Date not feasible, wrong timing; convened on Christmas Eve, on short day Friday – University Don
The Periscope reporter
* It is forced on Emirates, Chiefdoms, rather than having Emirs Chiefs initiate the creation of more district – social commentator
* State government isn’t behind the creation of new districts. It’s the responsibility of emirs and chiefs – Speaker
* The Assembly’s action is a response to the calls by emirs and chiefs for more districts in their domains
* It’s a 3-day exercise not one day, it’ll continue after Christmas on Wednesday and Thursday – Hon Yettisuri
Adamawa State house of assembly has on Friday commenced public hearing on creation of new districts amidst protest by some stakeholders.
Leading a protest on improper timing and lack of consultation before the public hearing, a university don, Professor Caleb Wunisari accused the lawmakers of an attempt to shortchange stakeholders through exclusion, short notice and dearth of consultation.
In a chat with newsmen at Duragi hotel, venue of the public hearing, the professor who represent no fewer than 40 groups under the auspices of Gongola peace initiative, said, they were only given one day notice for the event.
“We are here for the new districts creation but we must say the date is not feasible and timing is wrong because it is convened on the eve of Christmas and on Friday.
“If the conveners want to succeed, there must be proper time table and they must consult widely. Arranging it on the eve of Christmas and on a short day like Friday is apparently an attempt to shortchange the people,” he said.
When asked whether they are staging the protest to oppose the entire process, the Professor said they were fully in support of the process and have technically assisted communities to ensure a seamless process, adding that their only concern was the dearth of consultation and improper timing of the event, which smirked of an underhand attempt to shortchange the people.
Responding to some of the concerns of the people, the Speaker, Adamawa State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aminu Iya Abbas absolved the government from any responsibility in championing the creation of the new districts.
In an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the event, Iya noted that the assembly’s action was a response to the calls and yearnings by emirs and chiefs in the state on the need for more districts.
“The state government is not behind the creation of the new districts. Districts are responsibilities of emirs and chiefs.
“They are under local governments and their finances come from the local governments. The state govt does not give them money except if there is need for assistance and you cannot create more burden for them.
“They think they can run their emirates or their chiefdoms with the little they are getting from the local governments and if they want to create 100 of them they can create,” he said.
Also speaking on the rationale behind the exercise, the chairman of the adhoc committee on the creation on new districts and majority leader of Adamawa State House of Assembly, Hammantukur Yettisuri said the exercise seeks to ensure dissipation of justice on the clamour by communities to have more districts.
He dispelled speculations to the effect that the exercise was stage managed to shortchange communities by allocating only one day adding that three days have been earmarked for the public hearing.
He said after Christmas the exercise will continue on Wednesday and Thursday promising that they will scrutinize all memoranda submitted and allow people and communities to make submissions.
Yettisuri added that after thorough considerations, deserving communities will get districts urging those who could not get to wait for their time.
He reiterated that the exercise was devoid of any political undertone adding that it is a response to population explosion and the needs and aspirations of communities.