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The North is demanding three more geopolitical zones – if zoning will be in the latest amendment to the 1999 Constitution. 

Also, some members of the National Assembly are pushing for new states from old provinces. 

Some of the provinces are: Zaria , Kabba, Oyo, Ijebu, Bida, Old Annang, Warri, Kontagora, Muri and Ogoja. 

But the Federal Government has ruled out voting by Nigerians in the Diaspora in the 2015 polls, it was learnt yesterday. 

According to sources, Senators from the North have been meeting to push for more geopolitical zones and states in the region. 

Top on their agenda is the need to create more geopolitical zones from the North, having uncovered plans by some political forces in the South to put zoning in the 1999 Constitution. 

The North comprises three geopolitical zones and 19 states. There are 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

The three zones are Northcentral, Northwest and Northeast. 

The North is suspicious that some influential Southern politicians are lobbying for the inclusion of the zoning formula in the constitution as part of a game plan for the 2015 polls. 

The North’s counter-plot is the planned demand for three more geopolitical zones. 

A highly-placed source from the North, who is also in the Constitution Review Committee, said: “We have gone far in the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution. 

“One burning issue which the Northern Senators have been meeting on, is the zoning formula, which some forces are seeking to be included in the Constitution. 

“The Northern Senators have resolved to push for the review of the present six-zonal structure, if zoning will be a clause in the Constitution. 

“The North wants three more additional zones to bring its share of the structure to six. So, altogether, we will have nine geopolitical zones after the amendment, with six in the North and three in the South. 

“That is the only condition that will make the North to accept the inclusion of zoning formula in the Constitution.” 

Responding to a question, the source added: “The North is bigger than other parts of the country in size or landmass and population. If power has to rotate among geopolitical zones, we believe the North will be cheated. 

“Also, do not forget that the present six zones were created by the military to satisfy their whims and caprices and please a segment of the military establishment.” 

Besides zoning, some members of the National Assembly are lobbying for the elevation of some old provinces to states. 

Another member of the Constitution Review Committee in one of the chambers said: “We are looking at giving priority to all former provinces that have not been made states. We think these old provinces have long been cheated in the scheme of things. 

“We are talking of justice and how to bring government closer to the masses. Creation of new states will accelerate development.” 

As at press time, it was gathered that the Federal Government may have foreclosed voting in 2015 by Nigerians in the Diaspora. 

A senior government official said: “The priority of the government now is how to put reliable and fraud-proof electoral process in place. With what we have now, we cannot add the burden of conducting elections in many countries where Nigerians are living. 

“If we get our electoral process right and Nigerians have absolute confidence in the system, we can work towards it in 2019. I know that Egyptians in the Diaspora have the opportunity of voting, we will also get there soon.” 

-Vanguard

Posted by admin on May 21 2012. Filed under Latest Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry