The National Assembly has been encouraged to address what Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma called years of “imbalance and exclusion” against the South-East region.
The development of at least two more states for the zone is the main expectation of the region, according to Uzodimma, who spoke at the South-East Zonal Public Hearing on the 1999 Constitution Review for Imo and Abia States, which was held in Owerri.
There are still just five states in the South-East. Six or more are found in every other zone, according to Uzodimma.
Underrepresentation has resulted from this imbalance in important national institutions, such as the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly. Our inclusivity and voice have been limited as a result.
Uzodimma suggested Anim State as one of the new states to be established, emphasizing its feasibility because of its capacity to produce oil.
One state that will be able to produce oil when it is created is this one. It has a strong enough revenue source to support itself, making it commercially viable,” he said.
In accordance with the region’s expanding population and key economic potential, he said, the establishment of new states should also involve the reorganization of local government units.
When Uzodimma thought back on the history of the area, he remembered that Owerri was the capital of the former Eastern Region before states like Abia and Ebonyi appeared.
Perhaps with our combined efforts, we will soon have additional state capitals, such as Orlu, Aba, Nsukka, and others. In my opinion, this is the South-East’s collective prayer, and with God’s help, it will be answered,” he continued.
Considering Indigeneity Again
The difficult topic of indigeneship was the subject of one of the governor’s most audacious initiatives. He advocated for a legislative reinterpretation of the notion of “Indigenous,” proposing that the status be granted by birth or by 10 years or more of residency.
“We must avoid giving the impression that we are speaking incoherently. His argument was that “we need to legally define indigeneship by birth or long-term residence, say 10 years.” “Anyone who has lived in a state for more than ten years or who was born there should be considered a legitimate native of that state.”
In order to demonstrate that Nigeria formerly tolerated such inclusivity, he used the famous case of Mallam Umaru Altine, a Fulani man who served as mayor of Enugu in 1952. “If only the constitution can catch up with our history, that profoundly reveals our potential for unity.”
Requesting Rotational Presidency
Regarding the national leadership system, Uzodimma also expressed his opinion, advocating for a constitutional clause that would cycle the presidency among the six geopolitical zones rather than just between the North and the South.
He stated, “National stability, not tokenism, is the goal here.” “The fear of dominance will be eliminated and Nigerians’ sense of inclusion will be strengthened if they are aware that the presidency will alternate between the six zones.”
In his view, extending zoning to the presidency might promote harmony and mutual trust, pointing out that it has already stabilized federal appointments.
That was not the governor’s end. State police should be established, he said, calling the current centralized system “overstretched and disconnected from local realities.”
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As the Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman, I can vouch for the fact that we are in favor of police decentralization in order to improve responsiveness and efficacy,” he stated. “The concern that governors will abuse this kind of authority is, to put it plainly, out of date.”
According to Uzodimma, grassroots security worries cannot wait for outmoded anxieties. “When our people are yelling for safety and order, we cannot let the past stop us from moving forward.”
As he concluded, the governor of Imo urged the Constitution Review Committee to base their work on justice, equity, and togetherness.
Our strength, not our weakness, is our diversity. However, equality and the law must be used to harness that power, Uzodimma stated.
“Not just our shared borders, but also our shared values must be reflected in our Constitution.”
He asked the committee to hear what regular Nigerians had to say: “May you be guided by the hope of millions who seek a Constitution that truly belongs to them, one that ensures fairness, equity, and a level playing field for all.”
