Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has called on the National Assembly to create more states in the South East, describing the current structure as unjust and capable of fueling resentment in the region.
Nwifuru made the call on Saturday while receiving members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution at the Government House, Abakaliki. He argued that the imbalance in state distribution across Nigeria’s geo-political zones should be urgently corrected.
“To end regional squabbles permanently, I urge the National Assembly to ensure marginalization and structural imbalances are constitutionally addressed. Out of the six geo-political zones in the country, only this region has five states, a development that can trigger resentment amongst the people,” the Governor stated.
He also advocated for the rotation of the office of the President among Nigeria’s six geo-political zones as a way of fostering equity and fairness in the polity.
“That the South East geo-political zone has not occupied the position of the President since 1999 is an injustice. What is the essence of the geo-political zone structure if the office of the president cannot be tested by all the zones?” Nwifuru queried.
The Governor went further to demand a review of Section 308 of the Constitution to extend immunity to other key political office holders such as the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Speakers and Deputy Speakers of State Assemblies.
He renewed his call for constitutional provision for state police, dismissing fears that governors could abuse such powers. According to him, state police remain a necessary reform to strengthen security nationwide.
