Nigerian Rights Activist Slams Push for State Creation in South-East

Olisa Agbakoba, a renowned human rights activist and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has sharply criticized the proposal to create Etiti State in the South-East region of Nigeria. In an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Sunday, Agbakoba described the idea as a misplaced priority, calling for regionalism as a way to address the country’s numerous problems.

The controversy began when the House of Representatives recently passed a bill seeking the creation of Etiti State, which would be carved out of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states. The bill was sponsored by five lawmakers, including Godwin Ogah, Miriam Onuoha, Kama Nkemkama, Princess Nnabuife, and Anayo Onwuegbu.

Ogah, the bill’s sponsor, argued that the establishment of Etiti State would promote balanced regional development and effective governance. However, Agbakoba disagrees, saying that the country already has 36 states that are economically unviable, insolvent, and unable to bring about infrastructural development or pay the proposed minimum wage.

The debate has also sparked calls for the creation of Anioma State from states in the South-South and South-East regions. Senator Ned Nwoko, a prominent stakeholder, believes that the creation of Anioma State would correct the marginalization of the South-East region, increasing its population, land mass, and resource base.

Agbakoba, however, remains unconvinced, insisting that Nigeria needs to focus on restructuring into a regional government that reflects the country’s true diversity. He believes that this would be a more effective way to address the country’s challenges, rather than creating new states that may exacerbate existing problems.

The controversy surrounding state creation in Nigeria is complex and contentious, with differing opinions on the best way forward for the country. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the fate of Nigeria’s regions hangs in the balance.