I had vowed never to comment on any political-related issue in the country hereafter, but the latest news coming in from the ancient city of Umuahia is too hot for me to swallow.
Have you heard? David Mark’s deputy, Ike Ekweramadu has affirmed that those of us waiting for the birth of new states (especially the much-awaited Apa) should go and hit the sack because we will wait ad infinitum.
According to him, state creation is not feasible at the moment because the existing laws of the 1999 Constitution had made state creation chance in a million, especially this civilian regime.
Hear him, “”It is not a matter of sitting down in one place and saying you have created states because this is not a military era… Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution that deals with the issue of state creation does not make any timeframe within which it should be done. Gbam!
In July 11, 2014 when I released an article with the caption, Apa State is here but don’t celebrate yet, many ‘patriotic’ Idoma natives called to berate me for writing ‘shit.’
In fact, some even described me an enemy of progress for writing off the ‘new bride’ the political chief priest of Idomaland had promised to bring for them from Aso Rock.
In my ‘prophetic’ article, while rejoicing with other million Idoma indigenes out there over the recommendation of the long-awaited Apa State, I reminded them not to be too away by the ‘bait’ because you don’t dance to the music of Oturu masquerade with both legs.
The hullabaloo about Apa State rejuvenated when delegates at the just concluded National Corn Fresh, sorry, Conference recommended the creation of 18 additional states with Apa boldly in the picture.
The news resurrected the dead hope of the Idomas on the birth of their beloved Apa State.
“Don’t get me wrong, I am not against State creation, especially my beloved Apa State, but from the look of things, this may eventually end up as an empty celebration considering the fact that the ongoing national conference may not take fire across the stream,” a passage from my write up reads.
But before I could say jack, war broke out over where the capital of Apa should be situated. Some said Otukpo, others said, Otukpa, many said crisis-ridden Agatu should be the capital, while some equally wanted the powerhouse situated in Orokam.
As if that was not enough, Apa State vehicle registration number with the inscription, Apa State: Ihotu Kum: Land of Beauty, Dreams and Talents. Cropped up on social media. Many where already making plans to relocate home to welcome to coming ‘king.’
However, I was quick to detect the trick behind the state creation campaign; so I had to warn my people not to put their eggs in one basket.
Before now, the Idoma community had decided to take the bull by the horn to break the 38 years old jinx come 2015. The Zone C is tired of playing second-class role in the state; they want to occupy the Government House, Makurdi in 2015.
But when the news of state creation dropped, the passion died. The agitators went back to their shells. As my grand mum, Aneh Adikwu of blessed memory would say, eka tiyeka. Sad. Pity. SMH.
Sadly, reports had it recently there were moves afoot by the Idoma political leadership to cede the governorship spot, in the PDP in Benue State for 2015, to the Tiv.
This is in spite of the fact that the Idoma has never set foot as governor in Government House Makurdi since the creation of the state in 1976. According to the report, meetings were held in Otukpo in which the political leaders in Idoma land were in attendance. This show that no Apa State, no Idoma governor. Chai! Na only us waka come?
Earlier in my research on how a state is being created, especially during civilian dispensation, I was made to understand that it takes not less than five years to for a state to be created especially during civilian government.
It starts right from referendum signed, and of course you must determine the organ that will even conduct the referendum.
But as at today, the constitution doesn’t specify who should conduct the referendum.
I also discovered that from the referendum stage to the state House of Assembly where it would be debated upon and passed, before it is sent to 2/3 of the states in the country, 24 must approve that the state is created.
Then, it comes to the National Assembly; each of the Houses will pass it. Then a joint committee would be set up to look at it, to recommend, then they vote on it. This takes not less than about four to five years to complete.
I agree with Elder statesman and ex military governor of Kaduna/Kastina States, Gen. Lawrence Onoja who once asserted that the campaign was a political gimmick construed to deceive Idoma people.
But Senate President David Mark sees it otherwise. For him, the Idoma should bury the idea of ruling Benue State come 2015 or in the nearest and wait for the coming Apa State. How long? Is the question to answer.
He opined that an Idoma man could only be a Governor if Apa State is Created or alternatively, the rotation of power clause among the senatorial zone is inserted in the 1999 constitution. This is far from expectation.
“I am for the creation of Apa state and any other state that may fit the conditions. I have never shied from my agitation for creation of additional state,” Mark once told the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Paulinus Igwe, when he led a delegation of his kinsmen from Ebonyi State to felicitate with the Senate President during one Christmas.
Why is the Senate contradicting itself, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwermadu says state creation is not feasible, David Mark says it is possible. Who is deceiving who here? Papas Deceiving Pikins?
Ekweremadu had never for once assure his people in Enugu of the creation Adada State but during a campaign in Otukpo few years back, he declared that Idoma should vote for David Mark that he will give them Apa State. Chai! There is God o!
If there was a sincere demonstration on the part of Mark and co, when they were reviewing sections of the constitution, they would have reviewed the section that has to do with state creation to make it simple, but they didn’t. Nobody is popular for promises. You are popular for what you do for people.
As my boss, Ali Adoyi would say, the pain of Apa state is even aside the pain of the ordinary Idoma man who is seen on the streets of Otukpo, lavishing in abject poverty. Yes, Mark is only an individual. He cannot solve all the problems of the Idoma people in about 12 years or so, but what has he done for the Idoma people since we mandated him to stand in for us? A trip to Otukpo via the only federal road can best justify my position. Nobody, not even his fellow Senators will ever believe that the Otukpo- Makurdi road leads to Mark’s own town. NO! You won’t believe it. Go to Mark’s own community in Akpegede and you can tell yourself the rest of the story.
Each time, Mark talks about his Joy FM in Otukpo and he begins to boast of job creation, I just laugh.
Most of the programs being run by the Marks ‘campaign’ station are being handled by his political manipulators…no hard feelings. It’s simply their time, but they should remember that the Alekwu-ki-Idoma will ask them questions for their continuous deception of the poor Idoma people. The Otukpo people are dying of cholera everyday due to lack of good water, yet that’s where Mark got his highest votes as a Senator, unless he wants to deny the fact that Otukpo people voted for him. Apology Adoyi de Great.
I stand here to say enough of this state creation noise. Apa or no Apa, life goes on. After all, a friend just reminded me Apa means mean lizard in Idomaland. We should thread with care, hence our journey becomes like that of the agama lizard that falls from the top of an iroko tree and nods its head to say, “I have done well.”
Let’s stop deceiving ourselves.
Ameh can be reached via comradetalents@yahoo.com
Ff:@amcomrade.
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