The Senate Chief Whip and the senator representing Borno North, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, has said that creating more states as desired by citizens will deliver the dividends of democracy to the people’s doorstep.
Senator Monguno said this at a special dinner organised by the senator representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume, for members of the Senate Committee on constitutional review and the agitators of the Savannah State alongside other stakeholders in Maiduguri.
Senator Monguno who lauded Ndume for his advocacy for the masses of the country, which has stood him out, said even though he was at the National Assembly before Ndume, they are learning a lot from his advocacy.
While noting that Senator Ndume has long been a champion for the realisation of Savannah State, he added that the clamour for its realisation will be fruitful.
He said the entire people of Borno State, including the state governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, are in support of the clamour for the realisation of Savannah State.
” Insha Allah, the realisation of Savannah State will come to pass. Anything that will bring development to the doorstep of the people is supported by us. We thank you for the sumptuous elitist dinner you have held for us. We will all rally round the Savannah State creation. The Governor is behind it. We will all support it,” Monguno said.
The agitation for the creation of the state of Savannah out of the present Borno, which has been on the front banner for more than 40 years, received a boost as a mammoth crowd and supporters stormed Mohammed Indimi Hall, University of Maiduguri, venue of the North East Zonal Senate Committee public hearing for the review of the 1999 Constitution.
Savannah is made up of nine local government areas of Southern Borno Senatorial District, they include; Biu, Hawul, Askira-Uba, Chibok, Damboa, Shani, Kwaya Kusar, Gwoza and Bayo.
Presiding over the session, Chairman Senate Committee On Constitution Review, who is the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jubrin, represented by the Chairman North East Zone, and Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC Borno North), commended participants for the large and peaceful turn out, noting that the Zonal Public Hearing focused on the bills and issues related to amendments of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
He congratulated the people of Savannah, and other agitators from other North East states who also gave their positions on devolution of power, restructuring of security, local government creation and autonomy, legislative autonomy and other demands, that they would be given the desired attention and consideration.
He said, since the nation’s return to constitutional democracy in 1999, following a prolonged period of military dictatorship, the calls for amendments and reviews to the Constitution have remained persistent and vigorous.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, represented by his deputy, Dr. Umar Kadafur, who had declared the meeting open since Friday, commended the leadership of the National Assembly for organising such an opportunity for Nigerians to add their voices on the need to review the existing Constitution.
He pledged unwavering support to all participants by the state government to ensure inclusivity and good governance at the national, state and local levels.
