Mbah also advocated for the institutionalisation of rotational presidency and the establishment of state police, noting that such reforms would promote inclusivity and strengthen national unity.

He made the remarks on Thursday in Enugu while receiving members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House ahead of a regional public hearing on the proposed constitutional review scheduled for Friday.

Highlighting the importance of decentralised policing, Mbah said, “What excites us the most is the proposal for state police. We have been strong proponents of this, and we believe states should have their own police forces, just like the federal police, but with clearly defined operational jurisdictions.”

“This reform is long overdue. Given the current security vulnerabilities in our communities, now is the perfect time to institutionalise state policing. It would be a truly welcome development in the new constitution.”

On geopolitical equity, Mbah stressed the need for correcting the structural imbalance in the number of states across zones. “The South-East remains the only zone with just five states. This should be addressed in the ongoing amendment process.”

He further called for the adoption of rotational presidency to ensure every region has an opportunity to produce the nation’s leader. “It will foster a greater sense of belonging and fairness across Nigeria. These are issues we consider critical, and we intend to make our position known during the public hearing and beyond,” he stated.

Earlier, the Senate Deputy Chief Whip and leader of the delegation, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, explained that the committee’s visit aimed to gather the views of South-East stakeholders on the constitutional amendment process.

Nwebonyi acknowledged the widespread criticism of the 1999 Constitution, describing it as a product of military rule that many believe does not fully reflect the interests of Nigeria’s diverse population.

“This engagement presents an opportunity for the people of the South-East to push for redress, especially regarding the longstanding issue of marginalisation. The disparity in the number of states between the South-East and other zones is a glaring example that needs correction,” he added.