Chief John Nnia Nwodo

Former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Nnia Nwodo and the member representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Senator Okechukwu Ezea, have told the National Assembly that the proposed Adada state out of the present Enugu State is the most competent proposing state in the Southeast.

They said that the proposed state has met the constitutional provision for creation by the act of parliament and for subsequent presentation for referendum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This is as the Chairman of the Adada State Movement, Chief James Ugwu disclosed that the request for the creation of Adada state started immediately after the Nigeria civil war when it was presented to the then Head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, in 1970.

The Adada stakeholders made the disclosures during the Senate’s Southeast zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 constitution in Enugu, on Friday.

According to Nwodo, section 8-(1) of the constitution stipulates that the National Assembly can create a new state through an Act, but only if a request supported by at least two-thirds of the members representing the area seeking the new state in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as in the relevant State Houses of Assembly, is made.

Submitting a proposal for the amendment of the constitution to allow for the creation of Adada state, Nwodo further said that the demands of section 8 (1) of the constitution has been met by his people, displaying where all relevant legislators in the affected parts of Enugu state, including councilors, House of Assembly members and National Assembly members had all signed in concurrence for the creation of the proposed Adada state.

Nwodo recalled that Adada state was already recommended for creation by the 2014 constitutional conference under Justice Idris Kutigi as the only state slated for creation, stressing that Adada is that most viable prospective state in the Southeastern part of Nigeria with its abundant human and natural resources.

He reflected that Adada is the most agitated state in Nigeria that remains denied even after every other province in the country has been awarded with states, except for Nsukka province.

Nwodo stated that in particular, Adada or the old Nsukka zone has remained the only colonial zone in the northern Igbo land that has not been made a state capital whereas the southern parts of the Igbo land has attracted three states leaving its northern counterpart with only two states.

He therefore argued that equity demands that if any other state should be created in the south east, Adada should be given utmost priority with its agitation dating back to 1983 in the floor of the senate, before any other proposing state in the zone.

Adding to the competency of Adada State creation, the Chairman of Adada State Movement, Chief James Ugwu stated that he was in possession of a request presented in 1970 to the then Nigeria Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, for the creation of Adada state.