Bauchi Stakeholders Demand New State, LGAs, and Constitutional Role for Traditional Rulers in Constitution Review
By Abdulwahab Muhammad, Bauchi
Stakeholders in Bauchi State have called on the National Assembly to consider the creation of a new state, additional local government areas, and the inclusion of a constitutional role for traditional rulers in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.
The call was made during a townhall summit held in Bauchi on Thursday, organised by the Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Buba Umar. The event was convened in collaboration with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi South Zonal Executive Committee to engage constituents in the constitutional amendment process.
Senator Buba, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, said the summit was aimed at fostering inclusive and participatory dialogue on key constitutional issues affecting the region and the nation at large.
The forum brought together a diverse group of participants including government representatives, civil society organizations, traditional rulers, legal experts, youth and women groups, trade unions, artisans, and members of the political class.
In his address, Honourable Abdulmumini Mohammed Kundak, Chairman of the APC Zonal Executive Committee on Constitution Review, noted that the summit was designed to gather meaningful contributions from constituents. He emphasized that the outcomes would shape a constitution that genuinely reflects the aspirations and diversity of Nigerians, while protecting the interests of people in Bauchi South.
He stated that the resolutions from the summit would be presented at the Zonal Public Hearing scheduled to take place in Maiduguri, Borno State, as part of the National Assembly’s constitution review process.
In a move to streamline the submission of memoranda, stakeholders resolved to set up a harmonization committee to collate and review all submissions from communities across the senatorial district. The aim is to eliminate duplication, resolve conflicting interests, and present a unified position during the zonal hearings.
Barrister Ibrahim Yakubu Umar, who was inaugurated as Chairman of the Harmonization Committee, assured participants of the committee’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and timely action. He pledged that no voice would be left unheard, stressing the importance of broad-based consultation to ensure inclusive representation in the memoranda submitted.
The summit marks a significant step in ensuring that the constitutional review process remains people-driven, responsive to grassroots needs, and aligned with the collective vision of the citizens of Bauchi South.
End