Ebonyi Seeks Two States In S’East

The Afikpo North/Afikpo South and Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituencies in Ebonyi State last Saturday called for two additional states in the South East to strike a balance among the six geo-political zones.

This was part of their decisions during a public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

They also want state assemblies to be granted financial autonomy as it is with the National Assembly, the abolishment of joint account between states and local governments, and for the local governments to properly assume the third tier of  government.

The constituents also approved the definition of the tenures of LG chairmen and councillors, the abolishment of state independent electoral commissions, and the rotation of the presidency among the six geopolitical zones, among others.

The House of Representatives member for Afikpo North/Afikpo South, Rep. Christopher Omo-Isu, noted that the amendment process was the first of its kind. “This process will give those at the grassroots the opportunity to make inputs on how they should be governed,’’ he said.

In Obiozara, the member representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo constituency, Rep. Linus Okorie, said the exercise was necessary to give the people a sense of belonging and to ensure that the amended constitution was people-oriented.

Members of Trade Union Congress, Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria Union of Teachers, National Youth Council, Nigeria Union of Journalists, and National Union of Local Government Employees, among others, were represented in the exercise.

Meanwhile,  the Coordinator of Ebyia Development Center in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi, Chief Moses Okite has urged agitators of a sovereign national conference to embrace the constitution review process.

Okite made the call in Abakaliki during the review organised by the Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency.

Okite said the peoples’ participation in the review strengthened the nation’s democratic process as the constitution belonged to them.

Sen. Chris Nwankwo, who is from the constituency, said the review became imperative because the National Assembly recognised that the constitution belonged to the people.

Also speaking, Chief Sylvester Ogbaga, the member representing the constituency, called on the people to freely make valuable contributions for the attainment of an endearing constitution.

“The decision to hold this session in the various constituencies was for accessibility, to get the input of the people whom the constitution is meant for,’’ he said.

The constituency voted in favour of two additional states for the South East geo-political zone and one for other zones with six states to bring the number of states in each zone to seven.