The South-East have reiterated their demand for a constitution that guarantees rotational presidency and full autonomy for Local Governments.
This call was made during the South-East Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, held on Friday in Enugu and organized by the Nigerian Senate.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, emphasized the significance of enshrining rotational presidency in the constitution.
He argued that such an arrangement, rotating among the six geopolitical zones, would ensure fair access to the presidency for all regions, including the South-East.
Mbah mentioned that “the idea would foster a greater sense of belonging and national unity.”
Beyond the presidency, the governor proposed that similar rotation be applied to governorship positions across senatorial zones and equitable distribution of legislative seats among constituencies to guarantee inclusive governance at every level.
Mbah also advocated for increased female participation in governance, proposing reserved legislative positions for women.
“To further enhance inclusivity, particularly for women, we propose legislative seats. We advocate for one additional Senate seat per state for women and two additional House of Representatives seats per state.
“As a state, we advocate for three additional assembly seats per state for women. This measure will significantly boost gender parity and ensure active participation of women in governance and in decision-making processes,” he stated.
He also stressed the need for local government councils to operate as fully autonomous institutions.
Mbah criticized the practice of state governors appointing caretaker committees in place of elected local officials, arguing that it undermines grassroots development.
“We urge the committee to reinforce section 1999 constitution to ensure the democratic existence of local governments, allowing them to directly access their funds from the national consolidated account,” he said.
The governor further called for constitutional reforms that devolve more legislative and fiscal powers to the states, describing the centralization of power as a remnant of military rule that hinders sub-national growth.
“A true federal system requires that states are autonomous entities with sufficient powers and resources to positively impact the lives of their citizens,” Mbah concluded.
In his remarks, 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 ensure parity with other regions of the country.
He also echoed the need for gender inclusion through reserved political seats for women.
“If a particular seat has been designated for women, all the parties will feature women candidates to fill in the space,” he stated.
The public hearing was attended by traditional leaders, civil society groups, NGOs, and other key stakeholders from across the region.
