By Sophia Afolabi
The Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has issued a strong call for the creation of an additional state in Nigeria’s South East, saying the region must no longer be left behind in the national structure. The governor made the bold proposal on Thursday while receiving the Senate Committee on Constitution Review at the Enugu State Government House.
Mbah described the imbalance in state representation as “a longstanding injustice” and insisted that the ongoing constitutional amendment process presents a rare opportunity to correct it.
“The South East remains the only geopolitical zone with just five states. This is not only unfair but structurally limiting. We believe this imbalance should be addressed decisively during this constitutional review,” Mbah said.
Reeling out more demand through a speech that struck at the heart of Nigeria’s political structure, Mbah threw his weight behind two other controversial but widely debated reforms: rotational presidency and the establishment of state police.
“We think the idea of rotational presidency is vital to giving every region a fair chance at the country’s leadership,” he noted. “And we have advocated fervently for state police. The time has come for Nigeria to implement security systems that are locally empowered and responsive.”
Mbah argued that decentralizing policing would address rising security concerns, citing “fragilities in our various communities” and the limitations of a centralized federal force.
The Senate Committee, led by Deputy Chief Whip Sen. Onyekachi Nwebonyi, is in the region to gather public input ahead of a South East constitutional hearing scheduled for Friday.
Sen. Nwebonyi acknowledged the deep concerns expressed by Mbah and echoed the frustrations of the region, stating:
“The 1999 constitution has been widely criticized as a product of military rule, lacking in democratic inclusivity. People of the South East feel marginalized especially when you compare the number of states here to other zones.”
The lawmaker assured that the committee is committed to facilitating genuine dialogue and potentially transformative amendments.
As the national conversation around Nigeria’s political structure heats up, Mbah’s demands are expected to reverberate across the country and may reshape the roadmap for a more inclusive federation.
