Ogoja State Creation Tops Agenda At House of Representatives Public Hearing As Stakeholders Say Now or Never

Judex OKORO 

THE creation of Ogoja State again topped agenda at the House of Representatives Public Hearing on Constitutional Review held in Calabar on Saturday, July 19, 2025.

Stakeholders from mostly northern Cross River demanded for creation of Ogoja state, arguing that it is long overdue considering that it is the only remaining provinces in the old South Eastern region comprising the present South East and South South geo-political zones, without a state.

According to them, this is the auspicious time to right the historical wrong by creating Ogoja state, maintaining that no meaningful national restructuring will be complete without addressing the injustice of Ogoja’s exclusion.

They further maintained that creation of Ogoja State is not a favour rather it is a constitutional right, moral obligation, and a political necessity. 

In the memorandum on Creation of Ogoja State submitted by former Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu G. Agabi, SAN, on behalf of of the people of North, he stated that historically  the agitation for states in our country was initially limited to the demand for the Middle Belt State, the Midwest State and the Calabar-Ogoja - Rivers State. 

He said in an answer to those demands, the nation proceeded to proliferate states so that the purpose for which minority communities made those demands was totally and completely defeated and since then the condition of the minorities has worsened and has  never improved as they continue to suffer. 

Agabi, 79, lamented that the Ogoja people have suffered all forms of indignities ranging from lack of electricity, access roads, water and functional schools in almost all the villages, adding that the minds of the young have been brutalised even as the majority of the people live in squalor amid the opulence of their leaders. Thus, the "agitation for Ogoja State so as to be given the opportunity to take our lives into our own hands."

He further stated that "this agitation is not rooted in malice. It is made in good faith. Our ancestors, when they promulgated the Constitution, realised beforehand that a time like this will come. They appreciated that conditions in our country will compel communities to make demands of the type that we now make.

"And so, they made provisions in the Constitution which you, Honourable Representatives of the people have come to implement and give effect to. This request is made in exercise of a right vested in the people by the Constitution.

"The nation would never have survived but the creation of states. And if the nation is going to go on surviving, it would depend on the extent to which our leaders listen to the cries of those that are trampled upon. The exercise of states creation will forever go on until every community is able to take its own affairs into its own hands.

"Our greatest resources are the people. Not oil. Not minerals. Not agricultural produce. But the people. We are an intelligent people. A resourceful people. A resilient people. A hardworking and God-fearing people. We are a humble and honest people. It is such a people that present this memorandum to you. "

Decrying the injustice against Ogoja people, who have denied a state for over 50 years, some stakeholders including Papa Dc Enamhe, Convener 
Movement for the creation of Ogoja State, Justice Eneji,, Johnny Agim, SAN, CP Lawrence Alobi (rted), Hon Cletus Obun, Hon Solomon Ekam and Asso Prof Achi Bekomsom, argued that the people of old Ogoja Province, comprising  Yala, Ogoja, Bekwarra, Obudu and Obanliku, Boki, Ikom and Etung have cried out against injustice meted out to them and demand for equity, fairness and inclusion into the nation's scheme of things.

The stakeholders further argued that other nearby old Provinces such as Enugu, Abakaliki and Calabar had long been given states, yet Ogoja Province, which existed as a recognised administrative unit during colonial era along with above mentioned people, has remained marginalised, forgotten, denied and dehumanised in all ramifications of development because we don't have a statement of our own.

According to them, creation of Ogoja state would bring balance, equity and justice as well as address the structural imbalance, ensure distribution of resources, promote the rich cultural heritage of the people and foster economic development among neighbouring states of Benue, Ebonyi and nearby Cameroon. 

Speaking exclusively to THE BEAGLES NEWS, Papa Dc Enamhe, Convener 
Movement for the creation of Ogoja state, commended Obanliku, Obudu, Bekwarra 
Ogoja, Yala, Ikom, Etung, Boki, Obubra, various leaders and elders, women and youths groups as well as students for the unflinching support for the creation of Ogoja state.

He further commended the Efiks and the Southern Initiative, and the Igede nation for all their support and unity, adding "we are done with public hearing. Now is to lobby for the third reading."