Creation of More States: Broad Way to Socio-economic Developments in Nigeria
Although some have argued against creation of states in the country, stating that such can only lead to over-dependence on the federal government, I differ from this argument, in that the experience drawn from the creation of states in Nigeria in previous years has yielded abundant dividends for the country. Many of these impacts this article will discuss as proves that the creation of states contrary to dissenting opinions has ushered in new dawn of growth and developments and in addition availability of social amenities in the country.
The remark that the Nigeria of today is much more developed than the Nigeria of 1966 before the creation of 12 States by Gen. Murtala Mohammed more than anything else holds water. The reason I feel indifferent to opinions that have arisen in condemnation of creation of more States in the Nigeria is that people who have been in condemnation of this arrangement fail to remember that the country is an artificial creation from many unrelated ethnic groups and tribes dissimilar in socially and religiously, and hurriedly put together for the benefit of the British. Today, neither our government nor the British who artistically created the country can statistically state how many tribes and ethnic groups that make up the Nigerian State. All our records tell us is Nigeria has is a country with more than 250 ethnic groups.
As a country with over 250 ethnic groups with 250 ethnic groups as our records tell us, political grouping of peoples with similar linguistics, history, ancestries, traditions, and other criteria will guarantee sense of belonging, off course granted that many would want to argue that as a nation, we need to co-exist. Co-existence is important and necessary but certain political wills and other certain tools are necessary if this is to be achieved. International Relations experts are aware of the big gap existing between “Nation-State” and “State-Nation.” The British tried to mould one geo-political entity with people that never imagined they could ever come together as one.
As we have already experienced in the country, marginalization reigns in the country, and minority ethnic groups made to geographically squat with giant ethnic groups within the country have no voices at all. It is for this reason that most ethnic groups in the country continue to shed tears of marginalization. Those of us with good knowledge of politico-economic situation of the Igbo people in generality have an unlimited understanding of what marginalization is all about. The South-East is the only geo-political zone of the country with only 5 States even as most the areas of the Geo-political zone with oil have been deliberately and carefully annexed to other States notably Rivers State. A new kind of marginalization of marginalization I am particular about is that which even ensures that peoples lumped in a States are still marginalized.
No sooner the National Assembly of the country announced the creation of more States than about 50 proposals were registered with the Country’s law makers. For sure, the people understand the immense benefits inherent in forming an organized political community as part of the country. The importance of Statehood forming part of the country cannot be overemphasized, it is a result of this development that the Law makers of Lagos State was able to successfully adopt Yoruba language as its second official language. One effect this has created is that the people of this State see one another as a people with common destiny. Discrimination again if ever it exists becomes limited, because the basis of intensely discriminating against one another becomes reduced to the barest minimum.
Cry of marginalization reigns in the country because the government of the country has not really gotten it wholly right when creating States in the country, thus federating amongst the existing States of the country is strangely suspicious and inefficiently meant to be. In the first place, it has made absolute nonsense of the geo-political zone, a new political design, which has no place whether in the administration or geographical composition of Nigeria. This would have at least found sense if political appointments in the country are genuinely designed to rotate among these geo-political zones, rather geo-political zones merely exist as regions.
Number of States comprising geo-political zones in the country are unequal, yet the basis for arriving at which zone should posses more States is uniquely indeterminate, who can tell me the reason certain political zones of the country have as much as 7 States while many have 6 and even as low as 5. This is what creation of more States in the country will set out to correct. Our law makers should also see to it that both regions of the country i.e. North and south have equal number of States, so that both regions will regions will have equal number of representatives in all affairs of the State. Creation of more States will therefore usefully correct this impression.
Though one is absolutely unsure of exactly how many States the national Assembly may want to create, advisedly, I would implore the House to consider some necessary factors in creating these States to act as a limitation for future cry for more. Some of these factors or criteria to be given consideration should be linguistics, economic viability, ancestral history, homogeneity, histories, agreement to come together etc. Economic viability is necessary because over dependence on the federal government will further add burden on the central government, and in over all cause a reduction in the allocations to other States. A situation whereby a State may not be able to pay salaries if created should be totally avoided. This has formed one argument of the opponents of new State creation, but we know that if certain small and less economic viable States can survive, others alike are certain to survive.
Ancestral history, linguistics, homogeneity and histories are all necessary determinant factors in the creation of States, this is because a people are what they choose to be, and should be regarded as they so wish. The people of Anioma for instance today the oldest agitators for the creation of their own State are a people who under willing agreement decided to come together and form a State and a people in spite of difference in ethnicities. It is particularly wonderful that this group comprise of Enuani (Igbo,) Ika, Ndokwa, Ukwani/Ndokwa, Aboh, these peoples are willingly joined together by shared aims, being the first of its kind in a country where separatism is deemed preferable to unity. The Anioma people demonstrated the possible of different ethnics coming together to form one ethnic group, and has since been so since 1951 since the founding fathers of the union practically actualized the socio-political action.
Linguistics should also form the basis of creating States in any environment because it is a natural cause that unity, peace and progress only prevails in an environment where the people see themselves as one. The case of the adoption of Yoruba as the language of law making in Lagos state has been cited in this work. Creation of States should rather gather displaced peoples who see themselves as lost because they are forcefully made to stay in the midst of people who they are bound to distance themselves from. It is for this reason that agitation for State creation continues. People should not be unwillingly placed where they not belong.
What is the sense in having an Ika town of Igbanke in Edo State when they are in fact Anioma, recognize this and even regularly hold social inclined meetings with their Anioma kits and kin? The Igbanke for as long as they remain in Edo State where they do not naturally belong will continue to view themselves as strangers, which they really are. This ugly development explains the reason the community is in utmost marginalization, it was an impression Babangida failed to correct in 1991 and the opportunity is here once again.
Today’s Delta State is one which everyone agrees deserves further splits into several States because if for anything, the Anioma people should be made to exit the State with a State of their own joined by the Igbanke people presently unwholesomely lumped in Edo State where they do not belong. Anioma State should be created with its capital at Asaba, while the present State should remain but with its capital either in Warri or Ugheli. The Government may further venture into creating Ijaw and Itstekiri States from the said Delta State to make the State a non-volatile one. The Idoma nation presently located in Benue state, North Central also have a valid claim to statehood, this peoples need Apa State, as we know, the Idoma nation is one that has never produced a governor of the State, quite akin to the Anioma people of Delta State. A State will carve the political verves of the people.
On why more States should created in the country, the impact of this is too immense to mention here but we know that States that have been created so far in the country have all become developed more than they were when situated in other States. Anyone in doubt should imagine how many state and federal universities that existed in the country when Nigeria had 12/19 States and compare with how many in existence now with 36 States. With creation of more States it is compulsory that more ministries, universities, polytechnics, airports, seaports, Banks, press centres, mosques, church headquarters, government offices, stadiums, general hospitals, International organization centres, and other institutions necessary to make State etc that come with it. These may not all exist within a day but certainly they must be seen to exist in a state no more how long it takes.
There come into existence more job openings, people migrate into these newly created States to discover opportunities for greener pastures, which occasion leads to decongestions of major States like Lagos and Kano. Opportunities once again are almost immediately created for politicians who must jostle for political appointments and positions, secretariats are constructed. Roads are constructed; bridges are also constructed, with the governor of such state seeking to explore every available means of discovering means of revenue.
Who says creation of states does not come with benefits?
Emeka Esogbue hails from Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria. He is a Historian and International Relations graduate and Political/Public Affairs Analyst.
emekaesogbue@yahoo.com
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