Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called for the creation of an additional state in the South East region to ensure the area is on equal footing with other geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Speaking on Thursday during a courtesy visit by members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment to the Government House in Enugu, Mbah emphasized the need for structural reforms in the country’s governance framework.
The governor highlighted the importance of introducing state police, stating, “We have advocated fervently that there is need for states to create state police services, just as you have the federal police, but with defined jurisdictions and operational parameters.” He described the establishment of state police as an overdue reform that would enhance security and community trust across Nigeria. “The state police will be a truly welcome development in our constitution,” he added.
Governor Mbah also stressed the need to address the current imbalance in the number of states across geopolitical zones, noting that the South East is the only zone with just five states. “Since the Southeast is the only zone with five states in the country, this should be corrected during this process of amendment,” he said.
In addition to these proposals, Mbah advocated for a rotational presidency system to ensure that every region, including the South East, has a fair chance at the nation’s highest office. “We think that will give the Southeast and every other region a chance at the presidency,” he explained.
The visit by the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment was part of a broader engagement ahead of a scheduled regional public hearing on constitutional amendments. Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, the Senate Deputy Chief Whip and leader of the delegation, explained the committee’s purpose: “It goes without saying that the 1999 constitution has received a lot of criticism from Nigerians, including that it is the product of military dictatorship.” He acknowledged widespread concerns that the constitution does not adequately represent all Nigerian groups.
Nwebonyi further noted the grievances of the South East people, stating, “People of the Southeast are crying foul that we are being marginalised in so many areas, particularly as it relates to the number of states, juxtaposing the same with other geopolitical zones of Nigeria.” The committee aims to gather inputs from the region to address such issues during the amendment process.
