06/10/2025
On 19th July, 2025 the Nhrc Abia State office was present at the South East Central Review of Constitution of the Federal Public of Nigeria 1999 as amended at the Eze Imo Palace Auditorium Owerri Imo State on the recommendations of the Executive Secretary.
The Asst. Director Mrs Ukah represented the State Coordinator Barr. Uche Nwokacha.
The Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, in his address called for the entrenchment of rotational presidency across the six geopolitical zones in the Nigerian Constitution.
While noting that the ongoing amendment process of the 1999 Constitution by the 10th National Assembly, it is time to address various national concerns as it relates to the South East with urgency, sincerity, and justice.
He said that, the southeast remains the only geopolitical zone with five states adding that, the proposals for the creation of additional states in the regions should be considered in order to address the perceived marginalization by the people.
The Governor while speaking mentioned that every other zone has six or more. This imbalance has led to underrepresentation in critical national institutions, from the National Assembly to the Federal Executive Council. It has shrunk our voice and abridged our inclusivity. Therefore, itâs only fair and just that we ask for the creation of at least two additional states in the South East.
The Governor opined that Anim State should be one of the new states to be created. According to him, it is one state that will have an oil-producing status upon creation.
This will make it commercially viable, with sufficient revenue base to self sustenance. That this should naturally go hand in hand with the creation of new local government areas for the zone.
In his words, he said until a few years ago, Owerri served as the capital of us all. Today, we have Umuahia and Abakaliki as capitals of new states. Through our collective efforts, perhaps we shall soon have more state capitals like Orlu, Aba, Nsukka, and more. I believe that this is the prayer of the entire South East, and it shall come to pass by the grace of God.
On indigenous identity the Governor stated that, it is enshrined in the Constitution that every citizen has the right to live and work in any part of the country, however he observed that, in practice, those born and raised in a place where their grandparents may not have originated from are still regarded and treated as non-indigene.
Further more he stated that there is need to legally define indigenous identity by birth or long-term residence. Anyone born in a state or has lived in a state for upwards of ten years should be a legitimate indigene of that state. This is common practice in advanced democracies.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu in his keynote address, posited that Nigeria has embraced and embarked on a âReform-Heavy Agendaâ under President Bola Tinubu in the bid to address myriad of challenges through various positive measures.
The Deputy Speaker stated that, the key areas of the exercise include; Judicial Independence and Efficiency; Electoral Reform; Security and State Policing; Gender Bills and Inclusive Governance; Fiscal Reforms; Devolution of Powers; Local Government Autonomy.
Abia State governor and other organizations present were Women groups (NCWS, FIDA), NBA, NUJ, Council of Traditional Rules and CSOs from Abia and Imo States.
