Politics

South-East Summit: Ned Nwoko Urges New State, Kanu’s Release as ‘Low-Hanging Fruits’ for Peace.

Enugu — The creation of an additional state for the South-East and the immediate release of detained IPOB leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, were yesterday described as “low-hanging fruits” that could fast-track lasting peace in the region.

Business mogul and former federal lawmaker, Prince Ned Nwoko, made the assertion while delivering the keynote address at the South-East Economic & Security Summit organised by *Business-Day* in Enugu.

Addressing an audience of state governors, senators, captains of industry and traditional rulers, Nwoko argued that the region’s lingering sense of marginalisation would persist unless the Federal Government takes “bold but inexpensive symbolic steps” to correct perceived structural imbalances.

“Five states is not just a number; it is a message,” he said. “It says the South-East is an after-thought in the national calculation. Give us a sixth state, bring our sons—especially Nnamdi Kanu—back home, and you will see how quickly tempers cool.”

Equity and Allocation Maths

Nwoko reminded the summit that the South-East remains the only geopolitical zone with five states, a situation that costs the region at least 13 additional federal constituencies, 45 extra wards and roughly ₦120 billion in monthly Federation Account allocations it would have received with a sixth state.

“We are not begging for charity,” he insisted. “We are asking for fairness. An extra state costs Abuja absolutely nothing—no new roads, no new ministries—just a signature on a constitutional amendment.”

Kanu as ‘Political Capital’

On the detained IPOB leader, Nwoko, who once represented Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, said the Federal Government is “sitting on cheap political capital.”

“Release Kanu on bail tomorrow, accompany him to the airport, and half of the sit-at-home evaporates within weeks,” he declared to loud applause. “You cannot preach national unity while keeping a region’s most symbolic voice in detention without conviction for three years.”

Governors’ Mixed Reactions

Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, agreed that “equity demands a sixth state” but cautioned that “state creation must follow due process—referendum, constitutional review, National Assembly approval.”

Anambra Governor Charles Soludo said resources should instead focus on “making existing states work,” arguing that “a new state run by the old mentality changes nothing.”

Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, however, endorsed both proposals, insisting that “peace is cheaper than war; if these gestures cost nothing, why delay them?”

Senate Commitment

Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who represented Senate President Godswill Akpabio, promised to “fast-track constitutional amendments that correct historical imbalances,” but added that “the National Assembly will not act on emotions; we need coherent bills backed by this zone’s 15 senators.”

Business Costs of Unrest

A survey presented by *Business-Day* Research showed that the South-East lost an estimated ₦2.9 trillion in output between 2021 and 2023 because of Monday sit-at-home orders, insecurity on federal highways and youth migration.

CEO of *Innoson Vehicles*, Innocent Chukwuma, told the summit that truckloads of components now spend six days on the Onitsha-Enugu road instead of 24 hours. “We are forced to import through Lagos and haul by rail to Kano, then back to Nnewi. Logistics adds 18 % to each vehicle,” he lamented.

Communiqué Highlights

At the end of the summit, delegates adopted a 10-point communiqué, urging:
1. Immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu on “compassionate and political grounds.”
2. Creation of “Etiti State” out of present Anambra, Imo and Ebonyi local governments.
3. Presidential assent to the South-East Development Commission bill currently in the National Assembly.
4. Reconstruction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt and Onitsha-Owerri federal highways under a special peace infrastructure bond.
5. Inclusion of the zone in the $750 million World Bank liveable-cities project.

What Next?

Analysts say the proposals face uphill legislative battles. Constitutional creation of a state requires two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly and approval by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly. With 2027 politicking already under way, observers believe the Federal Government may use Kanu’s release as a bargaining chip while stalling on state creation.

“Symbolism matters,” Dr. Sam Amadi, former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, told *Business-Day*. “If Abuja wants peace in the South-East, it will pick the low-hanging fruits first and negotiate the rest later. The ball is in the President’s court.”

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media, Ajuri Ngelale, said the President would “study the summit resolutions and respond in due course.”

For now, the South-East waits—hoping that what Ned Nwoko calls “gifts that cost nothing but mean everything” will not remain beyond reach.

This has been The Red Hot Report from Pepper-Room. The news that bears it all.