Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Senator Peter Nwaebonyi, the Chairman of Senate Committee on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, has disclosed that the committee received a total of 59 bills from the governments and people of South-East zone after public hearing.
The Senator disclosed this while briefing the media on the outcome of the just concluded Two-Day public hearing held at the International Conference Center (ICC), Enugu.
He said that the people of the zone wanted alteration of the 1999 Constitution which was a product of the military regime to address many issues not favourable to many Nigerians.
According to him, the issues the zone put on the front burner include state creation.
“They wanted creation of additional state (s) in the South-East, state police to enhance security, rotational president to give the people sense of belonging, reserved seats for women in the national assembly.
“Others are electoral reform, judicial reform, bill for positions for People living with Disabilities, autonomy of Independent National Electoral Commission, ( INEC) among others.”
Senator Nwaebonyi said that, the 1999 Constitution would not be dropped, but rather, some provisions would be amended.
He promised that the senate would look into the demands of the people and come up with acceptable Amended Constitution for equity, Justice and development of the country.
Speaking Senator Akobundu, from Abia State, said the South-East wants additional state and the people of Imo and Anambra wanted Anim State (to be gotten from ihiala, Ihembosi areas of Anambra state as well as Orsu, Orlu areas of Imo state).
He said Ebonyi State was created from Abia and Enugu states, therefore, Anambra and Imo states should give birth to a new state, (the proposed Anim State).
”The South-East wants an additional state to bring it to equilibrium,” Senator Akobundu said.
According to him, additional state means getting more development and, additional representations.
He also said participants wanted a judicial reform; a judicial service reform to be able to reduce the volume of cases that go to the Supreme Court.
