North-West reject Diasporan voting, backs more states

By Musa Baba Adamu

States in the North-West geopolitical region including Kano, Jigawa and Katsina have rejected the call allowing Nigerians in diaspora to vote in general elections in the country.

The states made their position known at the ongoing North-West Zonal Public Hearing on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibril and members of the review committee in Kano.

Presenting the position of Jigawa State, the Deputy Governor, Aminu Usman, said people of the state support creation of more states and local government areas, and advocated that prominence be accorded traditional institutions with well-defined roles, given their position in shaping the cultural fabrics in the society.

Usman also highlighted the importance of state police, full implementation of local government autonomy and the creation of Hadeja State from Jigawa.

For his part, Katsina State governor who was represented by the Wazirin Katsina, Senator Ibrahim Ida, noted that the state has adopted the review of content of the document except for the diaposran voting.

He also advocated full representation of each local government area at the various State House of Assembly across the country, with the creation of two more states – Bayyajidda and Karaduwa from Katsina State.

The Kano State government in its submission through the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Suleiman Wali, also differed in their support for diasporan voting and indigenisation of birthright and citizenship.

The State also threw its weight behind creation of additional states, including Ghari and Tiga States from Kano.

Kano also supported the creation of state police, reserved seat bill for women and strengthening of traditional institutions and independent candidatures.

The Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Tukur Bala, represented by a member of the House, Aminu Gidado, who cited technical glitch as a major reason for not presenting the state’s position, promised to make its submission on a later date.

Meanwhile Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara StateS were absent on the first day to present their positions before the committee.

Earlier, while declaring the event open, Senator Jibril, stated that the committee would not hold any preconceived opinions imposed on Nigerians, but be guided by the highest ethical standards.

He also assured of working in harmony between the House of Representatives and the state Houses of Assembly to produce outcomes that resonate with a national consensus, prioritising citizens’ interests.