The Nigerian Constitution gives lawmakers enormous authority to shape national direction, defend the rights of their people, and influence the future of every region. For the Southeast, this constitutional power remains one of the strongest tools available in the struggle for fairness, development, and political balance. Yet the ability of our lawmakers to use this power effectively depends entirely on unity, clarity of purpose, and a shared commitment to regional progress. Without these elements, constitutional power becomes an unrealized promise rather than a driving force for transformation.
The 1999 Constitution did not design the legislature to be an extension of the executive. Section 4 makes it clear that legislative powers belong to the National Assembly. This means senators and members of the House of Representatives have a duty to check executive excesses, represent the people faithfully, and ensure that the national agenda reflects justice and equity. When Southeast lawmakers understand this mandate, they can stand with strength when issues affecting our region are debated, whether in committees, plenaries, or public hearings.
Sadly, the Southeast has not consistently maximized this constitutional privilege. Unlike other regions that have mastered the art of coordinated representation, the Southeast often speaks in fragmented voices. Political loyalty, party interests, and personal ambitions have too often overshadowed the collective regional good. The result is a weakened presence in national decision making and reduced influence when critical policies are shaped. Disunity has restrained our collective power and allowed other regions to advance unified agendas while we remain divided.
The Constitution offers every region a level playing field for representation. What determines success is how effectively its lawmakers work together. The North has shown remarkable cohesion. The South West has strategically united to secure major federal advantages. The South South has leveraged its legislative voice to attract significant national attention. The Southeast, however, continues to lose ground because its representatives frequently approach national issues from isolated and conflicting positions. When we fail to articulate our demands with a common voice, the nation finds it easy to overlook them.
The consequences of this disunity are evident. The Southeast faces delayed infrastructure projects, insufficient federal presence, weak representation in key national appointments, and limited attention to security challenges. None of these problems exist because the region lacks talent or constitutional rights. They exist because our collective voice in the National Assembly is neither loud nor coordinated enough to demand what is due. A region that cannot agree within its own legislative caucus will struggle to influence the wider national conversation.
It is important to understand that unity does not require all lawmakers to belong to the same party. It requires them to agree on core regional priorities such as security, federal inclusion, infrastructure renewal, and constitutional reforms that reflect fairness. When lawmakers place the interest of their people above the instructions of political godfathers, the region gains strength. When we discuss, plan, and act together, we can compel Nigeria to listen. The Constitution empowers us to achieve this, but unity is the key that unlocks that power.
The future of the Southeast depends on our ability to reorganize our legislative voice. Unity among Southeast lawmakers is not negotiable, It is the only way to secure a fair share of national opportunities and guarantee a better tomorrow for our people. If we embrace cooperation, coordination, and bold advocacy, the constitutional power in our hands will become a force for progress. If we continue to speak in scattered voices, the cost of disunity will deepen and the region will remain disadvantaged in a system where only the united are heard.
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