Mark shuts down National Assembly over security invasion

Following Thursday’s invasion of the National Assembly by security agents, Senate President and chairman of the National Assembly, David Mark, has shut down the federal parliament.

The pandemonium reached a climax when Mark, speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, alongside other members of the National Assembly, journalists and staff of the federal parliament were tear-gassed by security agents.

Consequently,

No to state creation; it’s not economical - David Mark

On June 27, 2011, we stated that creating additional state is not economical because it will increase the cost of governance in the country without any increase in the revenue base of the nation.

Unfortunately, the just-concluded National Conference has recommended the creation of additional 18 states.

This will bring the number of states in the country to 54. Just last week, the Senate President said he is committed to seeing through state creation. Here is what I said then.

When on May 27 1967, General Yakubu Gowon announced the 12-state structure for Nigeria, it was to solve a perceived political problem threatening the continued existence of Nigeria as a single entity.

It was a political solution to the threat of secession. Gowon was humble enough to point out the economic consequences the nation was faced with if the action was not taken. He had said: “The consequence of these illegal sets has been