Former attorney general and commissioner of Justice of Abia State, Chief Theo Nkire, has said Aba State, one of the proposed additional states for the South East, enjoys the support of the entire region.
Nkire asserted that there is considerable evidence to support this claim, adding that in the often-complex political landscape of the South-East, the call for Aba State is notable for its widespread consensus.
He recalled that on two separate occasions, in 2015 and 2018, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organisation in the region, endorsed Aba as the sixth state to be created within the South-East.
According to the former commissioner, “this endorsement stems from the area’s unique characteristics. He added that unlike other proposals, the Aba State initiative benefits from the support of a cohesive community with a shared history and long-standing, unchanged boundaries.
“The proposed Aba State aligns with the boundaries of the Aba Division from the colonial era.”
He said further that Aba can be accurately described as a “home to almost every family in the South East.” A review of past administrators of Aba reveals that individuals from across Igboland have participated in governing the proposed state, transforming it into a melting pot for the entire region.
According to a statement released by HRH Eze Love Wogu, Chairman of the Aba State Movement, and Chief G. I. Akara, the Secretary-General, the movement has broadened its campaign beyond the South East, securing support from respected traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, the Emir of Bauchi, and the Emir of Daura.
Recall that between 2009 and 2010, the Aba State Movement secured the necessary signatures from 21 State Houses of Assembly, demonstrating a national consensus for the Aba State cause.
“Aba State is a proposal that has consistently garnered this level of internal consensus and external support, making it the most viable and unifying option to correct the geo-political imbalance in the number of states in the South-East,” Chief Nkire emphasized.
In June 1983, the National Assembly approved a referendum for the creation of Aba State. However, this process was ultimately truncated by a military coup later that year.
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