South East Loses N17.4trn Due To Absence Of 6th State – Chidoka

Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership and former minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, has disclosed that the South East has lost an estimated N17.4 trillion over the past 29 years due to the absence of a sixth state, which would have contributed significantly to federal allocations and local government revenue.

This staggering figure, adjusted for inflation and devaluation, highlights the region‘s ongoing economic and political marginalisation, with profound implications for representation, federal receipts, and governance.

A statement by his special assistant on media, Ikechukwu Okafor, said he said this during his address at the Otu Oka-Iwu (Association of Igbo Lawyers) event on December 13, 2024.

He emphasised that the Southeast has suffered significant financial losses, amounting to 17.4 trillion Naira, due to the lack of a sixth state, which would have brought in additional federal allocations and expanded local government revenue.

“The absence of a sixth state in the Southeast is not just a political oversight but a direct financial loss for our region. Over the past 29 years, the Southeast has lost over 17 trillion Naira, which could have fueled economic development, improved infrastructure, and enhanced our political representation in the National Assembly,” Chidoka stated. “This loss is unsustainable, and it is time for us to come together and take the necessary steps to stop these ongoing losses.”

Chidoka, former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, called on Southeast leaders to unite and follow the constitutional process for state creation.

He reminded the region that the process, as stipulated in Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution, involves the following steps: (1) A formal request for the creation of a new state, supported by at least a two-thirds majority of the Senate, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly, and local government councils in the affected area.

“(2) Approval through a referendum, where at least two-thirds of the people in the affected area must support the creation of the new state.

“(3) Approval by a simple majority of all states and their respective Houses of Assembly; and (4) Final approval by a two-thirds majority of both chambers of the National Assembly.”

“Now is the time for the Southeast to formally request the creation of the sixth state, following the prescribed constitutional process. This is the only way to stop the representation and federal allocation losses,” Chidoka added.

He urged Southeast leaders to play national politics, putting aside internal divisions, and work together to secure the region‘s future. „We must stop crying about the absence of the sixth state and instead focus on what is required to make it a reality. The Southeast must place the burden on the Nigerian state to officially recognise our need for equitable representation, resources, and political power,“ he concluded.

The event also featured Senator Ned Nwoko, who passionately advocated for creating Anioma State as the sixth Igbo state, expanding Igboland, and contributing 9,000 square kilometres to the Southeast. Senator Nwoko emphasised the need for the Southeast to strengthen its territorial and political influence by creating a new state fostering greater unity and development.

Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, also spoke at the event, highlighting the political will required to secure the creation of the sixth state for the Southeast. He called for concerted efforts and commitment from the region‘s political leadership to ensure that the demand for the new state is taken seriously and given the momentum needed for successful implementation.

Chief Osita Chidoka‘s call for action on creating the sixth state is a change in narrative and request for action on the Southeast leadership. Leaders in the region must now take the necessary steps to ensure the creation of the sixth state, reversing decades of underrepresentation and underdevelopment.

Source:- Leadershipng

Nancy Isime unveils new home as she celebrates 33rd Birthday

Nollywood Actress, Nancy Isime, has unveiled her new home as she celebrates her 33rd birthday.

The actress in a heartwarming message on her Instagram page on Tuesday, recounted how far she has come from living in an uncompleted building with her father, to owning a house.

Isime, in December 2022, handed over the keys to a fully furnished completed house to her father, fulfilling a lifelong dream of hers.

In 2023, the actress achieved another milestone, purchasing her dream house.

“This is 33!

“Which of the Lord’s blessing can I deny? None.

“I remember so clearly, I was about 13, sitting in what was going to be our new home, an uncompleted building. The only window and doors were those protecting the rooms we would sleep in. Everything else was pure carcass.

“No flooring, no ceilings, no doors, no windows, no running water, just our beloved well which provided us water to do everything including drink.

“I remember sitting there, and one day I said, I’m going to own a good home, but before i buy even a tiny piece of land, I’m going to help daddy achieve his lifelong dream of owning a fully completed furnished house.

“Finally, on the 18th of December 2022, I gave my daddy the keys to his fully completed and furnished dream home.

“December 15 2023, I received the keys and papers to my dream home.

“3 months prior to this day, I didn’t even think that was going to be a possibility in my life,” she wrote.

Nancy Isime is one of Nollywood’s most talented actors, and have started in several blockbusters, including, Everybody Loves Jennifer, Blood Sisters, Kambili, among several others.

Southeast senate caucus supports Tinubu’s tax reform bills, calls for wider consultation

On Monday, December 9, the Southeast caucus of the Nigerian Senate expressed its support for the ongoing Tax Reform Bills currently before both chambers of the National Assembly.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia South), leader of the Southeast caucus, clarified that the senators from the region do not oppose the bills but emphasized the need for wider consultation with their constituents and key stakeholders.

This, he said, would ensure the bills are thoroughly considered before they are passed.

Abaribe made the statement during a media briefing following a closed-door meeting of the caucus in his office in Abuja.

He highlighted that the senators from the Southeast are committed to engaging in meaningful discussions to make sure the reforms align with the interests of the people they represent.

“As much as the entire Senators from South East, are not against the Tax Reform Bills before both chambers of the National Assembly for consideration, we want wider consultations to be carried out on them.

“Specifically, we need to consult with our constituents across the 15 Senatorial Districts in the Zone, with our state governments and other critical stakeholders.

“We have read through the bills and want to share our knowledge with other stakeholders from the South East Zone for a more equitable framework in the bills that would eventually be passed.

“We are not against the bills but need to consult with our people,” he stressed

Recall that the Tax Reforms Bills which comprise the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024; have generated controversies in the polity since October 3, 2024, when President Bola Tinubu, forwarded them to both the Senate and the House of Representatives for consideration.

While the Presidency, the South-South caucus in the Senate, are calling for immediate consideration of the bills, other stakeholders in the polity, like the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Northern Senators, Arewa Consultative Forum etc, are seeking wider consultations on Bills.