Groups demand four new states in North East

Some groups in the North East region have called for the establishment of four more states including Savannah State to be carved out from Borno, Amana State from Adamawa, Katagum State from Bauchi and Muri State from Taraba.

The groups presented their demands on Friday during the opening of a two-day zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution which held in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

The Director of Media and Publicity, Amana State Movement, Ahmad Sajor, in a statement said the demand for the state creation out of Adamawa and Uba Chiefdom of Borno State sterned from the need to correct historical injustice meted in the area by the Nigerian state

“There is a breach of trust on the part of the Nigerian nation that promised that the area in question which voted willingly to join Nigeria through a United Nations conducted plebiscite in the 11th February of 1961 was received by the Late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello and other representatives of the Nigerian government with a pledge that the area will remain a distinct entity as a province or state within the Nigerian nation and that the capital city of Mubi will remain equal to other capitals such as Kano, Katsina, and Ilorin.

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“Unfortunately, both promises were not kept by the Nigeria nation,” he added.

Ahmad, however, described the move as “the correction of historical injustice meted on the area by the Nigerian State”

Other movements demanding the creation of states were sighted with placards, crested shirts with inscriptions calling for the approval of their demand by the National Assembly

A member of the group demanding the creation of Katangum State from Bauchi State said that if approved, the people will be forever glad.

“Our demands are not much. We want Katagum State. We believe in the current assembly and we are certain that after reviewing our request, they will grant us our wish,” the member who pleaded not to be identified said.

The hearing was attended by prominent leaders in the North East including the Governor of Borno State who was represented by his deputy, Usman Kadafur, Senators of the three senatorial districts in Borno State, former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi State, and Shehu of Borno among other leaders