Posted by By Chidiebere Iwuoha on
The honourable member representing Okigwe state constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Prince Ngozi Ogbu says it will be worthwhile to create Okigwe state to correct the glaring imbalance existing in the South-East geo-political zone as a result of unequal number of states when compared with other geo-political zones in the country.
The honourable member representing Okigwe state constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Prince Ngozi Ogbu says it will be worthwhile to create Okigwe state to correct the glaring imbalance existing in the South-East geo-political zone as a result of unequal number of states when compared with other geo-political zones in the country.
For him, "obviously, Okigwe is the only area in the South-East that is centrally located for all the states in the South-East Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra and Imo for them to contribute one or two local government areas. It is equidistance to other states. Equity and fairness demands that Okigwe should have a state".
"As contained in our proposal, Okigwe state hopes to embrace the six local government areas in Okigwe senatorial zone of Imo State, Umunnoche and Isiukwuato formerly in the Isiukwuato/Okigwe LGA of Imo State, now in Abia State, Okposi and Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State, two local government areas at the tail end of Awgu in Enugu State and Orumba North and South in Anambra State. We already have some cultural affinity with them", the outspoken legislator informed.
The lawmaker, who expressed happiness after rejoining his colleagues in the Imo House of Assembly at the end of his suspension, congratulated the delegates of the National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) for their foresight in recommending an additional state for the South-East. But he was quick to remind them that the problem of the country was not discussions or deliberations as they did, but implementation of the provisions of the constitution, for already a constitution was in existence, but was not being followed. "What we already have in the constitution should be practiced and implemented before thinking of other additions", he further cleared.
On the clamour for resource control and at least 25% oil derivation percentage by the South-South delegates, Hon Prince Ngozi Ogbu said they deserved what they were asking for. "The outcome of the National Confab is a recommendation which needs an enabling Act from the National Assembly. I urge the National Assembly to adopt 25% as the minimum oil derivation percentage".
Also commenting on Rotational presidency, he requested that it should be allowed to rotate among the six regions with a six-year single tenure for both the president and governors and with no second tenure for them. He believed that with this arrangement, the presidency would go round within thirty years.