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From COLLINS EKE, Benin
AN alleged monumental fraud running into billions of naira allegedly squandered on the Benin City road network, by Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor has sparked off a cold war in Edo State....
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AT the grand launch of this year's edition of the ReachOut Nigeria with Rhapsody of Realities campaign, President of Believers Loveworld (also known as) Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris....



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• Speak your mother-tongue, Ohakim tells Nigerians

Relating Stories

• Nigeria at 48: Which way forward?
• Case for Amana State
• President Yar’Adua's health and our future

Case for Amana State

By TIZHE YAME DZANGRI AND SALEH YAKUBU

FOR a long time, Maiha, Mubi North, Mubi South, Michika, and Madagali Local Governments in Northern Adamawa State and Gwoza in Southern Borno State have sought for a state of their own. This is historical, as well as political and economic. In 1961 or thereabout, the then premier of Northern Nigeria , the late Sir Ahmadu Bello (KBE) persuaded that part of the region through a plebiscite to merge with Nigeria and according to his speech which copy we have, this same region will be independent of other provinces.

The read speech of the late Sardauna titled Amana (Promise) made several pledges which have not been redeemed up till the moment of going to the press. For example excerpts from that speech said all the facilities enjoyed in other regions and provinces would be provided for, not only in Mubi, the then headquarters of that province, but in Gulak, Gwoza, Madagali, Gella, Kwaja Sahuda, Garta Kamale, Kwaba Pale, Shuwa, Mugulvu, Vintim, Betso, Maiha all the towns found in this region. Today, there is nothing to show for that promise. Mubi which is a big commercial town that had an aerodrome since 1912, a national farming center, a thriving cattle market, a booming agricultural center of rice, guinea corn, beans, maize, wheat and vegetables has reduced to a ghost town. The only federal presence which is the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, established during the Shehu Shagari regime is in shambles.

Amana Sate, if created does not have to rely solely on the Federal allocation, if it is carved out of the present Northern Adamawa and Southern Borno States. It has enough natural resources and endowments under the Mandara Mountain Range that stretches from Bama in Borno state to Kwaja, in Mubi South in Northern Adamawa State and ends in Fufore Local Government in Central Adamawa State . The range itself is a beauty to behold. It can be turned and transformed into a great money spinning tourist center attracting large number of tourists. Besides, it is dotted by Kamale peak which was one time visited by UNESCO officials. The beautiful and breath-taking Kwandiri water falls with its birds chipping in a cluster of forest in Michika is best described when visited. Do we have to talk of the Kwaja table mountain on top of the Mandara Mountain Range? Only a visit, especially during the dry season, will convey to you the message of this wonderful plateau. The whole of the proposed Amana State is rich taking into cognizance of the Rivers Yedseram, Mayobani and Dilchim, the plain rice fields from Bazza to Lassa. The sandy soils of Mayobani is goldmine. Why can't someone redeem Sardauna's promise? Minerals like Uranium, limestone, Bauxite, Columbite and coal are in abundance. The scientists that accompanied Dr. Ayuba Kadzai (then defunct Gongola NPP's gubernatorial candidate) in 1979 confirmed the availability of large deposits of all sorts of minerals in the defunct Sardauna province.

There is no doubt, when the senate pushes Apa state through the rigours of the constitution, others that have long sought for their own identity will come through too. Those rainbow tribes have been co-existing peacefully and harmoniously and have even been inter-marrying each other.

The Higgi, Bura, Matakam, Kapsiki, Gude, Ndandankwa, Gra, Fulani, Margi,Kamwe, Betso, Fali, Kilba, Hausa and several others have been living side by side as brothers and sisters for centuries. Therefore, that unity and understanding will be more cohesive and it will be more cemented for greater development, when Amana is born. Any local government, community or ethnic group would always be welcome to be co-opted into Amana State . This could be Hong or Gombi in Adamawa State or Biu, Damboa or Chibok in Borno State .
•Tizhe and Saleh wrote in from Adamawa State