Ideas and debates for good governance in Africa.

Friday, March 13, 2009

States Creation: Need for Caution

States Creation: Need for Caution
Let me begin by saying I am not oppose to state creation or against agitation for the creation of more states in Nigeria. But I have to state here that agitation for the creation of additional states has to be done with caution. With the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates in the year 1914, Lord Luggard became the Governor General of the Nigerian nation. Nigeria existed as a nation with two protectorates between the years 1914 and 1945. The Creation of 3 regions was done by Sir Arthur Richards in 1945 after serious agitations for the adjustment of our internal boundaries. This marked the beginning of politics of State Creation (regions) in Nigeria, which has continued till this day.
But after the Nigeria civil war, state creation was used as a means, first, to address the imbalances that existed since the time of colonialism and secondly to look into cries of marginalization by minority ethnic groups, thereby reducing the domination of major ethnic groups to the nation’s resources.
However, with time, the issue of states creation became avenue for military adventurists to establish themselves in governance. So, to have people’s acceptance, they devise a means of deceiving people to show that they meant well for the country. The issue became so politicized that the very idea of creating these states was defeated. The reason given by most of those who are agitating for state of their own was more of having control of the subvention coming from the federal government. Some of their cries include ‘their resources are controlled by majority tribes’, while others sighted population as the main reason for their agitation.
Although the creation of states in the past brought about rapid development for most states, but the fact remains that majority of the states especially in the North are a disappointment. Take for instance a state like Yobe; although a giant stride is made by the present administration to change things, Yobe remains a backward state in the whole of the country. Although no clear development index were available, but what I saw sometimes in Yobe last September was really disheartening.
In several villages in this North-Eastern state, human beings drink water from the same pond with their animals – goats, dogs, cattle etc. That was during the rainy season. You don’t need to ask what become of these people this time as the harmattan season set in. With due apology to the people of Yobe state, since its creation over 15 years ago, their having a state does not translate in anyway to the development of the communities in this area. If after all these years such incidences I mentioned are obtained in this state, then the agitation of creation of more states, to me is meaningless. Yobe is just one of the many states of the federation where their creation opens an avenue for some individual to corner resources or subvention coming from the federal government. If not, how can you explain the huge amount of money received from the federation account or the Internally Generated Revenue over the years?
Or take the issue of Taraba state which was created almost the same time with Yobe. If not for fear of being termed enemy of the state, it will be right to say it is the worst in terms of development. The state capital fit the description made in Daily Trust sometimes ago.
The whole concept of Governance in Taraba from the time of Jolly Nyame to the present administration of Danbaba Suntai is an avenue for the ruling elite to corner the subvention coming from the federal government. In Jalingo you will see latest brand of any car advertised in DSTV or internet. Or you will hear of their legislators counting the number of countries they visited last month, a very big atlas map in front of them trying to figure which country is next.
We always blame our underdevelopment to either the constitution or marginalization. From independence to date, we witnessed over 5 constitutional amendments and over twenty states were created, but we still clamour for more amendments and more states creation as if that will solve our problems. But if after 15 years a state cannot change the life of its people despite huge amount of money it received from the federation account what is the rational behind the creation of more? My friends from Katagum for instance will ask me would my view be different if Gombe state was not created. My answer would be yes and will remain yes, especially considering the Yobe example I gave earlier.
It is important those agitating for state to base their argument on development rather than issues of marginalization or population, which to me are not reason enough to warrant creation of states. Let them talk about having a state to improve their roads, power supply, provide health care services to their people and create employment opportunities for their teeming youth who finished school with nothing to do. Let us avoid a scenario whereby since town A have a state let us also have one for town B. It is then that the states will be meaningful and contribute to national development.
But if we fail to do that we will find ourselves in a situation like Yobe and Taraba, where some people will fight for the creation of state and become the only beneficiaries, may be with their close family members, then the exercise becomes meaningless.
Kabiru Danladi Lawanti,
Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369

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