Senator Barau has pledged to work with his colleague in the national assembly, Senator Muntari Dan-Dutse, the lawmaker representing the Funtua Senatorial district in Katsina, to ensure that a new state is created.
Recall that recent reports on Nigeria’s political scenery have centered around the proposal to create 31 new states, a strategy that has stirred both support and criticism across the nation.
The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution received this proposal for the creation of additional states to address issues of representation, development, and administrative efficiency. Some of the proposed states include: Okun, Okura, and Confluence from Kogi State; Benue Ala and Apa from Benue State; FCT State; Amana from Adamawa State; Katagum from Bauchi State; Savannah from Borno State; and Muri from Taraba State. Others include New Kaduna and Gurara from Kaduna State; Tiga and Ari from Kano State; Kainji from Kebbi State; Etiti and Orashi from the South-East; Adada from Enugu State; and Orlu and Aba from Imo and Abia States. While some persons believe these new states will promote development and ensure better governance, critics argue that it may lead to inefficiency in administration and increased governance costs.
However, the deputy senate president stated that the creation of the ‘Karaduwa’ state was a good move, and also added that it would bring development to the people of the affected region, aside from the attraction of economic prosperity. Barau made this known while speaking at the Funtua township at the official flag-off of the distribution of Ramadan food items and the empowerment of thousands of youths and women. Senator Muntari Dan-Dutse who is also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund, and the lawmaker representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Katsina state, organized the programme.
Concerning the creation of Karaduwa State, the aforementioned senator asserted that the agitation of the Karaduwa people was welcome, adding that the people had everything to gain as a state. He stated “I welcome the agitation by Karaduwa people, they are agrarian and they have all it takes to have a state. The agitation is apt and germane and I am supporting them even though it’s a bit difficult but is possible.”
Meanwhile, Governor Radda of Katsina state appealed to his people not to sell the items given to them. The deputy governor, Faruk Jobe, mentioned some of the governor’s achievements in the different sectors which included education, agriculture, economics, healthcare, and security.