From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has said that he was not worried about the coalition of opposition political parties in the country.
He said politicians should be expecting opposition at all times.
The governor stated this at the Government House, Abakaliki, the state capital, while fielding questions from journalists.
“Why should I be worried about the coalition? In politics, opposition is static and as a politician, you should expect opposition.
“So, we are not worried. We have been looking for something close to that, why should we be worried?” Nwifuru queried.
The Governor disclosed that he had already presented the position of the state on the ongoing constitutional review to the National Assembly.
“When I was the speaker of the state House of Assembly, I presented the position of Ebonyi State on the constitutional amendment to the National Assembly,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the governor has called for creation of additional states in the South East to address the imbalance in the geo political structure.
He spoke when he received members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution at the weekend.
“To end regional squabbles permanently, I urge the National Assembly to ensure marginalisation and structural imbalances are constitutionally addressed. Out of the six geopolitical zones in the country, only this region has five states, a development that can trigger resentment among the people,” he said.
The Governor, who said the review was necessary, advocated that the office of the President be rotated among the six geopolitical zones for equity and fairness.
“That the South East geopolitical zone has not occupied the position of the President since 1999 is an injustice. What is the essence of the geopolitical zone structure if the office of the president cannot be tested by all the zones?” the governor queried.
He stressed the need to review section 308 of the constitution to also grant immunity to Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy as well as Speakers and Deputy Speakers of State Assemblies
He renewed his call for constitutional backing to state police, dismissing the insinuations that they would be misused by the governors.