– Says Emphasis Should Be On Making Existing States Viable, Secure
The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti has debunked mischievous insinuations in different media platforms that he is vehemently opposed to the creation of an additional state in the South East.
Otti, in a press statement issued by his media team and made available to the press, stated that the country does not require additional states, especially when most of the existing states are not viable enough for self economic sustainability.
However, he maintains that since one geopolitical zone in the North has as much as seven states, “while others have 6 each except the SouthEast that has 5, there could be an additional State for the South East to balance the disequilibrium, but not the creation of new states across the six geopolitical zones
It’s important to state that, Governor Otti is not a man that is easily swayed to the wrong side of the pendulum when a critical issue that requires deep thinking driven by altruism is on the table.
The M.I. Okparas and Sam Mbakwes of this world did not wait for the creation of tiny enclaves called states before making the generational impacts they made in their zones as public office holders. They governed a region and a state respectively that were massive both in landmass and population, and yet achieved development and created prosperity that are still being referenced till today.
Creating additional States in Nigeria when the economic super-structure that should sustain the already existing but troubled ones hasn’t been laid, is akin to intentionally laying the foundation for further division and dichotomy that could impact our body polity negatively, especially at a time we should be saddled with the responsibility of trying to navigate through our economic challenges as a nation.
Finally, Governor Alex Otti enjoins all the stakeholders involved in the ongoing discussion for creation of additional States, especially public office holders to guard against selfish interests, because they are usually temporary and do not advance the long-term interest and welfare of majority of the citizens”.
