South-East reveals plan to sue Nigerian govt, demand additional state

The President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has revealed plans to sue the Nigerian government over the marginalisation of the zone in creation of the state.

On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Iwuanyanwu, said during a one-day retreat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo tagged “Ako bu ije” held in Enugu, that an additional state should be given to the southeast.

According to Ohanaeze, the region has so far lost trillions of Naira to the imbalance. Iwuanyanwu bemoaned the number of states, adding that the northwest have seven states while other regions have six states, however, the southeast have five states.

He said;

"A team of Igbo lawyers are being assembled to drag the federal government to court to ask for extra state and also demand the trillions of Naira Igbos have lost because they’ve lesser number of states.”

He also declared support for the dissolution of power and allocations to be shared between the federal and state governments.

"So, no constitutional amendment can be made without bringing Igbos to par with other regions in state creation," he said.

The Ohanaeze chief also called out those who are in the habit of using the Ohanaeze Ndigbo for a money making venture, ensuring that he will continue to protect the integrity of the Igbos.

The chairman of the occasion and former military Governor of the old Anambra and the old Imo states, Admiral Allison Madueke, on his part called on the Igbos to begin to rebuild the movement because any movement without tact will fail.

At the end of the retreat, a letter was released which reads;

The communique reads in part, "The various specialised Ohanaeze Committees were therefore urged to swing into action to ensure the realisation of the new Igbo agenda in sync with 21st Century socio-economic realities.

"The Igbo leaders also resolved that insecurity in the Southeast is a major hindrance to the development of the region and urged the southeast governors, security agencies and civil society organisations to redouble efforts in the security sector.

“The general consensus here is that the provision of security will unlock our great potential, especially in agriculture. The Retreat also resolved to intensify its drive for the unconditional release of the detained leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

"The Igbo leaders emphasised the imperative of collaboration between Ohanaeze leadership and Igbo Governors for the realisation of Ala-Igbo Transformation Agenda.

“The retreat also harped on the capacity of Ndigbo for self-sufficiency in food production and urged the Igbo Governors to key into this vision and also ensure tight security in the region to earn the confidence of intending investors.

"The Igbo leaders also endorsed the proposed N10 billion Naira Endowment Fund from the Igbo in the Diaspora to give Ohanaeze a reasonable degree of financial stability."