It is OK to clamour for creation of new states, as long as they will foot their bills themselves – Lawmaker

A member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Honorable Johnson Erijo, has said that only true federalism will end the agitation for more states in the country. According to him, as long as states rely on the centre for survival, the agitation will continue.

The lawmaker told the Nigerian Tribune that there was nothing wrong in agitating and getting state created as long as a state could foot its bill and not wait for a few states to make their contributions to the centre. In his words, “If you are so determine to form your states, you can go ahead as long as you can foot your bills and not wait for a few states to make contributions to the centre and at the end of every month, you go to Abuja to get allocation.”

Erijo, who represents Isoko South II Constituency, recommended that true federalism should be enshrined in the constitution and it should be seen to be working, adding that “this would water down the increasing demand for state creation.” The deputy majority leader agreed with the position of the Senate Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu, that state creation was impossible in a democratic setting.

He further noted that apart from having 2/3 of state Houses of Assembly to vote in the affirmative, members at the National Assembly and in the states where no state is likely to be created would definitely vote against such request.

Source: Tribune