If the bar on creation of new states, as contained in our 1979 and 1999 constitutions, had been lowered, Anioma could have become a state by now. And not part of Delta State. Likewise Ijebu, Ijesha, Okun – which comprises of Mopa, Ogidi, Ayetoro Gbede, Okedayo, Odo Ere, Ife, Egbe, Iyara, Iyamoye, Odoape, Ekinrin-Adde, Kabba, […]
If the bar on creation of new states, as contained in our 1979 and 1999 constitutions, had been lowered, Anioma could have become a state by now. And not part of Delta State. Likewise Ijebu, Ijesha, Okun – which comprises of Mopa, Ogidi, Ayetoro Gbede, Okedayo, Odo Ere, Ife, Egbe, Iyara, Iyamoye, Odoape, Ekinrin-Adde, Kabba, Isanlu, Obajana, Ikoyi, Agbaja, as well as other states, could have been created, by now.
The struggle for the creation of Anioma State started a long time ago but it became more vocal in 1980. And men like Senator Nosike Ikpo championed the cause for the creation of the state. At that time, what could be referred to as Anioma comprised of four local governments, namely Ika, Oshimili, Aniocha and Ndokwa.
Aladinma was first proposed as the capital of Anioma State but reasons prevailed on Senator Ikpo’s committee and was later persuaded to make Asaba the capital of the proposed state. This was long before General Ibrahim Babangida endorsed Asaba as the capital of Delta State. The Section states, “An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new State shall only be passed if— a request, supported by at least two-thirds majority of members in each of the following, namely— the Senate and the House of Representatives the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the local government councils in respect of the area, is received by the National Assembly; a proposal for the creation of the Senate is thereafter approved in a referendum by at least...
Other members of the committee were Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide Hon. Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs; Hon. J.C. Ojukwu, Hon. A.A. Waba, House of Representatives; Hon. Senator Ja’Afar J. Mangga, Hon. Senator Abba Ali, Senate representatives, Senator D.O. Dafinone, Alhaji Idris Ibrahim, NPN representatives Alhaji Musa Musawa, Dr. Ikem Okeke, PRP representatives, Dr. B.N.
Earlier the House of Representatives met on 21st May, 1980, and passed a resolution for the establishment of a committee on the creation of states. The President of the Senate at that time, Dr. Joseph Wayas reminded the Conference of the need to harmonise the conflicting resolutions of both Houses and determine which of the requests for creation of New States should go for Referenda.
That was the situation until Major General Muhammadu Buhari GCFR took over power on December 31st, 1983. He did not create new states or new local governments. His priority then was to pursue a war on indiscipline and corruption. The war turned futile. The Abubakar Tuggar’s committee recommended that “We are convinced that the most sensible and stable approach to propose the creation of New States in Nigeria is to ensure that parity and equity do play a dominant role. Thus, new States proposed in the former Western Nigeria must be at par or equitably numbered if compared with those proposed in the former Eastern Nigeria.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Anioma, The Bias And Imbalance In Creation Of StatesIf the bar on creation of new states, as contained in our 1979 and 1999 Presidential Constitutions had been lowered, Anioma could have become a state by now.
Read more »
Constitution amendment: States holding exercise hostage - Deputy Senate PresidentSix months after the proposed bills to be amended in the 1999 Constitution were transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, only 11 responded and
Read more »
Despite N1 billion allocation, constitution amendment in limboThere are indications that the fifth alteration to the 1999 Constitution may not see the light of the day as speakers of states’ Houses of Assembly have
Read more »
National Assembly blame governors as constitution amendment bid fails | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World NewsThe bid by the current National Assembly to effect a fifth alteration to the 1999 constitution has failed. The leadership of the National Assembly on Tuesday explained that the insistence of state governors on state police as a condition for supporting the entire 44 proposed amendments to the constitution was responsible for the failure of […]
Read more »
Anioma, the bias and imbalance in Nigerian state creation, By Eric TeniolaIf the bar on creation of new states, as contained in our 1979 and 1999 constitutions, had been lowered, Anioma could have become a state by now. And not part of Delta State. Likewise Ijebu, Ijesha, Okun – which comprises of Mopa, Ogidi, Ayetoro Gbede, Okedayo, Odo Ere, Ife, Egbe, Iyara, Iyamoye, Odoape, Ekinrin-Adde, Kabba, […]
Read more »