Southeast Loses N17.4 Trillion Due To Lack Of Sixth State, Chidoka Laments

By Chuks Eke

Former Aviation Minister and Chancellor of Athena Center for Policy and Leadership, Chief Osita Chidoka, has decried the significant economic loss incurred by the Southeast geopolitical zone due to its lack of a sixth state.

Speaking at an Otu Oka-Iwu (Association of Igbo Lawyers) event, Chidoka estimated the loss at over N17.4 trillion over the past 29 years, a figure adjusted for inflation and devaluation.

Chidoka highlighted the imbalance in state representation across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, noting that the Southeast has only five states while others boast six, and one northern zone even has seven.

This disparity, he argued, directly translates to reduced federal allocations and local government revenue for the Southeast.

“Due to the absence of a sixth state, which would have contributed significantly to federal allocations and local government revenue, this staggering figure highlights the region’s ongoing economic and political marginalisation,” Chidoka stated.

He emphasised that this lost revenue could have been instrumental in fueling economic development and improving infrastructure in the region.

Chidoka, a former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), outlined the constitutional process for state creation as stipulated in Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution, urging Southeast leaders to unite and initiate the process.

This includes a formal request with two-thirds majority support from the Senate, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly, and local government councils, followed by a referendum and approval from state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly.

He called on Southeast leaders to transcend internal divisions and prioritise securing the region’s future through a unified approach to state creation.

“We must stop crying about the absence of the sixth state and instead focus on what is required to make it a reality,” Chidoka urged.

The event also saw participation from Senator Ned Nwoko, who advocated for the creation of Anioma State as the sixth Igbo state, and Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, who underscored the need for political will to achieve this goal.

Obegolu characterised Chidoka’s call to action as a pivotal shift, demanding immediate steps from Southeast leadership to address decades of perceived underrepresentation and underdevelopment.

The creation of a sixth state, they argued, would strengthen the Southeast’s territorial and political influence.

The N17.4 trillion figure represents a stark call for action, demanding a concerted effort from the region’s political leaders to address this long-standing imbalance.