South Eastern Nigeria that comprises, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo and Abia, have reportedly lost over two trillion naira on the continuous delay of the creation of an extra state in the zone.
It is a known fact that other geopolitical zones in the country have a minimum of six states in their zones while the South East just have a total of five States
For equity to play out and to end the years of marginalization, a need came up for an additional state to be created in the south east zone.
Interacting with newsmen on this issue,an Elder statesman, Elder Emma Adaelu revealed that already plans are in top gear to actualise the pursuit of an additional state but lamented the stand of some igbo leaders,which he said have been behind the delay of having an extra state.
According to Adaelu, he has been on the struggle of a state creation for the past forty Eight years now and no success has been recorded.
Revealing the factors that have kept the state creation not actualised, Adaelu allegedly disclosed that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, chief John Nnia Nwodo has been playing politics with the whole pursuit.
Stressing that President Muhammadu Buhari had already given a go ahead for an additional state to be created in the zone, if that will help end the cry of marginalization.
Chief Adaelu revealed that a committee was set on that regard and their first meeting was in September 27,2018.
By October 2018,the committee discovered that the demand for the creation of Anim, Etiti,Equity and Orimili, failed to meet up with the Constitutional requirements for state creation while Aba and Adada states met the requirements.
Elder Adaelu further revealed that the committee sent the two states that met with the requirements to President Buhari, who later advised that ndigbo should put their heads together and choose a state to be created,as two states cannot be created in the zone at once
“This is the stage we are right now, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo wants Adada state which is in Enugu state to be created against Aba State, because he is from that area”.
Adaelu stressed that if any other state should be created in the South East it should be the Aba State, as already the Former East Central state has produced Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra while the Imo zone has produced only two states, Imo and Abia and needs the third state to have a balance with the Former East Central State.
Adaelu said it would be a robbery on the Imo zone if Aba State is denied them.
He, however, disclosed that already in the forty eight years period of struggle, the South East have lost over two trillion naira that would have come to the zone if the new state was created.
He said for over forty eight years now he has been on the struggle for the Aba State creation and called on the chief Nwodo to stop playing politics with the issue that can bring development to the south East zone.
