MEMORANDUM ON THE REQUEST FOR THE CREATION OF OGOJA STATE A MEMORANDUM ON THE REQUEST FOR THE CREATION OF OGOJA STATE PRESENTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE OLD OGOJA PROVINCE THROUGH THE MOVEMENT FOR THE CREATION OF OGOJA STATE TO THE PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER - IN - CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN AND DISTINGUISHED SENATORS / HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NIGERIA THROUGH THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND HONOURABLE SPEAKER, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, ABUJA – NIGERIA. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Table of contents……………………………………………............. 1 Map of the Proposed State……………………………………..……. 4 Summary and Conclusion……………………………………………… 5 1. OBJECTIVE…………………………………………...………… 6 2. GOING IT ALONE……………………………………..………. 7 3. THE STRUGGLE IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE….……. 8 - Pre-Independence to 1967…………………….………………..… 8 - The Cross River State Movement…………….………………… 9 - The new Cross River State Movement………………………… 9 - The Ogoja State………………………………………….…... 9 4. THE CASE FOR AN OGOJA STATE - Self-Determination…………………………………………… 10 - Ethnic and Socio-cultural Affinity…………………………….. 11 . - Viability of the Ogoja State…………………………………... 11 - Land Mass……………………………………………….……. 11 - Agriculture and Agro-Allied Industries……………………… 12 . - Tourism…………………………………………...…………….. 12 - Mineral Resources…………………………………………... 12 - Hydro-Electric Power Potentials…...........………………………….. 14 - Population……………………………………...………………. 14 - Availability of Manpower…………………………………… 14 5. OGOJA STATE/OGOJA PROVINCE……….....……………. 16 6. PROPOSED CONSTITUENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS…..… 17 - The Local Government Areas…………………………….....………… 17 - The State Capital………………………………………........…………... 17 7. PRAYER………………………………………….............……………….. 18 ANNEXURE 8. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS……...............…………………………. 20 9. SIGNATURES……………..………………………….……..........….…...... 21-28 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION This request acknowledges the immense task before the National Constitution Review Commission and its States Creation Committee. A disturbing and persistent issue however, is the continued omission whereby the original twenty-four provinces of Nigeria, except Ogoja, have been accorded the status of State. Indeed, six other States derive from geopolitically inferior status than the old OGOJA PROVINCE. It is in the light of this identified sense of injustice and deprivation that we, the people of OLD OGOJA PROVINCE are humbly re- presenting this Request for the creation of an OGOJA STATE. In its present form, the Cross River State is made up of two major socio-cultural/ethnic groups namely; the Efik-speaking peoples of the Old Calabar Province, and the Ogoja peoples of the old Ogoja Province. The need to preserve and separately develop the identities and economies and economic potentials of these two groups of people dates back to the Pre-Independence struggle for the creation of the Calabar-Ogoja-Rivers (COR) State. The Rivers people gained semi-political autonomy with the creation, in1967, of the Rivers State. Thereafter, the continuing struggle by the people of Ogoja for self-determination had resulted in two frustrating alliances in such movements like the Cross River State Movement, and the New Cross River State Movement. In 1987, part of what used to be Calabar Province was carved out of the Cross River State. That part of Calabar Province now constitutes the present Akwa Ibom State. The case for the creation of two States from the present Cross River State has been thoroughly articulated in several documents and commissions. It is understood and appreciated throughout the country. We are humbly seeking OFFICIAL WILL to grant the OGOJA people an opportunity for self-determination and self-actualization. This memorandum has clearly shown, from facts and figures, that the proposal for an Ogoja State delimited within 16,380sq.km of rich agricultural land, and having a population of over 1.56 million people is viable. The largely untapped Tourism, Agricultural and Mineral Resources provide a reliable base upon which to build our State. The strong case for the creation of an OGOJA STATE revolves around the lack of a dominant ethnic group, the existence of a common administration heritage and the socio-cultural compatibility of the several small ethnic groups. Prior to the creation of the States in 1967, the factors of compatibility, affinity and development were paramount in the composition of Ogoja province. These factors were undermined with the lumping together of the Old Ogoja Province with Calabar Province to create the former South Eastern State (now Cross River State). It is the desire of the people of Ogoja to chart the course of their destiny in a separate State. In this existing association, our lot has been that of continued and unfulfilled expectations, inter-ethnic suspicions, frustration, deprivation and poverty. The authors of this request are fully conscious of the desire of other minority ethnic groups for self-determination. This request therefore is not in spite of these ethnic interests, but for the reinforcement of the ideal of group self-determination and actualization. We seek, indeed, to emphasize the OGOJA STATE AS THE FOCUS OF THIS REQUEST. The proposed Ogoja State would consist of twenty-one (21) Local Government Areas (with proposed headquarters):- 1. Obanliku (Sankwalla) 12.Obudu (Obudu) 2. Ogoja (Ogoja) 13. Afi (Edor) 3. Bekwarra (Abuochichi) 14.Ukelle (Wanokom) 4. Eastern Boki (Bateriko) 15.Yala (Okpoma) 5. Agbo (AgboCentral) 16. Ikom (Ikom) 6. Emina (Ekori) 17. Obubra (Obubra) 7. Yakurr (Ugep) 18. Bahumono (Ediba) 8. Utu gwang (Utugwang) 19. Mbube (Ekumtak) 9. Utanga (Utanga) 20. Bansara (Bansara) 10. Etung (Bendeghe) 21. Adun-Okum (Appiapum) 11. Western Boki (Boje) In the spirit of previous states Creation exercise, it is expected that the State capital would be old provincial Headquarters – Ogoja town. Finally, the Request for the creation of Ogoja State seeks to permanently remove the yoke of domination, alienation, and oppression from the fortunes of the people of old Ogoja province. Facts (1) Title of proposed State - OGOJA. (2) State Capital – Ogoja Town. (3) Population – 1. 56 million (Based on the 1991 National Census Results. Current Projections or Estimates suggest that the actual population of the proposed OGOJA STATE is now above 2. 1 million people). (4) Land Area – 16380 square kilometres. (5) Number of proposed Local Government Areas – 21 (Twenty One). The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Distinguished Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja, Nigeria. Sirs REQUEST FOR THE CREATION OF OGOJA STATE 1. OBJECTIVE We the undersigned persons of Old Ogoja province, for and on behalf of ourselves and the neglected people of Ogoja are, gratefully seizing another opportunity to represent our request for the creation of an OGOJA STATE. Our submission herewith is the continuing struggle for self-determination and a fair share in the political and Economic development of Nigeria. The recognition of the subject of the creation of the creation of New States underscores the Head of State’s thorough understanding of the ever –present need to eradicate one of the most potent causes of instability in Nigeria. The people of Ogoja, 33 years after Independence, are still suffering from psychological social and economic bondage and neglect. All administrations have perpetuated this status quo of neglect and deprivation, all the past federal Government administration would appear to have colluded with forces of detraction to alienate the people of Ogoja from the political and economic development in Nigeria. Patiently, the people of Ogoja have constitutionally continued to resist all acts of omission and commission by the various administrations to constitute the area and people of Ogoja into a flash-point of instability in the constitutional development of this country. It is in the same spirit of patience and constitutionality that we are once more presenting our request for the creation of an Ogoja State. Our request seeks to bring into a most relevant and realistic geopolitical association all of the area and peoples of the old Ogoja province as today constitute that composite part of the Cross River State. Specifically, it seeks to bring into one State all of the area and people of Yakurr, Abi, Obubra, Ikom, Boki, Ogoja, Yala, Obudu and Obanliku Local Government Areas of the present Cross River State. 2. GOING IT ALONE Hitherto, the people of Ogoja had pursued the objective of self-determination and socio-economic development as a joint struggle with other minority groups east of the River Niger. At the end of each phase of the struggle, the people of Ogoja have been betrayed by our comrades acting alone, or in concert with the Federal or state governme
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 23:14:55 +0000
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