Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has advocated for the creation of two additional states in the Southeast geopolitical zone to address the imbalance in state distribution across Nigeria.
Speaking in Owerri during a public hearing on the 1999 Constitution review, Uzodinma emphasized that constitutional reforms are essential to resolving long-standing grievances and regional agitations, particularly in the Southeast, which he said has been marginalized in state creation.
The governor also proposed several key reforms:
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A legal definition of indigeneity based on birth or long-term residence, aimed at fostering inclusiveness regardless of ethnic or state origin.
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The entrenchment of a rotational presidency in the constitution—not only between the North and South but across all six geopolitical zones—to enhance equity and national stability.
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Support for state policing, advocating the decentralization of police powers to improve security effectiveness and local responsiveness.
Governor Uzodinma urged the National Assembly to take these proposals seriously in the constitutional review process, stressing the need for a framework that reflects shared values, fairness, and unity.
“Our diversity is our strength, not our weakness. But that strength must be harnessed through law and equity,” he said. “Our Constitution must reflect our shared values, not just our shared borders.”
His remarks come amid growing calls for restructuring and constitutional amendments that better reflect Nigeria’s complex socio-political landscape.
