This time, Hadejia State should be

The Speaker explained that going by the constitution, Nigeria has to do with big and small states, side-by-side. This, the visitors said, is to balance political representation, security and federal character.The Speaker said, considering the economic potentials of Hadejia, the people are the most unfairly treated in Nigeria, right from the colonial era down to […]

The Speaker explained that going by the constitution, Nigeria has to do with big and small states, side-by-side. This, the visitors said, is to balance political representation, security and federal character.
The Speaker said, considering the economic potentials of Hadejia, the people are the most unfairly treated in Nigeria, right from the colonial era down to the military and now the civilian administration.
In the same vein, Senator Ahmed Zakari, the chairman of the Movement for the Creation of Hadejia State, said concerted efforts had been made to ensure that Hadejia State is created from Jigawa State. The chairman said the Emirate was an independent and influential kingdom during the pre-jihad period and that it was one of the recognized seven Hausa States under the name of Biram, under Sokoto Caliphate of Shehu Usman Danfodio.
According to him, the place played an effective role by providing a strong fortitude against intruders from the esteemed border of the Caliphate, so the place needs attention.
He said River Hadejia provides life support for a large segment of the population and that it has played a remarkable role in the history and general development of the country. He said Hadejia is a symbol of a social diary of 1,245,571 people who are hard working.
Hadejia Emirate includes all. The delegation to the National Assembly interestingly included the Sarkin Tiv, Mr Yakubu Orpin who was equally passionate about the request.
The Senate President David Mark has promised that states will be created before the end of May next year so let us make Hadejia State one!
Hadejia Emirate has been in existence for over 200 years and the people have a common history. They are homogenous and the place has economic potentials capable of fostering its growth and development.
The Emirate continued to be even when the town was made the capital of the former Northern division till the post independence period.
Hadejia Emirate which was supposed to have been created among the 12 states by Yakubu Gowon’s administration, is neglected. There is desperation and marginalization despite the sacrifice and contributions of the people to the socio-economic development of the state.
In accordance with the provisions of section 8 (1) of the 1999 constitution, the Emirate falls among states needed to be created because of its size, economy, population and other socio-economic indices.
The economic mainstay of the Emirate is fish farming. There is abundant supply of fish and the fish market there attracts many outsiders who come to buy fish in large quantities. Most of the fish are smoked, dried and salted. The fish is packed and transported to many parts of the country and beyond.
The Emirate has large swampy area suitable for rice production. It is estimated that 90-100 tonnes of rice is transported out of the Emirate every week to other parts of the country for consumption and for agro-allied uses. Other natural resources include: melon, cassava, potatoes, guinea corn, maize, grape fruits and beans which form major sources of tax revenue.
No wonder, Lord Lugard’s reflection of Hadejia went thus: “It is a very wealthy and industrious town. Its walls rival those of Kano. The horses are by far the finest I have seen in Africa and the chain armour and horse trappings, the gorgeous robes of silk, satin and costly fabrics of Europe which are worn by the principal men bear evidence of its prosperity.”
Since 1975, the Emirate has been agitating for a state. General Murtala Ramat Muhammad was said to have given serious consideration to breaking Kano State with Hadejia as one of the capitals.
During the Second Republic, a request for the creation of Hadejia State had a fairly easy passage in the National Assembly as the request was endorsed for a referendum.
During the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, joint submission was made for the creation of Hadejia State and in 1994, another request was submitted to the then National Constitutional Conference during which the military government of General Sani Abacha presented it to the provisional ruling council and the creation of Hadejia State was one of the seven recommendations.
All these attempts made were lost at the slightest opportunity but the spirit imbibed in the people will never give up until their dream is realized.
Chris Alu writes from Abuja