The National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Chief Sheriff Mulade, has criticized the proposed creation of 13 additional states in Nigeria.
In an exclusive chat with our correspondent in Warri, Delta State, he described the move as politically motivated and a distraction from the country’s real challenges.
Mulade emphasized that good governance, not more states, is what Nigerians need to experience true democratic dividends.
“It is imperative to state that Nigeria’s problems or challenges are not about the creation of additional states but about good and people-oriented leadership,” Mulade said.
He stressed that only responsible leadership could address the nation’s pressing issues, such as economic hardship, insecurity, and poor infrastructure.
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The CEPEJ coordinator urged the National Assembly to prioritize policies that directly improve citizens’ welfare instead of engaging in political maneuvering.
“The proposed creation of states is politically motivated and a distraction from delivering good governance,” he remarked.
He further appealed to lawmakers to “concentrate on realities rather than playing on Nigerians’ intelligence.”
Mulade also warned that increasing the number of states could deepen ethnic divisions and fuel communal conflicts.
He argued that Nigerians are more interested in addressing bad governance, leadership failures, and corruption than in redrawing the nation’s map.
“Rather than creating further divisions among various ethnic groups, which may escalate into ethnic or communal conflict, we must focus on enthroning good governance,” he stated.
The proposal for additional states has sparked debates across Nigeria, with critics arguing that it could lead to administrative inefficiency and a heavier financial burden on the Federal Government.
Mulade’s stance reflects growing concerns that political interests are being prioritized over national development.
