By Odomero Igbodo
ENUGU — The National Assembly’s recent proposal to create six new states has sparked intense debate across Nigeria, with the South East zone once again at the centre of discussions on representation, equity, and political balance.
Featuring on Matters of the Moment on Sunrise FM, the Leader of Njiko Igbo Forum, Rev. Dr. Okechukwu Obioha, described the development as “a political manoeuvre” rather than a genuine attempt to address structural imbalances in the federation.
According to him, while the proposal may appear progressive on the surface, it is unlikely to yield any tangible outcome, especially for the South East.
“I am a doubting Thomas. It’s not going to work,” he said. “If they are sincere, let them go ahead, but I know it’s impossible. You can’t be talking about creating new states when political activities for the next election will soon begin.”
Rev. Obioha argued that the Southeast has long suffered a “representation deficit” at the federal level, which has contributed to the region’s feelings of marginalisation. He lamented that despite contributing significantly to the country’s economic development, the zone continues to have the fewest number of states and federal constituencies compared to other regions.
“Our people are underrepresented. The Southeast is the only region with five states, while others have six or seven. This affects our voice, our revenue allocation, and even our sense of inclusion in Nigeria,” he said.
However, he expressed doubt that the current move by the National Assembly was driven by fairness or justice. Instead, he suggested that it was part of “a political calculation aimed at capturing sentiments in the South East.”
He further warned that unless Nigeria embraces true and fiscal federalism, state creation would remain a cosmetic exercise. “What we need is restructuring and equity, not more unviable states. Many of the existing ones can’t even sustain themselves financially,” he said.
On intra-regional politics, Obioha noted that the multiple statehood requests coming from various parts of the South East—such as the proposed Orashi, Aba, and Adada states—reflect deep internal divisions rather than a unified demand. “Even if one state is approved, which one will it be? Every group wants their own. That’s part of the problem,” he observed.
He also linked the current debate to broader issues of governance and development in the region, urging political leaders to prioritise investment, industrialisation, and infrastructure over symbolic agitations.
“Let people come home and invest. Governor Peter Mbah’s effort to open up Enugu for business is commendable. That’s what we need—not just political promises,” he said.
Rev. Obioha concluded that while the idea of creating new states may excite some, it should not distract from the more urgent need to restructure Nigeria’s political and economic systems to ensure fairness, accountability, and self-sufficiency among all regions.
“Nigeria must return to the ideals of true federalism,” he insisted. “That’s the only way to correct the imbalance and give every region, including the South East, a genuine sense of belonging.”
