Loud ovation on Saturday greeted the call by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State for the creation of additional states in the southeast as well as the making of rotational presidency in Nigeria a constitutional matter.
The Governor, who is also the Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, said that the issues of indigeneship and State Police in Nigeria should be taken more seriously, and that the lawmakers working on the constitution review should strive to fashion that which truly reflects the thinking of the people.
However, in calling for urgent constitutional reforms to address the grievances of the Igbo people to guarantee inclusivity, justice, and equity in the constitution, Governor Uzodimma said he does not belong to the group seeking for outright scrapping of Nigeria’s existing statute book as no constitution, all over the world, is perfect.
Speaking at the public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution in Owerri on Saturday, July 19, 2025, Uzodinma advocated for the creation of at least two additional States in the Southeast Zone to address underrepresentation in national institutions.
Excerpts:
“It is my utmost pleasure to welcome all the members of the National Assembly who are in Owerri today to preside over this public hearing on proposed further alterations to the 1999 Constitution, as amended. This hearing, which covers Imo and Abia States, provides a valuable opportunity for our people to contribute meaningfully to the process of building a constitution that equitably serves the interests of all Nigerians.
“This is democracy at work, and democracy thrives only where justice and fairness prevail. On behalf of the government and the good people of Imo State, I say to you: Unu abiala.
“I also welcome our brothers and sisters from Abia State, who are here in their numbers. Until a few years ago, Owerri served as the capital of us all. Today, we have Umuahia and Abakaliki as capitals of new states. Through our collective efforts, perhaps we shall soon have more state capitals like Orlu, Aba, Nsukka, and more. I believe that this is the prayer of the entire South East, and it shall come to pass by the grace of God.
“Let me commend the National Assembly for its sustained efforts to deepen democracy through periodic constitutional reviews. I recall that this is the sixth major review since 1999. That speaks volumes about your responsiveness to the wishes of the people. I salute your diligence.
“As we all know, there are differing views across Nigeria about what our Constitution should reflect in order to fortify our young democracy. These perspectives mirror both the richness of our diversity and the inadequacies of a legal framework that often leaves many citizens feeling unprotected or unaccommodated in project Nigeria. Albeit, I must add that I am not among those who call for a wholesale scrapping of the current Constitution.
“Like most constitutions around the world, ours is a work in progress. Let us continue to build on it, and today’s hearing is part of that noble effort. There is no perfect constitution anywhere in the world. This is the reason for the existence of parliaments all over the world.
“Our people in Imo and Abia States, and indeed the South East, have clear expectations. I believe the time has come to address them with urgency, sincerity, and justice.
“First, the issue of state creation. It bears repeating that the southeast remains the only geopolitical zone with five states. Every other zone has six or more. This imbalance has led to underrepresentation in critical national institutions, from the National Assembly to the Federal Executive Council.
“It has shrunk our voice and abridged our inclusivity. Therefore, it’s only fair, and just that we ask for the creation of at least two additional states in the South East. It is my well considered submission that Anim State should be one of the new states to be created. This is one state that will have an oil-producing status upon creation. This makes it commercially viable, with sufficient revenue base to self sustain. This should naturally go hand in hand with the creation of new local government areas for the zone.
“The second issue is the matter of indigeneship. Our subsisting constitution guarantees every citizen the right to live and work in any part of the country. But in practice, those born and raised in a place where their grandparents may not have originated from are still regarded and treated as non-indigenes.
“That cannot be in tandem with the spirit of brotherhood we boldly recite in our national anthem. We should not be seen to be speaking from two sides of our mouth.
We need to legally define indegeneship by birth or long-term residence – say, ten years. Anyone born in a state or has lived in a state for upwards of ten years should be a legitimate indigene of that state. This is common practice in advanced democracies.
“It was also becoming the norm in our pre-first Republic years, until that Republic was cut short. How else did Mallam Umaru Altine become the Mayor of Enugu in 1952, if not because he was accepted as an indigene of Enugu? That tells us something profound about our potential for unity if only the constitution can catch up with our history. I therefore urge this committee to seriously consider this matter as part of the proposed constitutional amendments.
“Third, I wish to call for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency, not along the ambiguous North–South divide, but along our six established geopolitical zones. This is not about tokenism but national stability. Already, zoning has helped calm nerves over federal appointments. If Nigerians know that the presidency will rotate among the six zones, it will remove the fear of domination and deepen the sense of inclusion in the country.
“In addition, the time has come for us to take decisive steps on State Police. The current centralised policing structure is overstretched and often disconnected from local realities. As the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, I can confirm that we support the decentralisation of the police for greater responsiveness and effectiveness. The fear that governors will misuse such a force is unfounded and frankly outdated. We cannot allow the past to paralyse the future when our citizens are crying out for safety and order at the grassroots.
“Distinguished Honourable Members of the National Assembly, ladies and gentlemen, our diversity is our strength, not our weakness. But that strength must be harnessed through law and equity. Therefore, our Constitution must reflect our shared values, not just our shared borders.
“Distinguished Honourable Members, as you tour the country on this important assignment, 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.
“I know you have the vision and courage to deliver this. May God grant you the wisdom to succeed. I wish you a memorable stay in Owerri, the capital city of hospitality in the East.”
