Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma has demanded for the creation of Anim State.
The Governor, who made the demand in Owerri during his speech at the ongoing public hearing on the review of the 1999 constitution, said one more state should also be created for the South-East to give the zone a total of seven states.
According to him, this would make the zone to be at par with its counterparts across the Federation.
He also backed rotational presidency across the six geo-political zones.
He said that the call for constitutional reforms was very necessary as it would help in addressing grievances and the series of agitations from all parts of the Federation.
The Governor further proposed a legal definition of indigenous status based on birth or long-term residence to promote a sense of belonging irrespective of origin.
He also called for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency not only between the North and South but among the six geopolitical zones, which he said was to promote national stability.
On the issue of state policing, the Governor supported the decentralisation of police powers for greater responsiveness and effectiveness.
The Governor further called on the Southeast zone to take advantage of the ongoing constitutional review to seek redress for their long-standing grievance and shun threats of secession and violence, insisting on using the constitutional review process to articulate their demands peacefully.
He spoke against the total scrapping of the constitution.
“Let us continue to build on it, and today’s hearing is part of that noble effort.
“There is no perfect Constitution anywhere in the world. This is the reason for the existence of parliaments all over the world.
"Our people in Imo and Abia States, and indeed the South East, have clear expectations. I believe the time has come to address them with urgency, sincerity, and justice," he maintained.
On the issue of more additional States to the southeast, the Imo State Governor pointed out that the issue has lingered for a long time, noting that the zone remains the only geopolitical zone with five States unlike others.
Uzodinma further maintained that the imbalance in State creation has led to underrepresentation of the southeast region in critical national institutions, starting from the National Assembly to the Federal Executive Council.
"It has shrunk our voice and abridged our inclusivity. Therefore, it's only fair and just that we ask for the creation of at least two additional states in the South East.
“It is my well considered submission that Anim State should be one of the new States to be created.
"This is one State that will have an oil-producing status upon creation.
“This makes it commercially viable, with sufficient revenue base to self-sustain. This should naturally go hand in hand with the creation of new local government areas for the zone," he submitted.
In his presentation, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti who was represented by his Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu advocated for inclusive Constitution, State Police and free and compulsory universal basic education in the Constitution Review.
He stressed the need for the Federal Government to mitigate potential issues likely to arise with the State Policing by proposing the establishment of legal safeguards, oversight committees and structured command model to check abuses.
The public hearing which took place at Eze Imo palace in Owerri, included stakeholders from Imo and Abia State and was declared open by the House Committee Chairman on the 1999 Constitution Review and Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.
During his speech, the Deputy Speaker described the exercise as a historic journey made by the nation to determine the destiny of the people of Nigeria and to close the gap in the nation's legal system, as well as strengthen the sacred duty of the constitution.
Kalu noted that the Committee, since its inauguration, has made genuine efforts to represent every concern through inclusive engagement of all sectors of the society in the Constitution amendment process.