The lawmaker representing Isuikwuato /Umunneochi Constituency in the House of Representatives, Amobi Ogah, of the Labour Party (LP), at the weekend, told his constituents during a townhall meeting that the bill for the creation of a new state from the five South-East states, which he sponsored, has passed second reading and is advancing to the next reading.

While proposing Etiti as the name for the new state, Ogah said that the creation of the new state would bring the number of states in the South East Zone at par with other zones in the country, which have more than five states each.

He said that with a sixth state in the zone, development of the zone would be fast-tracked, adding that President Bola Tinubu is keenly and favourably disposed to the creation of the Etiti State. He noted that the President has even started addressing the marginalisation of the South East, among other extant injustices, by creating the South-East Development Commission.

While describing the proposed Etiti State as the most equitable, the first-time lawmaker said that each of the existing five states would donate at least two local councils to the proposed state; hence, he called for unity among the Southerners in pursuing the project.

He said: ?There is a need for our people to support Etiti State creation movement. From the way it is drafted, 11 local councils were picked from the current five states, each donating two councils except Enugu which has three. In Abia, we have Isuikwuato and Umunneochi; Anambra has Orumba North and Orumba South councils; Imo has Okigwe and Onuimo councils; Ebonyi has Ivo and Ohozara; while Enugu has Aninri, Awgu and Oji River councils.?

Noting that the affected councils are the most neglected in their current states, he submitted that creating a new state for them will be a way to give them an equitable sense of belonging. (The Guardian)

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