The Ebonyi State House of Assembly on Monday approved the request from the Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, seeking the creation of Agbaja and Igbeagu autonomous communities in Izzi Local Government Area.
The approval took place at the Ebonyi State House of Assembly complex during an emergency plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Moses Odunwa.
Reading the letter from the governor, Odunwa said the proposed autonomous communities, when created, will help to bring development closer to the grassroots and also help to sustain the efforts of the government on security management in rural areas.
In his contribution, Godwin Abiri, representing Izzi West state constituency, commended the governor for the decision.
He noted that the land mass of Agbaja community, from Hilltop to Benue, and Igbeagu, from Onuebonyi to Cross River States, was enormous and deserved the creation of more autonomous communities to advance infrastructural development into interior communities.
The member representing Onicha East state constituency, Celestine Ifeanyi Ogba, who extolled the developmental stride of Governor Nwifuru, appealed for the creation of more autonomous communities from the Oshiri community, which he said remains the only community that has not received additional creation from old Ohaozara.
Contributing also, the member representing Ezza South constituency, Friday Ogbuewu, called for the de-merging of Amegu and Amaezekwe, Amudo and Okofia, Ameka and Amelekwuna, and Azuebonyi communities to have more autonomous communities for peace and easy governance.
Lending their support, Arinze Lukas Chukwu, representing Ishelu South; Joseph Ununu, representing Abakalik South; Ifeanyi Nwakpu, representing Ikwo North; and Innocent Chikaodili Nomeh, representing Ezza North West constituency, described the request as the most functional means of driving all spheres of development to the hinterlands and also improving the security of lives and property.
They advocated the expansion of such gestures to other communities across the state to liberate those whose human population and land mass exceeded being one community for the interest of all.
Deputy Leader of the House Joseph Ununu moved a motion for the passage of the request, which was seconded by House Deputy Whip Lucas Arinze Chukwu.
The motion was put to vote by the Speaker and it was unanimously adopted.
The newly approved autonomous communities by the State House of Assembly are Mgbo Agbaja, Abofia Mgbo, Oferekpe Agbaja, Ndiechi Agbaja, Nduegu Agbaja and Enyim autonomous communities from the old Agbaja autonomous community. The four new autonomous communities carved out from the Igbeagu autonomous community are Ndubia, Nchoko, Ndiechi and Iphuigwe.
The clerk of the assembly, Mrs Uche Edene, was directed to send a memo to the state governor informing him about the decision of the House.
Ebonyi Assembly approves creation of additional autonomous communities
