the number of states to be created. It is not a case of one state.
“If there is any member from the Southeast who spoke, it was Senator Chris Ngige who demanded for a new state from the zone. And no one can blame Ngige for protecting the interest of his zone.
“Also, the Asagba of Asagba used the opportunity to ask for the creation of Anioma State.”