By EMEKA MAMAH

The Consensus Committee of the National Conference has approved an additional state for the South East geopolitical zone.
Demand for additional state for the South-East is not listed among the contentious issues before the National Conference.

Sources at a meeting of the Consensus Group, which met at the Asokoro Area of Abuja, Monday, to review contentious issues recommended by the various committees, did not find an additional state for the South East as a problem as they believed that that measure would address a long standing problem of marginalisation.

The committee was said to have agreed on creating an extra state for the East after former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of the Yoruba delegation, Chief Olu Falae urged the committee to do more to ensure that the six zones in the country had equal number of states and his motion was unanimously approved.

Unanimous approval
Senator Ike Nwachukwu said that since the federating units were expected to have equal number of states, there was the need for the conference to address the issue of imbalance especially as it concerned the South East.

The meeting which lasted till 1.30 am Tuesday, enjoined the Plenary to adopt the recommendation in order to address the issue of imbalance and marginalisation in the country
The South East delegates had earlier met at Rock View Hotel and approved the creation of Adada State from the East, saying that it met the criteria for such an exercise.

Earlier, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was said to have addressed the South East delegates and asked them to always strive to stand for national unity and cohesion.
South East delegates, who attended the meeting included the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Enwo Igarryway; Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Dr Joe Nworgu; former Governor of old Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife among others.

They however, asked other areas of South-East agitating for their own states to continue to demand such states in case there is need to increase the number of states in each of the six zones of the country to seven.



Source: Vanguard