Constitution Review: Let Popular Views Prevail, Amaechi Tells NASS; Rivers People Want Additional State …‘NASS Didn’t Rule Out State Creation’

Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, has tasked the National Assembly to allow popular views to prevail in the on-going constitution review exercise.

Speaking at the People’s public session of the 1999 Constitution review forum organised by the three senators representing the state in the National Assembly, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Amaechi said, “it is important that the National Assembly carry us along in the process”.

He used the forum to advocate for fiscal federalism, “we believe that if they move some of the funds to state governments, the citizens will be well protected”.

Governor Amaechi argued that though agitation for state creation was not bad, that some states were not viable and disclosed that the position of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) on some burning issues would be made public after their meeting later this month.

Coordinator of the forum and Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe said the forum was to provide platform for Rivers people to express their views on the exercise, noting that security was one major area that should be addressed.

So far, he explained that the current review exercise was the most inclusive since it is geared at reflecting the views of the citizenry.

Senator Abe thanked Rivers State Government for the support given to make the programme successful, “at the end we will have a better country, and a better future for our children”.

In his remarks, Senator George Sekibo held that every constitution was amenable from the first day of its making, arguing that the 1999 constitution was overdue for review since it was made by the military.

Areas to be reviewed, according to him, include rights of traditional Rulers, Land Use Act, autonomy for the Local Government Areas, review of laws of the police, the Judiciary, Tenure of Executives, issue of indigeneship, national security and further amendment of the electoral system among others.

He maintained that the views of Rivers people were crucial because of its economic role in the country.

Senator Wilson Ake harped on the need for the constitution to reflect the people’s views, and assured that the new one after the review would reflect the people’s needs and aspirations.

He pointed out that one area that should be addressed was the issue of national emblem.

Chairman of the forum and former Supreme Court Justice, Justice Adolphus Karibi Whyte reasoned that each state should be self sufficient, while insisting that 13 percent derivation should be reflected, “the main problem that is affecting stability is the direct control of local governments. It should be subject to the states,” he argued.

Also Chairman of Rivers State Economic Advisory Council, Prof Nimi Briggs stressed the need for the country to adopt true federalism, as he deplored the current situation where the federal government oversees and manages resources from the state.

The people of Rivers State have declared their support for the creation of at least one state out of the present Rivers State. Stakeholders at the public session organised by the Senate in collaboration with the Rivers State Government at the Civic Centre Complex in Port Harcourt, Wednesday, said states should be created based on economic viability.

One of the lead discussants, Prof Atuboyedie Obianime noted that the problem of the Niger Delta have not been resolved because the wrong parameters have been adopted to create states in the country.

They expressed concern that Rivers State with a 23-local government area structure has remained the same after several years while some other states which have given birth to one or more states still have more local government areas.

Prof Obianime said that there was a fundamental error in the interpretation of the concept of equality of states which is one of the key considerations for revenue sharing noting that state creation would correct the imbalance in the country.

According to him, every state in Nigeria is endowed with viable economic potentials which if developed could yield more than crude oil, and recommended that states should control 80% of their resources and pay rent to the Federal Government.

The professor who was a president of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) faulted the present structure of Nigerian federation, which he said operated in name but was grossly violated in its application.

He called for a proper federal structure and also advocated for a new revenue formula that will reflect the reality of the Nigerian state.

According to the former INC president, only the creation of more states, based on economic viability, including the oil Rivers State can promote genuine development and justice in the Nigeria state, noting that most of the states created by the military were unviable and entirely dependent on federal allocation.

In his view, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Barrister OCJ Okocha, said for Nigeria to respond to the imperatives of justice, policies that disempower the people should be scrapped. Okocha however voted for the establishment of state police to tackle insecurity in the country.

Okocha, also stated that the section of the constitution bordering on state creation should be reviewed to give power to the people based on a referendum rather than making it a prerogative of elected representatives of the people.

In his contribution, a former Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly and co-chair of Sombreiro State Movement, Rt. Hon. Stephen Ezekwem, urged Rivers people to be united in the demand for a new state, and advised that the issue of upland and reverine dichotomy was no longer relevant.

Bori State Movement’s position was presented by Elder Justus Kotus. He supported the creation of another state out of Rivers State and indicated that the proposed Bori State would comprise local governments that make up the present Rivers South East Senatorial District.

Prof Simeon Achinewhu who presented the position of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, said the creation of states should be based on economic viability while balkanization of ethnic groups should be avoided.

Stakeholders were also of the view that there was too much power at the centre. They called for devolution of powers to the states to reduce the pressure on the centre and expedite the development of the federating states.

Alpheaus Paul-Worika

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi, Oby Ezekwesili and the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Judith Amaechi, at the BRACED States Education Summit in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

& Beemene Taneh