The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has vehemently rejected the creation of additional 31 states in Nigeria proposed by the National Assembly.
Rejecting the proposed creation of the additional states in a statement issued on Monday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB insisted on an independent Biafra Nation, saying the South-East region, predominantly occupied by Igbos does not need additional states but an independent nation.
Powerful stated, “Instead of multiplying economically bankrupt states, the unworkable Nigerian unity should be dissolved.
“The IPOB movement is against the creation of new states because the existing states are bankrupt and not functioning properly.”
Newsmen had earlier this month reported that The House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee proposed the creation of 31 new states, in addition to Nigeria’s existing 36 states.
A letter from the committee read by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, detailed the conditions that must be met before any state creation requests can be approved.
According to the letter, the proposals include six from the North Central, four from the North East, five from the North West, five from the South East, four from the South South, and seven from the South West.
Among the proposed states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence (Kogi); Benue Ala and Apa (Benue); FCT State; Amana (Adamawa); Katagum (Bauchi); Savannah (Borno); and Muri (Taraba).
Others include; New Kaduna and Gujarat (Kaduna); Tiga and Ari (Kano); Kainji (Kebbi); Etiti and Orashi (South East); Adada (Enugu); Orlu and Aba (South East).
Further proposals feature Ogoja (Cross River); Warri (Delta); Ori and Obolo (Rivers); Torumbe (Ondo); Ibadan (Oyo); Lagoon (Lagos); Ogun and Ijebu (Ogun); Oke Ogun/Ijesha (Oyo/Ogun/Osun).
But IPOB noted that creating more states is tantamount to creating more confusion, disunity, and insecurity in the country.
The IPOB spokesperson stated, “Nigerians are suffering because of the faulty foundations of the Nigerian state and the unsurmountable corruption in the Nigerian government.
“Nigerian politicians are neck deep in corruption. Corruption has eaten into every fabric of Nigerian society. Hence, no amount of multiplication of States and Security Agencies will solve Nigerians’ monumental corruption, insecurity, and other problems.
“Nigeria is a country founded on fraud, sustained in fraud that is incapable of sustaining human and capital development. Any society built on fraud can not stand.
“That is why IPOB and other rational indigenous minds in Nigeria are calling for the dissolution of Nigeria.”
Powerful stated that even if President Bola Tinubu’s government creates additional 100 states, the political equation between the North, West, and East would never be balanced.
He said, “The previous ethnic bigotry Northern military leaders has already created unfavorable political equations that are inimical to the unity of Nigeria.
“Postponing the division of Nigeria is embracing the evil days, which are here now with us.
“IPOB says no to the new states creation proposal that will include the Biafra [South-East] region.
“Our position is clear, we don’t want our region to be balkanised or broken down any further, instead Ndigbo (Igbo people) need our Igbo brothers and sisters, villages, clans, and whole regions carved into Kogi, Benue, and Edo states back into Alaigbo (South-East).
“The Nigerian government can create more states to suit them in their Nigeria, while Igbo people establish an independent state of Biafra.
“What Igbo people want is an exit from Nigeria in a peaceful and democratic way.”
