From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki
The Governor of Ebonyi State Francis Nwifuru yesterday has expressed strong support for the creation of the proposed Etiti state in South East.
He stated that the proposed state in the region would correct the long-standing imbalance in Nigeria’s federal system of governance.
Governor Nwifuru dropped this hint to journalists on Wednesday after attending to this week state executive council meeting held at the state Executive Council Chambers, Centenary City, Abakaliki.
He maintained that the people of South East deserves an additional state to bring the region at par with other geopolitical zones in the country.
According to him,“Yes, I would like another state to be created in the South East because it is a necessity for the region and it will help to address the imbalance we have seen over the years,”he stated.
The South East remains the only region among the six geopolitical zones with five states while others have six or more.
On the proposed plan of ceding three local government areas from Ebonyi to form the new state, the governor said he has not officially been communicated.
“I am no longer in the legislature; I am now in the executive,” he said. “I have not seen any document on that, and I cannot respond to a document I did not see,” he stressed.
Also, residents in Abakaliki who spoke to Salient Times over the new state supported the creation of Etiti state in the region.
Earlier, a federal lawmaker representing Ezza South and Ikwo federal constituency had expressed optimism over President Bola Tinubu assenting a new state for South East zone.
