IPOB Rejects Bill Seeking Additional State for Southeast, Demands Referendum Instead

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has rejected a bill in the House of Representatives seeking the creation of an additional state in the Southeast region.

The bill passed its first reading in the green chamber on Thursday, seeking to create Orlu State from parts of Imo, Abia, and Anambra states. 

IPOB, which is seeking the secession of the Southeast from Nigeria, rejected the bill, saying the existing states are poorly managed.

According to a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group is only interested in a referendum on exiting Nigeria.

Powerful argued that creating additional states would increase confusion, hatred, and mismanagement.

The statement read, “We don’t want more states in Igboland; creating more states in Igboland means creating more confusion and hatred among the Ndigbo. Nigeria has not managed the existing states well, and they want to cause more confusion.

“The cost of governance is increasing daily in Nigeria; certainly, the new state will not be well managed like others.

“Most existing states in the country are not viable, and they want to add more confusion and problems.”

He insisted they were after total freedom for the Igbo people and not creating more states.

“The creation of more states is not our problem. All we want is a total referendum to determine whether the Ndigbo would like to remain in Nigeria or not. The Ndigbo want total freedom, which we insist on.”

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Oluwatobi Odeyinka

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