The Association of Igbo Town Unions, ASITU, has strongly rejected the move to create more States in Nigeria, describing such proposal as misplacement of priority and misguided attempt to create more problems to the already fragile federation.
The Union made their position known following the recent public hearing on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution organized by the National Assembly across the country.
In an official statement by its National President, Chief Emeka Diwe, the Union explained that Nigeria’s problems cannot be solved by creating what it described as cosmetic states but through convening a sovereign National Conference to look at the legitimacy of the 1999 Constitution.
The National President stated that the Association acknowledged the need for Nigeria to seek a better way to move the country forward but regretted that the foundation upon which efforts are being made is fundamentally flawed.
He pointed out that the 1999 constitution did not originate from the Nigeria Citizens but a legal disjointed documents foisted on the Nigeria masses by the departed military regime in 1998.
Diwe noted that the constitution was done without the consultation or participation of the Nigerian people, adding that any attempt to amend it without first addressing its legitimacy will be an act of building a house on a sinking sand.
The Association’s President further noted that the preamble of the constitution started with a lie by claiming that it was enacted by “We the people” when the people did not made any input through out the process.
” What we inherited on May 29, 1999, was an imposition, a product of military Fiat drafted by a small committee handpicked by an authoritarian regime. This undemocratic foundation makes every amendment, no matter how noble, a patch work on an illegitimate documents.
” What Nigeria needs is not another around of constitutional amendments but a genuine sovereign National Convention where ethnic nationalities can freely deliberate and agree on the basis of their foundation.
”Constitution in a every civilized society is that which emerges from the people.It is not the will of rulers, but the codification of people collective decision on how they wish to live and be governed, “he stated.
Diwe cited the United States’constitution describing it as people oriented document, when in 1787 at Philadelphia where an assembly of delegates from the original thirteen colonies converged and freely debated and ratified their union.
He further regretted that instead of Nigeria embracing the path of popular sovereignty what is being discussed is creation of over 30 more States with the already existing 36 States without any viable strong economy.
According to him, the creation of more States under a broken system cannot bring any meaningful development instead they will deepen the fiscal distress already in place and create more bureaucratic inefficiencies.
The association suggested that Nigeria should go back to Regional Government under which Chief Obafemi Awolowo was able to introduce free education through out the Western region while the Eastern region under Michael Opara became the fastest growing economy in the Commonwealth with the North as the highest producers of groundnut.
ASITU reiterated that it is committed to the unity of Nigeria but not at the expense of justice, truth and mutual respect among its diverse peoples.
