As always, there is an avalanche of demands for creation of more states. Among the myriad of demands, only a few deserve attention. The rest are just seeking attention. Their contents are neither compelling nor persuasive. They are demands made for its own sake. Given the fact that most of the agitations are frivolous, the whole issue of creation of new states has become rancorous. Undeserving hamlets or communities are entertaining themselves with demands for new states, and this is making genuine agitations to almost pale into insignificance. This debasement should not be allowed to continue.
It is because there does not appear to be any known criteria for matters bordering on state creation that some howlers are polluting the atmosphere with puerile agitations. We are talking about demand for new states that did not take into consideration the sensibilities and preferences of some of the component units being shepherded into the contraption. We have situations where political marauders are already beginning to see states that are yet to be created as their fiefdoms. They have drawn or sketched imaginary maps in their heads, with accompanying boundaries, demarcations and delineations.
It is such mentality that has relegated to the backwaters the need to consult and seek the understanding and buy-in of some entities being cajoled to accept their unjustified inclusion in such dream states.
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Not long ago, I had cause in this Column to admonish some marauders in this venture. I had then partly written as follows:
“Like Anioma, there is also a case for the creation of Orlu State before the National Assembly. The demand was recently tabled in the House of Representatives by Ikenga Ugochinyere. The state is to be carved out of Imo, Anambra and Abia States. As I have already conceded, agitation for Orlu State has its merits. The idea has been in the public domain for many years. But unlike Anioma whose territory is very well defined, those behind Orlu or Njaba state have not taken time to delineate properly the territory that the proposed state should cover. That explains why there have been pockets of disclaimers about the idea of the state. Those who sent the proposal to the National Assembly need to return to the drawing board. This should be an urgent assignment for Ugochinyere and other co-sponsors of the Bill. It should also be a job for stakeholders in Orlu zone of Imo State and its adjoining territories.
“But let me help Ugochinyere and his team a little. The twelve local government areas of Orlu zone, excluding Oguta and Ohaji/Egbema, are large enough to form a new state. In other words, the canvassers for the new state should focus on ten local government areas of Orlu zone and leave Ohaji/ Egbema and parts of Oguta LGAs out of it. I am aware that Ohaji/ Egbema and one half of Oguta Local government areas (particularly Agwa clan of Oguta LGA) have long disassociated themselves from the proposed state. These communities have outlined compelling reasons why they should remain with Imo State with Owerri as its capital. They should be allowed to be because their position takes into consideration their tomorrow and even the destiny of their unborn children. A people must take their destiny in their own hands. Insisting on their inclusion in the proposed state will weaken rather than strengthen the agitation.
Ihiala Local government area of Anambra State is good to join Orlu State. And I guess they are comfortable with it. But we can hardly say the same thing of the people of Orumba South of Anambra state. The drafters of the Orlu State creation Bill should take a second look at the document. They should be less ambitious in their pursuit lest they reduce what is supposed to be a serious agitation to a child’s play.”
That was my submission then. My position on the matter remains the same even till tomorrow. But I have come to notice in the past few months that the only thing those behind the Orlu state idea have taken from my admonition is the change of name from Orlu to Anim. They have practically ignored every other thing that will make or mar the realization of their dream. But the good thing is that the communities or local government areas that are being forcibly hounded into the proposed Anim state have since spoken out. They have tabled their petitions of rejection to the National Assembly Committee on the Review of the Constitution. I trust that the committee will recognize that no group or entity should be coerced into joining an arrangement that will not serve their purpose. Willingness not conscription should prevail. The committee has a responsibility to ensure that the right thing is done.
But before we stray too far into the bush of thorns, I call on Mr President and the leadership of the National Assembly to refocus their attention on an option that will work in this matter. The option is to work towards achieving a balance in the number of states that each of the geopolitical zones has. The starting point here will be to equate the south east with the other four geopolitical zones that have six states each. The least rancorous route towards achieving this is to create Anioma state and group it as a south east state. After that, the country can, at the appropriate time, return to the drawing by separating the wheat from the chaff in the agitations for creation of new states. The president and the national legislature can treat this as a matter of urgent national importance and make it happen.
Anioma merits this treatment because those behind it have done a good job of their agitation, including its grouping as a south east state. If the presidency and the legislature give Anioma this deserving treatment, they would have succeeded in righting the wrongs of the past. Such an step will also heal wounds and calm frayed nerves. Besides, it will give the frivolous agitators a good idea of how to go about a matter as sensitive and serious as state creation. Maybe by then, those who think they need new states will follow the example of Anioma. Apart from Anioma and its promoters, the other agitations are populated by a bunch of expansionists who want to use state creation to cause trouble. They want to annex instead of integrating or unifying. Rather than toeing this divisive path, I invite them to take some lessons from those behind the Anioma agitation on how to make a good idea work. Agitation for creation of new states should not be about impunity, coercion or suppression. Instead, it should seek to integrate and advance the cause of all its component parts.
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