SENATE TO CONSIDER STATE CREATION SOON – EKWEREMADU
The Senate, on Wednesday announced its decision to set up a sub-committee under its Constitution Review Committee to consider the various requests for creation of more states across the country.
Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu announced this when he played host to a delegation from the Movement for the Creation of Anioma State from the present Delta State led by the Asagba of Asaba Prof. Chike Edozien. He said the proposed committee would fasttrack the considerations and recommendations for creation of the states.
Senator Ekweremadu who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review said the committee would come on stream as soon as the states' Houses of Assembly return a ratified copy of the amended copy of the 1999 Constitution presently in their domain.
The Deputy Senate President stressed that the Senate is mindful of the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians who genuinely demand for state creation.
According to Ekweremadu; 'We carry the burden of our people as their representatives. A consensus of opinions suggests that Nigerians want more states created. If that is the wish of our People, so be it.' Ekweremadu expressed the optimism that additional States would be created under the present dispensation just as he said that the exercise would bring development closer to the people as well as create healthy competition among the States.
The Deputy Senate President stressed that the envisaged state creation would be a reflection of true federalism and ultimate developments. Earlier in his remarks, leader of the delegation Prof. Edozien said the proposed Anioma State has large land mass, rich in oil and gas as well as solid mineral deposits that would make the it economically viable and sustainable.
Prof. Edozien further said the agitation for the creation of the state which started since 1975 under the then Justice Ayo Irikefe State creation Committee set up by the Federal Government in 1974 had suffered neglects even after others had been created.