Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, says the South-East has waited long enough. At the Constitution Review hearing in Owerri, he laid out demands that he called “non-negotiable.”
He wants two new states created in the region. He also wants Nigeria to redefine who qualifies as an indigene, rotate the presidency among all six zones, and decentralise the police.
“Every other zone has six or more states. This imbalance has led to underrepresentation in critical national institutions,” Uzodimma said. “It has shrunk our voice and abridged our inclusivity.”
Uzodimma proposed Anim State as one of the new states. He said it qualifies as an oil-producing area and can sustain itself economically.
He also called for new local government areas to match population growth and administrative needs. “This makes it commercially viable, with sufficient revenue base to self-sustain,” he said.
On indigeneship, Uzodimma wants the Constitution to recognise anyone born in a state or who has lived there for 10 years as an indigene.
“We should not be seen to be speaking from two sides of our mouth,” he said. “We need to legally define indigeneship by birth or long-term residence – say 10 years.”
He cited Mallam Umaru Altine, a Fulani man who became Mayor of Enugu in 1952. “How else did Mallam Umaru Altine become the Mayor of Enugu if not because he was accepted as an indigene?”
Rotational Presidency and State Police
Uzodimma wants the presidency to rotate among Nigeria’s six zones—not just North and South. He believes this will reduce fear of domination and promote unity.
“This is not about tokenism but national stability,” he said. “If Nigerians know that the presidency will rotate among the six zones, it will remove the fear of domination.”
He also pushed for state police, saying the centralised system has failed. “The fear that governors will misuse such a force is unfounded and frankly outdated,” he said.
“We cannot allow the past to paralyse the future when our citizens are crying out for safety and order at the grassroots.”
Uzodimma urged the Constitution Review Committee to produce a document that reflects Nigeria’s diversity and delivers fairness.
“Our diversity is our strength, not our weakness. But that strength must be harnessed through law and equity,” he said. “Our Constitution must reflect our shared values, not just our shared borders.”
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