‘Nigeria doesn’t need more states, but South-East deserves one’ — Gov Otti

Abia State Governor, Dr.Alex Otti, says Nigeria does not need additional states since the existing ones lack viability for economic self-sustainability.

Otti who disclosed this at the Constitution Review Meeting for Imo and Abia States in Owerri on Friday, kicked against the creation of additional states in the country but however, noted that the South-East deserves an additional state to meet up with other geopolitical zones that have six and seven states each while the South-East has only five.

Otti reasoned that an additional state should be created in the South East zone to make it at par with other zones.

In a statement issued on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Otti explained that the creation of additional states when the structure that can sustain the existing states has not been laid and as such, could have a negative impact the country’s polity.

“The attention of the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has been drawn to a mischievous and diversionary post being widely circulated in the media, giving the false impression that Governor Otti is opposed to the “creation of additional States in the South East,” the statement said in reaction to criticism that trailed his remarks at the meeting.

“Governor Otti’s position over the years on the creation of additional states in Nigeria hasn’t changed and will not change. His position is that the country doesn’t require additional States, especially when most of the already existing states lack the viability for economic self-sustainability.

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“In his seminal works over the years, he had advocated a six-regional structure for the country, which would support his advocacy for reducing the cost of governance.

“However, Governor Otti maintains that since at the moment one geopolitical zone in the North has as much as 7 States, while others have six each, except the South East, which has 5, there could be an additional State for the South East to balance the disequilibrium, but not the creation of new states across the six geopolitical zones.

“It’s important to state that Governor Otti is not a man who is easily swayed to the wrong side of the pendulum when a critical issue that requires deep thinking driven by altruism is on the table.

“The M.I. Okparas and Sam Mbakwes of this world did not wait for the creation of tiny enclaves called states before making the generational impacts they made in their zones as public office holders.

“They governed a region and a state, respectively, that were massive both in landmass and population, and yet achieved development and created prosperity that are still being referenced today.

“Creating additional States in Nigeria when the economic super-structure that should sustain the already existing but troubled ones hasn’t been laid, is akin to intentionally laying the foundation for further division and dichotomy that could impact our body polity negatively, especially at a time we should be saddled with the responsibility of trying to navigate through our economic challenges as a nation.”

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