Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has made a strong case for the creation of an additional state in Nigeria’s South-East region, stating that such a move is essential to achieving geopolitical balance and addressing long-standing marginalisation.
Governor Mbah made the call on Thursday while receiving members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment during a courtesy visit to the Enugu Government House. The visit came ahead of the zonal public hearing scheduled for Friday, aimed at gathering input on proposed constitutional reforms.
In his remarks, Mbah underscored the urgent need to establish state police, arguing that it would greatly improve security and community governance.
“We have advocated fervently for the creation of state police, just as we have the federal police—each with clearly defined jurisdictions and operational structures,” the governor said. “Given the security fragilities in many of our communities, there’s no better time than now for this to be enshrined in the constitution.”
He also stressed the need for rotational presidency, which he believes would ensure equity, national unity, and inclusiveness in Nigeria’s political leadership.
“The South-East, like every other region, deserves a fair opportunity to produce the nation’s president. A rotational presidency would guarantee that no region is left behind,” he added.
Highlighting the unequal distribution of states across geopolitical zones, Mbah pointed out that the South-East remains the only region with just five states.
“This imbalance should be corrected in this constitution amendment process. It’s an issue of fairness and equity,” the governor noted.
Earlier, the Senate Deputy Chief Whip and leader of the delegation, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, explained that the committee’s engagement was designed to solicit views from the region on how the constitution can be better aligned with the needs of all Nigerians.
“The 1999 Constitution has received significant criticism for being a product of military rule and for not fully representing all the segments of Nigeria. The people of the South-East have particularly felt shortchanged, especially regarding the number of states compared to other regions,” Nwebonyi said.
He assured that all contributions gathered during the hearing would be considered in the amendment process, which aims to reflect a more inclusive and equitable Nigerian federation.
The session marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s ongoing democratic evolution, as regions seek more autonomy, justice, and fair representation within the country’s constitutional framework.
