Igbo Lawmakers: South-East deserves additional state
Lawmakers of South-East extraction at the Federal House of Representatives, on Saturday, said the zone, and not the South-West, deserves another state to be in parity with other geo-political zones apart from the South-West.
The PUNCH had exclusively obtained copies of a bill and a letter of notification last week by a member of the House and Chairman, Committee on Judiciary, Oluwole Oke, to present proposed legislation for the creation of three additional states in the South-West.
The proposed states are Oke-Ogun, Ijebu, and Ife-Ijesa.
Ahead of the presentation of the bill for first reading, Sunday Umeha, a member of the Labour Party representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency, Enugu State, told Sunday PUNCH that no other geo-political zone deserves another state than the South-East.
Although, he noted that any region is at liberty to sponsor a bill for the creation of more states; Umeha who doubles as the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Justice, stated that for the sake of equity, the South-East “which is already short by a State,” has to be attended to before any other zone.
He said, “You are aware that the issue of the non-parity of states within the regions or zones, has been on the front burner for a while now. It was there in the eighth and ninth Assemblies and state assemblies, with a lot of motions. Attempts at constitutional amendments were even made.
“You and I know that there is no way the issue of creation of the state in the South-West will be considered first before what is already before the parliament, which is the issue of making the South-East to be at par with other zones. “The South-East has to be considered first because it has been on the front burner of legislative discourse for the past 20 years. A lot of constitutional moves have been made already.”
Speaking further on Mr Oke’s bill, Umeha noted that the journey to fruition of the intent of any bill is a fairly long one.
“Anybody can propose a constitutional amendment and it is the right of any member of the House to come up with any motion, bill, or whatever, but it does not end there. It needs to be seen the extent to which any such proposal can survive legislative discourse and scrutiny,” he added.
In a shot fired at other zones, Umeha said, “You can’t be asking for more when other people have not gotten one.”
In his contribution, a member representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State, Kama Nkemkanma, echoed Umeha ‘s optimism, saying, “If any region is to have an extra state, it is the South-East,” adding that “Right now, I am sure the South-East caucus is working on it (another State for the South-East).”