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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the National Assembly to Consider the creation of new states in some parts of the country.
General Secretary of CAN, Joseph Daramola, read a list of the Christian body’s demands at the national public hearing organised by the Senate on the review of the 1999 Constitution, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Thursday.
It noted that the creation of new states will ensure “administrative impact and development.”
CAN also asked the National Assembly to remove the immunity clause from the Constitution, so as to make all Nigerians “equal before the law.”
According to Daramola, the proposed states as “Southern Kaduna; Adada from present Enugu State; Cross River North State, Okun from Kogi State; Okigwe from Imo State, and Oke Ogun from Oyo State.”
“Recommendations the body made include gender equality; women empowerment through education and inheritance; equal opportunities in all social-political affairs; 18 years as the age of maturity and consent for marriage; federal structure and power devolution — confederation of independent regions or federation of states or regions; devolution and decentralisation of power and governance system through formal introduction of geo-political zones and regions, with clearly assigned roles,” Daramola said.
He also called for “constitutional recognition for traditional rulers and religious leaders, by strengthening their cultural and socio-religious leadership responsibilities, and constitutional backing for the operational decentralisation and recognition of law enforcement agencies.”
“CAN advocates revenue allocation and sharing formula to be guided by the principles of sustenance and benefits, to sources of derivation on ratio of 70 percent retained by regions and 30 percent for the centre; maintaining the financial autonomy and independence of the judiciary; separation of the office of Attorney-General from the office of the Minister of Justice; and proper constitutional definition of an indigene and residency rights,” the General-Secretary added.
I think some Christians have compromised their faith. With all what the constitutional conference of Jonathan’s time dug out, scrapping of Islamic religion or adding of Christian religion is expected to be the main focus of CAN and not state creation. Yet these people will come out to cry Islamisation in Nigeria.
It is high time a Cleric or denomination presented a paper on this please.