South-East Pushes for Political Reforms – New States, State Police, Rotational Presidency

The governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has called on the National Assembly to address what he called years of “imbalance and exclusion” against the South-East.
During his speech during the South-East Zonal Public Hearing on the 1999 Constitution Review for Imo and Abia States in Owerri, Uzodimma listed the region’s main demands, the creation of at least two more states for the zone being the most important.
It is still the only region with only five states: the South-East. Uzodimma stated that there are six or more in every other zone.

The National Assembly and the Federal Executive Council are two important national institutions where underrepresentation has resulted from this mismatch. It has weakened our voice and limited our ability to be inclusive.

Highlighting Anim State’s potential for oil production, Uzodimma suggested it as one of the new states to be established.

When this state is created, it will be able to produce oil. As a result, it has a strong enough income base to be profitable,” he stated.

In his view, the establishment of new states ought to be accompanied by the reorganization of local government units in the area to accommodate its expanding populace and strategic economic potential.

Before states like Abia and Ebonyi formed, Owerri was the capital of the former Eastern Region, according to Uzodimma’s historical reflections.

If we work together, we might soon have more state capitals, such as Orlu, Aba, Nsukka, and others. “I think this is the South-East’s prayer, and with God’s grace, it will come to pass,” he continued.

A Reexamination of Indigenous
The governor made some of his most audacious suggestions about the contentious topic of indigeneship. He advocated a legal revision of the definition of “Indigenous,” proposing that the status be granted by birth or a minimum of ten years of residency.

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It is unacceptable for us to appear to be speaking incoherently. “Indigeneship must be legally defined by birth or by long-term residency, say ten years,” he contended. “Anyone who was born in a state or has resided there for more than ten years should be considered a legitimate native of that state.”

In order to demonstrate that such inclusivity was once recognized in Nigeria, he highlighted the historic example of Mallam Umaru Altine, a Fulani man who served as Mayor of Enugu in 1952. If the constitution can merely keep up with our past, it reveals something important about our capacity for unity.

A Rotational Presidency Request
A constitutional clause that rotates the presidency among the six geopolitical zones, not just between the North and the South, is something Uzodimma also advocated for in his comments on the national leadership system.

“National stability is the goal here, not tokenism,” he stated. “Nigeria’s sense of inclusion will grow and the fear of dominance will be eliminated if Nigerians are aware that the presidency will alternate between the six zones.”

According to him, zoning has already stabilized federal appointments and he thinks it could promote harmony and trust if it were extended to the presidency.

That was not the end of the governor. He said that the current centralized police force was “overstretched and disconnected from local realities,” and he proposed for the creation of national police.

In his capacity as the Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman, he affirmed that his organization is in favor of police decentralization in order to improve responsiveness and efficacy. “It is a dated and unfounded fear that governors will abuse such a force.”

Local security issues must wait for outmoded anxieties, Uzodimma emphasized. “As our citizens demand safety and order, we cannot let the past stifle the future.”

In closing, the governor of Imo urged the Constitution Review Committee to be guided by the principles of justice, equity, and togetherness.

We are strong because of our variety, not because of it. But equality and the law are necessary to harness such power,” Uzodimma stated.

“Our Constitution must represent not only our common borders but also our common values.”

“May you be guided by the hope of millions who seek a Constitution that truly belongs to them, one that ensures fairness, equity, and a level playing field for all,” he said, urging the committee to hear the concerns of common Nigerians across.