Still On The Need For State Creation In Nigeria
It grieves me so much when I read from Nigerians that we do not need further creation of states, these Nigerian writers heap myriad of problems on the division of the country into various units, they believe that Nigeria has not progressed developmentally since the country shifted from regional structures put in place by the British colonial government. My views on state creation in Nigeria are in sharp contrast to the views shared by this group of writers and political scientists. I wonder why some of us expect state creation to solve the country's problems, which is absolutely impossible, we forget that Nigeria as a country inherited burdens and problems, socially, economically and politically from its founders. It was personally painful to me when a certain Igbo writer did an article in the vanguard newspaper on why the South-East does not need a sixth state in the geo-political zone, and I wondered whether we understand that the number of states comprising each geo-political zone politically shape and re-shape the destiny of each of the regions of the country.
Some writers have also rested their points against the creation of states in the country on a lean argument that divisibility of the country into smaller units called states reduces the size of states, this is but a very weak argument, not supported by even common sense, and far from political reasoning, for geographical size of a state not behind the creation of states in the country. I once read in "The Guardian" newspaper that no state in the country has distinguished itself in terms of development and advancement of their inhabitants, and again I wondered if the word "development" has another definition outside what we know it to be.
That creation of states in the country has not led to any form of development is one issue we must tackle, with the number of projects existing in all of the states in the country, Headquarters of several parastatals and ministries, federal and state universities as we have them in the 36 states of the federation. It is silly for instance to argue that before the creation of Osun State, there was Osun State Polytechnic. We also forget easily that the scope of development in the country has been politically widened so that it can accommodate 36 Governors, 36 State of Houses Assembly, more legislators, more State High Courts, more police officers etc.
Creation of more states has brought development economically too to the door-step of many towns and cities, many of which have been labeled capital territories. Asaba was a town very obscure within the Mid-western region, but today, the town is on the verge of joining the list of towns with international Airport status. Oghara in Delta State is another town that has also immensely benefited from state creation, with modern developmental structures. It is a fact that today, all the Banks in existence in the country have their headquarters located in each of the 36 states, with several more branches. This has come as result of state creation in the country.
Interestingly with the creation of states in 1991, many people have freely moved down to their communities because of the level of development available to these towns. So how can anyone argue that the country has not seen development with state creation? I maintain that the problems of Nigeria have nothing to do with state creation because state creation is like a tool that yields development. I stand to prove it any day that state creation is the best achievement our leaders have made since 1960, because with it, there would not be a lot of governors, universities, colleges of education, Federal and State Ministries as we have them today. Those who are demanding states be carved out for them are not doing so out of ignorance, but because they have noticed the doors of developments it has opened to other towns and communities.
We need not prophets to tell us those regions now in the forefront of developments in the country have been able to make these attainments because they have been made to exist in states, in this country, we shy not shy away from the truth that developments are mostly to stay in capital cities and territories close to them.
When we deeply think even with logicality, we will realize that the Federal Executive Council is rested on the number of states in existence, and that most times decisions democratically reached by the body is usually put to votes, and the number of states that make up each geo-political zones matters in every of its aspect. The number of states in each geo-political zone also determines the weight of allocation formula which goes to each geo-political region, and these capitals are meant for development. Is it not for this reason that we ask that the number of states that make up all the geo-political be balanced? The South-East is grossly shortchanged, and there is every need to put the zone at par with the rest of the regions by creating additional one or two states for the region.
State creation in the country has exposed many towns and has many hitherto hidden communities much good, that Jigawa today enjoys a capital status owes its origin to the creation of more states in the country, and it is commendable indeed because a country like Nigeria with large population deserves development.
As stated earlier in this piece, Nigeria inherited a lot of problems from its founders; one of these is the unnecessary arrangement in which over 260 ethnic-groups with different socio-political differences were hurriedly amalgamated by the British in their (British) own interest against the wishes of the unsuspecting ethnic-groups. Even Britain the once mother of all European countries would have failed with that experiment, those who are against state creation in the country should therefore stop alluding to European countries. We know that any British Prime-Minister, French, German leaders etc can stand up today and address their citizens with one language but this cannot happen in Nigeria, and may never be brought to possibility.
More states should be created in the country but this must be done in such a way that the states to be created will posses the expected economic viability that will make them stand the test of time, unlike many of the states in existence today made to exist out of favoritisms. Yes state creation in the country has brought about development, and more states should be created in the country.
Emeka Esogbue is a Nigerian citizen.
emekaesogbue@yahoo.com
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