Southeast To Gët A Nëw Statë Soon

After many years of agitation by the people of the southeast Nigeria for a new state, the House of Representatives has moved to ensure that the region has another state.

The development followed the passage of a bill, on Thursday, seeking to establish a new state in the region.

Sponsored by a member, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere representing Ideato North South, Imo state, the bill is seeking to create a new state known as Orlu state.

Speaking during the consideration of the bill by the House, Ugochinyere Ugochinyere appealed to other lawmakers to back the legislation to ensure its successful passage.

According to the draft bill, the creation of Orlu State will amend the 1999 Constitution, increasing the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 37.

The new state, with Orlu as its capital city, will be created from portions of Imo, Abia, and Anambra states.

According to checks by the magazine, the bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution by adding a new paragraph to include 28 local government areas.

The areas are Orlu, Orsu, Oru West, Oru East, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Oguta, Ohaji Egbema, Onuimo, Ihiala, Uga, Uli, Ozubulu, Akokwa, Arondizuogu, Umuchu, Umunze, Umuaku, New Ideato North, Nwabosi West, Nwabosi East, Owerre Nkworji, Alaoma, Amaifeke, and Owerrebiri Umuowa.

Unlike other region with minimum of six states, the southeast has only five states.

Meanwhile, political watchers insist that the creation of another state in the region will reduce the agitation among its people that the region is marginalized.