Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorcha has called on the Federal
government to create additional states in the south-east.
Governor Okorocha made the call at Mbutu Aboh Mbaise during the
dedication of St. Peters Anglican Church building Mbutu Mbaise and
church service for the 80th Birthday celebration of Lolo Dorathy Ihedioha, mother of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker, Federal
House of Representatives.
According to governor Okorocha, “the need to look into the plight of
Ndigbo in Nigeria has become more necessary than ever. The Igbo
nation of South East of Nigeria is like a football team whose team members were given red card and are playing eight against eleven. The
South East is playing with 15 senators against 22 of other zones, at
the National Assembly, a situation where a particular geopolitical
zone in the North has 186 members in the House of Representatives
against 95 of the South East, this marginalization is unbearable and
cannot give the Igbo nation a chance to win any contest in Nigeria.”
He appealed to the Senate President, David Mark and Deputy Speaker in
the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, all members of
the National Assembly to use their good offices to ensure that one
more additional state is created in the South East to correct the
imbalance and marginalization of the Igbo nation, “a situation where
the South East is the only zone in the country with 5 states and
others are having 6 and 7 states is uncalled for,” he said.
Gov. Okorocha called on all the Igbo politicians to set aside their
differences and unite together to fight for the common course of the
Igbo man, and called for more federal projects in the South East. He
congratulated Lolo Ihedioha on her 80th Birth day and prayed God to
give her good health and many happy days ahead.
The Senate President, David Mark on his own part congratulated Lolo
Ihedioha for attaining her 80th birthday and donated on behalf of the
National Assembly the sum of 5m Naira to support the building project
of St. Peters Anglican church, Mbutu.
He advised politicians to forget politics and love one another as well
as pray for others and appealed to the Clergy to continue to pray and
counsel their flocks particularly the politicians so as to be good
leaders of the people.
In a sermon delivered by the Arch. Bishop Metropolitan and Primate of
the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, Most. Rev. Nicholas Okoh, he
advised the elderly to see their old age as a blessing from God and
serve God in the church ministry of the elders, which he said include;
speaking the truth at all times, counseling the younger ones and
praying for their children, the church and the nation.
Dignitaries from all walks of life including Governors of Abia,
Theodore Orji, Peter Obi of Anambra Deputy Senate President, Ike
Ekweremadu, members of National Assembly and 31 Bishops of the
Anglican Communion graced the occasion.
