SENATE President, David Mark, said yesterday, that to douse tension in the country, agitation or feeling of marginalization by some minority groups in the country, zoning or rotation of top political offices should be inserted in the constitution.
This came on a day the House of Representatives made public the much expected Constitution Review Peoples Public Sessions Report, which highlighted Nigerians’ clamour for state creation, though with divergent views on number of states to be created.
The report also highlighted local government autonomy, rejected state police, asked for abolition of immunity clause, unicameral legislature, among others, even as Nigerians voted that State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECS, should be scrapped and that governors should have no powers over state police commissioners.
Senator Mark, who spoke when he received a delegation of traditional rulers, under the aegis of Anioma Congress from Delta State, led by the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien, said the creation of additional states to deserving areas would be a major concern as the 1999 constitution was being reviewed, stressing that the move would help facilitate development of all nooks and crannies of the country.
He said: “Zoning or rotation of top political offices such as governor of a state should be inserted into the constitution”.
He said if the country must get it right, the present constitutional amendment must take into cognizance the anxieties, fears, agitation and future of minority groups to provide what he called the needed elixir for peace, unity and security under a united Nigerian federation.
Senator Mark said: “I strongly believe that we truly need to create more states to meet the needs of agitators, bring a sense of belonging to the people, promote healthy competition among the federating states, as well as guaranteeing peace and security in the land.”
He pointed out that a situation where some sections of a state were permanently confined to playing second fiddle role was not good for harmonious co-existence among the people.
He added: “For peace, security and development to thrive, justice, fairness and equity must be the yardstick for relating between and among the cohabiting groups”.
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