Tensions Rise As Ohanaeze Pushes Tinubu For Immediate Creation Of Two Southern States

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the leading Igbo socio-cultural organization, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show the political determination and courage required to correct the longstanding imbalance in state creation across Nigeria.

In a statement titled “A Call for Equity: Proposed 31 States Must Acknowledge Southern Needs”, issued on Sunday in Abakaliki, the factional Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, emphasized the necessity of increasing the number of Southern states to 19, aligning them with the North, which already has 19 states.

Ohanaeze called on the President and the House of Representatives to prioritize the creation of two additional states—one in the Southeast and another in the South-South—to address what they termed the systematic marginalization of the Southern regions.

The group dismissed the recent proposal by the House of Representatives to create 31 new states, labeling it a futile exercise lacking credibility and a proper understanding of the fundamental criteria for establishing sustainable political entities.

“This proposal is nothing more than an exercise in futility, marred by an evident lack of credibility and a failure to grasp the necessary conditions for the creation of viable states,” the statement declared.

Ohanaeze applauded Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for rejecting the proposal, arguing that an excessive increase in the number of states would undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative processes.

The group reiterated that any discussions surrounding state creation must prioritize the Southern regions, which have been historically underrepresented.

“The North, with its 19 states—a legacy of past military administrations—enjoys an unfair numerical advantage that perpetuates systemic inequities,” the statement continued.

Ohanaeze argued that this imbalance has facilitated political and economic domination over the South, marginalizing its people in governance and resource allocation.

The organization urged President Tinubu to correct this disparity by establishing two new states in the South. It suggested that the Southeast, currently with only five states compared to the Northwest’s seven, should receive the first new state. The second should be allocated to either the Southwest or the South-South, ensuring balanced political representation.

“This adjustment goes beyond mere numbers; it represents a vital step in addressing long-standing Southern grievances and promoting a fairer distribution of power across the federation,” the statement added.

Ohanaeze implored President Tinubu to act decisively, arguing that creating two new Southern states is not just a political issue but a “clarion call for justice, equity, and national unity.”

“By ensuring this fairness, President Tinubu will not only advance justice for the South but also dismantle the historical political and economic dominance that has oppressed our people for far too long,” the statement concluded.