By Babatunde Ayedoju

A few days ago, the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review announced that it had received proposals for the creation of 31 new states in Nigeria. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, read the committee letter containing the proposed states during a plenary session.

If the proposal is approved, this move is expected to increase the number of states in the federation from 36 to 67.

The proposed states which cut across the six geo-political zones include: Benue Ala State (Benue State); Okun State (Kogi State); Okura State (Kogi State); Confluence State (Kogi State); (Apa-Agba State (Benue South Senatorial District); (Apa State (Benue State); (FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA).

Amana State (Adamawa State); Katagum State (Bauchi State);  Savannah State (Borno State); Muri State (Taraba State); New Kaduna State and Gurara State (Kaduna State); Tiga State (Kano State); Kainji State (Kebbi State); Ghari State (Kano State).

Etiti State (South East geopolitical zone); Adada State (Enugu State); Urashi State (South East geopolitical zone); Orlu State (South Eastern Region of Nigeria);  Aba State (South Eastern Region of Nigeria); Ogoja State (Cross River State); Warri State (Delta State); Bori State (Rivers State); Obolo State (Rivers and Akwa Ibom States).

Others are Toru-Ebe State (Delta, Edo, and Ondo States); Ibadan State (Oyo State); Lagoon State (Lagos State); Ijebu State (Ogun State); Lagoon State (Lagos State and Ogun State); Ibadan State (Oyo State); Oke-Ogun and Ife-Ijesha States (Ogun, Oyo, and Osun states).

Professor Simon Ehiabhi, a historian, pointed out that Nigeria has not been able to manage the 36 states already in existence, except Lagos and Rivers, adding that those who are seeking more states hope that they will benefit more from the new states.

He said that the idea of more states is a result of personal political gains and not in the general interest of Nigerians, adding that it is self-centred, exploitative, and will be anti-people in the long run.

His words: “The idea of creating an additional 31 states is not likely to succeed. Some will be created but not as many as 31.”

The professor of African political history opined that whether more states are created or not, it will be difficult to predict any kind of political growth for Nigeria because the government’s policies are built around individuals, not the system.

He added, “What is happening now is something that another administration can come and reverse. Because we don’t have systemic governance, every plan is always within a duration. So, the future for Nigeria is unpredictable.”

Professor Adedayo Afe, another historian, stated that the 36 states already in existence have not been well-managed, therefore it is wrong to be considering creating more states at this time, insisting that it will only increase the cost of governance.

He said, “How many states are we going to have? Must the new states be up to 30? Do they want to turn all the local government areas into states? They should be talking about how local governments will be vibrant, development at the grassroots, how to spend government’s revenue judiciously and reduce the overhead cost of governance.”

Professor Afe, while noting that Nigeria was better off with four regions that encouraged more accelerated development nationwide, added that those who are advocating for more states now are idle and just want to create the impression that they are working.

He said, “It’s a commitment to leadership that we need at this time, not more states. More states won’t bring development if corruption remains. If they are talking about three or four new states, that will be better, even though it still won’t bring a permanent solution to Nigeria’s problems.

“We should be talking about developmental programmes, fighting corruption, provision of infrastructure such as good roads, water, electricity, and food security instead of a white elephant bill.”

Dr. Bayo Fasunwon, a political scientist, said that the issue of state creation had been on the front burner for a long, tracing it to complaints of marginalisation and domination among minority ethnic groups in the 36 states that are already in existence.

“If we can address marginalisation and domination, the agitation for state creation will reduce. We may have like 10 new states but 31 is bogus, and I don’t think is feasible, given the state of Nigeria’s economy at the moment,” he said.

The political economist noted that contrary to the expectation of many people that states should generate funds and lead to national development, states have been created to siphon funds from the federal government, what is commonly known as national cake.

He added that if partaking of the national cake is the reason for the proposed 31 new states, any other reason being put forward for that move will not hold water, and will only create more challenges instead of bringing solutions.

“Even if these new states are created, give us 10 to 15 years, another agitation for more states will arise from the new ones. Why not abolish states and let there just be federal and local governments? That way, there will be 774 local government areas with democratically elected leaders and the federal government. If the local governments develop, that will lead to national development,” he said.

Similarly, Dr Chris Ofonyelu, an economist, described the move to create more states as selfish, stressing that the proponents are placing personal interest above national development. Dr Ofonyelu stated that Nigeria’s economy is currently not buoyant and the unemployment rate is high; therefore this is not the best time to create more states, as it will only lead to a duplication of functions and an increase in the number of politicians in states that are not even viable in the first place.

“If at all states are going to be created, it should just be to balance the number of states across the geo-political zones; but the way it looks, even the north where we have more states is still asking for more. How do they want to fund the new states?

“It’s just a way of having a bite off the national cake, not to build independent and viable states; and for me, that should not be our focus now but how to build the economy,” he said.

Pa Oyekan Arije, a veteran labour leader, likewise pointed out that the 31 agitations for 31 new states are coming at a time when Nigeria has not been able to maintain the 36 states already in existence, adding that even the United States with its size has had only 50 states since 1776.

He described the move merely as an attempt to find jobs for politicians, saying, “Many people want to be governors, deputy governors, and so on. It’s a selfish proposal and the time has come for us to hold our political class accountable. They have been cheating us for too long.

“Talk of minimum wage, some states were dragging their feet about it. Labour should wake up and stop talking about minimum wage alone. They should talk about both minimum and maximum wage so that political offices will not be too lucrative for anybody to want to create a state for his village.”

Pa Arije recommended that political appointments should be less attractive so that anybody who is gainfully employed will not even desire them, adding that most politicians only want empires for themselves; they are not seeking the interest of Nigerians.