Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has called on the National Assembly to address the structural imbalance in Nigeria’s geopolitical framework by creating additional states in the South-East region. He made this appeal while receiving members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
The governor’s demand was contained in a statement issued on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Monday Uzor, and made available to journalists on Sunday. Nwifuru emphasized that the South-East remains the only geopolitical zone in Nigeria with just five states, a disparity he described as a constitutional flaw capable of fueling discontent among the region’s people.
“To permanently end regional grievances, the National Assembly must ensure that the issues of marginalization and structural imbalance are addressed through constitutional reforms. Out of the six geopolitical zones in the country, only the South-East has five states, and that cannot continue if we seek national unity,” he said.
Governor Nwifuru also advocated for a constitutional mandate that ensures the office of the President is rotated among all six geopolitical zones. According to him, the continued exclusion of the South-East from the presidency since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 is a glaring injustice. He questioned the relevance of geopolitical zoning if not all zones are given equal opportunity to lead the nation.
“The South-East has never produced a President since 1999. What then is the essence of the geopolitical structure if every region cannot have a taste of national leadership?” he asked.
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He further called for a review of Section 308 of the Constitution to extend immunity beyond governors and deputy governors to include the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as Speakers and Deputy Speakers of State Assemblies. According to him, these key officials deserve constitutional protection while in office to ensure legislative independence and governance stability.
Governor Nwifuru also reiterated his long-standing support for the creation of state police, dismissing fears that such a move would lead to abuse of power by governors. He argued that security challenges facing the nation require a more localized and constitutionally empowered response.
Leading the Senate delegation, Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwebonyi stated that their visit to the South-East was part of a nationwide public hearing on the constitutional review process. He noted that the growing national demand for constitutional reform had prompted the Senate to embark on inclusive consultations to ensure that the voices of Nigerians from all regions are heard and reflected in the final document.
Nwebonyi, who commended Governor Nwifuru for his consistent involvement in previous constitutional review processes during his time as Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, assured that the committee would work diligently to ensure no region is shortchanged in the ongoing review.
