C'River: Discordant Tunes Trial Proposed Ogoja State Creation, As Stakeholders Speak For And Against

By Missang AKPET

Mixed reactions have continued to trial the proposed creation of Ogoja state out of the present Cross River state 

While some are demanding and fighting for creation of Ogoja state to address the  alleged Marginalisation of the one of the remaining old provinces, a few are kicking against it on the grounds of lack of consultation on the part of the proponents.

Recall that members of the NASS including Senators Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Eteng Jonah Williams,  Reps Peter Akpanke (Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku),  Godwin Offiono (Ogoja/Yala), Mathew Ettaba (Obubra/Etung), and Victor Abang (Boki/Ikom) have lent their voices to Ogoja state creation.

But some actors from the central senatorial district have faulted the composition of the proposed state.

Former governor of Cross River State, Dr Clement Ebri, former chief of Naval staff, Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas and former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani, are among leaders in the state that have faulted the request for the creation of Ogoja State.

According to them, the initiators of the new state project should not have included Abi and Yakurr local government areas as part of the proposed Ogoja State.

In a petition to the house of representatives dated July 14, 2024, they blamed the initiators for not consulting them before submitting their proposal to the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review.

They stressed that the initiators of Ogoja state creation included Abi and Yakurr Local Government Areas without consulting the people lamenting that they cannot be forced to join any state.

“They failed to consult adequately with the people of Abi and Yakurr Local Government Areas which are in the central district before including them in the proposed Ogoja State.

“This lack of consultation and disregard for the views of the people of Abi and Yakurr Local Government Areas is unacceptable. Under both municipal and international law, we have the right to self-determination and inalienable rights to exercise self-determination as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria hence no person or group has the right to coerce us into being part of a state against our will".

They, however, stated that the people of Abi and Yakurr Local Government Areas disassociates themselves from the move which includes them in the proposed Ogoja State while calling on the leadership of the House of Representatives to disregard any reference to Abi and Yakurr in the proposal submitted for the creation of Ogoja State.

Other Abi-Yakurr political stalwarts, who signed the petition, are member representing Abi federal constituency Dr Alex Egbonna, chairman of the state traditional rulers council and paramount ruler of Abi LGA HRM Oval Solomon Osim Edward, Obol Lopon of Ugep and paramount ruler of Yakurr LGA Obol Ofem Ubana, immediate past Nigeria’s high commissioner to Ghana, Dr Grace Isu Gakpe as well as former presidential aide, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla.

Reacting, a group, Cross River Renaissance Movement, led by   Justine Abang and Ubi Emmanuel Ubi, said they are shocked that the personalities mentioned in the above-stated petition can kick against proposed state creation out of the present Cross River, wondering what the stand to lose in the process.

The Movement led by   Justine Abang (Coordinator) and Ubi Emmanuel Ubi (Secretary) expressed dismay at the attitude of some politicians who have stood between the proposed Ogoja State creation even as such state would bring development closer to the communities that would make up the new state.

The duo maintained that from inception Abi and Yakurr have been administered  from old Ogoja  Province, share the same cultural affinity and brotherhood, adding that politicians from central and north should wiser enough to come together and demand for their what is theirs and that is Ogoja state 

According to them in a statement made available to THE BEAGLE NEWS, "it  would be a big shame if there is a state creation exercise and Ogoja state is not part of it.  Prosperity would not forget all those who are kicking against it now. 

"Those opposing it had better reach out to the proponents and settle areas of concern rather than sending petition to NASS. It is a very bad politics and down in bad faith. Look at our brothers in Ebonyi with a state and are developing. We are here fighting one another. We advise them to swallow there pride and key into the movement for creation of new state from Cross River."

The proposed Ogoja state comprises 11 local government areas which include Abi, Boki, Bekwarra, Etung, Ikom, Obubra, Obudu, Obanliku, Ogoja, Yakurr and Yala in the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts of Cross River State.