By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has passed for first reading a bill for the establishment of Orlu state, in South-East Nigeria on Thursday at plenary.
The bill which was sponsored by Rep. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, lawmaker representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, and other lawmakers, is now set for second reading.
According to the proposedlegislation, the creation of Orlu State will alter the 1999 Constitution, increasing the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 37.
The new state will be carved out from Imo, Abia, and Anambra states, with Orlu as its capital city.
The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution by inserting a new paragraph, which will include 28 local government areas, namely Orlu, Orsu, Oru West, Oru East, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Oguta, Ohaji Egbema, Onuimo, Ihiala, Uga, Ihiala, Uli, Ozubulu, Akokwa, Arondizuogu, Umuchu, Umunze, Umuaku, New Ideato North, Nwabosi West, Nwabosi East, Owerre Nkworji, Alaoma, Amaifeke, and Owerrebiri Umuowa.
According to Rep. Ugochinyere the creation of Orlu State would lead to the emergence of Ideato as a senatorial district.
Naijablitznews.com reports that all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria have at least 6 states except the southeast which has 5 states.
