Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwanso have openly opposed the plan by the federal government to create an additional state in the south east.
Speaking in Abuja, Kwankwanso accused the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who is also the Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee for taking advantage of his office to lobby for another state for his region without considering other regions, particularly the North.
According to Daily Post, he noted that the population of Kano state is more than three states in the South East, and it won’t be justified to have a state created out of the Southeast.
The governor said, “In this course, the northern states,
particularly the Kano State deserves one or two additional states. Not
only this, just only the North West claimed about 35,786,944, while
Sout-East and South South in addition is 37,396,384, please among all
these regions, who should be considered for another new state?
“As far as we are concerned, if we have to go for constitution amendment, all issues should be on the table. We do not want a situation where state creation would be a matter of yes or man-know- man or I have this or I have that.
“Kano has 44 local governments because we are over 9.4million population by the last census and we have the landmass. Now if you want to change things, let us come up with criteria, don’t just do it under the table on the pretence that they have five states in the South-East.
“They (the South-East) should not have five in my opinion. What is the population of the South-East?
“I am saying this with all sense of responsibility; I am not playing any regional or ethnic politics. But you see, I am representing a state now. I will not allow anybody to go and make nonsense of what we have. If you want to create your state, go and create, do not call Kano anyhow.
The Governor encouraged all the legislators from the north in the National Assembly to resist the move and called for equal share if there is a need for the 1999 constitution amendment.
“That is why I want to advise our own people to be more careful. They should not go to the National Assembly and do something else. You are on paper representing us and you go there and you are voting for others. “I want to challenge our members (from the North) to stand up. That is why I will support Northern governors to empower Arewa House, where they keep history, to go and put table in the gallery of the House of Representatives and in the gallery of the Senate. Any member of the House of Reps or Senate who is voting for any position should be recorded, his father, his constituency should be recorded.” he concluded.
“As far as we are concerned, if we have to go for constitution amendment, all issues should be on the table. We do not want a situation where state creation would be a matter of yes or man-know- man or I have this or I have that.
“Kano has 44 local governments because we are over 9.4million population by the last census and we have the landmass. Now if you want to change things, let us come up with criteria, don’t just do it under the table on the pretence that they have five states in the South-East.
“They (the South-East) should not have five in my opinion. What is the population of the South-East?
“I am saying this with all sense of responsibility; I am not playing any regional or ethnic politics. But you see, I am representing a state now. I will not allow anybody to go and make nonsense of what we have. If you want to create your state, go and create, do not call Kano anyhow.
The Governor encouraged all the legislators from the north in the National Assembly to resist the move and called for equal share if there is a need for the 1999 constitution amendment.
“That is why I want to advise our own people to be more careful. They should not go to the National Assembly and do something else. You are on paper representing us and you go there and you are voting for others. “I want to challenge our members (from the North) to stand up. That is why I will support Northern governors to empower Arewa House, where they keep history, to go and put table in the gallery of the House of Representatives and in the gallery of the Senate. Any member of the House of Reps or Senate who is voting for any position should be recorded, his father, his constituency should be recorded.” he concluded.
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