The Senate Ad hoc Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution has extended the deadline for submission of memoranda till September 18, 2020.
Based on an advertorial by the Committee, the two weeks period for the submission ended on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.
However, a source close to the Committee, said the extension of time became necessary to allow more Nigerians to make their submissions.
Eighteen additional memoranda were submitted by various individuals and interest groups to the panel on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, bringing the total number of position papers so far made to the Committee to 68.
The Committee received a total 50 memoranda as at Tuesday.
“We supposed to stop collection of Memoranda on yesterday (Tuesday ) or even today (Wednesday), based on earlier announcement made to Nigerians but a counter directive has been given that such collection should continue till Friday next week (September 18, 2020), apparently due to pressure being mounted on the Committee,” a source said.
Those who have submitted memoranda include: Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); Movement for creation of Zuma State out of Niger State and the Movement for creation of Savana State out of Gombe, Taraba, and Adamawa States.
Others were YIAGA Africa, Okun Development Association, Benue State Government, Concerned Nurses Association of Nigeria, Urhobo Progressive Union and Zontai International, among others.
Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege has called on various interest groups agitating for state creation to reach out to other geo-political zones and their lawmakers to realise their goal.
Omo-Agege, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, made this assertion when the apex socio-cultural body of Urhobo people in Nigeria Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU, visited him in Abuja, after submitting their memorandum to the Committee.
He said getting the support of other legislators and groups from other parts was key and very important for such agitations if they are to see the light of the day.
Omo-Agege, according to a statement by his spokesman, Yomi Odunuga, in Abuja, said: “Let me also make this clear that the constitutional review exercise is not a tea party by any means.
“It is a very tedious exercise. If you check Section 9 of the Constitution, it lays out a very difficult procedure that you must go through before you can achieve success with respect to the amendment.
“I don’t know what is in your submission but what I hear from the grapevine is that there is likelihood that UPU is asking for a state.
“If that is right, I am sure you also know the provisions of Section 8 of the Constitution.
“But that is not to say it is impossible. If the demand is genuine and legitimate, there is no reason why it should not succeed.
“But you have to do the needful. You have to reach out to others. You have to lobby as to why this should be the case.
“As the Chairman of this committee, I am not supposed to take a position. You have to reach out to people, different geopolitical zones and make your case.
“If they see the merit in your argument, then they could, acting through their members in the House of Representatives and Senate, go with you and vote in support.
“You have to go out and lobby. You don’t stay at home and they reward you with a free state. It is only in the military that states are created by Fiat.”
Source: The Nation
