Senate Approves Second Reading Of South-East State Bill
A bill proposing the creation of ANIM State in Nigeria’s South-East region has passed second reading in the Senate and is now before the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review.
Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West), who disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja to mark his second year in the National Assembly, said the new state would be carved from parts of Imo and Anambra.
“This is not a favour; it is about fairness,” he said. “Every zone in Nigeria has six states except the South-East, which has only five. We are asking for equity in line with the federal character principle.”
Currently, the South-East lags behind other geopolitical zones, with the North-West having seven states, and the other zones—North-East, North-Central, South-West, and South-South—each with six.
Izunaso said the bill would undergo all constitutional processes, including a referendum. “You can’t create a state by fiat. The people must agree through a democratic process,” he stated.
The senator warned against opposition to the bill, saying the South-East could no longer remain a minority in Nigeria’s structure.
In a related appeal, Izunaso also pushed for a political solution to the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who is on trial for terrorism.
He argued that granting Kanu bail could help reduce insecurity in the region. “The struggle has been hijacked by criminal elements. Releasing Kanu will strip them of legitimacy,” he said.
His renewed call came a day after a judge ordered Kanu’s trial moved to the Department of State Services headquarters for the inspection of a shipping container allegedly used to import a Radio Biafra transmitter.
“I’m not saying violence will end completely,” Izunaso added, “but this step could restore peace. Any further violence would then be criminal, not political.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
