THE CASE FOR ABA STATE: A Call for Justice
A HISTORY OF OUR DEMAND
Aba is no doubt the oldest State demand in the nation. In the run up to the 1954 general elections, crisis erupted within the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). Jaja Wachuku and Sunday Ubani Ukoma the two foremost lawyers from old Aba Division (the present Ukwa Ngwa nation) joined others to float what later came to be known as the United Nigeria Independence Party (UNIP). In the course of the crisis, the people of old Aba Division led by Jaja Wachuku and Ubani Ukoma for the first time in our history called for the creation of a separate State of our own out of the then Eastern Nigeria – to many, a rather bizzare demand at the time. The demand strongly united the people behind the two men.
Jaja Wachuku and Sunday Ubani Ukoma were later in November that year to contest and win election to the Federal House on the platform of the newly formed UNIP defeating Mr. Irondi and Mr. Iwe the two NCNC candidates in the area; thanks to the popularity of the demand for the new State which they championed.
Aba State was to resonate again three years later before the Wilinks Commission set up in 1957 to address the fears of minorities in Nigeria. It was before the Willinks Commission that the leaders of Aba formally presented a demand for the creation of a State of their own to be known as and called ABA STATE.
NIGERIAN INDEPENDENCE AND CIVIL WAR YEARS
Preparations for political independence dominated the period 1957 to 1960 and after independence in 1960, Aba people like all other communities in the federation were trying to find their feet in the new contraption called Nigeria when the military took over power in January 1966.
Of course, nothing was heard of the Aba State demand throughout the civil war years. However, the unsavory treatment meted out to some of our leaders such as Dr. Jaja Wachuku, Moses Onwunma and others during the war fuelled the demand for Aba State as soon as the war ended.
POST CIVIL WAR AND THE MILITARY ERA
Though talk of Aba State was popular among the people from the end of the civil war in January 1970, there was no opportunity for a formal presentation on behalf of the people until Ebitu Ukiwe, a Commodore, became Second in Command to the military Ruler Ibrahim Babangida. Ukiwe and two others had come to Adventist High School, Ihie in 1960 to take science subjects after he had passed his Cambridge School Certificate examinations in flying colours from Enuda College Abiriba in 1959. Uzoma Azuogu (an Engineer), Chijioke Kaja (another Commodore) and I were then in Form 3 in Ihie. Uzoma, Chijioke and I had come to know and admire Ukiwe from those days in Ihie.
Chijioke Kaja who had himself served in Gowon’s Supreme Military Council was very close to Ukiwe and it was easy for him to secure an appointment for us (Uzoma and I) and our leaders in the Aba State Movement to see the Commodore. Ukiwe welcomed us warmly and after our leader, the incurable orator, Dr. George Wigwe had made his presentation, Commodore Ukiwe confessed he was overwhelmed by the power of Dr. Wigwe’s delivery though he, as a person did not believe the creation of more states was an urgent issue in Nigeria at the time. He however promised that whenever the issue of states arose in the future, he was sure to put in a word for Aba.
The Babangida Administration was to go on to create states after Ukiwe had left and Babangida had replaced him with Aikhomo.
THE MBANEFO COMMITTEE ON CREATION OF STATES 1996
After Babangida stepped aside from government and Abacha took over the reins of power, General Abacha appointed Chief Arthur Mbanefo, one of Nigeria’s foremost Accountants to head a Committee to determine what States needed to be created from the numerous State Demands that had come before him. ABA as it had become customary with us sent in a Written Request.
Chief Mbanefo scheduled Public Hearings for each zone of the Federation. Ours was at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia. Our leader, Dr. Jaja Wachuku was present to introduce me since he had mandated me to present our case before the Committee; his age and failing sight notwithstanding. So was our Dr. George Wigwe (de George). Dr. Asobie, Hon. HMJ Wachukwu, Enyinnaya Ihediwa, Emma Adaelu, Dr. Ubani Ukoma, Uzoma Azuogu, Ojinta Oji Alala, Rose Onungwa and our various other leaders were also present.
We traced the history of our demand from the earliest days; told the Committee how we had fulfilled all constitutional requirements as stipulated by S.8(1)(a) of the Constitution and how ABA State had been recommended for referendum by both arms of the National Assembly in 1983. We then urged the Mbanefo Committee to persuade the authorities to create ABA as one of the States of the Federation. Indeed, the Mbanefo Committee was the closest ABA came to being created into a State; thanks to the Chairman’s sense of justice and fairness. It is believed that Abacha created EBONYI State to honour Akanu Ibiam. Our prayer is this: if Abacha created Ebonyi to honour Akanu Ibiam, then President Tinubu and the 10th Assembly should please create ABA if only to honour our revered leader Dr. Jaja Wachuku who selflessly served Nigeria as first Speaker of the Federal House, first Permanent Representative to the United Nations; first Minister of Foreign Affairs, first Aviation Minister; First Repblic Senator from Aba and first Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations etc etc etc. For Jaja, it was a catalogue of firsts!
RETURN TO CIVIL RULE – The Shagari Presidency
Although the Shagari Administration did not create a single state throughout its tenure that era can still go down in history as the golden age of STATES CREATION in Nigeria. This is because it was during the Shagari years that the National Assembly set out seriously with a bold plan to create more states in the country. First each arm of the National Assembly (the Senate and the House) set up a standing committee on the Creation of States. Each Committee called for, received and processed Requests from across the country. Each arm then sat and considered the Requests one after the other to ensure they complied with constitutional requirements.
On Tuesday the 18th day of January 1982 following an amendment by our able Representative, Hon. HMJ Wachukwu the House adopted the proposal that ‘ABA State having satisfied the provisions of Section 8(1)(a)(i)(ii)(iii) of the Nigerian Constitution 1979, be recommended for referendum along with those already recommended by the Committee in its report’. Similarly, on Thursday the 16th June 1983 the Senate named ABA among the three States recommended for referendum from the then IMO State; the other two being ABIA and NJABA.
Subsequently, the Senate and the House each adopted the Decision of the Joint Conference Committee on the Creation of New States which recommended those many States including ABA for referendum.
Other States recommended for referendum at the same time as ABA from other States include EDO, DELTA and COAST from old BENDEL State; NEW ANAMBRA, EBONYI and ENUGU States (all three of which have since been created) from the old Anambra State. From the old Bauchi State Gombe and Katagum were recommended and Gombe has since been created. Other States that were recommended for referendum at the same time as ABA that have since been created are KOGI from Benue; TARABA from old Gongola, KATSINA from Kaduna, EKITI from Ondo, OSUN from Oyo, NASSARAWA from Plateau and ZAMFARA and KEBBI from old Sokoto State. We believe it is now time for ABA.
ABA AND THE VARIOUS PANELS AND FORA SET UP BY GOVERNMENT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW AND STATE CREATION
ABA has over the years carried her demand to the various panels set up by Government for the Review of the Constitution and for creation of States. For example, ABA was at the Cookey Commission (1987 – 88); the National Constitutional Conference (1994). In 2005 ABA was at the National Political Reform Conference that recommended the creation of an additional State for the South East. The following year 2006 ABA took her case before the National Committee on Constitution Review.
ABA – A SIXTH STATE FOR THE SOUTH EAST
Following a visit to President Buhari by the South East Governors Forum (then led by Governor Dave Umahi) and the leadership of OHANEZE NDIGBO in 2017, the President urged NDI IGBO to select a sixth State for themselves and he would fast track its creation through the National Assembly. Upon their return, the Governors transferred the responsibility of selecting the sixth State for the South East to OHANEZE.
The President General of OHANEZE at the time, Chief Nnia Nwodo appointed the Deputy President General, Professor Chigozie Ogbu to head a Committee of all seventeen members of the National Executive to look into this all important assignment and select a sixth State for the South East. He also appointed the Secretary General, Barrister Uche Okwukwu the Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee quickly went to work and called for memoranda from all groups that desired a State in the zone. At a Public Hearing held at Ohaneze Secretariat, No. 7 Park Avenue GRA Enugu on September 27, 2018 leaders of six State Movements namely, ABA, ADADA, ANIM, EQUITY, ETITI and ORIMILI made oral presentations and submitted documents.
Two weeks later, precisely on October 10, 2018 the Committee found that Aba was the most qualified of all the State Demands and by letter dated same day and addressed to Governor Umahi as Chairman, South East Governors Forum, OHANEZE recommended ABA as the sixth State for the South East Zone.
It is indeed very sad for us, the people of the nine local government areas of Aba North, Aba South, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Obingwa, Osisioma Ngwa, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West of Abia State that 42 years after Aba State was recommended for referendum and seven years after OHANEZE recommended ABA to Nigeria as the sixth State for the South East Region ABA State has still not been created. We humbly urge the current National Assembly to look into our case with compassion and grant us ABA State. That is all that the justice of our case demands.
ABA POPULATION AND LAND MASS
According to the 1991 population census the nine local government areas that today make up the proposed ABA State had a total population of 1,095,098 inhabitants. Using the UN recommendation of 5 percent (urban) and 2.5 percent (rural) as a basis for computation, the population of the area today some 35 years later cannot be less than seven million; but population cannot be a serious consideration for State creation since even in the United States the State of Wyoming (pop. 580,000) stands side by side with California (pop. 40 million). Even in Nigeria States like Lagos and Kano exist side by side with smaller States such as Bayelsa, Ebonyi and Kebbi. Nor is landmass a serious consideration either.
VIABILITY OF THE PROPOSED STATE: The MADE- IN- ABA Brand
– THE JAPAN OF AFRICA –
One of the strongest points in ABA’s favour in her quest for statehood is her economic viability. The popularity of her markets such as ARIARIA International, EKEOHA Shopping Centre, NGWA ROAD and CEMETRY Markets can attest to a booming economy. Indeed, in ABA every house is a shop and every street a market. Her industries span from textiles to soap and detergents; oil and lubricants; furniture, paints, plastics and automotive; banking, shoes and fashion.
The ABA brand is so well known across the West African sub region that ABA MADE products are a must have everywhere across the region and beyond. Little wonder then that Dr. George Wigwe (de George) one of our foremost leaders made bold to call ABA the JAPAN OF AFRICA! As a State, ABA like Lagos will not depend on monthly federal allocations to survive. Her internally generated revenue (IGR) will be enough to pay such bills as salaries and pensions; utilities etc. All federal allocation will then be reserved for infrastructural development and developments in education, health, power, agriculture etc.
Since ABA qualified for referendum over forty years ago and was named the sixth State for the South East by OHANEZE seven years ago, we believe the time to create ABA STATE has come and the time is NOW.