Agbakoba calls for return to regionalism amid state creation debates

Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) has advocated for a return to regional government rather than creating new states.

He revealed this while speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos.

Agbakoba emphasized that creating new states would escalate the cost of governance by establishing new offices, despite the economic challenges facing the nation.

Agbakoba argued that Nigeria does not need more states at this time. 

He stated, “Lawmakers and other political stakeholders should focus on restructuring Nigeria into a regional government to reflect the country’s true diversity.”

“I do not support the creation of additional states because most of the 36 states are economically unviable, insolvent, and incapable of infrastructural development or paying the proposed minimum wage.”

“State creation in this harsh economic climate will undoubtedly increase the number of National Assembly members, ministers, local governments, and others, further inflating the cost of governance,” Agbakoba added. 

He noted that this comes at a time when “most Nigerians are starving due to rising food prices,” and the country faces significant security challenges.

Agbakoba suggested that the National Assembly should instead “return the country to regionalism by collapsing the 36 states into six to eight regions or geopolitical zones, each with its own leader.” 

He explained that this would require amending the 1999 Constitution or drafting a new one to accommodate the proposal.

“Creating a new constitution has become an overriding imperative because new political realities and challenges have emerged in the country,” he said. 

He emphasized that amending the constitution to enable a regional system of government is the only way to resolve Nigeria’s socio-economic and political problems.

Agbakoba pointed out that regional governments were successfully run in the past, citing leaders like Obafemi Awolowo in the South West, Michael Okpara in the South East, and Ahmadu Bello in the North. 

He argued that since Nigeria moved away from regionalism, most states have become unviable, apart from Lagos and Rivers.

While acknowledging the push to create a sixth state in the South-East for balance, Agbakoba maintained that the greater good of Nigeria would be better served by adopting regionalism.

“This agitation arises because federal allocation flows based on the number of states,” he noted.

“Will it reverse the hunger, insecurity, poverty, and unemployment in the land? Absolutely not.” 

“We need to move away from state creation to a regional system of government.”

Recall that a bill proposing the creation of Etiti State in the South-East recently passed the second reading in the House of Representatives and is set for a public hearing before a final reading and Senate concurrence.