Why Nigeria doesn’t need new states — Gov Otti
By Jeffrey Agbo
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has reiterated his stance against the creation of additional states in Nigeria, arguing that the country’s existing states are already grappling with economic viability and self-sustainability challenges.
Speaking during the Constitution review meeting for Imo and Abia states in Owerri, Otti opposed calls for the creation of more states, insisting that the current structure is unsustainable. However, he acknowledged the imbalance in state distribution among the six geopolitical zones and supported the idea of one additional state for the South East, which currently has only five states compared to six or seven in other zones.
In a statement on Sunday released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, the governor responded to criticisms surrounding his position.
The statement said, “The attention of the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has been drawn to a mischievous and diversionary post being widely circulated in the media, giving the false impression that Governor Otti is opposed to the ‘creation of additional States in the South East.’
“Governor Otti’s position over the years on the creation of additional states in Nigeria hasn’t changed and will not change. His position is that, the country doesn’t require additional States, especially when most of the already existing states lack the viability for economic self-sustainability. In his seminal works over the years, he had advocated a six regional structure for the country which would support his advocacy for reducing cost of governance.
“However, Governor Otti maintains that since at the moment one geopolitical zone in the North has as much as 7 States, while others have 6 each except the South East 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.”
Otti, through the statement, emphasised that sound reasoning and selfless leadership should guide decisions on sensitive national matters like state creation.
“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,” the statement said.
Governor Otti also urged stakeholders, particularly public officials participating in the constitutional review, to prioritise national interest over personal or regional agendas.
He concluded by calling for a pragmatic and development-focused approach to governance rather than relying on state creation as a solution to underdevelopment.
