Constitutional Amendments: North East Committee to consider groups agitating for state creation

The Chairman of the Gombe Centre of the North East Proposed Alteration of the Provisions of the 1999 Constitution Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje, has pledged to lend a strong voice to those agitating for the creation of a State from the defunct Northern Sardauna Province and Southern Sardauna Province.

The Sardauna Group was represented by Mr. Ahmed Sajo, who said those from Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, Michika and Madagali Local Government Areas had been deprived of holding some key Federal positions, despite their various contributions to the development of the state and the country as a whole.

Senator Goje said at the closing ceremony that the committee would make a special Presentation for the groups, who had voted in 1961 to belong to Nigeria but had felt left out in appointments in the Federal Executive Council since 1999.

“I want to assure them that Nigeria needs them, Nigeria wants them, Nigeria respects them, Nigeria will protect their interest. This committee will make a special presentation to the Senate on this case. I am not saying the other requests are not important, but you know the presenter particularly demands from Northern Sardauna, Mubi has made very, very serious allegation as if they are not wanted. Mubi is very, very important. Since your coming to Nigeria, you have held many important positions, such they never had anybody in the cabinet since 1999,” Senator Goje said.

He promised that all cases submitted would be heard by all relevant authorities and justice served.

Senator Goje said overall, the Gombe Centre heard 70 cases that were advertised, while written memoranda would be collected.

He felt imprest by the level of performances by various speakers from the North East Zone, who made submissions while pledging that the committee would take time to go through the reports, itemise them, and make positive submissions and presentations to the main committee and to the senate. Senator Goje solicited for the understanding and to calm the feelings of the various agitations for the creation of either local governments or states.