Two traditional rulers in Cross River State, HRM. Ovai Edward Osim, Chairman of the CRS Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Abi LGA and HRM. Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, Obol Lopon of Ugep and paramount ruler of Yakurr LGA, are leading the charge against the inclusion of Abi and Yakurr LGAs, without consulting people from the areas, in the agitation for the creation of Ogoja State from present CRS.
In a petition dated July 4, 2024, sent to the leadership of the House of Representatives, the monarchs, accompanied by signatures of former Cross River State governor, Clement Ebri, former chief of Naval staff, Ibok Ette Ibas, former Niger Delta Affairs minister Usani Usani, among other leaders, fault the request for the creation of Ogoja State, explaining that proponents of Ogoja 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 components to make up Ogoja State.
While the proponents maintain 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, the petitioners the proponents did not consult them before submitting their proposal to the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review.
“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.”
The Abi and Yakurr Local Government Areas they insisted, 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.
The member representing Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Alex Egbonna, Nigeria’s immediate past High Commissioner to Ghana, Grace Isu Gakpe as well as former presidential aide, Okoi Obono-Obla, also signed the petition.
