•Ikenga Ugochinyere
The member representing Ideato north, south federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere has declared a unanimous support by Southeast lawmakers for the creation of Anim State in the region.
Recall that Ugochinyere had earlier sponsored a bill seeking the creation of Orlu state, reports Daily Independent.
In a statement today, Honourable Ugochinyere said following an extensive meeting last night in Abuja, lawmakers from Imo State unanimously signed and adopted ANIM State as a consensus state.
According to him, Ideato interest was captured in the Anim state proposal as it contained in the proposal for an Orlu State he earlier championed.
He explained that the group harmonised for the greater good, adding that the South-southeast is now on one page.
He noted that the proposal has economic advantage especially in the area of gas to sustain itself, and carries all the historical aspects, all the states in the south east were given birth to.
He disclosed that a formal proposal for ANIM State was presented before lawmakers from the South East who by majority vote have voted ANIM state as the consensus state.
The statement read in part, “Last night, after extensive meeting with our Distinguished Senator Osita Izunaso, alongside my other colleagues from Imo state wherein Ideato Federal Constituency Interest is captured and assured in the proposed ANIM state which is a proposed state that will be carved out from Anambra and Imo State and will see Ideato emerging as a Senatorial Zone, I alongside the entire lawmakers from imo state unanimously signed and adopted ANIM State as the consensus State that we will be backing.
“The ANIM proposal captures the agenda of a long overdue state for the South East which should emerge from the old imo and Anambra block which was the reason for my Orlu State proposal which has now been captured into the ANIM State.
Also our formal proposal for ANIM State was presented before our brother lawmakers from the South East who by majority votes have voted ANIM state as the consensus state proposal for South East agitation for additional state, consideration and voting for the second option is ongoing as I write which are Adada and Anioma proposals.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank my brother and Senator Osita Izunaso and my honourable colleagues from Imo State and the entire Southeast for the show of love, consensus, sacrifice and understanding that has brought the weeks of searching for consensus and harmonisation to an end.
“The critical point here is that no matter our desires, the interest of our people must always remain supreme.
“The East has spoken and we hope our brothers from different parts of the country will join this struggle to ensure that we reach the desired destination.”
