The Movement for the Creation of Amana State from the northern part of Adamawa State has expressed worry over neglect by the Nigerian State to fulfil the promises made to the area 64 years ago after voting to join the nation during the plebiscite of February 11, 1961.
Addressing the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review yesterday at the University of Maiduguri, the leader of the movement, Alhaji Sali Bello (Dan Amar Mubi), lamented that the area had been unjustly treated by the Nigerian State.
He lamented the failure of the nation to fulfil the promises made in 1961 that after voting to join Nigeria, the area would remain autonomous with Mubi as capital.
He said, “What wrong have we done to Nigeria? Why have we been treated so unjustly? Why must we go through such rituals of demanding for the fulfilment of a solemn promise made to us?”
Drawing a parallel from the promises made to both the Northern and Southern Trusteeship Territories of Cameroons by both the Nigerian and Cameroonian governments, he said both governments said the areas would continue to enjoy their autonomy whichever country they vote to join while their capitals of Mubi for the North and Buea for the South would continue to enjoy such status as capitals of autonomous entities.
He said, unfortunately, while Cameroon Republic fulfilled its promise by creating two regions out of the former trusteeship territory, Nigeria did not.
“Buea is still a regional capital in addition to a new capital of Bamenda which was created within the territory. This is just out of 10 regions and capitals; does Mubi not merit being one within a 36-state structure? This is indeed a grave injustice to the area and to Mubi, the former capital city,” Bello lamented.
He further reiterated the fact that the movement for the creation of Amana State has fulfilled all requirements for the creation of a state according to the guidelines.
He therefore appealed to the House of Representatives to consider and recommend the creation of Amana State with the Capital in Mubi.
According to him, this would not only redeem the promise made by past leaders, but is the only path of honour to take by the Nigerian state.
He appreciated the people of Uba Chiefdom of Borno State for requesting to join the proposed Amana State, and equally pledged the area’s continued loyalty to the Nigerian state.
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