States Creation Movements, Not Much In South-East – Eze Wogu

Chairman of Aba State Creation Movement, His Royal majesty, Eze Ariwodo Wogu, says groups agitating for new states in the South-East geo-political zone were not unwieldy compared to that of other zones.

The royal father contended that the South East should have had more state creation movements since the zone has the least number of states in the country, pointing out that those that have more states were even agitating for more states than the South East.

At present, about five state creation movements are pressing for creation of additional states in the South East. They are pushing for the creation of Aba State (from Abia State), Njaba State (from Imo State), Orashi State, Ekwiti State(from all the South East States), Ugwaku state (From Imo and Abia) and Adada State (from Enugu State).

Disagreeing with views that state creation movements in the South East were many, Eze Wogu said: “We don’t even have as many groups as other zones.”

The monarch spoke with newsmen at Government House where the Aba State Creation Movement had come to present their request before the Conference of Speakers of the Houses of Assembly in Nigeria. The Speakers were in Umuahia for their last quarterly meeting for this year. It was hosted by the Abia State House of Assembly.

“You understand from the first point that the South East is short -changed. We have five states against some that have six or seven and if those who have seven already are agitating for three, four or more states, why should the Igbo man with five be talking of one state? How many state movements do we have in the South East? We should be demanding for a maximum of four more states. Add four to five, that is nine. The South East is agitating for as many as four states,” the royal father said, adding that the various movements in the zone were interacting.

With regard to Aba State, Eze Wogu said the movement has made tremendous progress and has received encouraging response from groups and individuals.

“Already, the Committee for the Creation of Aba State has embarked on a visit to the various State Houses of Assembly and as I am talking to you, we have covered 13 Houses of Assembly, addressed and presented our matter to them. In fact, I wish you had followed us to these places. The response of all the 13 Houses of Assembly is very very positive. Almost every state House of Assembly we have visited supported the creation of Aba State for many reasons,” he said

He said the request has also been formally presented to the Senate Committee on Creation of States, adding that they were in Umuahia to seek the support of the speakers and to request some of the Houses of Assembly yet to grant the committee audience to do so.

Explaining the need for Aba State, Eze Wogu said “Why Aba State is deserved and is necessary, from the first point is that we believe that Aba state is one state that must be created to harmonise and bring the number of states in the South East at par with other zones.”

“We, the Abians, also believe that creation of Aba State will enhance the economy of Abians in terms of infrastructure, health, employment, anything. Aba is bigger that some states in Nigeria. Most importantly, the creation of Aba State will increase the take home of the Igbo from the national cake. Generally, we believe the creation of Aba state will be of immense benefit,” he added.

The TIDE gathered that the agitation for creation of Aba State dates back to 1915 when the request was presented to the British Colonial Government. It was represented to the Coats with Commission in 1954 and to both the Senate and House of Representatives between 1980 and 1983. The National Asssembly then were said to have given their approval for a referendum for the Creation of Aba State. However, the conduct of the referendum was yet to be carried out when the military struck and overthrew the government of President Shehu Shagari.