Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has cautioned Nigerians agitating for the creation of new states, describing the calls as a futile venture in the current political and constitutional landscape of the country.
Sani, a human rights activist and former federal lawmaker, made this known via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday. He stated that the complexities and hurdles involved in state creation make the process almost impossible under Nigeria’s present constitution.
According to him, those pushing for new states are only engaging in an exercise that will yield no tangible results, urging them to redirect their energy and advocacy to more realistic and pressing national issues.
“The idea of creating a new state under this present constitution is practically impossible. Those advocating for it are simply wasting their time and resources,” he wrote.
The ex-lawmaker emphasized that rather than pursuing what he termed a “mirage,” Nigerians should focus on deepening federalism, promoting justice, equity, and fairness among the existing states, and addressing the fundamental structural challenges confronting the nation.
Sani’s comments come amid renewed agitation in some parts of the country, where political leaders and interest groups have been advocating for the creation of new states to address perceived marginalization and promote development.
However, constitutional experts and political analysts have consistently noted that the process of state creation, which involves a complex constitutional amendment procedure requiring support from two-thirds of the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly, remains one of the most difficult political feats to achieve in Nigeria.
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