Why South-east needs state creation more than any other region

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution for the South-East Zone, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has said the region has the most pressing need for an additional state to achieve equity.

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“Nigeria’s geopolitical zones are imbalanced. The North-West has seven states, while the South-East has only five,” said the senator on Tuesday during the ARISE TV Morning Show.

He also said the South-east is deserving of at least two additional states given its population and commitment to one Nigeria. “South-East deserves not just one but two more states, considering our population and commitment to one Nigeria. Even a leader from Kaduna State has said it.”

The 10th National Assembly, under Senate President Godswill Akpabio, set up a committee chaired by the Deputy Senate President to handle the constitutional review.

The spokesperson for the 10th National Assembly, Yemi Adaramodu, said the Senate has received about 61 proposals for state creation across the six geopolitical zones, but cannot recommend any now.

He explained that the process requires auditing demographic, geographic and historical data, adding that the Red Chamber has no constitutional right to unilaterally create states.

Mr Nwaebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North central senatorial district of Ebonyi State in the South-east geo-political zone of the country, said the request for state creation is just one of many bills before the National Assembly, but remains the most celebrated aspect.

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“Another major one, is the proposal for state policing to help curb insecurity, particularly in the North,” said the senator.

Amendment process

Although he “agreed with Mr Adaramodu to some extent” on the length of the process, he said the agitation began long ago and should be considered.

Mr Nwaebonyi, who is also the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, outlined the constitutional procedures for creating additional states in Nigeria under Section 8, sub-sections 1(a) to 1(d) of the constitution.

He explained that Section 8(1)(a) requires a request for state creation backed by the majority of representatives of the people seeking to form the state, the House of Representatives, State House of Assembly, and local government councils in the area.

Those involved must support the request in writing, which is then forwarded to the National Assembly.

Section 8(1)(b) mandates the National Assembly to conduct a referendum within the area and 66 per cent of the population must approve the request.
Once approved, the bill goes to the 36 state Houses of Assembly.

The senator added that only a simple majority of state Houses is required, meaning that 23 out of 36 states can approve the creation of a new state.

He said it would then return to the National Assembly, where both the Senate and House of Representatives must approve it by a total majority of all elected members.

Afterwards, it is sent to the president for assent.

Possibilities for state creation

On the chances of state creation at the end of the ongoing constitution amendment which has not succeeded since the return of civilian rule in 1999, Mr Nwaebonyi said “nothing is impossible; it all depends on the people.”

He said that the state creation is not a political jamboree. He also explained that although people make requests, it does not mean states will automatically be created, as the process will determine the outcome.

New states that can be created in South-east

The senator listed Anioma, Aba, Anim, and Adada as possible new states in the South-east region.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze E.C. Okeke, dismissed claims by individuals with “cheap political interests” that traditional rulers in the region had endorsed the creation of Anioma State. He said the council only supported the creation of Anim and Adada states.

In another development, the Ndokwa Neku Union from Delta State said delegates at the Anioma State public hearing in Uyo were denied the chance to speak.

The senator dismissed claims that those who presented requests were denied. “The zonal hearing I chaired accommodated every interest, including Anioma, even though it technically falls under the South-south. “We believe their history, cultural practices, and language show they are Igbos.”

Aside Anioma, Mr Nwaebonyi said the most prominent request is Adada State, comprising people from Enugu, part of Ebonyi-speaking Benue, and surrounding areas. Aba and Anim State requests have also been made.

Viability of state creation

Mr Nwaebonyi said that Nigeria has a history of creating new states: from regions to 12 states, then to 21, 30, and now 36, and that the framing of section 8 of the constitution shows the framers anticipated more states.

He said leadership, not just resources, determines viability. “Most proposed states already have infrastructure in place. “Adada State, for example, already has locations that could serve as a capital. Nsukka could comfortably house a state capital.”

The senator argued that funding should not be a problem, as new states would be carved out of existing ones and shares from the Federation Account’s existing formula.

He stressed that every state has at least one natural resource. “Some states have no oil but are rich in farmland and can excel in agriculture.”

The senator said the land is fertile, and what is required is leadership that recognises the people’s destiny and is willing to work to ensure survival and progress.”

Local government should be removed as tier of government

On local government, the senator said it is time to remove it as a tier of government in Nigeria.

He argued that keeping it at the federal level maintains the imbalance in the number of LGAs across states and geopolitical zones.

“I believe local governments should be within the control of the states, which can create as many as they want, provided they can fund them and deliver democracy dividends at the grassroots,” the senator said.

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Constitution Review Committee

The 10th National Assembly set up its Constitution Review Committees in February 2024, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu in the House and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin in the Senate.

It was created to review and amend the 1999 Constitution. The committees have held nationwide public hearings, gathering proposals on governance reforms, local government autonomy, electoral changes, judiciary restructuring, security, gender issues, and multiple state creation requests.