Hello Compatriots!!!
A state is a politically organized sovereign entity with an independent geographical location and a legitimate government, its majorly characterized by population, territory and sovereignty. The formation of a state is usually informed by a natural birth from the early founders, instituted by providence, birthed by force as in a military government.
With the preparation for independence in full gear, the British government divided Nigeria into 3 regions namely; North, East and West with several provinces within the regions.The Nigerian Independence Act of 1960 made the country a sovereign and autonomous federation owing to its adoption of the Legislative, executive and judiciary system of government although in 1963 the Mid Western region(renamed Bendel state in 1967) was formed out of the western region.
Between 1967and 1976 the Regions and Provinces were dissolved and 12 states were created in their stead due to a military decree by the then Head of State The Northern region was divided into North East and North West states, Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue-Plateau. Lagos was carved out of the Western region the Eastern region was divided into; East central state, cross river and rivers state respectively in General Yakubu Gowon regime. its apt to note that at this period the Eastern and Mid Western regions in futility try to secede from the country
Between 1976 and 1983 Sokoto and Niger states were created from the already existing north west, Borno, Gongola (now Adamawa), Benue and Plateau (formerly Benue-Plateau) from the North Eastern state. Oyo, Ogun and Ondo were taken out of the Western state while Imo and Anambra were gotten from the Eastern state in General Murtala Mohammed's regime.
General Ibrahim Babangida created Katsina out of Kaduna while Akwa Ibom was carved out of Cross River state between 1987 and 1991.
A state is a politically organized sovereign entity with an independent geographical location and a legitimate government, its majorly characterized by population, territory and sovereignty. The formation of a state is usually informed by a natural birth from the early founders, instituted by providence, birthed by force as in a military government.
With the preparation for independence in full gear, the British government divided Nigeria into 3 regions namely; North, East and West with several provinces within the regions.The Nigerian Independence Act of 1960 made the country a sovereign and autonomous federation owing to its adoption of the Legislative, executive and judiciary system of government although in 1963 the Mid Western region(renamed Bendel state in 1967) was formed out of the western region.
Between 1967and 1976 the Regions and Provinces were dissolved and 12 states were created in their stead due to a military decree by the then Head of State The Northern region was divided into North East and North West states, Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue-Plateau. Lagos was carved out of the Western region the Eastern region was divided into; East central state, cross river and rivers state respectively in General Yakubu Gowon regime. its apt to note that at this period the Eastern and Mid Western regions in futility try to secede from the country
Between 1976 and 1983 Sokoto and Niger states were created from the already existing north west, Borno, Gongola (now Adamawa), Benue and Plateau (formerly Benue-Plateau) from the North Eastern state. Oyo, Ogun and Ondo were taken out of the Western state while Imo and Anambra were gotten from the Eastern state in General Murtala Mohammed's regime.
General Ibrahim Babangida created Katsina out of Kaduna while Akwa Ibom was carved out of Cross River state between 1987 and 1991.
In 1996 Abia was created, the Bendel state was split into Edo and Delta.Adamawa and Yobe were carved out of Gongola, Jigawa was carved out of Kano, Kebbi from Sokoto, Osun from Oyo, Yobe from Borno, Kogi from Benue state and Enugu from Anambra.
General Sani Abacha created Bayelsa from Rivers , Zamfara from Sokoto, Ekiti from Ondo, Nasarawa from Plateau, Gombe from Bauchi, Ebonyi from Enugu and Abia states between 1996 and 1998
Having seen how the state structure of Nigeria evolved, you'd notice that the states were created upon agitation and desire of minority groups who were clustered together with the majority, also the states were created upon military decrees.
This agitation of minority groups which seem to be ever fresh observable in their struggle against marginalization and desire to reduce dominance of the majority groups, hence on August 21, 2014, at the National Conference CONFAB, a motion was pushed for the addition of 18 new states to make a total of 54 states; Apa from Benue, Edu from Niger,Kogi,and Kwara, Kainji from Kebbi state, Katagum from Bauchi, Savannah from Borno, Amana from Adamawa, Gurara from Kaduna, Ghari from Kano, Etiti from south East, Aba from Abia, Adada from Enugu, Njaba-Anim from Anambra and Imo, Oil Rivers from Rivers state, Anioma from Delta state, Ogoja from Cross River state, Ose state from Edo, New Oyo State from the present Oyo State, IJebu from Ogun State not to mention Toru-Ebe from the Ijaw speaking parts of Delta, Ondo, Edo and Akwa Ibom.
Comments