DYNAMICS OF THE QUEST FOR CREATION OF STATES AND NIGERIAN FEDERALISM SINCE INDEPENDENCE: WHERE THE SOLUTION BECOMES THE PROBLEM

This paper tries to look at issues of agitation for creation of state in the face of “true federalism ” in Nigeria. It is a settled matter in political science and arts that any multi-ethnic nation could only make progress by practicing federalism as operated in America and India. But we have had to be talking of "true federalism ” in Nigeria because we have perverted the concept. The fact of the whole idea of advocating "true federalism” is the reality of a 'false federalism”. This paper observes that, state creation has always been problematic, that every instances of the state creation in Nigeria has been greeted with internal rivalries and conflicts resulting to continuous ill feelings among some sections. The paper sees the attempt as detrimental to unity and co-existence of the nation. The paper concludes that an alternative restructuring of Nigerian federalism which will accommodate all should be advocated for and not the creation of states.