State Creation: Ogoja State Advocates Declare Readiness to Welcome Interested Ethnic Groups From Benue

By Ada Nkong

Following the indication of interest by the Igede people in Benue state to be part of the proposed Ogoja state, the leadership of the movement for the actualization of Ogoja State from nine local government areas of Cross River State have said they will not block other ethnic groups in nearby Benue State or other states from joining them.

However , they  insist that such ethnic groups must make their intentions known to the relevant committees of the National Assembly.

The Igede people speaking through Ben Obega  at the North Central public hearing for the constitutional review concerning state creation held at Nasarawa state had formally appealed to the national assembly that they be removed from Benue state and added to the proposed Ogoja State citing historical ties.

Speaking to Newsmen after the public hearing, Dr DomKcleimz Enamhe, comvener of the movement said though history has it that the Igede people are  descendants of Igede Agba from Ogoja, it is a constitutional matter and the appeal has to be followed up at the National Assembly by the Igede people.

“As Convener,  all I can say is,  that is  the beauty of democracy.
They have a right to choose to belong to Ogoja State but they have to send their Proposal to the Rt Hon Ben Kalu’s committee and the Sen S Dickson’s committee.”
He said the Igede people  attended the Ikom and Ogoja town hall meetings

“Historically the Igede -Agba being children of the enlarged Agba family is known but that is a very constitutional matter where their elected members and their people will have to go to the National Assembly and do the needful
The beauty of this is that Ogoja is very attractive and has so much potential”.

According to Enamhe, they as people who have from the days of our forefathers pursued this desire with all the accepted requirements that deserve a State and the time is now.

Dr Enamhe added that from the body language of the leadership of the National Assembly and the presidency Ogoja state is highly favored to be created being the only province alongside Ijebu province not yet turned into a state.