As the debate over the creation of additional states in the country continues to intensify, two serving governors in the South East zone have voiced their divergent views on the matter.
Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Alex Otti of Abia State have expressed sharply differing views on the creation of new states in the South-East, as debates intensify over the ongoing review of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
In any case, speaking during the public hearing on constitutional reform held in Owerri on Saturday, July 19, Uzodimma called for the creation of at least two additional states in the region to address what he described as structural imbalance and political marginalisation of the Igbo people.
According to Uzodinma, “every other zone has six or more states. This imbalance has led to under-representation in critical national institutions, from the National Assembly to the Federal Executive Council. It has shrunk our voice and abridged our inclusivity.”
The governor, however, advocated for the creation of Anim State, which, according to him, would possess oil-producing capacity and increase the number of local government areas in the region.
Uzodimma also proposed legal recognition of indigenous status by long-term residency, suggesting that individuals born in a state or those who have resided there for over 10 years should be considered indigenes.
“How else did Mallam Umaru Altine become the Mayor of Enugu in 1952, if not because he was accepted as an indigene?” he asked.
Speaking on the Presidency, Governor further stated that there should be a rotational presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, rather than the current North–South framework.
“This is not about tokenism but national stability,” Uzodimma argued. “If Nigerians know the presidency will rotate across zones, it will remove the fear of domination and deepen national inclusion.”
Nevertheless, in his contrary view, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, represented by his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu, expressed reservations about the financial and administrative implications of creating new states.
According to Dr. Otti, “while I acknowledge the concerns of marginalised groups, I worry about the additional burden on Nigeria’s limited resources. Unless we identify independent sources of revenue, I do not share the optimism of those proposing new states.”
He warned that state creation could bloat the country’s already oversized bureaucracy and called instead for a more people-centred governance approach.
Otti also strongly supported the creation of state police, emphasising the need for clearly defined standards on accountability, recruitment, leadership, and inter-agency relations.
“The federal policing structure has proved inadequate. Our people continue to suffer avoidable vulnerabilities,” he said
Also in his press release on July 20, Gov. otti reiterated the need to strengthen the already existing states rather than creating additional ones.
The release entitled “Creation of Additional States In Nigeria: Governor Alex Otti’s Position Is Clear And Unambiguous” which was signed by his Special Adviser Ferdinand Ekeoma and made available to WITHIN NIGERIA reads thus;
“The attention of the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has been drawn to a mischievous and diversionary post being widely circulated in the media, giving the false impression that Governor Otti is opposed to the “creation of additional States in the South East”.
Governor Otti’s position over the years on the creation of additional states in Nigeria hasn’t changed and will not change. His position is that, the Country doesn’t require additional States, especially when most of the already existing states lack the viability for economic self-sustainability. In his seminal works over the years, he had advocated a six regional structure for the country which would support his advocacy for reducing cost of governance.
“However, Governor Otti maintains that since at the moment one geopolitical zone in the North has as much as 7 States, while others have 6 each except the SouthEast that has 5, there could be an additional State for the Southeast to balance the disequilibrium, but not the creation of new states across the six geopolitical zones
“It’s important to state that, Governor Otti is not a man that is easily swayed to the wrong side of the pendulum when a critical issue that requires deep thinking driven by altruism is on the table.
“The M.I. Okparas and Sam Mbakwes of this world did not wait for the creation of tiny enclaves called states before making the generational impacts they made in their zones as public office holders. They governed a region and a state respectively that were massive both in landmass and population and yet achieved development and created prosperity that are still being referenced till today.
“Creating additional States in Nigeria when the economic super-structure that should sustain the already existing but troubled ones hasn’t been laid, is akin to intentionally laying the foundation for further division and dichotomy that could impact our body polity negatively, especially at a time we should be saddled with the responsibility of trying to navigate through our economic challenges as a nation.
“Finally, Governor Alex Otti enjoins all the stakeholders involved in the ongoing discussion for creation of additional States, especially public office holders to guard against selfish interests, because they are usually temporary and do not advance the long-term interest and welfare of majority of the citizens.”
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chair of the Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, described the hearing as part of a broader effort to craft a truly inclusive constitutional order.
“The 2025 constitutional review process is the most comprehensive in our nation’s history,” Kalu noted. “Our mandate is to ensure that every Nigerian is fairly represented and protected under the law.”
The review process has received over 30 proposals for state creation from across the country, with debates expected to intensify as public hearings continue in other zones.
Nnia Nwodo throws weight behind Adada state creation
As the debate continues, former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has asked the House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Hearing to review the 1999 Constitution and address the marginalisation of the South-East through the creation of Adada State.
Nwodo submitted that the proposed Adada State has all it takes, including natural and human resources, to be made a state, disclosing that the people of Enugu North Senatorial district who constitute 52 percent of the population of the present Enugu state.
According to Nwodo with the addition of Isi-Uzo local government area, the state will be made up of seven local government areas, making it 56 percent of the population of Enugu State, that are seeking for the Adada State creation.
Lamenting, he said the area was marginalized when states were created during the military administration, reduced to only seven local government areas when it was supposed to have more local government councils.
Chairman of the Adada State Movement, Chief James Ugwu, stressed that there were minerals resources in the proposed state, adding that it will add to the gross domestic products of the federal government.
Mbah calls for creation of additional state in South-East
Recall that on July 4,the governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State called for the creation of an additional state in the South East, to bring the region on par with other geopolitical zones.
Mbah also called for rotational presidency and state police to give every part of the country a sense of belonging as well as ensure the nation is better.
The governor made the call when he received members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment, who were on a courtesy visit to him at the Government House.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the committee members’ visit, was ahead of the regional public hearing on constitution amendment scheduled for Friday.
According to the governor, one thing that excites us most is the idea of state policing.
“We have advocated fervently that there is a need for states to create state police services, just as you have the federal police, but with defined jurisdictions and operational parameters.
“We think that this is overdue and there is no better time for that than now, given the fragilities we have in our various communities.
“The state police will be a truly welcome development in our constitution. We also believe that since the Southeast is the only zone with five states in the country, this should be corrected during this process of amendment,” Mbah said.
He added that the idea of rotational presidency was important too.
According to him, we think that will give the Southeast and every other region a chance at the presidency.
“These are areas we believe are amendable and we will be presenting our position formally in the hearing on Friday and subsequent days,” he said.
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