The members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have reacted to the bill seeking to create an additional state for the South-East.
New Telegraph had earlier reported that a bill seeking the creation of an additional state for the South-East passed the first reading at the House of Representatives on Thursday.
The bill, sponsored by the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, and others is now set for a second reading.
According to the draft bill, the creation of Orlu State will alter the 1999 Constitution (as amended), increasing the number of states in the federation from 36 to 37.
The new state will be carved out from Imo, Abia, and Anambra states, with Orlu as its capital city.
The pro-Biafran group who spoke in a statement issued on Thursday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said the Igbo people needed a referendum to exit Nigeria and not the creation of an additional state.
The group said, “We don’t want more states in Igboland; creating more states in Igboland means creating more confusion and hatred among the Ndigbo. The already existing states have not been well managed by Nigeria and now they want to create more confusion.
“The cost of governance is increasing on a daily basis in Nigeria; certainly, the new state will not be well managed like others.
“Most of the existing states in the country are not viable and they want to add more confusion and problem.
“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 and that is what we insist on.”
