A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, Chief Olabode George, has faulted calls for the creation of 31 additional states in the country .
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ,NAN, yesterday, the PDP chieftain said creation of additional states would not solve the country’s challenges or promote its development.
The News Agency of Nigeria ,NAN, reports that Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, had on last Thursday said the House had received proposals for the creation of 31 new states.
Kalu, who is also Chairman of the House Constitution Review Committee, said that six new states were proposed in the North Central, four in the North East, five in the North West ,five in the South South, five in the South East and seven in the South West.
According to him, the proposed states include Okun, Okura and Confluence from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa from Benue; FCT State; Amana from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi; Savannah from Borno; Muri from Taraba; New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna State; Tiga and Ari from Kano State Kainji from Kebbi; , Adada from Enugu; Orlu from Imo and Aba from Abia,Etiti and Urashi in the South East.
Others are Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers, Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos and Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun states.
Some political stakeholders have, however, vehemently opposed the idea, describing it as unnecessary.
Reacting, George said what was needed in the country at this time was not creation of additional states.
He argued that the fact that some existing states were not viable clearly showed that state creation would not solve the country’s deep structural problems.
Instead, George called on the National Assembly to make efforts to ensure the country achieves true federalism.saying it was a sure way to achieve accelerated development .
