NEW STATE IN SOUTHEAST: WE WANT ETITI OR EQUITY STATE-stakeholders

Full Text by DG, GIAN, Mr Amah A. Amah:
BILL TO CREATE A NEW STATE IN THE SOUTHEAST: WHY IKENGA UGOCHINYERE SHOULD HAVE A RE-THINK AND RE-TRACE HIS STEPS

Posted by allcitynews.ng

Being a Press Statement by Global Initiatives for Anambra Needs (GIAN) to address controversies and complications arising from the recent Bill sponsored towards the creation of a new State in the Southeast Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria.

The Member representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Honourable Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere Michael Ikeagwuonu simply stirred the hornet’s nest when he decided to, without full consultation, ambush other stakeholders, especially his colleagues in the Green Chamber in his attempt to suspiciously smuggle through a Bill to create a new State in the Southeastern part of the country. This could be interpreted rightly as democratic militarism and flagrant neglect of due process and expected collaboration of Reps from the region. It is therefore unacceptable.

Our preliminary investigations at The Global Initiatives for Anambra Needs (GIAN) tend to confirm claims in some quarters that the First Reading that the Bill passed was allegedly a Kangaroo First Reading, as many stakeholders were not informed of the Bill. Clearly, the problem with the action of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere is not the push for creation of a new state in the Southeast, but the suspicious move to outsmart other concerned stakeholders by naming the proposed state after his own Senatorial District, Orlu. This made him to be wiser than other stakeholders by half. Also, that he did this without consulting and/or carrying other stakeholders along triggered the concern that he came to equity with soiled hands.

By consciously committing these avoidable errors, which may have been as a result of selfishness or vaulting political ambition, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere immediately set the stage for the usual insinuations that “Igbos don’t agree with one another”. This scenario is clearly avoidable and could be corrected quickly by the sponsor of this Bill going back to do what he should have done in the beginning, as his action is tantamount to shaving the hairs of some stakeholders and citizens in their absence.

As a young politician, who had recently enjoyed the support of the masses base on the way he had presented himself to the public, Ikenga Ugochinyere should avoid committing political suicide by igniting a fire that would extinguish his hitherto bright political future. GIAN understands that he has a very good rapport with the leadership of the House of Representatives, perhaps the reason that even as a first timer in the House, he occupies a juicy position as the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum, Downstream. He ought to use this position and opportunity to cement relations among his colleagues and also serve the Southeast better.

GIAN has x-rayed opinions and expectations of our people of the Southeast and could come to a clear and explicable conclusion that they are common unto positive expectations for the creation of one more State in the Southeast, but it should be done carrying everybody along from inception and not at the dictate, whims and caprices of one man who wants to sacrifice decency and sanity at the altar of supposed smartness.

While GIAN affirms that this manipulation will not work, we further state unequivocally that this wrong move, if not rectified with utmost urgency will not only be divisive among Igbos, but it will also offer a veritable and fertile platform for detractors of the Igbos to capitalize, leverage, flourish and truncate our collective expectations and common goal for creation of a new State in the Southeast.

We commend Hon Princess Chinwe Nnabuife, the Honnourable Member representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency for swiftly issuing a statement to make known to the public the position of her constituents of Orumba North and South. That is the kind of proactive action and representation expected of a worthy Rep of the people. Having done this, she should build synergy with other concerned Honourable Members so as to have a robust political bloc for strong bargaining power to swing the tide to the right direction.

OUR POSITION
1. The creation of a new State in the Southeast is not just important but mandatory to balance each of the 6 Geopolitical Zones of the country with 6 States each so that Nigeria will be seen to be fair to all Zones of the country;

2. The problem with the action of Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere Michael is that he acted in isolation and proposed a name that is unacceptable. The former name “Etiti” State, as earlier envisaged should suffice or the State could be named “Equity” to historically document the happenstances of this epoch;

3. The sponsor and principal stakeholders concerned, as well as all other entities that the new State creation would affect directly or indirectly MUST be carried along from the beginning, not just during public hearing when the process would have gone far.

Unless these are done, this long process to giving the Southeast a deserving new State will be truncated. On the other hand, GIAN will be observing developments and will not hesitate to use all legitimate processes to ensure that the right thing is done in this process of midwifing a new State for the Southeast.

In conclusion, we call on the Lawmakers concerned, as well as major stakeholders in the communities involved to come together to take a decision that would not just be reasonable but a decision that would be enduring and acceptable to most of the stakeholders.

A stitch in time, saves none.

Amah A. Amah
Director General, GIAN

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