Human rights activist, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has criticized the agitation for state creation in the South-East by some House of Representatives members.
Agbakoba described the proposal as a misplaced priority.
Rather, he canvassed regionalism as a way of the counry’s myriad of problems, arguing most of the present 36 states in Nigeria were unviable.
Agbakoba, who was former President of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, expressed the view in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos yesterday.
Recall that the House of Representatives recently passed for second reading a bill seeking the creation of Etiti State out of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states from the south-east geopolitical zone.
The bill was sponsored by Rep Godwin Ogah, Rep Miriam Onuoha, Rep Kama Nkemkama, Rep Princess Nnabuife, and Rep Anayo Onwuegbu.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Ogah (LP, Abia) said the establishment of Etiti State was not just a matter of administrative convenience but a step towards ensuring balanced regional development and effective governance.
Also recall that some lawmakers and stakeholders had also called for the creation of Anioma State from states in the South-South and South-East regions.
One of those leading the call, Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta North), said the creation of Anioma State would correct what he described as the marginalisation of South East geopolitical zone.
According to him, if Anioma State is created, it will increase the population of the South East, the land mass, and the resource base of the region.
In his reaction to these Agbakoba said Nigeria currently had no need for more states
According to him, lawmakers and other political stakeholders should, instead, be concerned about restructuring Nigeria into a regional government to reflect the real diversity of the country.
Agbakoba said he was not in support of additional states because” most of the 36 states were economically unviable, insolvent, and not capable of bringing about infrastructural development or even paying the proposed minimum wage.”