Legal scholar and human rights advocate, Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has strongly criticised the House of Representatives for proposing the creation of 31 additional states, describing the move as unnecessary and disconnected from Nigeria’s current economic and social realities.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ozekhome argued that instead of expanding the number of states, the focus should be on addressing the structural inequalities within the existing system. He emphasised that the only justifiable adjustment would be the creation of one more state in the South-East to ensure parity with other geopolitical zones.
The senior advocate expressed deep concern over the proposal, questioning the rationale behind adding more states when many of the current 36 struggle to sustain themselves without financial assistance from the federal government.
“I am surprised and greatly disturbed to hear that members of the NASS are proposing 31 additional states to the present already behemoth, over-bloated and unwieldy 36-state structure that Nigeria operates. I see this needless venture in the midst of more critical national issues as nothing but jesters playing out Baba Sallah’s Alawada Kerikeri histrionics and buffoonery,” he stated.
Ozekhome pointed out that the majority of existing states rely heavily on federal allocations to function, questioning the wisdom behind creating additional administrative units.
“How can they be talking about creating additional 31 states when over 2/3 of the present states are not viable entities, existing on life support and merely dependent on the federal centre for monthly oxygenation under section 162 of the 1999 Constitution?” he asked.
The legal expert further argued that lawmakers should prioritise fundamental reforms rather than pushing for more states. He highlighted the difficulty of navigating the constitutional process required to establish new states, stressing that it would not add meaningful value to national development.
“How can we be talking of going through the stringent provisions of section 8 of the 1999 Constitution for a meaningless exercise that adds no value to a nation gasping for existential breath?
“How can they be talking about creating new states when hunger, starvation, squalor and melancholy envelope inhabitants of the present minion states that literally beg for crumbs from the Abuja master’s table?” he asked.
Ozekhome maintained that Nigeria’s focus should be on two key reforms: granting the South-East an additional state to balance the geopolitical structure and drafting a new constitution that is inclusive, legitimate, and reflective of the will of the people.
“All that Nigeria needs now are only two things to correct the inherent injustices in our warped federalist system and move towards growth and development: one additional state in the South-East to equal others; and a brand-new Constitution that is legitimate, people-driven, autochthonous, credible and referendum-compliant to help correct our deep fault-lines and lopsided federation that make some states mere vassals, consumers of the national cake without knowing or caring how the cake is baked.”
Condemning the proposal, Ozekhome called on legislators to abandon what he described as a diversionary agenda, urging them to focus on urgent national issues instead of “insulting” Nigerians.
“The NASS should immediately drop this provocative, funny and phoney butterflies-chasing and stop insulting our collective intelligence. Their present venture amounts to rubbing hot pepper deep inside Nigerians’ already bruised bodies of gaping sores,” he stated.
His comments reflect growing concerns among Nigerians over governance priorities, as many citizens continue to grapple with economic hardship and governance inefficiencies.