INSIGHT TO THE DEMAND FOR: "CREATION OF ESAN STATE", A STATE LINKING ALL NIGERIANS.

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu.

Agitation for state creation is not a new phenomenon in Nigeria. Since the 1950s, Nigerians have developed an unending crave for new states. The ferocity with which communities demanded for new states after Nigeria’s independence in 1960 led to a repeated division of the country’s internal boundaries - into four regions in 1963, 12 States in 1967, 19 States in 1976, 21 States in 1987, 30 States in 1991 and 36 States in 1996. The agitation will continue as Nigeria nation exists.

Apart from the government of Abubakar Tafawa Belewa (1960-1966), no other civilian administration has been able to create new states despite the numerous requests that they usually receive. One explanation for the inability of civilian regimes to create new states is that the issue requires considerable level of consensus of which most civilian governments are not able to mobilize. Unlike the civilian governments, military regimes do not need national consensus to make important decisions such as state creation.

Don Joshua Richie, a community expert Supported the creation of Esan State  with these facts:

1) Esan people occupy massive economic potentials of Agriculture, The whole of Esan is actually a bulk of arable land.

2) Esan has direct border with river Niger to the East, visable in IIushi, Ugbogha and surrounding communities.

3)  Esan has crude oil in commercial quantity available in parts of Esan S.E, Urohi Kingdom in Esan West, parts of Esan N.E (Uzea), parts of Esan Central (border between Esan Central and Uzea).

Esan is strategically located as home to the major road leading to the federal capital city and more... , States do not succeed by size, it does as a result of the positive impact of the leaders. Population does not remain static, it is dynamic and people migrate every now and then, Esan has the ability to draw a huge population.

According to the Constitution, an Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new State shall only be passed if :

a)     a request is supported by at least two-thirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new state) in federal, state and local legislature,

b)     a proposal is thereafter approved in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people of the area where the demand for creation of the State originated,

c)      the result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority of all the States of the Federation supported by a simple majority of members of the Houses of Assembly,

d)     the proposal is approved by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of members of each House of the National Assembly.

Thus, creation of state is purely play in the political field which Esan indigenes have the might, human resources and influence to turn the Captainship of the Nigerian politics to seeing the creation of Esan State of Nigeria. A state linking all Nigerians.
Esan di fure.

...to be continued

Prince Kelly Udebhulu.
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