CALABAR, NIGERIA – Calls for greater equity, true federalism and the creation of new states have taken centre stage as the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee, Subcommittee for Zone B (South-South), concluded its series of public consultations in Calabar.
Spearheaded by the House Minority Leader, Honourable Kingsley Chinda, the committee aims to craft a constitution that is truly reflective of the people’s will and aspirations. “This is a pivotal moment where Parliament must engage in dialogue with the people, not merely speak for them,” Hon. Chinda declared as the South-South consultations drew to a close.
Highlighting an inclusive approach, Chinda noted, “Our mission is to ensure the constitution is genuinely owned by the Nigerian people. That’s why we have traversed all geo-political zones, establishing two centres in each, to collect submissions from citizens about the areas they believe most urgently require revision.”
He revealed that valuable contributions have already been collated from stakeholders in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Cross River States, all of which will be assembled and forwarded to the National Assembly for robust deliberation. The committee envisions that constitutional amendments will take place twice during the current 10th Assembly, with Hon. Chinda expressing optimism that the first round of proposals will be completed by year’s end, paving the way for a second phase ahead of the Assembly’s conclusion.
One particularly impassioned theme at the Calabar engagement was the renewed agitation for the creation of Ogoja State, to be carved out of the existing Cross River State. Addressing the press, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, Chief of Staff to the Cross River Governor, clarified that the demand is rooted in the pursuit of balanced development. “The call for state creation is not an act of antagonism, but stems from a desire to bring governance closer to the people and unlock economic opportunities for the region,” he explained.
Ironbar further assured that the state government is not opposed to the aspirations of Ogoja’s people. “If the majority in Ogoja wish to have their own state, government cannot stand in their way. In fact, this could well accelerate development for Cross River as a whole.”
Commenting as a community leader and academic, Professor Eyo Etim Nyong described the ongoing constitutional review as “long overdue”, criticising the existing constitution as “a one-man document that overwhelmingly favours just one section of the country.” He welcomed the move to inject greater public input: “For the first time, government is genuinely seeking to centre the people’s interest. We wholeheartedly support this process—every state stands to gain from a properly revised constitution,” he said.
Welcoming the committee and guests on behalf of Governor Prince Bassey Otu, Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Peter Odey emphasised the importance of inclusivity. “It is vital that the voices of the South-South are robustly represented in the final document. This process underpins our national unity, peace, and sustainable development,” he affirmed.
The consultative event drew a broad coalition of South-South stakeholders, from traditional rulers and civil society groups to representatives of youth and women’s organisations. Each presented memoranda highlighting a spectrum of constitutional concerns, from resource control to fairer power sharing.
The committee is now set to distil these diverse inputs, presenting their comprehensive findings to the National Assembly before forwarding recommendations to the State Houses of Assembly for ratification— in accordance with statutory requirements.
As these pivotal zonal hearings wrap up, Nigerians across the country are keeping a watchful eye, hopeful that this constitutional review will lay the groundwork for a more inclusive, equitable, and genuinely people-centred national charter.
