By Adadareporters
Various agitators for an additional state in the South-East region of Nigeria have been advised to close ranks and stand behind the proposed Adada State being the oldest and most viable.
The appeal was made by Justice Nelson Ogbuanya, the guest lecturer during the convention of Nsukka Journalists Forum, which held at Nsukka on Wednesday. According to him, the proposed Adada State would be accomplished through the commitment of all the stakeholders of the region.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Navigating the Constitutional Conundrum for Creation of Adada State’, he said, “South East, with a missing one state, has huge loss. For instance, there is absence of one state governor with components of state governance, with consequent socio-economic development and employment creation. There are also loss of three seats at the Senate and at least five seats at the House of Representative.
“Besides, the shortage creates imbalance with consequent psychological effects
of perception of inequality in the supposed egalitarian society in democratic dispensation.”
He therefore called for a unified pursuit of an additional state in the region, which is one less than other regions of the country.
Quoting him, “Given the rigorous procedural requirements for creation of state under the extant Nigerian Constitution, multiplication of diverse efforts and resources from the same South-East geo-political zone pose major challenges on the pathway for successful creation of Adada State, and indeed, the creation of the much needed additional state for the SE. The apparent parallel agitations and proposals for as many as three other states, just angling for the one slot of the expected additional state
to be created for the SE, remains the potent threat against successful creation
of the proposed Adada State.”
He said lack of unity for one state portrays South East as a people, though deprived, but cannot harmonize their efforts to pursue the remedy for justice in unison, and be fair even among themselves, adding that “the ensuing competition is therefore self-defeating and not healthy for development of Igboland, as political leaders and various stakeholders of the region
ought to have a rationalized fair review of the need for the creation of the additional one state and join forces for the creation of Adada State, which is the most deserving!”
The chairman of the event, Barr Sam Otoboeze, called for concerted efforts towards Adada State creation.
He said, “Adada State, if created, has the potentialities to become the economic hub of South East. It has the resources, institutions and homogeneous people to make a great state.”
The chairman of NJF, Comrade Benson Whyte Ezugwu, said, “The creation of Adada State is a long-standing aspiration that resonates deeply with the people of Nsukka and the entire South-East region. This quest is driven by the need for balance and equal representation across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones. Currently South East has five states while other zones have six with some having more, making Adada State’s creation crucial for addressing this disparity.”
The event witnessed awards of excellence to some individuals and organisations for their contributions to Nsukka land.
