Orlu State can't fly in its proposed composition - Voters' Rights Association

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By Madu Obi

As the debate for the creation of Orlu State out of the present Imo and Anambra states continues, the Voters Rights Association of Nigeria (VRAN) said the new state cannot fly in its proposed composition.

Proponents of the state have, in addition to the local governments in the present Orlu zone, included some parts of Anambra in the new state.

However, almost all the areas in Anambra included in the proposed state, such as Uga, Umunze, Ozubulu, Ihiala, among others, are backing out.

A human rights lawyer and president of Voters' Rights Association of Nigeria, Dr. Jezie Ekejiuba, who added his voice said he is yet to understand the rationale why Örlu, which he described as a glorified village with hardly any amenity to show, should play the role of a state capital and also the name of the state.

In a statement, Ekejiuba said: "The proponents of Örlu State want us to believe that the dubious way to go about this suspicious agenda was their selfish desire to hijack many communities that make up Anambra South Senatorial district of Anambra State to add to their Örlu State magic without even consulting the constituents through their representatives, namely the Senator and House of Representatives members at the National Assembly.

"VRAN believes strongly that Örlu State is merely a figment of imagination of the proponents who want to continue their political domination and marginalisation as presently done in Imo State where the rotational principle of governorship of Imo State has been thrown to the winds.

A clever look of the evil political agenda of the so-called Orlu State proponents or sponsors is to create a majority Orlu and minority segments from Anambra South Senatorial district communities so as to make Orlu's political dominance a _fait accompli_. Anambra people will not allow this!

If the NASS is now determined in the interest of equity to create one additional state from the South East, common sense dictates that the original Equity State or Etiti State with state capital at Umunze or Okigwe already decided and created by the 2014 National Constitutional Conference during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, should be revisited in the interest of equity and social justice."