Reps: Bill for creation of Etiti State passes first reading

By Christiana Ekpa

A Bill proposing the creation of Etiti State from Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi states has passed its first reading in the House of Representatives.
The Bill to create one more state from the South-East was presented for initial review during plenary yesterday.
Five members of the House of Representatives, Amobi Ogah, Miriam Onuoha, Kama Nkemkama, Chinwe Nnabuife, and Anayo Onwuegbu, presented the proposal to form a new state from the five states in the region.
The proposed state would consist of 11 local government areas selected from the mentioned states with the capital designated to be situated in Lokpanta.
The proposed Bill aims to make changes to three sections of the 1999 constitution.
The word 36 would be replaced with 37 to include Etiti State and the word Etiti would come right after Enugu in the list of states in the amended 1999 Constitution.
The LGAs to be affected by the creation of the proposed state are Isuikwuato and Umu-Nneochi in Abia, Orumba North and Orumba South in Anambra, Ivo and Ohaozara in Ebonyi, Aninri, Awgu, and Oji River in Enugu, as well as Okigwe and Onuimo in Imo. The social media was awash last week that he had left the APC for the Labour Party.
But speaking with newsmen in Abuja, the Anambra-born politician debunked the rumours, stressing that he does not switch parties frequently.
He noted that his focus remains on his law degree from a private university in Abuja and his pursuit of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of Abuja.
“You must understand that at my level in politics in this country, I have never jumped from ones, I will say that I am still with the APC.
“The social media report on my joining LP actually generated so much concern that people across the globe called to confirm the authenticity of that report. My answer has been that as of today, I have not left the APC. If I am going to leave the APC, there is a process, especially for somebody at my level.
“The process has to do with resigning membership of where I am now, not by proxy; but by formally writing to notify my Ward about my intention to leave the party and I will make the resignation public. I may not give any reason because I am at liberty to do so as it is my fundamental right.
“If I decide to continue with politics or join another political party after due consultations, I will announce where I am going. I may even decide to play politics without joining any political party. I can be an independent player, and even though there is no independent candidacy, I can be an independent influencer or driver of the process. That does not make me a non-political actor. It is not only until you belong to a political party that you are a politician. And let me repeat, if I decide to leave the APC I will announce it publicly,” he stated.