Igbo socio-economic apex group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has rejected the proposals for the creation of 31 additional states currently at the House of Representatives, saying that the imbalance in the number of states between the North and the South should be addressed first before discussing the creation of more states.

In a statement in Abakaliki, the Deputy National President of the Ohanaeze faction, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, insisted that for the sake of equity and justice, two additional states should be created in the South to balance the numbers in the North, making it 19 states each. He noted that the proposal is an exercise in futility, characterised by a blatant lack of credibility and a fundamental misunderstanding of the criteria essential for establishing viable political entities.

He maintained that the suggestion to create an unwieldy number of new states is premature and displays a level of immaturity unbecoming of the representatives, stressing that the proposals do nothing but cast a shadow over the stature of the House of Representatives and compromise its essential role in governance.

He noted that Ohanaeze Ndigbo staunchly reaffirms its position that any discourse regarding state creation must prioritise the Southern region of Nigeria, which has been historically underrepresented with 17 states, whereas the North has 19 states—an imbalance he described as unacceptable.

Isiguzoro appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to summon the political will and moral strength necessary to correct this long standing imbalance in state representation, adding that the political and economic advantages enjoyed by the North, due in large part to its 19 states, must be counterbalanced by the creation of two additional states in the South.

The statement read: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the foremost sociocultural organisation representing the Igbo people and, by extension, the Southern regions of Nigeria, unequivocally voices its profound objections to the recent proposal put forth by the House of Representatives advocating for the creation of 31 states.

“The suggestion to create an unwieldy number of new states is, frankly, premature and displays a level of immaturity unbecoming of our representatives. Such proposals do nothing but cast a shadow over the stature of the House of Representatives and compromise its essential role in governance.

“We commend the leadership of the House, particularly the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for his forthright dismissal of this proposal, which fails to meet basic constitutional requirements. His remarks serve not only as a necessary disclaimer but as a vital effort to preserve the integrity and dignity of our legislative institutions.

“The Northern region, currently endowed with nineteen states—a configuration established by past military regimes—benefits from an unfair numerical advantage that has led to systemic inequities. This disparity has long been employed as a strategic instrument of intimidation against the governance and development of the Southern populace.

“In this context, we urgently appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to summon the political will and moral strength necessary to correct this longstanding imbalance in state representation. The political and economic advantages enjoyed by the North, due in large part to its nineteen states, must be counterbalanced by the creation of two additional states in the South.

“Our immediate recommendation is that the first of these new states be established in the Southeast, which currently consists of just five states. It is imperative that the Southeast achieves parity with other geopolitical zones, particularly the Northwest, which boasts seven states.

“Moreover, we propose that the allocation of the second new state be judiciously considered for either the Southwest or the South-South region. This strategic adjustment is not merely a numeric correction; it represents a critical step toward addressing the long-standing grievances of the Southern populace and fostering a more equitable distribution of power across the federation.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving fairness and equity for our people. We assert that the time has come for President Tinubu to take decisive action and create two additional states within the Southern region. It is a clarion call for justice, equality, and national unity.”