Can Tinubu break the jinx of equality state for S’East?

Can Tinubu break the jinx of equality state for S’East?

By Steve Oko

The South East geo-political zone has regrettably, remained the only zone with the least number of states in Nigeria. With the exception of the North West which has the highest number of states (seven states), the remaining five geo-political zones have six states except South East with only five states.

This lopsidedness has lingered since October 1st, 1996 when the last state creation exercise took place in Nigeria. What this simply means is that for the past two decades and eight years (28 years), South East zone has been wittingly shortchanged by the Nigeria state vis-a-vis federal allocations, appointments and other accruals from the centre.

Apart from having the least number of states, the zone also has the least number of Local Government Areas, senatorial districts and federal constituencies. Arguably, the South East geo-political zone has the least number of federal presence in the country save security checkpoints where it ironically ranks top on the table.

Since 1996 when Ebonyi State which is one of the last three states created in the country was carved out from Enugu and Abia States, trillions of Naira which ought to have accrued to the zone as federal allocation had eluded the zone. For instance, Ebonyi State which got second to the lowest share of federation allocation in 2023, received N107.45 billion out of a total of N6.57 trillion shared by the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

At the zonal level, the oil-rich South South geo-political zone got the largest chunk of N1.84 trillion, followed by North West and South West with N1.20 trillion and N1.10 trillion respectively. The North Central received N948.24 billion; North East N807.30 billion; while the South East, as usual,  got the least allocation of paltry N680.59 billion of the largesse.

So, using the 2023 federal allocation of Ebonyi State as a benchmark or barometer to guage what has eluded South East for 28 years as a result of the shortfall in the number of states, the zone has lost at least N3.86 trillion besides Local Government allocations, and billions of Naira as grants from donor agencies.

The loss is incalculable when added to what would have also been accruing to the three senatorial districts of the missing state. Similarly, the unborn state would have had at least seven or eight federal constituencies; another 27 or 13 LGAs; at least one federal tertiary institution; one federal medical centre, among others.

Apart from landmass, other zones with higher number of states, may not empirically justify the metrics for which they got higher. South East is certainly not the least-populated zone but that will be a matter for another day. South East is predominantly Igbo, and it will be a distortion of history to deny that Igbo is one of Nigeria’s three major tribes, a historical fact that even predates the colonial era. How come the other tribes have since metamorphosed into a legion of states while the Igbo tribe is not witnessing similar growth?

This calculated and barefaced injustice against the zone has been part of the reasons for the un-dieing clamour and agitation for self determination especially by Igbo youths who no longer see any justification for the continued marginalisation of their zone by the Nigeria state.

Wawa News Global’s checks showed that attempts in the past to address this provocative injustice  have not been successful. For instance, during the 2005 Constitutional Conference convened by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, it was a consensus among the delegates that South East be given additional state. Further step by the President to actualise that, unfortunately, was aborted by the Senate which was not smart enough to separate the Bill for the Parity State from other  toxic Executive Bills sent in together by the President. Obasanjo had cunningly wrapped his obnoxious third term bid/tenure elongation Bill together with other Bills he sent to the National Assembly. So, the less-deserning Senate, in its determination to stop Obasanjo’s hidden third term agenda at all cost, decided to throw away the baby with the birth water. That was how South East missed the opportunity of getting its parity state in 2005.

Then again, during ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2014 Confab, delegates were also unanimous in their recommendation that South East be given additional state to bring it at par with other zones. But unfortunately too, Jonathan could not implement the laudable recommendations of the Confab before his tenure elapsed, and he could not return to power in 2015 to probably finish the job as many had assumed.

Meanwhile, the issue of additional state for the South East, once again came to the front burners just recently, with National Assembly members from the zone including some Igbo NASS members from South South jostling over one another. Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP), representing Ideato federal constituency at the House of Representatives was the first to sponsor a Bill proposing Orlu State as the ideal Equality State. Most of the federating LGAs in the new state according to his proposal, are from the present day Imo State with only about two LGAs from Anambra, and a Community in Umunneochi, Abia State. This proposal, however, did not enjoy popular support following the barrage of criticism that greeted it.

Then came another proposal – Bill for the creation of Etiti State – sponsored by Hon. Amaobi Ogah (LP), representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia State, in collaboration with some of his colleagues from other states in the South East. Unlike Ugochinyere’s proposed Orlu State, the Etiti State being proposed by Ogah and his co-sponsors, rather enjoys the support of many people in the South East. In the proposed Etiti (middle/central) State, each of the five exiting states in South East would donate two LGAs except Enugu that would donate three Councils making a total of 11 LGAs. This received the blessing of many folks including elder statesman and former Minister for Health, Professor Ihechukwu Madubuike who played active roles in both the 2005 and 2014 Confabs. According to them, the proposal is in tandem with the recommendation of the 2014 Confab which emphasized that the parity state for South East should cut across all states in the zone.

Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North had equally proposed Anioma State where all the Igbo Communities in the present day Delta State would form the additional state for their kinsmen in South East. His proposal  got the backing of the Lolo Nneka Chimezie-led powerful Igbo Women Assembly, IWA, which argued that it is better to expand the boundaries of South East beyond the River Niger and formerly recover the Igbo Communities across the Bridge , than carve out a new state from the South East that is indisputably Igbo enclave.

However, not too many people seem to support this proposal as even stakeholders from Igbo Communities in Delta State were opposed to it, accusing the sponsor of pursuing a selfish political agenda, and not carrying others along. In the past, there were also some other proposals like Adada State comprising Nnsuka people in Enugu State; and Aba State comprising mainly Ukwa la Ngwa nations in Abia State.

Despite the on-going arguments for and against the various proposals being canvassed, the indisputable truth remains that there is obvious, urgent and justifiable need to give South East additional state to bring the zone at par with at least four other zones in the country. While it is the business of the various stakeholders in the zone including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, South East National Assembly caucus, South East Governors Forum, Igbo professionals, South East Traditional Rulers Council, Igbo Bishops and clergy, etc to agree on the most ideal and acceptable proposal, the Federal Government on its part, should go beyond the usual political rhetorics, and demonstrate genuine commitment towards actualising this.

Already, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has shown that he can actually break the jinx if he considers it a necessity. For instance, the much-awaited South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill which he recently signed into law against all odds, is a proof that he can indeed, spring surprises. Spirited efforts by South East NASS caucus to secure his predecessor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the SEDC Bill were rebuffed but Tinubu  proved doubters wrong. His friendly disposition to the Act expected to address the ruins of the civil war in the zone, will remain a  legacy for which South East and indeed the Igbo nation home and in the diaspora would always remember President Tinubu.

It will indeed be another milestone for the Tinubu administration if under the President’s watch, the South East geo-political zone gets its long-awaited but well-deserved Equality State. Can President Tinubu, in his usual display of political sagacity do the needful? This will not only give the South East a real sense of belonging but also  portray the President as a true Apostle of Equity and Inclusivity. This bold step will not only help in promoting national unity and cohesion but also help to quell the growing agitation for self rule or Biafra restoration resonating among Igbo youths.

There is no gainsaying the fact that denying South East its legitimate right to have equal number of states with other geo-political zones is the major incubator breeding the feeling of marginalisation among Ndigbo. It is the spring from where the ocean of Igbo exclusion and second-classing flows. Can Tinubu stop the flow and give the zone hope?

Creation of Equality State and bridging of endemic infrastructural deficit in South East stand out as the basic needs of the zone. Any President or administration that meets one or both of these critical needs would have earned the eternal respect and love of the zone.

 President Tinubu should not allow the momentum to die down but can  leverage on the enormous powers of his Office to deal with the  landmines placed against state creation by the 1999 Constitution bequeathed to us by the military. It is yet another opportunity for President Tinubu to further endear himself to the South East, and restore the zone’s waning confidence in the Nigeria State. There is definitely a way where there is a will!