South-East To Get An Additional State - GEJ

Indications emerged last night that the Federal Government may create two new states, and one of the beneficiaries of the additional state will be the Southeast region.


It was gathered authoritatively that the Southeast is to be considered an additional new state, because the geopolitical zone has only five states, and is greatly at a disadvantage if compared with the other geopolitical zones in the country.

According to a source from the Presidency, “President Jonathan believes in equity and fairness. I think his administration is favorably disposed to the creation of one or two states to address obvious imbalance.

“One of the states might be from the Southeast, which is the only geopolitical zone with five states. The other five zones have six states, with the exception of the Northwest with seven states.”

Besides, the source added that President Goodluck Jonathan is seeking for the amendment of 1999 constitution, particularly the area of local government having joint accounts with state governments.

“We want to ensure autonomy for local governments, especially on the need for the abolition of Joint Accounts. Most of the 774 local government areas in the country have become appendages of the state governors.

“The administration of President Jonathan is disturbed that there is no democracy at the local government level, let alone good governance. This is a vital tier of government.

“Also, Nigerians should expect fundamental reforms in the justice sector, especially access to justice, quick dispensation of justice and criminal justice reforms.” the source said