Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nollywood veteran, has called on leaders in the South-East to unite behind the push for the creation of Adada State.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Okonkwo said the region should harmonize its state creation demand around one proposal instead of presenting multiple options.
According to him, Adada State with its capital in Nsukka, remains the most suitable choice.
“The bill seeking to create a state in the South East is a long-overdue act of fairness, equity, and justice,” Okonkwo stated.
He urged the region to adopt a peaceful and united approach to actualize the demand.
Okonkwo, who is also a lawyer, emphasized that the South-East deserves a sixth state to bring it at par with other geopolitical zones in the country. He said this would not only promote equity but also encourage balanced development across Nigeria.
He further called for a reform of the nation’s revenue-sharing formula, insisting that Nigeria must redesign its economic structure to reward productivity instead of consumption.
His statement comes amid renewed agitation for state creation in the South-East. Recently, Senator Ned Nwoko had argued that establishing Anioma state would bring peace and political stability to the region.
However, the conversation around Adada State has been ongoing for years, with several stakeholders from Enugu North Senatorial District pushing for its recognition.
Recall that in previous sessions of the National Assembly, similar proposals for new states: including Adada, Aba, and Orashi were presented but did not scale through constitutional amendment requirements.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
