Constitution Review Key to Strengthening National Unity

…as S/East push for new state to correct perceived imbalance

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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has described the ongoing constitution amendment as a chance to promote national unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups.

Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi, made this known during the constitution review public hearing in Enugu, as calls for the creation of an additional state in the South East continue to gather momentum. The hearing was for South East Zone A, which covers Enugu, Ebonyi, and Anambra States.

Ozodinobi, who chaired the session at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, stressed that the National Assembly is determined to use the amendment process to build a stronger, fairer Nigeria, one where no group feels oppressed or left out.

He said: “The emphasis must be made here that the foundation for the unity of this great nation lies on how seriously we handle this national assignment.

“I therefore urge every presenter or group to focus more on what will bring growth, unity, peace and sustainable development to Nigeria because history beckons on us as the most populous black nation to take the lead in bringing sense of pride to every black person existing on our planet earth”.

In his submission, the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Moses Ijeh Odunwa, eemphasised the need for the National Assembly to leverage on the current Constitution review to correct what he called imbalance in state creation in the country by creating an additional state for the South East.

He maintained that the imbalance in the number of States across geopolitical zones in the country should be addressed to ensure balance and parity, before the consideration of applications for state creation in other zones.

“There should be a balance first, that is the justice. We are seeking for justice first, let us be given one additional state in the South East. That is our demand now to balance the number of States in the geopolitical zones,” he advocated.

According to the Constitution review committee a total of 46 applications were received for the creation of new States in the country, while another 117 memos sought creation of new local government areas across the 36 States in Nigeria.

The special seats bill received an ovation from citizens at the public hearing as various advocates marshalled a couple of reasons why it should be allowed to pass and be signed into law.