Anthony Iwuoma
For the sake of equity and fairness, Imo State deserves to have one more state, the senator representing Imo North in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, Sir Frank Ibezim, insists.
Speaking to reporters, in Abuja, on the heels of the Democracy Day celebration, Sen. Ibezim argued that creating additional state in the South-east would balance the political equation in the country.
So far, only the South East Zone has five states while the other six zones have six or seven states.
Sen. Ibezim is of the view that restructuring the country would strengthen the nation’s democracy but also reasoned that creating the new state for the region could help pacify the people.
However, he added that only the instrumentality of the ongoing amendment of the 1999 constitution could make state creation possible.
The lawmaker opined that democracy had fared well in Nigeria, compared to the days of military regimes.
According to him, people were not supposed to speak against the government during the era of the junta due to some obnoxious laws. This, he said, is unlike now when people are free to speak their mind.
Sen. Ibezim urged the government to heed the people’s clamour for restructuring and hoped that such could foster peace in the country and douse separatist agitations.
Said the, “Now, most Nigerians are calling for peace, and I believe that, with the challenges of our time, maybe it is a way to eventually help this nation. So, I can’t throw away those that are talking about secession.
“All I want for Nigerians is to listen to everybody, because by the time you listen to everybody, we will be able to come together. I believe that this is a great country.
“I believe that there is hope for positive development and I believe that now is the time for us to look inwards and work together.”
The lawmaker urged Nigerians, especially, the agitators to await the outcomes of the constitution amendment exercise, which he said would address many issues raised by agitating groups.