…seek rotational presidency based on 6 geopolitical zones
By Gloria Ikibah
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, has eemphasised that the people of Imo, Abia, and the entire South East have clear and legitimate expectations from the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the 10th National Assembly.
Speaking on Saturday at the South East Zonal Public Hearing on the Constitution Review in Owerri, Uzodinma stressed that the issues raised by the region must now be addressed with urgency, sincerity, and a sense of justice.
The governor reiterated that the South East remains the only geopolitical zone in Nigeria with just five states, describing it as a structural imbalance that fuels feelings of marginalization. He urged the National Assembly to give serious consideration to proposals for creating additional states in the region as part of the constitutional amendments.
He said, “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, it’s only fair and just that we ask for the creation of at least two additional states in the South East.
“It is my well considered submission that Anim State should be one of the new states to be created. This is one state that will have an oil-producing status upon creation. This makes it commercially viable, with sufficient revenue base to self sustain. This should naturally go hand in hand with the creation of new local government areas for the zone.
“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 the issue of indigene status, the governor highlighted that the constitution grants every Nigerian the right to live and work anywhere in the country. However, he pointed out that, in reality, many people born and raised in a particular state are still regarded as non-indigenes simply because their ancestral roots lie elsewhere.
He described this practice as inconsistent with the spirit of unity and brotherhood that the nation aspires to uphold.
“We should not be seen to be speaking from two sides of our mouth.We need to legally define indegeneship by birth or long-term residence – say, ten years. 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.
“It was also becoming the norm in our pre-first Republic years, until that Republic was cut short. How else did Mallam Umaru Altine become the Mayor of Enugu in 1952 if not because he was accepted as an indigene of Enugu.That tells us something profound about our potential for unity if only the constitution can catch up with our history. I therefore urge this committee to seriously consider this matter as part of the proposed constitutional amendments”, Uzodinma stated.
He also advocated for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency, not along the ambiguous North–South divide, but along the six established geopolitical zones.
“This is not about tokenism but national stability. Already, zoning has helped calm nerves over federal appointments. If Nigerians know that the presidency will rotate among the six zones, it will remove the fear of domination and deepen the sense of inclusion in the country.
“In addition, the time has come for us to take decisive steps on State Police. The current centralised policing structure is overstretched and often disconnected from local realities. As the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, I can confirm that we support the decentralisation of the police for greater responsiveness and effectiveness. The fear that governors will misuse such a force is unfounded and frankly outdated. We cannot allow the past to paralyse the future when our citizens are crying out for safety and order at the grassroots.
“Distinguished Honourable Members of the National Assembly, ladies and gentlemen, our diversity is our strength, not our weakness. But that strength must be harnessed through law and equity. Therefore, our Constitution must reflect our shared values, not just our shared borders.
“Distinguished Honourable Members, as you tour the country on this important assignment, 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.
“As we all know, there are differing views across Nigeria about what our Constitution should reflect in order to fortify our young democracy. These perspectives mirror both the richness of our diversity and the inadequacies of a legal framework that often leaves many citizens feeling unprotected or unaccommodated in project Nigeria”, he added.
