Date: 29th March 2027

The NDIGBO FOR TINUBU 2027 FORUM (NDI – ABAT), a coalition of pro-Tinubu Igbo organizations, hereby makes a clarion call to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is time for the President to demonstrate his righteous determination and political fortitude by utilizing his constitutional powers to break a long-standing political jinx. He should give his executive approval and issue an order for the creation of an additional state for the Southeast zone. This zone is the only region in Nigeria with the fewest states; it currently has only five states, while other regions have six each, and the North-West region has the highest number, seven states.

NDI – ABAT deems it necessary to set the record straight for historical clarity. Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, no civilian president has ever exercised the constitutional power to create a state. Only military juntas have done so. In 1967, former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, created 12 states. In 1976, an additional 7 states were created by then-Military Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, bringing the total to 19 states. In 1987, former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, first created 2 states, increasing the number to 21, and then in 1991, he created 9 more, bringing the total to 30 states. In 1996, former Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, created 6 additional states, resulting in the current 36 states of Nigeria.

NDI – ABAT respectfully draws President Tinubu’s attention to the obvious discrepancies in state creation by former military heads of state between 1967 and 1996. The military leaders clearly favored the Northern part of Nigeria by creating 19 states for the North, while the Southern part got only 17 states. It is incumbent upon President Tinubu to use his presidential discretion and strong political will to rectify this imbalance. He should create two additional states for the Southern part of Nigeria to achieve equity, fairness, and equality.

Specifically, for the Southeast, the creation of either ABA STATE, which has been the subject of a state-creation movement since 1982, or ANIOMA STATE from the present-day Delta State, would be a step towards making the Southeast have six states. Subsequently, the President could consider the creation of IJEBU STATE for the Southwest. These two new states for Southern Nigeria would bring the total number of states in both the North and the South to 19, thus correcting the structural imbalance and the political advantages the North has enjoyed for decades over the South.

NDI – ABAT firmly believes that posterity and history will look favorably upon President Tinubu if he acts as the courageous civilian president who judiciously uses his tenure to restructure Nigeria. This restructuring, in line with the aspirations of Nigerians, will enable Nigeria to regain its dignity and return to its golden, glorious era as the true giant of Africa and the most populous black nation on earth.

Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro
National Coordinator, NDI – ABAT

Dr Ugwuoke Ugwuoke Jr.
Secretary General, NDI – ABAT