A member of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Victor Umeh, weekend, said Nigeria’s current constitutional framework was against the Southeast.
This was as Umeh described it as unjust, unbalanced, and outdated.
Umeh noted that the constitution’s origin from the military era has led to structural imbalances that consistently disadvantage the Southeast region.
He disclosed this to journalists shortly after the committee interfaced with Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state, in his office at the New government House, Abakaliki.
Umeh said, “The Southeast has only 5 states and 95 local government areas (LGAs) out of 774 nationwide, compared to the Northwest’s 186 LGAs, Southwest’s 137 LGAs, and South-South’s over 100 LGAs.
“The region’s limited number of states and LGAs affects its representation in federal appointments, resource distribution, and national delegate voting during party primaries”.
He advocated for constitutional amendments to address these imbalances, including the creation of at least one more state for the Southeast to promote equity and national cohesion.
The senator also supported decentralising the Nigerian Police Force, citing the ineffectiveness of the current centralised policing structure in combating rising insecurity.
Umeh however, emphasised that “the current system is rooted in inequality, with the Southeast having only 5 ministers in the current administration compared to other zones with up to 8 ministerial slots”.
He urged lawmakers to pursue practical amendments to ensure fairness and national unity, stressing that “injustice is an open wound; only the truth can heal it”.
The senator called for constitutional reform, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and equitable framework that addresses the structural imbalances affecting the Southeast region.
“This is not a battle of strength. It’s about doing what is right. Injustice is an open wound; only the truth can heal it. Let us be guided by conscience and fairness, so that Nigeria can become a truly united nation,” he said.