The Igede ethnic group has formally placed a request before the National Assembly to join the proposed Ogoja State.

The quest for the creation Ogoja State is led by the convener of Ogoja State Movement,  Papa Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe and Mr. Johnny Agim SAN.

The Igede group has requested to separate from Benue and be incorporated into the proposed Ogoja State. The request was made during the North-Central public hearing on constitutional review held in Lafia, Nasarawa State by the National Assembly.

Presenting the request, Mr. Ben Obega traced the historical ties of Igede to the old Ogoja Province in Cross River State.

Reacting to the desire of the Igede ethnic group to be part of the proposed Ogoja State, Papa Enamhe stated: “All I can say is that it is the beauty of democracy.

“The Igede people have a right to choose to belong to Ogoja State but they have to send their Proposal to Ben Kalu’s committee and the Senator Seriake Dickson’s committee.

“I know they attended the Ikom and Ogoja town hall meetings. Historically, the Igede-Agba people are children of the enlarged Agba family.”

He emphasized that for the Igede to join the movement is a constitutional matter “where their elected members and their people will have to go to the National Assembly and do the needful”.

According to Enamhe, Ogoja State is highly favoured to be created “being the only province alongside Ijebu Province not yet turned into a state.”

He stated that the key advocates of the creation of Ogoja State are from nine local government areas of Cross River State, adding however that “we will not block other ethnic groups in nearby Benue State or other states from joining us.

“Such ethnic groups must however make their intentions known to the relevant committees of the National Assembly.”

____________________________________________________________________

(C) CITY LAWYER Magazine. All rights reserved. To join our Channel, click here. Click here to join our WhatsApp chatroom. Contact us at citylawyermag@gmail.com or 081-3838-0083.