Abbas Yushau Yusuf
On 4th February 1976,9 days to his death, Nigeria’s charismatic Head of state General Murtala Muhammad addressed the nation in which he created additional states from the previous 12 states structure created by his predecessor, General Yakubu Gowon, on 27th May 1967.
The Creation of the state was received with applause across the country which the people have been yearning for
Since the abolishing of regions and after the civil war, there have been calls to create states in Nigeria, General Murtala Muhammad been a member of the supreme military council during General Yakubu Gowon did not hesitate to swing into action and create states.
The states created by General Yakubu Gowon on assuming office on August 1 1966 after the killing of General Ironsi were as large as the present geo-political zones in Nigeria, therefore the creation was done at the right time six years after the civil war.
But since General Murtala wants the states not be addressed based on ethnicity and region he decided to abolish regional names and renamed some of them.
For example, the present six states of Borno, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Taraba, and Adamawa were once called North-Eastern state during the reign of General Yakubu Gowon, the defunct North-eastern state have Headquarters in Maiduguri, but on February 4th, 1976, General Murtala Muhammad changed the North-Eastern state and divided it into three, which are Borno, Gongola and Bauchi States.
While the defunct North-western state with its capital in Sokoto was changed to Sokoto and Niger states, but the North-central state had its only name changed to Kaduna State.
45 Years After Pan-African Speech That Shook The West.
But for Benue-Plateau state were together during General Gowon, the late General Murtala divided them into Benue and plateau state.
The south-western state with headquarters in Ibadan was dissolved while Oyo and Ogun states were created.
In the south-south cross River and Bendel, states were created and the former east-central state was converted into Imo and Anambra states.
The states that have their names without regional affiliation since the first creation by Gowon was not touched by late General Murtala Muhammad, the states are Lagos, Kano, Kwara, and Rivers states.
The late Nigerian leader did not stop at that he went ahead to create the first federal capital territory that is Abuja.
Late General Murtala Muhammad then enjoined Nigerians to go about their normal businesses and no one should be caught celebrating for or against the creation of the states.
Since then the agitation for the creation of states did not die down even 45 years after the death of General Murtala Muhammad, subsequent military Head of states continued with the tradition, General Ibrahim Babangida added 11 out of the 19 states left Genera Murtala Muhammad that was in 1987 and 1991.
Late General Sani Abacha added six on 1st October 1996.
Did the creation of states solve National question and further agitation to restructure the country?
