Proposed state creation: Senior lawyer faults Reps for omitting Eduko 

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, Monday faulted the exclusion of Eduko state, which was to be carved out of Niger state by the House of Representatives.

He expressed worry that despite the 2014 confab’s recommendation for the creation of Edu state, now proposed as Eduko state, and having met the constitutional requirements outlined in Section 8(1)(2)(3) which is the legal framework guiding state creation in Nigeria, the committee overseeing state creation inexplicably removed it from the final list.

 The proposal, he said, does not reflect the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu of fairness, equity and justice,  adding that creation of Eduko state will serve the interest of the long-marginalised Nupe people.

The House of Representatives Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution recently proposed the creation of 31 additional states in the country. If approved, it would increase the number of states in Nigeria to 67.

The senior lawyer, who stated this while addressing journalists over the omission, wondered why Nupe speaking people from the present Niger state, Kwara, Kogi and FCT should be excluded from the list and not be a priority despite age-long agitation for Ndadume, Edu and now Eduko state, an advocacy which  he said, has spanned many years.

He noted that the agitation for the creation of additional states in Nigeria had been a sustained discussion, with proponents citing the move as capable of promoting effective governance and development in the country.

 The learned silk urged President Tinubu, who he described as a long–time friend of the Nupe people to wade in so that the needful would be done and Edoko would be captured alongside other proposed states.