Arewa Elders kick against state creation, PIB

Arewa elders have opposed any move by the National Assembly to create more states in the country, saying that engaging in such exercise at a time when Nigeria is facing high cost of maintaining democratic structures will be counter productive.

According to the elders, who spoke under the auspices of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), it would be politically inexpedient if Nigerians are calling for the reduction of the cost of governance, and at the same time the legislators are fine-tuning the framework for state creation.

Besides, the Forum also pointed out that the opposition by some northern legislators against the passage of the

Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently before the National Assembly should not be misconstrued as a regional agenda, but one that is meant to correct the anomalies noticed in the bill in the overall interest of the nation.

In a statement at the end of its National Working Committee meeting in Kaduna, the Arewa leaders argued that if there would be any compelling need to create new states, those in charge should consider issues of land mass and population in arriving at their decision.

The statement, which was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Mr. Anthony Sani, also stressed that the insistence of the forum that the government employ dialogue in resolving the Boko Haram insurgency was not informed by any desire to encourage insurgency as a viable way of attracting government's attention for patronages, but by the fact of history, noting that the use of military might rarely reined in terrorists activities anywhere.

Sani said: 'Nigeria may not be an exception. Towards this end, the meeting still urges the governments to go as far as efforts can go and bring the leadership of the sect to the negotiation table for public good.'