A bill to create an additional state known as Orlu State in the South East region passed the first reading in the House of Representatives yesterday. The bill was sponsored by the member representing Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, along with other co-sponsoring lawmakers.
The piece of legislation, which will see to the creation of Orlu State, will amend the 1999 Constitution, increasing the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 37.
Ugochinyere, during the plenary session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, said that the new state, with Orlu as its capital city, will be created from portions of Imo, Abia and Anambra states.
In April, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, through its President-General, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, called for the creation of an additional state in the South East.
Iwuanyanwu lamented that the South East has lost trillions as a result of the disparity in state and local government creation, which was done by military fiat.
He said that Ohanaeze is not happy with the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and threatened to take legal action against the Federal Government if it failed to give the region an additional state equivalent to other zones in the country.
Also, recall that a similar bill to create additional three states in the South West region, Oke-Ogun, Ijebu and Ife-Ijesa is being considered by the lower chamber.
Sponsored by the member representing Obokun /Oriade Federal Constituency, Osun State, Oluwole Oke, the bill proposes to amend the First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution to include that Oke-Ogun state, with Iseyin as its proposed capital city, will comprise 12 councils.
Ijebu state, upon creation, will consist of nine councils, with Ijebu Ode as its capital, while Ife Ijesa state is set to be composed of 11 councils, with Ile-Ife as its capital city.
However, the new bill by Ugochinyere sought to amend the 1999 Constitution by adding a new paragraph to include 28 local councils. These areas are Orlu, Orsu, Oru West, Oru East, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Oguta, Ohaji Egbema, Onuimo, Ihiala, Uga, Uli, Ozubulu, Akokwa, Arondizuogu, Umuchu, Umunze, Umuaku, New Ideato North, Nwabosi West, Nwabosi East, Owerre Nkworji, Alaoma, Amaifeke and Owerrebiri Umuowa.
Ugochinyere urged his colleagues to back the legislation to ensure its successful passage during the second reading. He said that the establishment of Orlu State could result in the formation of Ideato as a senatorial district.
