The Jos Hausa community in Plateau state Monday joined other tribes in clamouring for the creation of Lowland State out of the present state.
In their submission signed by Alhaji Garba Abdulkadir, Shehu Ibrahim Masallah, former minister Dasuki Nakande, Hon. Sani Mudi, and two others, before the Senate Committee on Constitution Review held in Jos, the community said, “We support the creation of a new Lowland State out of the present Plateau state as demanded by our brothers in the Southern and Central Senatorial zones of the present Plateau state.”
They also dwelt on the issue of residency and indigenous dichotomy, saying Nigeria should promote the concept of citizenship above any other concept.
“Residency rights should be expanded to allow every Nigerian the ability to enjoy all the rights guaranteed in Chapter IV of the constitution as well as those socio, economic and cultural rights stated in chapter II of the same constitution,” they submitted.
The Hausa community further discarded the idea of creating State Police, saying the federal police should be strengthened by massive recruitment, funding and equipment.
“We reject in strongest terms the idea of ‘State Police.’ There are several reports by international reputable human right bodies detailing abuse of powers in the previous crisis in Plateau state.
“Rather, we vehemently recommend for the establishment of Community Police, as enacted by the National Assembly, 2020 and provided for under Part XIV, section 113 of the Police Act,” they presented.
The community also harped on electoral reforms, advocating for the conduct of local government council elections, under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and supporting full local government autonomy.
“There should be a provision for independent candidates but limited to positions of local government councilors, state and federal legislatures only.
“The current arrangement whereby Bassa and Jos North are lumped together to form a single Federal Constituency is unfair and does not take into consideration the population spread in that constituency.
“Jos North alone is enough to form two constituencies in view of its population. We therefore suggest that Jos North be made a separate federal constituency, as it was before the 1999 Constitution,” the Hausa community canvassed among other things.
Similarly, the Jasawa Community Development Association (JCDA) also rejected creation of state police.