Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has urged the National Assembly to consider the creation of more states in the South-East geopolitical zone, citing the need to correct what he described as a longstanding imbalance in Nigeria’s political structure.
The governor made the appeal on Sunday in Abakaliki, while hosting members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.
“To permanently resolve issues of marginalization and regional discontent, the National Assembly must address the constitutional imbalance where the South-East is the only zone with five states, compared to six in other zones,” Nwifuru said.
He argued that the unequal distribution of states in the federation has led to feelings of exclusion and resentment in the region and emphasized that adding new states would promote fairness and national unity.
Push for Rotational Presidency
Governor Nwifuru also advocated for constitutional rotation of the presidency among the six geopolitical zones as a mechanism to ensure equity and inclusion at the highest level of governance.
“Since 1999, the South-East has not had a chance to occupy the office of the President. This is unfair. If the idea of geopolitical zones exists, then each zone should have the opportunity to lead the nation,” he stated.
Immunity and State Police Proposals
In addition, the governor called for a review of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, suggesting that immunity from prosecution be extended to key legislative leaders, including:
• The Senate President
• The Deputy Senate President
• The Speaker of the House of Representatives
• Deputy Speakers at both federal and state levels
He argued that granting these officials immunity would protect them from political distractions and allow them to perform their duties without fear of harassment.
Governor Nwifuru also strongly advocated for the establishment of state police, a move he believes would enhance internal security. He dismissed concerns that state police might be abused by governors, saying such fears are misplaced.
“There’s no reason to fear that governors would misuse state police. What we need is constitutional backing and proper regulation to make the system work efficiently,” he concluded.
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