| As the clamour for the creation of an additional state in the South-East by the Igbo race heats up by the day, leader of a coalition group from the region championing the agitation for creation of Etiti State, Dr Gregory Iyk Ibe has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to view the issue as a matter of urgent national interest and create one more state in the area.Dr Ibe while speaking at a meeting of Etiti State creation stakeholders held at the expansive auditorium of the newly approved Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, posited that an obvioLis policy that will balance the glaring disparity in states of the geopolitical zones is that which will support the creation of Etiti State.
The academic who is the Chancellor, Gregory University, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to present to the National Assembly, N/A an executive bill based on the national consensus of the people of Nigeria anchored firmly on the Ibrahim Mantu report before the legislator’s since 2006. He stated that the Mantu report from empirical evidence provided a framework that empowered the Alfa Belgore committee to stipulate that a state be created from the South-East with Okigwe in Imo State as the capital. Maintaining that Okigwe is the most centrally located place for the capital of the proposed Etiti State, the academic affirmed that an additional state will unionize their people and present a common front for them to reclaim their cultural affllity. He extolled Senator Uche Chukwumereije for his ingenious believe and commitment to the struggle and implored their people to rise up to the challenge and strategize proactively towards the realization of the agitation. Earlier, Chairman of the meeting and convener, Hon, Ihim Iheanacho who represents Okigwe State Constituency at the Imo State House of Assembly, IMHA, emphasised the need for a collective effort to be channeled towards the struggle. He frowned at the situation where Igbo’s who are key players in the nation’s socioeconomic and political stability is perpetually pinned down to five states and submitted that the inhuman treatment calls for sympathy and urgent redress. On their part, Hon Patrick Ndubueze, former member of the House of Representatives and Hon. Ngozi Ogbu, former member of the Imo State House of Assembly, IMHA, both averred that Igbo’s as the most populous nation has continued to play pivotal roles in the unity and growth of the country and as such as such deserves equal number of states with other federating lones. |
| They therefore called on President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly, N/A, members to address the imbalance by approving immediate creation of Etiti State with Okigwe, in Imo sate as the capital. |
| In a communique made available to newsmen after the meeting the group which comprised of representatives from the entire South-East, amongst who were royal fathers, the clergy, captains of industry and interest groups, demanded for immediate correction of the imbalance by President Jonathan and members of the National Assembly. |
