NewStats: 3,264,237 , 8,183,092 topics. Date: Tuesday, 10 June 2025 at 10:16 AM 19a5i

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) ,Dr Olisa Agbakoba, has faulted the the agitation for state creation in the South-East by some House of Representatives , describing the proposal as a misplaced priority.

Agbakoba, a former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), expressed the view in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

NAN reports that the House of Representatives recently ed for second reading, a bill seeking the creation of Etiti State out of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states from the South-East geopolitical zone.

The bill was sponsored by Rep Godwin Ogah,Rep Miriam Onuoha,Rep Kama Nkemkama, Rep Princess Nnabuife and Rep Anayo Onwuegbu.

Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Ogah (LP, Abia) said the establishment of Etiti State was not just a matter of istrative convenience, but a step towards ensuring balanced regional development and effective governance.

The lawmaker said the bill was a response to the aspirations of the people of a very important region to the country and aligned with the principles of equity and inclusivity enshrined in the country’s democratic idea.

Similarly,some lawmakers and stakeholders have also called for the creation of Anioma State from states in the South South and South East regions.

One of those leading the call, Sen.Ned Nwoko( PDP-Delta North), said the creation of Anioma State would correct what he described as the marginalisation of South East geo-political zone.

According to him, if Anioma State is created, it will increase the population of the South East, increase the land mass as well as the resource base of the region.

Reacting, Agbakoba said Nigeria does not presently need more states.

According to him, instead, lawmakers and other political stakeholders should be concerned about restructuring Nigeria to a regional government to reflect the real diversity of the country.

He added that he was not in of additional state because most of the 36 states are economically unviable, insolvent and not capable of bringing about infrastructural development and even paying the proposed minimum wage.

“State creation at this present harsh economic will, no doubt, lead to increase in the number of National Assembly , ministers, local governments, and others, which would further increase the cost of governance in the country.

“This is coming at a time when most Nigerians are starving due to rise in the food prices. Insurgents, bandits and terrorists are abducting people for ransom in other states of the country. Therefore, the National Assembly should, instead ,return the country to the regionalism by collapsing the 36 states into six to eight regions or geopolitical zones, each of which will have a leader. This means that the present Nigeria 1999 Constitution would be amended or a new one written to accommodate this proposal.

“This is because making a new constitution for Nigeria has become an overriding imperative based on the fact that new political realities and conundrums have cropped up in the country,” Agbakoba said.

Agbakoba, a human right activist, said the only way to resolve the socio-economic and political problems was to amend the 1999 constitution to pave the way for a regional system of government.

He said regional governments were once successfully run with Chief Obafemi Awolowo in charge of the South West, Chief Michael Okpara in charge of South East and Ahmadu Bello in the North.

Agbakoba said since Nigeria left the modernity of regionalism, the states had been unviable, apart from Lagos and Rivers.

Agbakoba said though the impulse to create a sixth state in the South-East was for the purpose of balance ,but that the greater good of Nigeria would be felt if regionalism is given a chance.

He said regional system of government would enable the unviable states to come together and become stronger.

“This agitation will arise because it is on the basis of the number of states that federal allocation flows.
“So the fact that the South-East has five states mean to them that they are losing revenue and that is a one point of view and also an emotional point of their agitation.

“However, a pragmatic developmental point of view, which I go for, is that even if you create a sixth state in the South-East to give them a sense of belonging, will this new state in addition to the 36 states take us towards the path of development? Will it reverse the hunger, insecurity, poverty and unemployment in the land? Absolutely not.
“We need to do away from state creation to regional system of government,” he said.

https://punchng.com/agbakoba-seeks-return-to-regional-govt-faults-agitation-for-new-states/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2uUtIvfcFwLLxLF_ph-X_cgPgEG9us2T7A3NUXa5IhbVjkMUSorfN8YRM_aem_x7DybodMmLH71QehaRiIBw

"According to him, instead, lawmakers and other political stakeholders should be concerned about restructuring Nigeria to a regional government to reflect the real diversity of the country."

THIS...

Creating more local government area is far better than creating new states

Agbakoba is not wrong altogether, but he failed to understand that we can't put our eggs in one basket. We have to request for more states for sake of balancing. However, if Nigeria decides to restructure, then there we are.

EmeeNaka:
Agbakoba is not wrong altogether, but he failed to understand that we can't put our eggs in one basket. We have to request for more states for sake of balancing. However, if Nigeria decides to restructure, then there we are.

where is the money to finance the take off of the new states?

COMRADES, does Agbakoba want the injustice to keep moving in Nigeria unabated?
Let each region has 6 states before we talk about anything

Melagros:
COMRADES, does Agbakoba want the injustice to keep moving in Nigeria unabated?

as a Yoruba man I don't care about the injustice mated against another person so long iam the one

If this will be accompanied with restricting massive influx of immigrants from one region to another, then it's fine

No be say when job dey open for only regional citizens, immigrants go con dey shout tribalism o

Melagros:
COMRADES, does Agbakoba want the injustice to keep moving in Nigeria unabated?

Which injustice are you referring to?

Toh

South east needs more states. It's not injustice only because it is not happening to you. Equal state as per region balances resource and political sharing. Creating more states will not stop regionalism. After all we know who and who is afraid of regional government.
All regions is blessed in Nigeria and I don't know why some are afraid of regional government. They prefer to share free lunch in abuja from other regions without contributing anything. Selfishness and tribalism is what is holding us down. Nigeria will be great but we need to do the right things. Competition breeds achievements. Forget the I'm not competing with anyone mantra.

And some idiots are calling creation of more states . Igbos are scared of restructuring, they will only it if they are merged together with the Niger delta . So that they can marginalize them and claim their oil

Not viable truly yet their governors are milking them dry same way PBAT is milking us or sucking bloood of Nigerians

We pray the country gets better. Meanwhile, I mass produce cloths,bags,shoes etc. see my thread for info

I always laugh when I hear regional government. Is it not the same regions where the big tribes were oppressing small tribes? The same regions where poverty and lack of development hit you well once you left the cities?

Plus none of the regions if we bring them back would be viable. In the 1960s yes,when the UK was buying most of what we produced. Not today when everyone is producing what we produced, even oil self.

Regions are for people who believe the myth that Nigeria was rolling in milk and honey when they existed. Lol. Corruption and poverty were.there live. And I have mentioned oppression. A lot of people don't realize that the reason why Gowon created states was as a means of saying f u to the big tribes. Not just to stifle Biafra.

Nigerians should stop looking for someone to share national cake and face reality

EmeeNaka:
Agbakoba is not wrong altogether, but he failed to understand that we can't put our eggs in one basket. We have to request for more states for sake of balancing. However, if Nigeria decides to restructure, then there we are.

what are you balancing? how will balancing improve people's living standards and provide good governance?

Better

That's interesting

EmeeNaka:
Agbakoba is not wrong altogether, but he failed to understand that we can't put our eggs in one basket. We have to request for more states for sake of balancing. However, if Nigeria decides to restructure, then there we are.

No to more state. Nigeria is not even surviving this 36 it should be reduced to just 9 period.

okoloto:
South east needs more states. It's not injustice only because it is not happening to you. Equal state as per region balances resource and political sharing. Creating more states will not stop regionalism. After all we know who and who is afraid of regional government.
All regions is blessed in Nigeria and I don't know why some are afraid of regional government. They prefer to share free lunch in abuja from other regions without contributing anything. Selfishness and tribalism is what is holding us down. Nigeria will be great but we need to do the right things. Competition breeds achievements. Forget the I'm not competing with anyone mantra.

what will more states achieve for the SE? will it provide good governance and ability?

Anioma state is viable and can be self sufficient but it should remain in south south not south east.

phemmie06:
Not viable truly yet their governors are milking them dry same way PBAT is milking us or sucking bloood of Nigerians

God bless you. sometimes you think some of these people with all their education should know better but they surprisingly give these lame and pedestrian solution to problems

If All our systems are strong and independent as in the west would we need restructuring?

Melagros:
COMRADES, does Agbakoba want the injustice to keep moving in Nigeria unabated?

which injustice is that?

Regional government is dead!
Gowon killed it.
Restructuring would be based on state autonomy

DMerciful:
Regional government is dead!
Gowon killed it.
Restructuring would be based on state autonomy

Aguiyi Ironsi killed our regional government not Gowon

Try and say the truth for once, Igbos killed our regional Government in Nigeria because of desperation to rule over others.

Brilliant submission by the great man.

Amen! May this happen soon IJMN.

The 5%ers .... Dot-in-circlers.

The region is the least habitable. Should just be converted to a Pit Latrine for other states to dump their faeces. 💩 💩 💩

The ONLY ones left there are the poor & hungry.

Ask Obi and Obiano why they fled immediately to Lagos & USA respectively .