Former Chairman Senate Committee on Anti-corruption and Financial crimes, Sen. Chukwuka Utazi who is a former Minority Whip of the 9th Assembly, has voiced his opinion about the creation of additional States.
In an interview with Arise News, He said, if the federal government is truly interested, it can be done—just as the Midwestern Region was created in 1964.
This isn’t an impossible option; Nigeria has done it before, even during the First Republic under a civilian government.
This means it can be achieved again, as long as there is an agreement between the federal government and the states. If there is consensus, I believe it is entirely possible to make it happen.
Speaking further on the state creation, he said citing an instance, if you examine the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria today, you’ll notice an imbalance in the number of states.
The Northwest has seven states, while the Southwest and North Central each have six, and the Southeast has only five.
Back in 1964, the government recognized the need for balance and created the Midwestern Region from the Western Region.
Given this precedent, I see no reason why the federal government cannot address the Southeast’s long-standing demand for equal representation.
“For example if you look at the six geo political zones we have in the country today, we have 6, 6, 5, 7. Northwest have seven currently so but if you go to Southwest is 6, North Central 6, you come down to the South East you have five.”
“So if the country looked at in 1964 saw the reason to create the midwestern region our of Southwest out of the western region, I don’t see the reason why the federal government cannot look into the Southeast that have been agitating and asking that let there be a parity.”
He moved on and gave an advise, grant them that one state, but if doing so will cause issues, then adjust the number of states across the regions to ensure balance.
Since the Northwest already has seven states, you could add one state to the Southwest, one to the North Central, and two to the Southeast.
This way, all regions will be on equal footing, promoting even development and putting an end to the agitation.
“So give them that one state but if given one state is going to be a trouble, make every other one to come to seven since we already have seven in the north the the Northwest you know they have already seven states.”
“So you can just give Southwest one, North Central one, you go to Southeast give them two and all that so if you do that you bring them to parity and then there will be even development and this agitation will end.”
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