In a new political development, indigenes of Southern Plateau state have renewed their quest for the creation of a new state from the present Plateau state -to be called Lowland state. This new development was made known to newsmen on Friday 28th March 2014 by the National Chairman of the body leading the agitation -i.e., Movement for the Creation of Lowland State Nanyah Daman.

In his statement, the chairman contended that the new state be created from the present Plateau and Bauchi States, arguing that the region meets the requirement as stipulated in the Nigerian constitution. He said “the movement met the requirements of Section 8(1)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution and thus called on the Committee for the Review of the 1999 Constitution to do its part of the job”.

In a new political development, indigenes of Southern Plateau state have renewed their quest for the creation of a new state from the present Plateau state -to be called Lowland state. This new development was made known to newsmen on Friday 28th March 2014 by the National Chairman of the body leading the agitation -i.e., Movement for the Creation of Lowland State Nanyah Daman.

In his statement, the chairman contended that the new state be created from the present Plateau and Bauchi States, arguing that the region meets the requirement as stipulated in the Nigerian constitution. He said “the movement met the requirements of Section 8(1)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution and thus called on the Committee for the Review of the 1999 Constitution to do its part of the job”.

Mr. Rowland commended the Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for revisiting the “issues agitating for states creation, but is willing to relax the cumbersomeness of the near-impossible process by amending Section 8(1) (a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution”. The section reads: “An act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if a request supported by at least ⅔ majority of members representing the area demanding the creation of a new state in each of the following namely the Senate, and the House of Representatives, House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area, is received by the National Assembly.”

Mr. Rowland said the next census to determine Nigeria’s population should also ascertain the actual population of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. “The next (2016) national population census form must have information on religious inclination to determine which religion is really in the majority in Nigeria,” said Mr. Rowland.
Indigenes of Southern Plateau State have alleged marginalization by other parts of the state.

Long stay in power

The association also expressed worry at the seizure of power by the older generation who they say stay at the helm of affairs for an inordinate period sidelining the youth from the administration of the state.
The group asked the “National Assembly and the National Conference to provide in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria a proviso that no one more than 55 years should contest for the governorship of a state and no one above 60 years should vie for the position of the President, to enable Nigerian youths have a taste of leadership”. 

See the following link for the proposal: http://statecreation.gnbo.com.ng/Memo

(Source: Premium Times)

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Southern Plateau citizens renew agitation for new state creation from Plateau and Bauchi states -called Lowland state