LEADERS ON NIGERIA'S MINORITY AREAS IN THE NORTH AND EAST SAID AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY THAT THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC WOULD SPLIT INTO FOUR INDEPENDENT STATES IF MAJORITY DECISIONS TAKEN AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE WERE IMPLEMENTED. THE LEADERS CONTINUED TO PRESS FOR THE CREATION OF AT LEAST EIGHT ADDITIONAL STATES, BASED ON CULTURAL AND ETHNIC TIES.

THE LEADERS INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CALABAR STATE MOVEMENT AND THE NIGER DELTA IN THE EAST AND A NORTHERN NIGERIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, MR. J. S. OLAWOYIN.

THE FEDERATION HAS FOUR STATES AT PRESENT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THE LEADERS SAID NIGERIA WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING FRAGMENTED INTO FOUR INDEPENDENT STATES, EACH WITH ITS OWN ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE.

IN A JOINT STATEMENT THEY SAID THAT IF NIGERIA WAS TO REMAIN A TRUE AND LASTING FEDERATION, EACH ETHNIC GROUP WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE ITS OWN POSITION.