Constitutional Review: Igbo Needs Justice, Equity, Not Secession — Uzodimma

…We need Aba, Adada states in Southeast -Aba Movement
leadership

The Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, yesterday said that the
Igbo people needed a constitution review that would give them
justice and equity and not secession.

Uzodimma spoke in Owerri, at the opening ceremony of the
National Assembly Constitutional Review Committee Public Hearing
For the Southeast zone chaired by the former governor of Abia state
and currently, a Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, tagged as “proposed
alteration to the provisions of the constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.”

According to Uzodimma, the clamour for justice and equity showed
that Igbo wanted to be part of the decision making in the
country.

The governor said: “For us as true leaders, genuinely committed
to the Igbo question, the question agitating our minds is. What
exactly does Igbo seek from Nigeria? Without sounding simplistic,
what we seek is justice and equity. When we talk of restructuring
or devolution of power, we are talking actually about having an
environment created for us to unleash our potential and talent
without let or hindrance. We are also talking of being treated
equally like every other part of Nigeria. More importantly, we are
talking about being part of the decision-making process in Nigeria.
It means we are not talking of domination or secession.”

“In my mind, Ndigbo are better off being part of the larger
Nigeria with vast opportunities opened to us than being confined in
a separate space with limited opportunity. In every part of Nigeria
outside the South East, we form the second largest population. As
an itinerant group, we move around to expand our economic
frontiers. As citizens of Nigeria, we are afforded that lease of
Life. Our people are suffering harassment in South Africa and Ghana
and other countries. Is that what we want to bequeath to our
younger generation if, in hastily contrived indignation, we abandon
our heritage in Nigeria?

“So my dearest brothers and sisters, we need Nigeria just as
Nigeria needs us. Whatever be our grievances against the system, we
have a golden opportunity to seek redress under the upcoming
constitutional review. What we seek is justice and equity for our
people to thrive. And for that, we owe nobody any apology. But we
cannot achieve it through violence or threat of secession. It is
through an avenue like this that we put forward our request and
follows it through.”

“I, therefore, appeal to our youths to listen to the voice of
reason. What an old man sees sitting, a child cannot see even if he
climbs an iroko tree. Let us to the path of peace. All shall be
well. If we remain firmly committed to the unity of Nigeria we
shall get all we seek.”

In another development, the leadership of Aba state movement,
led by Elder Emmanuel Adaelu, said among other things that the
constitution review committee should consider the report of the
committee on state creation of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide under
Nnia Nwodo, he said: “The Committee should consider the merit for
the creation of Aba and Adada States respectively, resolved and
recommended for the creation of Aba State, with 12 members
supporting, and 5 abstaining. The Committee also recommended that
any other State Creation exercise in the South-East should give
Adada State priority.

“The Committee’s letter of 18 October 2018, to Governor Dave
Umahi, Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum stated that
Committee Chairman Professor Chigozie Ogbu and its Secretary
Barrister Uche Okwukwu signed the report.

“Aba State Movement stood by the Ohanaeze Committee
recommendation since all groups agitating for a State in the South
East fully participated in the Committee’s work by making
presentations to it.

“The Committee did a great job. It went through the tomes of
documents the 11 proposed areas for state creation submitted to it.
Among the documents requirements were evidence that the proposed
areas had complied with constitutional requirements for state
creation in Sections 8 and 9.

“We were delighted by the final recommendation Committee to the
South-East Governors Forum to enable its transmission to the
National Assembly through Executive Bill as promised by President
Muhammadu Buhari when an Ohanaeze delegation visited the President
in November 2017.

“Aba State Movement appeared at the Senate Committee on
constitutional review was to present the case for the creation of
Aba State which the Ohanaeze Committee confirmed in its report to
the South-East Governors Forum.”

“Chief Theo Nkire, first Attorney-General of Abia State, made
Aba State Movement’s presentation to the Senate Committee on
constitutional review chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former
Governor of Abia State,” Ohanaeze said.

…We need Aba, Adada states in Southeast -Aba Movement
leadership

The Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, yesterday said that the
Igbo people needed a constitution review that would give them
justice and equity and not secession.

Uzodimma spoke in Owerri, at the opening ceremony of the
National Assembly Constitutional Review Committee Public Hearing
For the Southeast zone chaired by the former governor of Abia state
and currently, a Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, tagged as “proposed
alteration to the provisions of the constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.”

According to Uzodimma, the clamour for justice and equity showed
that Igbo wanted to be part of the decision making in the
country.

The governor said: “For us as true leaders, genuinely committed
to the Igbo question, the question agitating our minds is. What
exactly does Igbo seek from Nigeria? Without sounding simplistic,
what we seek is justice and equity. When we talk of restructuring
or devolution of power, we are talking actually about having an
environment created for us to unleash our potential and talent
without let or hindrance. We are also talking of being treated
equally like every other part of Nigeria. More importantly, we are
talking about being part of the decision-making process in Nigeria.
It means we are not talking of domination or secession.”

“In my mind, Ndigbo are better off being part of the larger
Nigeria with vast opportunities opened to us than being confined in
a separate space with limited opportunity. In every part of Nigeria
outside the South East, we form the second largest population. As
an itinerant group, we move around to expand our economic
frontiers. As citizens of Nigeria, we are afforded that lease of
Life. Our people are suffering harassment in South Africa and Ghana
and other countries. Is that what we want to bequeath to our
younger generation if, in hastily contrived indignation, we abandon
our heritage in Nigeria?

“So my dearest brothers and sisters, we need Nigeria just as
Nigeria needs us. Whatever be our grievances against the system, we
have a golden opportunity to seek redress under the upcoming
constitutional review. What we seek is justice and equity for our
people to thrive. And for that, we owe nobody any apology. But we
cannot achieve it through violence or threat of secession. It is
through an avenue like this that we put forward our request and
follows it through.”

“I, therefore, appeal to our youths to listen to the voice of
reason. What an old man sees sitting, a child cannot see even if he
climbs an iroko tree. Let us to the path of peace. All shall be
well. If we remain firmly committed to the unity of Nigeria we
shall get all we seek.”

In another development, the leadership of Aba state movement,
led by Elder Emmanuel Adaelu, said among other things that the
constitution review committee should consider the report of the
committee on state creation of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide under
Nnia Nwodo, he said: “The Committee should consider the merit for
the creation of Aba and Adada States respectively, resolved and
recommended for the creation of Aba State, with 12 members
supporting, and 5 abstaining. The Committee also recommended that
any other State Creation exercise in the South-East should give
Adada State priority.

“The Committee’s letter of 18 October 2018, to Governor Dave
Umahi, Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum stated that
Committee Chairman Professor Chigozie Ogbu and its Secretary
Barrister Uche Okwukwu signed the report.

“Aba State Movement stood by the Ohanaeze Committee
recommendation since all groups agitating for a State in the South
East fully participated in the Committee’s work by making
presentations to it.

“The Committee did a great job. It went through the tomes of
documents the 11 proposed areas for state creation submitted to it.
Among the documents requirements were evidence that the proposed
areas had complied with constitutional requirements for state
creation in Sections 8 and 9.

“We were delighted by the final recommendation Committee to the
South-East Governors Forum to enable its transmission to the
National Assembly through Executive Bill as promised by President
Muhammadu Buhari when an Ohanaeze delegation visited the President
in November 2017.

“Aba State Movement appeared at the Senate Committee on
constitutional review was to present the case for the creation of
Aba State which the Ohanaeze Committee confirmed in its report to
the South-East Governors Forum.”

“Chief Theo Nkire, first Attorney-General of Abia State, made
Aba State Movement’s presentation to the Senate Committee on
constitutional review chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former
Governor of Abia State,” Ohanaeze said.