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 leading leaders in the state that have faulted the request for the creation of Ogoja State
They explained that the proponents for the new state ought not to have included Abi and Yakurr local government areas of the state which are in central Cross River State as part of the components to make up Ogoja State.
In a petition dated 4th July 2024 to the leadership of the House of Representatives, they blamed the proponents for not consulting them before submitting their proposal to the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review.
The proponents had said that their proposal represents the interests of the people of the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts of Cross River State, comprising 11 local government areas: Abi, Boki, Bekwarra, Etung, Ikom, Obubra, Obudu, Obanliku, Ogoja, Yakurr and Yala.
They stressed that the promoters of this state creation movement erroneously included Abi and Yakurr Local Government Areas of Cross River State without the consent of their people, stressing 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 no person or group has the right to coerce us into being part of a state against our will.
These stakeholders argued that the people of Abi and Yakurr Local Government Areas have the fundamental and inalienable rights to exercise self-determination and freedom of association as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended).
They insisted that the people of Abi and Yakurr Local Government Areas categorically disassociated themselves from the proposal to include them in the proposed Ogoja State, urging the leadership of the House of Representatives to disregard any reference to Abi and Yakurr in the memorandum submitted for the creation of Ogoja State.
Other key leaders that signed the petition included the member representing Abi federal constituency Dr Alex Egbonna, chairman of the state traditional rulers council and paramount ruler of Abi LGA, Obol Lopon of Ugep and paramount ruler of Yakurr LGA, immediate past Nigeria’s high commissioner to Ghana, Dr Grace Isu Gakpe as well as former presidential aide, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla.
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