Hon. Augustine Onyekachukwu Ike, Member Representing Nnewi North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, has called on President Bola Tinubu to create the sixth state in the southeast geopolitical zone.
Ike asserted that the essence of democracy is the need to strike a balance.
The lawmaker said if Nigeria has six geopolitical zones and five of them have at least six states each, it is then equitable that every geopolitical zone must have six states.
Ike, who made this known in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu dated June 29, stressed that naming such a state Ikemba with its headquarters in Nnewi will reduce agitations in the Southeast region.
He explained that the Southeast geopolitical zone is supposed to have a total of eighteen (18) senators and not fifteen (15).
According to him, the only way to fill this vacuum is to prioritise the creation of the remaining state for the Southeast zone within one year.
The letter reads in part, “Happy Eid al-Adha celebration Mr. President. The Eid al-Adha is Known as the “Feast of Sacrifice”, Eid al-Adha commemorates the Quranic tale of Prophet Abrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God. Thus, no better time to bring up this request before you and the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.
“Mr. President, the arguments for the 6th State to be created in the Southeast Geopolitical Zone are not only compelling but are grounded in history:
“In the very essence of democracy is the need to strike balance. If Nigeria is founded on six geopolitical zones and each of five geopolitical zones has six states, it is then equitable that every geopolitical zone must have six states.
“Thus, Nigeria cannot on grounds of good logic be said to have six geopolitical zones until Mr President accents to the proposal to create the sixth State in the Southeast in the spirit of equity and fairness.
“The Southeast is a very historical region in Nigeria and the memories of the good days in Nigeria is rooted to Ojukwu family; Lord Luis Philip Odumegwu Ojukwu hosted the Queen of England and His son embraced the military and was of great service both to his region and Nigerians in general; thus, naming such State Ikemba State with its headquarters in Nnewi will tranquilize all agitations in the Southeast.
