By Tony Edike, Enugu
Some insight into how new states will be created was given yesterday when the Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the upper chambre’s Constitutional Review Committees, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said it would be by consensus.
Ekweremadu also spoke on the controversy surrounding the establishment of state police, faulting the position of northern governors on the issue.
According to him, the northerner governors position contradicts the stand of the larger forum of the governors who, through the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi, forwarded their recommendation in favour of state police to the committee.
Ekweremadu equally said that a number of states in the North, through their state governors, had sent memoranda to the committee suggesting state police. He stressed that the new position by the governors was surprising to him.
The northern governors, who rose from their meeting in Abuja, on Friday, unanimously kicked against the clamour for the establishment of state police, saying it had become imperative for them to call for the jettisoning of the proposal because the country was not ripe for such.
In a communique, signed on behalf of the governors by Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, they noted that rather than creating state police, the Constitution must be amended to allow the state governors control Commissioners of Police in their respective states.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu
“The Forum is not in support of creation of state police. It however resolved to prevail on the Federal Government to embark on police reform that will assist the states in control and management of police affairs, and sound philosophy of modern policing by amending the provision of Section 215,” the northern governors declared in a communiqué read by Aliyu after the meeting.
But in a reaction to the governors’ position, , yesterday, Ekweremadu said: “What the northern governors said contradicts the presentation by Governor Chibuike Amechi of Rivers State at Asaba. He made a very strong case for state police, and it also contradicts Prof. Isawa Elaigwu, a northerner, who also presented a keynote address and suggested five years single term.
But in a reaction to the governors’ position, , yesterday, Ekweremadu said: “What the northern governors said contradicts the presentation by Governor Chibuike Amechi of Rivers State at Asaba. He made a very strong case for state police, and it also contradicts Prof. Isawa Elaigwu, a northerner, who also presented a keynote address and suggested five years single term.
“He is a northerner; so, to me, it is the beauty of democracy. They will have their say but majority will have their way. We will throw it open to all Nigerians to dialogue and discussions will continue. I am sure that by the time all the merits of the issue of state police are put forward and when all fears are addressed, maybe they can change their mind on it.
No mindset
“The same thing with the issue of single term; the argument is still being developed. So, I am sure, the power of persuasion will also help us in determining the way forward. But we are democrats; as members of National Assembly we will only be guided by the opinion of Nigerians on any issue. So, as we said from the beginning, we don’t have any mindset on the issue.
“The same thing with the issue of single term; the argument is still being developed. So, I am sure, the power of persuasion will also help us in determining the way forward. But we are democrats; as members of National Assembly we will only be guided by the opinion of Nigerians on any issue. So, as we said from the beginning, we don’t have any mindset on the issue.
What preponderance of views direct to is what we will do. So if Nigerians say they don’t want any amendment in any area then that is the end of it, we will close shop. If they want in one area, we will deal with that; we are servants of the people and we will appreciate all the opinions but as I said the argument goes on.”
`New states possible, if …’
Asked if it would still be possible to create new states before the present administration ends its tenure in 2015, the Deputy Senate President said the desire for new states would be realized if Nigerians are able to build consensus around it.
Asked if it would still be possible to create new states before the present administration ends its tenure in 2015, the Deputy Senate President said the desire for new states would be realized if Nigerians are able to build consensus around it.
“If Nigerians agree that there is need for more states and that there are injustices that needed to be addressed in area of state creation, and they believe that the imbalances need to be adjusted in all parts of the country where there is dominance against the other, we must address it. So if Nigerians agree in that regard, I am sure we can build consensus around it and go ahead to create the state. I think it is something we are going to give a trial because there are valid requests there that need to be addressed,” Ekweremadu told Sunday Vanguard.
