Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State said that he is supporting the move for the creation of additional states in the South East region, noting that such an addition will not only address the imbalance in the geopolitical structure of the country but will also foster economic and infrastructural development of the zone.

Governor Nwifuru stated this in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, which the Guardian obtained a copy of in Abakaliki on Sunday.

According to the statement, Nwifuru made the remark when he received members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in his office.

“To end regional squabbles permanently, I urge the National Assembly to ensure marginalisation and structural imbalances are constitutionally addressed,” Nwifuru noted.

“Out of the six geopolitical zones in the country, only this region has five states — a development that can trigger resentment amongst the people.”

The governor, who said the review is necessary, advocated that the office of the President be rotated among the six geopolitical zones for equity and fairness.

“That the South East geopolitical zone has not occupied the position of the President since 1999 is an injustice. What is the essence of the geopolitical zone structure if the office of the President cannot be tested by all the zones?” the Governor queried.

The governor stressed the need to review Section 308 of the Constitution to also grant immunity to the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker, as well as Speakers and Deputy Speakers of State Assemblies.

The Governor used the occasion to renew his call for constitutional backing for state police, dismissing the insinuations that they will be misused by the governors.

Earlier, the leader of the team and Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, said they are in the zone for a public hearing on the review of the Constitution.

“Due to growing concerns that there is a need to further review the Constitution to meet the demands of Nigerians, the public hearing was conducted,” he said.

“I don’t need to tell you much about it because in the previous exercises you participated actively as the then Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly,” he noted.

He assured that members of the Review Committee will ensure no section of the country is shortchanged in the process of the review.