The history of demands for the creation of Aba State stretches longer than many other such demands. Most of them have been created.

Aba State, proposed, has twice been the choice of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural body of Ndigbo, in 2015 and 2018, when Committees that Ohanaeze set up voted the proposed Aba State as the 6th State for South East.

A glimpse of the long journey of the proposed Aba State –

• 1915: The British Colonial Government recognised Asa, Ndoki and Ngwa People (Ukwa na Ngwa people) and put them in one administrative unit, Aba Division, within Owerri Province.
• 1927: The quest for distinct political autonomy started.
• 1957: Request for Aba State presented to the Willikin Commission
• 1982-1983: The demand for the creation of Aba State was represented to the National Assembly. On 16th June 1983, that the National Assembly recommended a referendum for the creation of Aba

State. (See National Assembly Debate, First Assembly. (See-National Assembly Debates, First Assembly, 4th Session, Vol. 3, No 24, Thursday, 16th June 1983,

House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Vote and Proceedings, Thursday, 18th January 1983, 1st National Assembly, 4th Session,

No 33). The military take-over of 31st December 1983 truncated the referendum. Some of the States that were recommended for creation in 1983, alongside Aba, included Adamawa, Jigawa, Katsina, Kogi, Taraba, Enugu. All of these have been created, leaving Aba.

• Aba State Movement has made submissions to various State Creation Committees and National Conferences in 1988, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2021, 2024
• 2012: A meeting of the South East Governors Forum, at Government House Enugu, on 26th November 2012, Mr. Peter Obi (Chairman, Anambra), Owelle Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Chief Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Deputy Governor of Abia State, Col Emeka Ananaba and the Deputy Gov. of Enugu State, Chief Sunday Onyebuchi reviewed presentations of State Creation Movements from the South East, it was clear that the demand for Aba State, was very distinct and unassailable.
• 2015: Following the National Political Reform Conference’s recommendation for the creation of an additional State in the South East, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, set up a Committee which recommend Aba State, only.
• 2018: Ohanaeze Ndigbo set up a similar Committee for the same purpose. Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, OFR, chaired the Committee. The Committee also recommended Aba State.
• Between 2009 and 2010, Aba State Movement visited 21 States, and obtained the signatures of the Members of their State Houses of Assembly in line with constitutional requirements. The visits are captured in videos and photographs.
• Aba State Movement has visited some foremost traditional rulers in the country and obtained their support, for the creation of Aba State. They include the Ooni of Ife, Emir of Bauchi, and the Emir of Daura.
• Every part of Igbo land, is represented in Aba. A list of past Chairmen/ Administrators /Councillors of Aba, show that people from all over Igboland have at various times, participated in the administration of the area.

What make the proposed Aba State Unique:

• Homogeneity of communities making demand
• Approved twice by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Committees
• National Assembly approve a referendum on Aba State in June 1983
• Persistence in Demand
• Geographical Contiguity
• Appropriate Population
• Available Resources
• Land Available for Even Development
• Unaltered Boundaries, through Decades of Demand
• Will enhance Private Investments
• Home to almost every family in the South East
• Conducive setting for businesses

More Reasons to Create Aba State:

• Economic Viability

The proposed Aba State can survive on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). A Federal Government 1998 Revenue Survey of Local Governments

in Nigeria showed that, of the total Internally Generated Revenue of N 218, 984,015.68 by the 17 Local Government Areas in Abia State, the (9) LGAs in the proposed Aba State contributed a larger part of the sum. This trend has indeed been improving since the Survey. (See local Government Year book 1998 edition P.28)

•  Agriculture

The proposed Aba State was the epicentre of the palm oil belt that was the core of the economy of former Eastern Region. There are thousands of hectares of palm oil plantations at Ohambele Ndoki in Ukwa East LGA and Nbawsi, in Isiala Ngwa North LGA.

•  Commerce and Industry

The pre-eminence of Aba metropolis in commerce and industry is well documented and has permeated most parts of the proposed Aba State. There are large markets like the famous Ariaria International, a sub- regional market (in terms of the West African and Central Africa) and smaller ones. Manufacturers, including multi–nationals are based in Aba, which

is home to the largest shoe and leather clusters in Nigeria.

Aba people engage all types of engineering fabrications. These include machines for oil pressing, drilling, garri processing, grinding.

•        Oil, Gas, Solid Minerals

There are about 124 operational oil wells. Oil and gas are abundant in different areas of the proposed Aba State. There are also capped oil wells in some parts of the proposed Aba State.

Ukwa West LGA, in addition to its oil wells has one of the highest and most qualitative gas reserves in Nigeria. Solid minerals like zinc, uranium, lead, and gold, are in the proposed Aba State.

• Electricity

Geometric Power Plant situated in Osisioma Ngwa LGA has adequate capacity to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, to all parts of the proposed Aba State, which will accelerate industrialisation of the area, with lots to spare.

• Massive Manpower

With a huge population of skilled and unskilled manpower, professionals, academics, scientists, engineers, teachers, businessmen, industrialists, artisans and more, all constitute the required manpower base of the proposed Aba State.

•  Education and Research

Universities Colleges of Technology, Research Institutes in the proposed Aba State: Rhema University, Umuocham Aba, Veritas University, Obehie Clifford University, Owerrinta, National Institute For Nigerian Languages, Aba, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Abayi, Aba, Abia State Polytechnic Aba, Abia State College of Health and Management Technology Aba, Covenant Polytechnic Abayi, Aba, and Kiara De-Luke Academy, Technical Vocational Education Training.

•  Finally

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Committees decided on Aba as the proposed 6th State for South East, 10 years ago, and re-affirmed it seven years ago.

SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE LEADERSHIP OF ABA STATE MOVEMENT:

HE Okezie Victor Ikpeazu | Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe | Senator Adolphus Wabara | Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, CON | Senator Bob Nwannunnu | Hon. Munachim Alozie | Hon. Ginger Onwusibe | Hon. Solomon Adaelu | Rt. Hon. Christopher Enweremadu | Hon. Thomas Nkoro | Hon. Uzo Azubuike | Hon. Chris Nkwonta | Hon. Chinenye Ike | Dr. Emeka Nwogu, CON | Archbishop Isaac Nwobia, PhD | HRH Eze Tony Wabara | Theo Nkire | Chief Sam Nkire

| Prince Paul Ikonne | Chief Chukwu Wachukwu | Endi Ezengwa | Anyim Nyerere | Nnamdi Ahaiwe | Alhaji Musa Iheakaram | Captain Chima Jonah

| Chukwuemeka Wosu’Ezi | Chief Donatus Nwankpa | Dr. Oracle Nwala, mni

| Hon. Acho Nwakanma | Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN | Chibuike Nwokukwu, SAN | Chief Ahamdi Nweke | Dr. Eric Opah | Chief Okey Ahaiwe | Darlington

Ozurumba | Chief Reagan Ufomba | Dr. Onye Achilihu | Ephraim Nwokonneya | Levinus Nwabughiogu

Chief G. I. Akara    

Secretary General                                                               

HRH Eze Love Wogu

Chairman

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