Group Blasts C' River Reps Caucus For Not Championing Establishment of More LGAs
By Ndifereke BASSEY
Group, Cross River Democratic Watch (CRDW) have blasted the Cross River representatives at the Lower Chamber of National Assembly (NASS) for not championing establishment of more local government areas for the state.
The group decried the docility and non-challenger attitude of Cross River Reps caucus for not keying into the auspicious moment of constitutional amendment to request for more local governments for the state even as some of them are lukewarm over agitation for Ogoja state creation.
The group expressed dismay that while other Reps members are standing up for their constituents and states, Cross River Reps are not only standing aloof when issues of national importance are raised, but seems to have lost touch with current realities and demands of their constituents.
Recall that the House of Representatives has approved the second reading of constitutional amendment bills aimed at establishing new Local Government Areas (LGAs) in five Nigerian states including Abia, Delta, Enugu, Imo and Zamfara.
One of the bills, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and six other lawmakers, seeks to divide Bende LGA in Abia State into two: Bende North and Bende South (renaming the original LGA).
In Delta State, Francis Waive, chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, has proposed the creation of Ughievwen LGA.
Three lawmakers—Paul Nnamchi, Chimaobi Atu, and Nnolim Nnaji—jointly introduced a bill calling for the establishment of additional LGAs in Enugu State.
Similarly, in Imo State, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere is pushing for the formation of Ideato West LGA by splitting the existing Ideato LGA.
Meanwhile, Bello Shinkafi has sponsored a bill to carve out Moriki LGA from the current Zurmi LGA in Zamfara State.
In a separate interview, the coordinator, Comrades Austin Odey, exclusively told THE BEAGLE NEWS in Calabar on Friday, that now is the right time to dig in and make case for more LGAs for Cross River because the state has enough land mass, human and material resources to run more councils.
Odey contended that Cross River is due for more local government areas and even additional state considering the role played likes of Prof. Eyo Ita, late Chief Okoi Arikpo, M.T.Mbu, Joseph Wayas, Etubom and Anthony Ani national development.
According to him, the Cross River Reps Caucus at Green Chamber had better woke up from slumber and queue into some national questions involving the state and local creations true federalism and adopting of federal character in appointments or recruitments.
Also speaking, the Secretary, Comrade Asuquo Bassey Asuquo, said the citizens of Cross River were taken back that no state Rep member could muster the political will to make case for establishment of more LGAs for our people.
Asuquo said the law makers should intensify their lobbying machinery to be able bring in more developments into the state, pointing out also that Cross River deserves more than 18 LGAs as it currently has because it takes an average of ten hours to travel from Yala to Calabar, the state capital.
