…As Greg Ibe backs move

By Steve Oko

Elder statesman and the pioneer Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Chief Chuku Wachuku, has backed the move for the creation of Etiti State as the equalisation state for the South East geopolitical zone, saying it is in tandem with the consensus recommendation of the zone’s delegates at the 2014 National Constitution Conference.

Bill for the proposed state jointly sponsored by the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency, Hon. Amobi Ogah, and some of his colleagues from other states in the zone, Thursday passed its second reading.

Chief Wachuku who spoke exclusively with Vanguard in Umuahia, commended Hon. Amobi Ogah and all those pushing for the new state, saying  it was already a consensus among delegates at the Conference that Etiti State was to be considered as the parity state for the South East before any other proposal.

” I was a senior member of the South East delegates at the 2014 confab. Our leader was Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (retd), and our recommendation on additional state for the South East was very clear.

” Our joint recommendation was Etiti State followed by Aba State in that order. We agreed that Etiti State be created first, and if any other state would be, it should be Aba.

” All these people agitating for other states are not being fair. We settled for Aba as the next after Etiti because Aba is the only Old Province in Nigeria that has not become a State.”

He advised all those championing for different proposals other than Etiti State as additional state for the South East not to place their selfish interests above regional interest.

The Small and Medium Enterprise, SME, expert and family empowered advocate, urged members of the National Assembly, to focus on Etiti State as the acceptable and justifiable parity state for South East.

“The National Assembly shouldn’t be carried away by people grandstanding because they want win election in 2027. They should sit and see how to address the inflation in the country. They should also first talk of how to cut their own throat which is getting too long”.

Chief Wachuku commended the House of Representatives for allowing the Bill for Etiti State pass a second reading, while urging for its speedy passage into law for presidential assent.

Similarly, the Abia State All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship candidate in 2023, Professor Greg Ibe, has backed the proposal for the creation of Ekiti State.

Professor Ibe who described a parity state for the South East as long overdue, argued that “Etiti State is the most reasonable” of the various proposals being canvassed as each of the existing five states in the zone would donate some Council areas to the new state.

He also recalled that there was already a consensus during the 2014 national constitutional conference for additional state to be created for South East to bring the zone at par with others, adding that ever since then, he has personally supported efforts towards its actualisation.

Professor Ibe, in a statement, commended the lawmakers for the bold move, which he said, would help address decades of marginalisation of the zone.

 The statement read in part:”The icing on the cake is the recent motion sponsored by some members of the caucus for the creation of Etiti State. Being a project that the South East Delegation of the 2014 National Conference under the leadership of Gen. Ike Nwachukwu(retd.) championed, in my capacity as consultant to the delegation, I have since 2014, passionately fought for the realization of Etiti State.

“I am glad that the vision we birthed is now being given legislative attention through the gallant efforts of some members of the caucus.

“Going forward, I want to appeal to all stakeholders within our region to support this move by joining forces with our Representatives in a bid to realize an additional equalising state within the zone, that will be created by equitably annexing Local Government Councils from each of the present five states that constitute the South East and that is a central state called  Etiti”.

Professor Ibe commended members of South East caucus of House of Representatives for their unprecedented efforts in advancing the cause of the zone, describing them as true ambassadors of the zone.

Giving an overview of the performance of members of the caucus in their first legislative year, Prof Ibe commended them for sponsoring what he described as “uniquely special bills that are critical to the aspirations of our people, as a means of addressing the negative consequences of many years of political exclusion and unjust marginalization”.

Prof Ibe, who is a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Presidential Advisory Council, particularly lauded the South East Caucus  for championing the establishment of South East Development Commission.

He also commended them for their spirited efforts towards the release of the detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The statement read: “As we mark the first year anniversary of the tenth National Assembly, I want to appreciate the South East Caucus of the House of Representatives for delivering a season of good representation to the zone.

“Let me particularly appreciate them for sponsoring uniquely special bills that are critical to the aspirations of our people as a means of addressing the negative consequences of many years of political exclusion and unjust marginalization”.

“It is worthy to place on record that the gallant efforts of members of the Caucus led to the passage of the South East Development Commission bill, an initiative that will certainly propel faster transformation of our region”.

” I also recognize and appreciate the laudable efforts of some honourable members of the caucus aimed at adopting a political solution in achieving the release of our brother Nnamdi Kanu”.

Prof Ibe therefore, encouraged the caucus not to relent in their legislative duties and subsequent oversight functions, promising to partner them in achieving speedy development of the region.