Gowon urges N’Assembly to reject state creation

 by David Attah

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has called on the National Assembly not to accede to requests of various interests in the country to create more states.

Creating new states, he said, would only increase the burden of governance in the country.

He also called for the introduction of electoral college in the 2015 presidential election.

Gowon,  who was represented by the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, spoke on Wednesday at a conference organised by Arewa House Centre for Historical Documentation and Research of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

According to Gowon, new states will not resolve the several problems bedevilling the country.

Gowon said,  “We are faced with challenges in the country, no doubt. Now that the constitution review is in place, the National Assembly must end the agitation for the creation of new states by some ethnic nationalities. More states  will only increase cost of governance.

“New states will not resolve the catalogue of problems  in the country.”

The former military leader, who said he met with northern senate caucus in Abuja last week, explained that he asked them to consider the introduction of electoral college in electing the country’s president.

He also told the gathering, which had prominent northern leaders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, that the region must come together in order to develop politically.

Gowon said, “Unless we come together, we would continue to have problems.

“The North must come together to forge a common front for  the North to enjoy progress and development.”

Declaring the conference open, Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa called for peace in the region, saying a peaceful North remained a catalyst for the  nation’s stability and development.

The governor noted that for peace to reign in the region, its leader must discourage  ethnic and religious intolerance among the people.

Yakowa said, “The North has been a catalyst for the unity, stability and development of the country. The country has been relying on the North for direction. This is contrary to what some people out there would want the world to believe about the North.

“History has shown that the unity and strength of the North, with a collective sense of purpose and focus, has been the basis for the unity and strength of Nigeria. We must do everything to sustain this responsibility bestowed on us by providence.”

ThePunch