Editorial: New districts, chiefdoms, emirates in Adamawa and matters arising
The contentious bill for the creation of new districts, chiefdoms and emirates in Adamawa State has been generating considerable tension and anxiety since it was brought to the public limelight by Adamawa State house of assembly.
The bill which is an executive one has resurrected the long time sectarian tension along ethnic and religious fault lines in the state.
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As is the case with such a contentious issue, the people have been divided along identified fault lines with Fulani groups and their apologists rejecting the bill, while other ethnic nationalities wholeheartedly supported the bill.
While it is the right of every ethnic setting to champion its course and destiny in a plural setting like Adamawa, it is the informed opinion of this paper that considering the sensitive nature of the issue at hand, due process and best practices must be deployed.
It is also the informed opinion of this paper that in a democratic setting, people have a right to agitate for self determination but in line with democratic standards, the most popular opinion by the people must be allowed to prevail.
Those who are expressing angst against the new policy by the state government are of the opinion that the new law failed to pass the test of time, in view of some of the fundamental issues side stepped by the government and the legislators.
On the other hand, the government said the executive bill was informed by popular agitation, the need to extend development to the grass root, nix social insecurity and address long time outcries by the ethnic nationalities.
Whatever is the rationale for opposing or supporting the new bill, it is the informed view of this paper that due process of the law must be exhausted if the law must endure. The government has a duty to ensure all concerns are squarely addressed regardless of the colouration and leanings of the people expressing them.
As noted in many commentaries on the issue, the hasty way in which the bill was introduced and passed without subjecting it to public hearing is a major pit pall which the government should look into.
Other issues such as delineation and mapping of boundaries to avoid unforseen eventualities after the law has been assented to should be considered too. Since the governor has not assented to the bill, we call on him to in the interest of equity, peace and unity of the state have a second look at the bill with the aim of addressing some of the grey areas enumerated.
This will not only entrench his name in gold in the annals of history, it will also affirm his position as a lover of peace and beacon of democratic ideals.
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