The youth division of the prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, has firmly opposed the recent proposal to create five additional states in Nigeria’s South-East region.
On Thursday, Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review suggested the establishment of 31 new states across the country. If enacted, this initiative would expand Nigeria’s sub-national governments from the current 36 states (plus the Federal Capital Territory) to 67.
Among the proposed states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa from Benue; a Federal Capital Territory state; Amana from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi; Savannah from Borno; and Muri from Taraba.
Additional states under consideration include New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna; Tiga and Ari from Kano; Kainji from Kebbi; and several in the South-East, such as Etiti, Orashi, Adada, Orlu, and Aba. Other suggested states are Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers, Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from the combined regions of Oyo, Ogun, and Osun States.
Despite the wide-ranging proposal, the Ohanaeze youth expressed concerns that the plan would exacerbate the ongoing marginalization of the South-East.
In a statement issued on Friday, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, National President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council Worldwide, emphasized that the Igbo people have consistently raised concerns over marginalization, pointing out that the South-East currently has only five states compared to the six or seven in other regions.
Okwu criticized the proposal for allocating merely five new states to the South-East while other regions are offered more. He urged the National Assembly to reconsider the proposal to prevent heightening tensions and dissatisfaction within the South-East.
“When we first learned of the proposal for state creation, there was a sense of hope,” Okwu remarked. “However, a closer examination revealed a continuation of the marginalization against the South-East. Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, we have persistently requested an additional state for our zone, but these efforts have been thwarted by forces intent on maintaining our subjugation.”
Okwu argued that any sincere attempt at fostering national unity must begin with granting the South-East two additional states. Only after this should a balanced creation of states across all regions be pursued to ensure equity.
He also criticized South-East representatives in the House for endorsing a proposal that he believes disproportionately disadvantages their region. Okwu urged them to return to the negotiating table and amend the proposal to foster unity and fairness in Nigeria’s federal structure.
The proposal has sparked debate about the equitable distribution of states and resources in Nigeria, with many calling for a more inclusive and representative approach to governance.
