Lawmaker Demands Creation of 6th State in Southeast

Hon Augustine Onyekachukwu Ike, Member Representing Nnewi North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, has written to President Bola Tinubu asking for the creation of a sixth state in the southeast geopolitical zone.

According to Ike, the need for the creation of the sixth state was to strike a balance to fulfill democracy’s true meaning.

He explained that if Nigeria has six geopolitical zones and five of them each have at least six states, it was only fair for each zone to have six states.

In Ike’s open letter to Tinubu dated June 29, the Speaker believed that naming such a state Ikemba with its capital in Nnewi will calm unrest in the Southeast region.

He submitted that rather than fifteen (15) senators, the Southeast geopolitical zone should have a total of eighteen (18) senators.

He restated that the creation of the final state for the Southeast zone within a year was the only way to remedy the pending agitation.

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The letter reads in part:

“Happy Eid al-Adha celebration Mr. President. The Eid al-Adha is Known as the ‘Feast of Sacrifice’, Eid al-Adha commemorates the Quranic tale of Prophet Abrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God. Thus, no better time to bring up this request before you and the leadership of the 10th National Assembly

“Mr. President, the arguments for the 6th State to be created in the Southeast Geopolitical Zone are not only compelling but are grounded in history:

“In the very essence of democracy is the need to strike balance. If Nigeria is founded on six geopolitical zones and each of five geopolitical zones has six states, it is then equitable that every geopolitical zone must have six states.

“Thus, Nigeria cannot on grounds of good logic be said to have six geopolitical zones until Mr President accents to the proposal to create the sixth State in the Southeast in the spirit of equity and fairness.

“The Southeast is a very historical region in Nigeria and the memories of the good days in Nigeria is rooted to Ojukwu family; Lord Luis Philip Odumegwu Ojukwu hosted the Queen of England and His son embraced the military and was of great service both to his region and Nigerians in general; thus, naming such State Ikemba State with its headquarters in Nnewi will tranquilize all agitations in the Southeast.

“The Ikemba State will serve as another economic hub in Nigeria and a pilot state towards a New Nigeria; thus, the need for the capital to be in Nnewi North LGA is beyond historical reason.

“Mr. President, reminding you that the Southeast Geopolitical Zone is supposed to have a total of eighteen (18) Senators not fifteen (15) as the case is at present is analogous to telling one the need to eat balance diet! It cannot be overemphasized. The only way to fill this vacuum is to prioritize the creation of the remaining State for the Southeast zone within one year.

“The sixth State is already a manufacturing and trading hub in the Southeast will provide Nigeria with alternative revenue to oil and maybe the China in Nigeria if properly created.

“Mr. President I need not remind you that prioritizing this proposal will make you the greatest President in the history of Nigeria and posterity will not forget you.

“Whilst we continue to remember your administration in our prayers, kindly treat this proposal as a need, not a want.”