A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has urged stakeholders in the South-East to harmonise their demands for state creation and adopt Adada State with Nsukka as capital as the region’s sole proposal.

Okonkwo made the appeal yesterday while speaking on Arise Television in reaction to renewed agitation for a sixth state for the geopolitical zone.

His intervention followed comments by Delta North Senator Ned Nwoko, who argued that the creation of an additional state would help stabilise the region.

Describing the legislation seeking the new state as “a long-overdue act of fairness, equity and justice”, the Nollywood actor-turned-lawyer said the South-East must present a united, peaceful front on the matter.

He said:

“The South-East should seize this opportunity to agree on one proposal — specifically Adada State — instead of spreading energy and lobbying across multiple options.”

He also called for a redesign of the national revenue allocation formula to reward productivity rather than sustain “a consumption-driven culture”.