Senator representing Cross River North in Nigeria’s Senate, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, says he is fully involved and has endorsed the idea of creating Ogoja State, out of present day Cross River State.
Jarigbe also came clear that his insistence that Ogoja State be created out of Cross River State, is not an endorsement that seeks to dismember CRS, but a well intentioned endorsement that will take development to one of Nigeria’s oldest province, still largely underdeveloped and marginalised in the scheme of things.
The senator who bared his mind early Saturday morning, June 22, 2024, when he appeared as guest on “The Public View”, HIT 95.9 FM, Calabar’s flagship news and current affairs programme, was particular that, “Ebonyi is what it is today because it was carved out of Enugu and made a state. It has brought development to that part of Nigeria and there’s the added advantage of bringing governance close to the people. As I speak, Ogoja is the only old provincial headquarters in Nigeria that has not been made a state capital and this is sad, I must say.”
On attempts to classify and position Ogoja as belonging to Nigeria’s middle belt, Jarigbe insisted that, “Ogoja belongs to the South-South of Nigeria, we do not belong to the Middle belt because our people are in the South-South, our culture, our tradition; and we cannot be classified as belonging to the Middle because we are not.”
I love the boldness in the statement coming from a distinguished senator on he issue of state creation, that is a clear display of readiness, not sleeping on task and the will to see things to the end under once watch. The issue of state creation is a significant and complex matter that requires wide consultation for several reasons not limited to representation and governance, equity and development, cultural and social cohesion, legal and constitutional compliance, economic viability, political consensus. Creating a new state from the present Cross River State at this time in history in Nigeria, should involve several considerations and bases that should ideally be contemplated like:
1. Geographical and Demographic Considerations:
o Geographical Compactness: The new state should ideally be geographically compact and contiguous, to make administration and governance more practical.
o Population: The population within the proposed boundaries should be sufficient to sustain a viable state economically and administratively.
2. Cultural and Socio-Economic Factors:
o Cultural Affinity: Communities within the proposed state should share common cultural and historical ties that might justify their inclusion together.
o Socio-Economic Viability: The new state should have the potential to be economically self-sustaining or at least not overly dependent on subsidies from the federal government.
3. Administrative and Governance Efficiency:
o Administrative Feasibility: The new state should be capable of establishing its own administrative infrastructure (government institutions, public services, etc.) without excessive strain.
o Governance Effectiveness: Breaking CRS into more smaller states can potentially lead to more effective governance and responsiveness to local needs compared to larger, more heterogeneous entities.
4. Equity and Representation:
o Equitable Development: It should be ensured that the creation of the proposed state does not exacerbate regional disparities in development or marginalize any particular group.
o Political Representation: The new state should provide fair representation to all communities within its boundaries, ensuring inclusive governance.
5. Legal and Constitutional Framework:
o Constitutional Provisions: Let’s ensure that the creation of the new state complies with constitutional provisions and legal frameworks governing state creation in Nigeria.
o Political Will: There should be political consensus and support at various levels (federal, most especially state, and local) for the creation of the new state and for considerable peace and stability.
6. Consultation and Public Support:
o Community Consultation: It is important to consult widely with communities and stakeholders within the areas likely to be affected by the creation of the new state to gauge their support and address any concerns.
o Public Opinion: Let’s consider the opinions and preferences of the general public and stakeholders in the affected areas.
In closing, to create a new state or states in Cross River State, specific considerations related to its current demographics, cultural diversity, economic activities (such as agriculture, tourism, and natural resources), and administrative capabilities should guide the delineation of boundaries for any new state. Each of these factors would play a crucial role in ensuring the success and sustainability of the proposed new state(s). In my next article I will try to without bias simulate mental pictures.
Reference:
“Geographical Compactness and Contiguity in State Creation: Lessons from Nigeria and Beyond” (Academic research or policy papers on state creation principles).
Nigerian Constitution, Section 8 (1), which outlines that a state should have adequate population and geographical size to be viable.
“Cultural Affinity and State Creation in Nigeria” (Scholarly articles or reports discussing cultural considerations in state creation).
“Socio-Economic Viability and State Creation: Case Studies from Nigeria” (Studies or policy documents analyzing economic sustainability in state creation).
“Administrative Feasibility of State Creation in Nigeria” (Reports or analysis on administrative capabilities of new states).
“Governance Effectiveness and State Size: Implications for State Creation” (Research on governance dynamics in smaller vs. larger states).
“Equitable Development and State Creation: Lessons from Nigeria” (Articles or reports on equitable distribution in state formation).
Nigerian Constitution, Chapter IV (Sections 14 and 15), which highlight principles of federal character and fairness in representation.
Nigerian Constitution, Section 8 (3-5), which outlines the procedural requirements for state creation.
“Political Will and State Creation in Nigeria” (Analysis of political dynamics in state creation processes).
“Public Consultation and State Creation: Best Practices” (Guidelines or studies on community engagement in state creation).
“Public Opinion and State Creation: Insights from Nigeria” (Public opinion surveys or studies on public perception of state creation).
Charles Felix Ebri:
https://medium.com/@ebricharles https://www.calitown.com/i-have-capacity-to-manifest-leadership-for-yakurr-i-state-constituency-charles-ebri/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-felix-ebri-8a579460/
https://medium.com/@ebricharles/cybersecurity-concerns-in-inecs-cybersecurity-infrastructure-and-how-to-correct-2d200d0b3f81
Yes that’s nice, now Governance would be more accessible to villagers