Former South-East spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Denge Josef Onoh, has strongly faulted claims by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi that some local governments in Kebbi State are larger than South-East states, describing the assertions as false, misleading, and divisive.
Onoh was reacting to comments credited to the Kebbi North lawmaker in which he claimed that some LGAs in Kebbi State are “the size of Enugu, Abia or some of the South-Eastern states,” and specifically alleged that Bagudo Local Government Area “can swallow the whole of Abia and Imo State” combined.
In a statement made available to journalists from his residence in Paris, Onoh said such remarks, coming from a serving senator, fall short of the standard of “distinguished character both in person, conduct and communication” expected of a national lawmaker.
“Such claims are factually inaccurate and misleading,” Onoh said, adding that Senator Abdullahi appeared not to have verified basic geographical facts before making public statements.
Onoh provided comparative landmass figures to counter the claims, stating that Bagudo LGA in Kebbi State is approximately 7,782 square kilometres. By comparison, Enugu State covers about 7,161–7,753 square kilometres, Abia State about 4,902–6,320 square kilometres, and Imo State roughly 5,100–5,530 square kilometres. Combined, Abia and Imo States measure between 10,000 and 11,850 square kilometres.
“I accept that Bagudo LGA is large—indeed, one of the bigger local governments in Nigeria—but it is comparable in size to Enugu State alone,” Onoh said. “It is not larger than entire South-Eastern states, and certainly not capable of encompassing Abia and Imo combined, which are significantly larger in total area.”
He stressed that no single local government area in Kebbi State—or anywhere else in Nigeria—exceeds the combined size of two full South-Eastern states, warning against what he described as the continued misuse of the region as a “wrong reference point” in national discourse.
Onoh further acknowledged that Kebbi State faces real security challenges due to its vast terrain and sparse population in some areas, but warned that exaggerating geographical comparisons weakens credible advocacy for increased security presence.
“Such misinformation distracts from the real issue: the need for equitable, needs-based distribution of security personnel across Nigeria, regardless of region,” he said.
The former presidential aide said it was disappointing for a “distinguished senator” to peddle what he described as “demonstrably false narratives,” arguing that such claims reflect poorly on the depth of research and preparation behind the lawmaker’s representation.
“The people of Kebbi North deserve accurate, evidence-based advocacy that attracts meaningful federal attention and benefits—not rhetoric built on inaccuracies that risk alienating stakeholders and diminishing returns for his constituents,” Onoh said.
He concluded with a strong warning against what he described as the habitual use of South-Eastern states as “convenient, morbid benchmarks” in political debates.
“Enough is enough of deploying South-Eastern states as reference points by those who should know better,” Onoh said. “Nigeria’s unity demands fairness, accuracy and mutual respect—not divisive or bigoted comparisons that foster needless regional tensions. Let us focus on solutions that uplift all zones equitably.”
