ABUJA — FORMER Senate Chief Whip, Senator Victor Oyofo has warned against the proliferation of states, just as he said most of the existing ones were not viable. He described the creation of more states as a sin.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja yesterday, Senator Oyofo said some of the existing states find it difficult to pay salaries of their workers, adding that such states only thrive on revenue from the Federation Account.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, had said, weekend, that the agitation for new states across the country had increased to 45.
Oyofo said: “In addressing the internal architecture of the federation, we must do what is obvious. This means consolidating our gains and formalising then into laws.
“It is clear that states have to be viable. A situation where a state is created to rely on the revenue share from the Federal Government is not viable and, when deeply considered, a sin.
Advocates geo-political units
“It is a sin because it inhibits the ability of citizens to develop their potentials which lie in the talents God bestowed on each of us.
“Through the hands of General Sani Abacha, the idea of six geo-political zones arose. Today, we have three zones in the North and three zones in the South. This arrangement eliminated the fear of what was once called the hegemony of the North.
“The obvious thing here is that the six geo-political zones should be the federating units. The internal structure of each zone should be the responsibility of the zone.
“In simple words, each zone may decide what to call the present states or how many are needed in their zones.
“However, the domina-ting criteria should be the viability of a unit— the abi-lity to be self-sustaining.’’
On the raging controversy over agitation for a Sovereign National Conference, SNC, Oyofo said the issue of national question could better be addressed by the National Assembly, NASS.
He said: “Some have argued for a new assembly called, SNC and there are those who say the legislative arms can do this. It is true that the legislative arms can do this, if they can rise above petty interests and become statesmen.
“Already, they are talking of over 45 states, which is clear evidence that those who talk like this do not have the real development of their people at heart.
“They are thinking about sharing the oil money and their limited political ambition. The responsibility should be with the Presidency, which can drive the concept to fulfillment. Such a President will tower above all others for all times.”
SOURCE: Vanguard Newspaper, 24 February 2012. http://www.vanguardngr.com/
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