The people of the South-East have called for constitutional provisions that allow for a rotational presidency and grant full autonomy to local governments across the country.
They made these demands during the South-East Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, organized by the Senate on Friday, July 4 in Enugu.
Speaking at the event, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, emphasized that the idea of a rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones is essential to ensure fairness and national unity.
He noted that such an arrangement would give every region, including the South-East, an equitable chance at producing the president.
Mbah also advocated for the rotation of governorship positions among senatorial zones and urged that legislative seats be distributed among constituencies to promote broader representation.
“To further enhance inclusivity, especially for women, we propose additional legislative seats. We advocate for one extra Senate seat per state and two extra House of Representatives seats per state for women.
“As a state, we also support creating three additional State Assembly seats per state for women. This measure will significantly improve gender balance and ensure active participation of women in governance and decision-making,” he said.
The governor further called for genuine autonomy for local government councils, criticizing the current practice where governors appoint caretaker committees instead of allowing elected representatives to lead.
“We urge the committee to reinforce the constitution to guarantee the democratic existence of local governments, enabling them to access funds directly from the national consolidated account,” Mbah stated.
He also stressed the need for legislative and fiscal reforms that would devolve more powers and resources to the states, arguing that the over-centralization inherited from military rule has hindered the growth of sub-national governments.
“A true federal system requires that states have enough autonomy, powers, and resources to effectively impact their citizens’ lives,” he concluded.
Also speaking, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, represented by the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Moses Odunwa, called for the creation of an additional state in the South-East to bring the region in line with other geopolitical zones.
Nwifuru echoed the call for women’s inclusiveness, supporting reserved political seats for women. “If a particular seat is designated for women, all parties will field women candidates to fill that position,” he said.
