Politics
Ohanaeze youths reject five additional states for S’East, scold Reps from region
The youth wing of apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has rejected the proposed additional five states for the South-East.
It was reported that Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review on Thursday proposed the creation of 31 new states in the country.
If the proposal scales through, the Nigerian state will be made up of 67 sub-national governments as the country’s current states stand at 36, including the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the proposal, the new states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence states from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa states from Benue; FCT state; Amana state from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi; and Savannah states from Borno and Muri State from Taraba.
Others are New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna State; Tiga and Ari from Kano; and Kainji from Kebbi State; Etiti, Orashi, Adada, Orlu and Aba from the South East.
Also included are Ogoja from Cross River State, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers, Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun State, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun States.https://ekwutosblog /2025/02/06/nigerian-lawmakers-propose-creation-of-31-additional-states-full-list/
However, Ohanaeze youths said the proposal would further increase the marginalization of the South-East zone.
In a statement made available to journalists on Friday, the National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said Ndigbo had been crying of marginalization, given that they have only five states, as against six and seven by some regions in the country.
Okwu said to worsen the situation, the Reps were now proposing only additional five states for the South-East, with other regions having more.
He urged the National Assembly to jettison the idea in order to avoid worsening the ill-feelings by the people of the South-East.
“When he read the news about the Reps’ proposal for state creation we were delighted. However, on clear scrutiny of the proposed states, we identified a clear further marginalization of the South-East.
“Our zone has been crying for an additional state since the return to democracy in 1999. But it has always been scuttled by those who are happy with having Ndigbo subjugated in this country.
“We find this current constitution amendment process as an ample opportunity to right that wrong, but we are seeing the contrary,” Okwu lamented.
He said any genuine effort at uniting the country should start by first giving the South-East two additional states, after which an equal number of states should be created for each of the regions to bring them at par.
Okwu took umbrage on the members of the House of Representatives from the South-East “for allowing such a proposal which is skewed against the South-East”.
He urged them to go back to the drawing board and correct the abnormality for the sake of unity in the country.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that he’s still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike’s comment followed his expulsion from the party by the faction led by National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki.
Turaki had formally dispatched expulsion certificates to 11 prominent party chieftains, including Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umaru Bature, Kamarudeen Ajibade, SAN, Abdurahman Muhammad Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.
He said their expulsion was aimed at sanitising the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the development on Friday, Wike dismissed the claim while assuring that he would continue to work with other party members in making PDP a relevant opposition party.
The minister spoke while addressing journalists after inspecting the Interchange bridge and road linking Gwarinpa with Jahi and direct to Katampe, Gishiri and Maitama.
He said, “Those that are factionalized are bound to leave the party, I’m still in PDP and you can see that not everybody has left.
“We still have good numbers and we will continue to work together and that’s what I have said to the party. Put your house in order because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that is losing.
“So those who are worried, we can work together to see how the party can remain a relevant opposition.”
The governments of Abia and Imo States have announced the launching of a joint security taskforce and surveillance along the Aba-Owerri expressway, starting from Owerrinta in Abia State all the way to Owerri, Imo State.
The launch followed recent attacks by criminals on the expressway, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
The formation of the joint security taskforce and surveillance was announced by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity.
His statement read in part: “Arising from a strategic emergency security meeting held today, 4th December, 2025, by the Governors of Abia and Imo Sates at the Imo State Government Owerri House, His Excellency Governor Alex Otti and His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma resolved to set up a joint security Taskforce that shall consist of Soldiers, Naval Personnel, Police Officers , DSS Personnel, and other Government Security Agencies.
“The joint security Taskforce shall, starting from tomorrow 5th December 2025, patrol the road 24 hours nonstop, while carrying out massive surveillance in the surrounding bushes using sophisticated drones and other modern security equipment.”
According to the statement, Governor Alex Otti commended the Governor of Imo State for arresting the criminals who carried out an attack on His advanced team and other passengers a few days ago.
“The two Governors, while assuring citizens plying the road on a daily basis and those returning home for Christmas of their safety and security, warn that there would be severe consequences for any criminal caught on the road going forward”, Ekeoma concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the senate two lists of 34 career and 31 non career ambassadors nominees for screening and confirmation.
Prominent names listed as non career ambassadors include Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Victor Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Also listed as non career ambassadors nominees are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, Fatima Ajimobi, and Senator Ita Enang among others.
The two lists brings to 68 number of persons nominated so far as ambassadors awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
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I’m still in PDP – Wike replies Turaki, dismisses expulsion
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