…Urges NASS To Act On Longstanding Agitation
The call for the creation of Adada State gained renewed momentum on Friday during the public hearing on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution held by the National Assembly in Enugu.
Key figures including former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Senator Okey Ezea, and Chief James Ugwu reaffirmed their strong support for the long-standing demand, arguing that Adada meets all constitutional criteria and deserves immediate approval.
Chief Nnia Nwodo led the charge, declaring that Adada is the most competent and prepared of all proposed states in the South-East.
He emphasized that the demand is rooted in constitutional merit and historical injustice.
“There are several reasons for the creation of Adada state. One, in the South-East, in the last creation of states, the northern part of Igbo, comprising Enugu and Ebonyi ended up with states while the rest of the southern parts of Igbo land got three states.”
“When you share things among your children and there is no equity you bring anger and desperation,” he said.
Nwodo referenced Section 8 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, stating that Adada had already fulfilled the required legislative support from members of both the National and State Assemblies.
“The state that we ask for, Adada state, has seven out of the 17 local governments in Enugu state. Six of the local governments are in Adada and one in Enugu East senatorial zone,” he noted.
Highlighting demographic imbalance, he added, “Out of the 17 local governments in Enugu State, we have only six but we have 54 percent of the population.”
“So the other two senators represent 22 percent each and our own senator represents 52 percent because they took away one local government to make up a senatorial zone.”
Nwodo recounted how Adada was recommended as the only viable new state in the 2014 National Conference under Justice Idris Kutigi, adding, “When Achike Udenwa was the Governor of Imo State, the entire Igbo met in Imo to choose one state and after a very long meeting they came to a resolution that it is Adada State, and that resolution up till today has not been revised.”
According to him, Adada represents the only colonial zone in northern Igbo land yet to become a state capital, making its creation a matter of historical justice.
“Adada is the whipping and neglected part of the South-East,” he asserted.
“I told you that we were not represented in the federal executive council. It was Silas Ilo and Jim Nwobodo at the time the local governments were created and they gave us six local governments. Imagine 54 percent of the state with six local governments.”
“This is unfair and Daniel has come to judgment with this National Assembly committee.”
On the viability of Adada, Nwodo cited rich natural and human resources: “The potential for Adada State is vast. We have oil and gas reserves. Anambra State is horizontally drilling our oil in Uzo-Uwani, we have the potential for viability, economically.”
“We have extensive land for agriculture; we have a navigable sea whose confluence ends in Rivers Niger and Benue.
“In manpower resources, we have one of the best universities, thanks to Nnamdi Azikiwe, and our people took to education and so we have many professors who can manage the state. I do hope that I have appealed to your conscience.”
Chairman of the Adada State Movement, Chief James Ugwu, supported Nwodo’s stance, noting that the quest for Adada began as far back as 1970, when a request was submitted to then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon.
“The creation of Adada State will resolve the internal imbalance in Igbo land with the northern Igbo (Wawa people) having three states to be at par with its southern flank of Igbo land that already has three states, while resolving the external imbalance of the South-East having six states as other regions in Nigeria,” he argued.
Echoing this position, Senator Okey Ezea, representing Enugu North Senatorial District, stated that Adada is the only proposed state in Nigeria that has met the full provisions of Section 8(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution.
“So what we are saying is that having met the provision of section 8 (1) of the 1999 constitution, the next thing is that our request should be sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for referendum,” he said.
He further praised the current Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, saying, “It’s not just that the Governor is doing well, not just that he won his election but he is performing more than any other Governor.”
Nwodo, reiterating the central argument, said, “Igbos are a very important people of this country; our population is grossly underestimated because more than 50 percent of the Igbo live outside Igboland.”
“There is no part of this country that you go to and the majority of the population outside the indigenous population is not Igbo. It is our enterprise, our ways of life, it is our anxiety to break new grounds and most of these people register themselves in the states where they are.”
He concluded by affirming, “We approached the National Assembly under David Mark, under Ahmed Lawal and they gave us attention and considered our programmes and submissions but the government in power did not have state creation as paramount agenda as you appear to have now. We are hoping that your efforts will give us dividends.”
