Politics of State Creation in Nigeria
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of the study is to examine the politics of state creation in Nigeria. Its specific objectives include:
- To find out if tribal sentiment is responsible for the consistent agitation for State Creation.
- To determine if State Creation can solve the problem of ethnicity in Enugu State.
- To determine if a democratic regime can facilitate State Creation.
Chapter Two:
History of State Creation in Nigeria
The politics of state creation in Nigeria have been characterized by intense disintegrating and conflicting struggles for socio-economic advantages at all levels and sections of the society. This trend has been as a result of the persistent agitation for creation of more state out of the existing ones.
By the time Nigeria became a full-fledge federation in 1954, the demand for separate states of their own by the different minority ethnic groups in all the three regions of the federation had reasonably attracted the attention of the colonial administration. Before this time, some nationality groups who were split by the 1946 tripartite division effected under the Richard’s constitution had demanded, in vain, changes in the regional boundaries which would re-unite them (Ejimofor, 1987:128).
The political Bureau set up in 1986 by the military government to examine the issues of return to civil rule, observed that during the “dying days of colonialism, the agitation was motivated mainly by the need to allay the fears of domination of the ethnic minorities throughout the federation by the majority Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani (RPB, 1987:168). To fight that cause, three main movements were formed by the dominant majorities in the East, West and the North, the Calabar – Ogoja, Rivers (C.O.R), the Benin-Delta Peoples Party and the Middle Belt Movement respectively. On the whole, their complaints ranged from cultural domination by the major ethnic groups in areas of social amenities, distribution of employment and scholarship awards. The fact that their agitations enlisted constitutional attention during the dying days of colonialism under scored their intensity for they were among the issues prominent on the agenda of the independence constitutional conference held in London in 1957; at which however no decision with regard to these demands were reached. But a recommendation for the appointment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the fears expressed by the minorities was made to the outgoing colonial government (FMG, 1987:168). That the Panel, in spite of the ‘strong case’ presented to it when it toured the regions did not recommend the creation of any additional region or state pointed to the fact that the balance of political forces and intrigues did not tilt in favour of the ethnic minorities case. However, the commission recommended the entrenchment of fundamental human rights, the establishment of special development authorities, and the successful implementation of democratic practices, which would go a long way to assuage minority fears.
But this initial setback did not daunt the minority, who remained adamant in their agitation for separate states of their own until the independence constitution of 1960 incorporated a provision which set out conditions under which a new state may be established, conditions which were followed in the establishment of the mid-western region in 1963. It is important to note that the splitting of only the old Western region was opposed to the two other regions East and North- where roughly equal demands for separate administrative units were strongly made.
Chapter Three:
History of Agitation for State Creation in Enugu State
The history of agitation for State Creation in Enugu State can be traced back to the old Anambra State. Enugu was bornout of the dichotomy that existed between the major zones ofthe state now called Enugu North, East and West. Indeed, the creation of Enugu State out of the old Anambra State was meant to solve the problem of ethnicity or tribal sentiment among the zones.
So far, it his has not been the case. When states were created in 1991, people thought that it will replace ethnicity and tribalism in this part of the country. According to the Guardian Newspaper of 11th May, 1994, it is these conflicts of interest between the elites in Enugu State that led to the development of politics of State Creation in the state today. Against this background of clashing political passions, a clash expressed in perceived domination of one section of the state by the other, a clash decried in the alleged inequality in the structure of policy resources, development and appointment into public office.
Chapter Four:
State Creation in a Democratic Regime
The nations that makeup what we call Nigeria today, are the Hausa/Fulani, the Yoruba and Igbo nations, and each exists differently in its own system of administration. The Hausa/Fulani practiced centralized system, the Yoruba system was republican. These entities practiced democracy in their own ways but the practice of Igbo nation was a type of participatory democracy linked to Greek city states era.
Chapter five:
Summary, Conclusion, Recommendation
Summary
The politics of state creation since the last decade of colonialism in Nigeria has been re-occurring decimal in our body politic. It is no longer a political fact in quest of consensus but the “why” of this endemic phenomenon is yet to be conclusively resolved among political observers/commentators, scientist, particularly political scientists and even actors in the scene. In this study, we re-examined several attempts from different analytical perspectives, to explain why in Nigeria the quest for more states has continued unabated and had also assumed the character of life and death battle. In doing so, we have noted contending views between writers who use ethnic based and class perspectives to explain the pattern of political behavior and competition in Nigeria.
We also traced the politics of state creation syndrome in Nigeria to colonialism and obnoxious policies like “divide and rule”, uneven development pattern. We argued that by dividing the people into separate administrative units and making these units salient in the day-to-day interaction of the citizens with the state, the policy instilled a feeling of ethnic separation in the people. In effect, in the struggle for spoils of office and scare resources of the state, the administrative unit became the major contenders. This equally gave the politicians the opportunities to whip up local or tribal sentiments in their struggle for office as winning an administrative unit was crucial in the election of Enugu State.
In fact, a candidate who hails from an administrative unit with a large population stood a chance of winning the Enugu State Governorship election. This trend was obvious in the United Nigerian Congress Party (UNCP) Primary nomination.
The Enugu, Nsukka zonal tribal interest in the state today cannot be extricated from this policy as each group still trace their origin to these old administrative units created by colonialism. Moreover, the colonial state in alliance with its other apparatus like the Christian churches pursued a development pattern that brought socio-economic disparity in the state. Artifacts of modernity were concentrated in the colonial administrative commercial centres. This pattern created unevenness in development as some parts benefited less than others from the scares resources dished out by the states. One area this was obviously noticed was in the area of education.
We also observed that all the existing states were all created under military fiat. That is to say that there are no objective criteria for the creation. Meanwhile, the entire attempt by the civilians in creation of states, could not work because of stiff constitutional provisions. It was discovered that the inequality of the state, Local Government and House of Representatives are due to political influence and patronage during the creation periods which made some of the geo-political zones to be more than the other.
Conclusion
The study examined the problems of state creation in Nigeria with particular attention to Enugu State. In our course of study, we observe that the endemic character of conflict in every state arises from the mechanics of power relations. Therefore, state creation reproduces emergence of new minorities and new petty or comprador bourgeoisie who manipulates social production, reproduction process to their advantage and the consequent expansion of the population of the country’s poor. However, the success recorded by new states in terms of infrastructure and human development cannot be over emphasized because sate creation promotes development. Despite the above, ethnic or tribal sentiment still remains a turn in the flesh of Enugu state people. This has really affected the state both in developmental programme and mutual understanding of the people.
Recommendations
We hereby recommend the following:
That Nigeria should become a federation of six geo-political zones with equal state creation and more accommodation of the minority group interest for their effective integration. This should be done through a balance state creation exercise and the delimitation of constituencies. On this, there is immediate need for the creation of additional state for the South East zone
Agriculture should be revamped to make it create the much needed employment opportunity, which will make every individual or group to contribute his or her own quota to national development, it is only when people don’t have employment that they are vulnerable to manipulation by the petty or comprador bourgeoisie in the society for the purpose of destruction.
The need for competent leaders cannot be over emphasized as a possible panacea to this problem of state creation. Nigeria needs a leader with vision and insight as well as the will power to put forward and maintain equitable distribution of the national resources and healthy economic growth that is totally independent. These presupposed two things:
- The power of ballot box should be respected for us to choose a leader with acceptability and confidence.
- That corruption both at higher and low places must be vigorously fought, for no meaningful economic growth flourishes in such environment.
We also recommend a Review of Section 8 (eight) of 1999 Constitution Article iii, C and D which stipulates the approval of state creation by 2/3 majority of both the upper and lower Houses, simple majority all the thirty six (36) states House of Assembly. This is to make State Creation possible in a democratic government.
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