Creation of more states after initial 12 is the problem ―Femi Okunnu

Former Federal Commissioner of Works, Chief Femi Okunnu, on Wednesday said that creation of more states after the initial 12 brought into being by General Yakubu Gowon administration has further created problem than solve the challenges facing the country.

Okunnu’s remark came when he spoke at the event themed Lagos: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, where Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his predecessors in office, including, General Mobolaji Johnson, Ndubuisi kanu, Ebitu Ukigwe, Raji Rasaki, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, first Town Clerk of Lagos City Council, Senator Habib Fasinro, Justice Olusola Oguntade, former Governor Olusegun Osoba, Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu, among others were in attendance.

Okunnu, who was among the discussants at the lecture, lamented that after the 12 states created by the Gowon administration, successive military administration had only succeeded in damaging the country built by their founding fathers with creation of additional states.

“I wished that we have held on to the 12 states structure initially created by the Gowon administration,” the former Federal Commissioner said.

Okunnu contended that, had the country held on to that structure, the ongoing demand for restructuring by some Nigerians would not have been necessary, lamenting further that the creation of additional states had further deepened the issues of ethnicity and religious differences that had become a huge problem for the country.

“Previously, relationship in the country was cordial that everyone lives together without emphasizing on religion or ethnicity. We celebrate together to the extent that we don’t hear distinction between us,” he recalled.

Speaking further, the ex- commissioner said it was imperative that pan-cultural groups, such as Afenifere Renewal Group, Arewa Consultative Forum and Ohaneze Ndigbo should stay out of politics and concentrate instead on issues affecting ethnic and religion stand point of the people they were representing.

Okunnu said they should do this to avoid politicians, who he pointed out had often hijacked them for their political interest rather than the reasons they were established, even as he recalled that when the groups had not been hijacked by politicians, Nigerians engaged in politics without adding religious or ethnic coloration.

“Politicians now use the groups to gain power and other things that the group should not have engaged in,” he lamented.