Senator Ayogu Eze
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Works and Senator representing Enugu North senatorial district, Ayogu Eze, Monday gave an indication that the present National Assembly had not foreclosed the process of creating new states before 2015.
He said this contrary to media reports that the Senate Committee on amendment of the 1999 constitution had ruled out the possibility of creating new states.
Eze who briefed journalists in Enugu on what he described as a misconception being peddled around as regards to the issue of state
creation noted that though the process of creating new states was cumbersome, the National Assembly was still open to creating new states.
creation noted that though the process of creating new states was cumbersome, the National Assembly was still open to creating new states.
THISDAY checks revealed that the Deputy Senate President and Chairman Senate Constitution Review Committee, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, had while submitting his committee’s report, said all requests submitted by stakeholders for the creation of new states did not meet key constitutional requirements.
Apparently dismayed by the position of the committee, Eze said most of the agitations met constitutional requirements especially as it
concerns getting the required signatories, noting however that the committee handling the exercise wrongly used the submissions made in 2010 instead of the ones made in 2013 to make their assessment.
concerns getting the required signatories, noting however that the committee handling the exercise wrongly used the submissions made in 2010 instead of the ones made in 2013 to make their assessment.
He therefore urged various state creation movements to keep their dream alive, as the position of the senate committee to the effect
that none of the requests met the requirement was not targeted at any particular movement as it affected all the agitations.
that none of the requests met the requirement was not targeted at any particular movement as it affected all the agitations.
“Since the report of the Senate Constitution Drafting Committee was presented, there has been a lot of misconception especially with
regards to the issue of state creation. I want to say categorically that it is not true that the senate committee has ruled out the
possibility of state creation; the door is still open to create state; it is very possible, but very cumbersome.
regards to the issue of state creation. I want to say categorically that it is not true that the senate committee has ruled out the
possibility of state creation; the door is still open to create state; it is very possible, but very cumbersome.
“What happened was that the committee secretariat complicated the matter by using the request filed in 2010 instead of using the one
filed in 2013, but while we didn’t want to quarrel with them was that they did it across board and admitted that it was a mistake on their
part that they didn’t see the updated request, when they were compiling, and it did not apply to A and not apply to B.
filed in 2013, but while we didn’t want to quarrel with them was that they did it across board and admitted that it was a mistake on their
part that they didn’t see the updated request, when they were compiling, and it did not apply to A and not apply to B.
It affected every state agitation and not just ‘Adada State’. “But I think that we have also requested movements that feel strongly about state creation to re-submit their requests and we will look at them and treat them on their merits.
“One thing we have discovered is that we are no longer going to treat the requests holistically; every request will be treated on its own
merit, even if you meet the criteria of getting the signatures; that is only an aspect.
merit, even if you meet the criteria of getting the signatures; that is only an aspect.
“What the senate did in the case of ‘Adada State’ was that they went and used names of House of Representatives members who had already left and then said because of that we nearly met the requirement.
“However, that is just one aspect of it, because even if we get all the signatures, which I believe we already have, it will still pass through other processes provided for in Section 8 of the constitution, which include the issue of referendum among other things. The
referendum will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 36 states of the federation and will get at least two third. From there, the bill will return again to the Senate and then to the 36 states Houses of Assembly,” the lawmaker said.
referendum will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 36 states of the federation and will get at least two third. From there, the bill will return again to the Senate and then to the 36 states Houses of Assembly,” the lawmaker said.
He disclosed that he would present Adada State’s request as a separate bill, stressing that “all I am going to do as the senator representing the area is to prepare the bill and send it to the National Assembly.
“If the political will is there, if the support is there, if we are able to lobby very well, it is possible before 2015. Our people should work hard to mobilise other states.”
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