CREATION OF ABIA STATE
ABIA State was finally created on August 27, 1991, by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
It was created out of the present IMO State.
The name "ABIA" is an acronym formed from the initial letters of four groups of people, namely: Aba, Bende, lsuikwuato and Afikpo.
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ABIA State was finally created on August 27, 1991, by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
It was created out of the present IMO State.
The name "ABIA" is an acronym formed from the initial letters of four groups of people, namely: Aba, Bende, lsuikwuato and Afikpo.
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These constituted the major groups in the State at its creation.
Several meetings were held under the auspices of "ABIA STATE MOVEMENT," to discuss the ABIA project.
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Several meetings were held under the auspices of "ABIA STATE MOVEMENT," to discuss the ABIA project.
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One of such meetings was held at Ihie, Isiala Ngwa on August 3, 1980, at the home of HRH Eze Dr. B. Enweremadu, Eze Ukwu 1 of Ngwa Ukwu. Rt. Hon. Michael I. Okpara was in attendance.
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Senators Dr. Jaja Nwachukwu (Aba Senatorial District) and Barr. Simeon Ojukwu (Umuahia Senatorial District) jointly signed the letter to the National Assembly on Dec 14, 1979 stating their support, on behalf of their respective Districts, for the creation of the new State.
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Senator Emeka Echeruo - Isuikwuato/Okigwe Senatorial District (for some political reasons which I shall deal with another day), refused to sign.
The promoters of the ABIA project were not deterred - they pushed on, notwithstanding.
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The promoters of the ABIA project were not deterred - they pushed on, notwithstanding.
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Members of the House of Representatives, representing Federal Constituencies within Aba, Umuahia and PART of Isuikwuato/Okigwe Senatorial Districts followed up with a letter to the National Assembly supporting the creation of the new State.
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Members of the House of Representatives that signed the letter:
1. Hon. Ogwe Kalu Ogwe - Bende;
2. Hon. S. U. Nwanganga - Aba;
3. Hon. O. O. Oreh - Arochukwu/Ohafia;
4. Hon. O. U. Oke - Arochukwu/Ohafia;
5. Hon. Empire Kanu - Ikwuano/Umuahia;
6. Hon. A. Njoku - Isiala Ngwa
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1. Hon. Ogwe Kalu Ogwe - Bende;
2. Hon. S. U. Nwanganga - Aba;
3. Hon. O. O. Oreh - Arochukwu/Ohafia;
4. Hon. O. U. Oke - Arochukwu/Ohafia;
5. Hon. Empire Kanu - Ikwuano/Umuahia;
6. Hon. A. Njoku - Isiala Ngwa
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7. Hon. C. Erondu - Isuikwuato.
This was followed by a letter of support signed by 35 Members of the Imo State House of Assembly (parent State).
Members of the Local Government Council of the affected Local Government Areas sent in their respective letters of support.
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This was followed by a letter of support signed by 35 Members of the Imo State House of Assembly (parent State).
Members of the Local Government Council of the affected Local Government Areas sent in their respective letters of support.
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A written Resolution in support, was also sent to the National Assembly by Traditional Rulers, Elders and Leaders of Thought of Aba and Umuahia Senatorial Districts and Isuikwuato.
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However, no matter the agitation, creation of a new State in Nigeria under a democratic administration is always cumbersome and almost impossible - reason all 36 States in Nigeria today were created by Military regimes ONLY.
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This is because Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, requires massive consensus for the creation of new States. To get everyone to support the creation is always the problem.
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The pressure mounted till a case for the creation of ABIA State was successfully made - albeit, not with the democratic administration when the struggle started, but with the Military Regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in 1991.
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