Communities in Adamawa and Borno States agitating for the creation of Amana State have urged the federal government to fulfil its 64-year promise of a state to the people of former Northern Cameroon, who chose to become Nigerians in 1961.
The communities hitherto known as the Trust Territories of Northern Cameroon chose to be part of Nigeria in a plebiscite organised by the United Nations on February 11, 1961.
However, their counterpart in Southern Cameroon, who are part of the plebiscite, chose to remain in Cameroon.
Speaking at the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives in Maiduguri on Saturday, the director general and leader of the Amana State Movement, Sali Bello, said they were promised a state status by Nigeria during the plebiscite.
“We appeal to the honourable House of Representatives to consider and recommend the creation of Amana State, with the capital in Mubi.
“This will not only redeem the promise made by past leaders but also tow the path of honour,” Mr Sali said.
Mr Sali said their counterparts, who chose Cameroon, now have two of the 10 regions in Cameroon, while the promise to give them a state in Nigeria with Mubi as capital is yet to be fulfilled.
“There are 36 states in Nigeria today with 36 state capitals. Our land is not one of them, and the city of Mubi is not a state capital as promised. We are just an unfulfilled promise. That is all.
“In contrast, our brothers in the Southern part of the Trust territory of Cameroons, who voted to join the Republic of Cameroon, had their promises fulfilled beyond the earlier pledge made.
“Today, there are 10 regions in the Republic of Cameroon. The people of Southern Cameroons have two regions: the Southwest, with Buea as its capital, and the Northwest, with Bamenda as its capital.
“Out of 10, they have two. Out of 36, we have zero. Haba! This is a gross injustice. What wrong did we do to be so treated?” Mr Sali lamented.
He recalled how the late Saudauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, led the Nigerian campaign to woo them into Nigeria, promising them numerous benefits.
“Late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, told us that we would continue to enjoy autonomy under the Nigerian State.
“He went further to say your capital city of Mubi will continue to enjoy the same status with Kano, Katsina, Ilorin, and all other provincial capitals such as Maiduguri, Bauchi, and several others across the Country.
“We were very happy. Little did we know that these would end up being unfulfilled promises. But we never gave up on our agitations for Nigeria to redeem its promises to our people,” he stated.
Mr Sali appealed for the creation of the proposed Amana state, adding that they had fulfilled all requirements outlined in the guidelines for the creation of a state.
“Please consider your titles of Honourables and restore Honour to our people and erase this grave injustice by creating a State out of the ‘Trust Territory’ of Northern Cameroons to be based on Trust or ‘Amana’,” Mr Sali pleaded.
(NAN)