The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, has said the National Assembly members from the Southeast zone are united for the creation of additional states in the zone.
Ogah, who revealed this in Abakaliki, at the zonal public hearing on the constitutional review, said they submitted proposals to both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
He expressed confidence in the constitutional amendment process, noting that the bill had passed the first and second reading and others.
“Once the committee compiles its report and it passes third reading, it will go to the Senate for concurrence and then to the President for assent. I believe this process will yield results because both the State Houses of Assembly and the masses are in support,” he said.
Hon Ogah, who is also the deputy chairman of the Committee on Public Hearing in the ongoing Constitutional Review process, cited longstanding marginalisation against the zone.
“Southeast geopolitical zone, comprising Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo and Anambra states, has fewer states compared to other regions,” a disparity he described as unconstitutional and unfair.
“Other zone in the country has at least six states, and some even have seven. The Southeast only has five. It’s our constitutional right to demand for more,” he said.
The House Committee Chairman on Reformatory Institutions drummed support for the creation of two additional states in the zone adding that the region possesses the economic, human, and land resources to sustain them.
“We have the landmarks, the economic power, and the manpower to accommodate more states. From my point of view, the Southeast should get two new states,” he said.
“We are proposing that Adada State be carved out from Enugu, Ebonyi, and Anambra states, as one of the new state suggestions. At the same time, Imo and Abia have also proposed another, making a total of two state creation proposals from the region.
Apart from State creation from the zone, we have also proposed for the creation of 13 new local government areas in Ebonyi State alone, which will include, three in Izzi, two in Abakaliki, one each in Ezza, Ohaukwu, Ishielu, and Ohaozara.
“These local government proposals have passed referendum stages and readings in the House of Assembly. More local governments mean more democratic dividends and job opportunities,”
He noted that the review includes reforms in electoral laws, judicial processes, security, and devolution of powers — including moving some items from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list.
On the issue of state police, Ogah said, “I don’t have a firm position. While some governors may use it positively, others may use it to oppress political opponents. Let the people decide.”
The Ebonyi federal lawmaker expressed worry on the misuse of social media by some youths to smear politicians and political office holders.
“Some of our youths lie and tarnish the image of public officials on social media, and journalists help amplify them. The media should separate fact from fiction,”.
He assured his constituents that numerous developmental projects, including road construction, classroom buildings, solar-powered streetlights, and empowerment tools and materials, have been captured in the 2025 budget.
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