By Henry Uche
Member, representing Isikwuato/Umunneche Federal Constituency of Abia state, Hon. Amobi Ogah, in a monitored interview on Channels TV spoke on the proposed additional state for the South eastern region among other issues.
Why the need for a new state not necessarily Etiti state in this instance?
Okay, you will know very well that the South East has been marginalized in the area of state creation. Order zones have six states except South East and the birth of Etiti State the other way around was called Equity. But we cannot call it Equity because it is an Igbo state, so we believe we must go by a name that is Igbo name. That is why we called it Etiti. Etiti means to balance; it means justice, equity, it stands for the peace and harmony of Nigeria because Igbo people have always believed that we have been marginalized. How can other regions, geopolitical regions have six states and we are having five? And this Etiti State is accepted by all because every part of South Eastern State is part of the Etiti State. If you come to Abia State, we have local governments formed by my own constituency. I represent Isukwuato/Umunnche federal constituency These places are part of the Etiti State. You come to Ebonyi State, we have Eboh local government and Ohazara local governments; you go to Anambra State, we have Orumba North and Orumba South, which princess Chinwe represents; you go to Imo State, we have our Okigwe/Onuimo represented by our sister, Marian Onuoha. In Enugu State, we have our brother Anayo Onuegbu who is representing Oji River Niri/Awgu, these constituencies can come together. And this is also part of the agreement of 2014 confab led by our elder statesman, General Ike Nwachukwu, so this is an agreement by the Igbo nation that we need one more state to be able to balance for us to believe that we are in one Nigeria.
Is the name of the state going to be Etiti State?
Yes, Etiti State.
Is it different from Orlu State.
Of course, Orlu State is not even in consideration at all.
But we understand that has also passed first reading, is that true?
Yes,
So why do you say it’s not under consideration? Why can’t the region speak with one voice?
No, I don’t think there is divided argument. We are humans you know, this is politics. People have their own views. People can do this the way they feel most times; people can be faster than their shadows sometimes. But we as Igbo nation, our fathers have agreed on something and they agreed on this Etiti State in 2014 Confab because that is why then it was called Equity. Equity is not the name of the state, what it means is we agreed and it’s a justice state that will be for equity and justice.
Economic viability and sustainability of the proposed state; most states in Nigeria are not viable, remember, having resources may not necessarily be a guarantee
When you are talking about the ability of states, I don’t know whether If you look very well, you will find out that the states are not doing what they are supposed to do or gaining what you’re supposed to gain in terms of IGR (Internally Generated Revenue). It is not because they cannot do, it is because they have this attitude of dependence on the Federal Government. You see, there is no state that is not viable.
The only thing is that when you overfeed your child, you make that child lazy. The Constitution we’re operating today and the system of government we’re operating today, the Federal Government has made the states very lazy. Imagine, even the third tier of our government is nowhere to be found. And which is part of the insecurity we are facing today. But let’s not go there. We are in a country that has six geo- political zones. And first of all, before we talk about viability, let’s talk about equity. Let’s talk about justice. All the problems we’re facing in this country today are one of the major reasons why people feel that they’re not part of the system. The Igbo nation has felt that they’re not part of the system because of the way certain things are being done. I’m telling you. If you want every state to function without the Federal Government allocation, you will make the state to work by moving some of the things to regions or states to do certain things. Like I said earlier, some of those states you mentioned may not be viable, because of the structure of the system which is always depending on federal allocation. When you move certain things to states to be able to handle by themselves, there is no reason they will not generate and sustain themselves.
But some states cannot pay minimum wage as we speak. Now we have over N100 trillion as debt burden and our debt to GDP ratio has crossed 50 percent; we are choking as a country, do we need additional burden? How do you make a case for a new state?
It’s easy. I think this is the best question you have asked me for today. You are asking about equity and justice. Igbo have been denied so many things. See, life is all about, if you have two kids, and you begin to treat the other one better than the other, naturally the other side will start feeling somehow. The Igbo are feeling as if they are not part of this country. Not because we are talking about creating of a new state, my brother from the other side is talking about Anioma; see, it cannot only be when there is time to talk about this kind of thing they will agree that they’re Igbo people. What we are talking about today is geopolitical zone. There is nothing like Anioma; Anioma is in the South as at today. We are talking about south East- now if you’re talking about South East, any state you’re talking about should come from the South East. Is not the issue of Anioma. If we’re talking about, oh Igbos are going on their own, because there are Igbos in Rivers, part of Ikwere are Igbos. So, if Igbos are in Asaba, there is no issue, what we are talking about is issue of region for now. Asaba/ Anioma is in South south. So let them shift a little, let’s talk about South East zone that we are talking about. Let us balance the South East, let us feel a sense of belonging. We cannot be talking about viability when you are taking what is from our own side to go and take care of other people. Give us what is due for us. When we get it, then we talk about viability. For now, we are not talking about viability, we’re talking about equality. Equalize the zones, let them be equal, let us feel that yes, we are part of Nigeria, that what people are getting that we can get it because, look at it, you are talking about Bayelsa, how about Ekiti, out of this 11 local governments, we are talking about up to about 18 to 20 local governments in that new Etiti State. So, let nobody come and distract us in the name of we are Igbos in Delta State, we are Igbos in River State, it’s not what we are talking about. Give the South East what is due to them. Make it at least six, we are not even talking about seven, so when we’re now talking about seven like other people, then we can now call our brothers who are in Anioma if they are ready because during presidential elections, they will now be South South. After elections, they will now be Igbo, let us be sincere in this country.
The South East region has also been trying to produce a president for a while; the highest the region has gotten is the senate president, now if this is actualized, will it reduce or will it eradicate the call for Biafra?
My brother, let me tell you, the simple best truth of the day. If Nigerian government gives us one state to balance with other regions, and release Nnamdi Kanu for Igbo people, my brother, nobody will talk about Biafra. See, like I explained to you before, when you have like two or three kids and one is feeling that he is not taken care of like the other, naturally, that child will not be happy. The burning fire in our hearts is that we are feeling that we are not recognized like others. This is a region that thinks about Nigeria. There is no part of this country that you don’t see an Igbo man driving the economy, trying to make sure that Nigeria works as a nation, but whenever it comes to sharing, the question like viability will come, even the viability you are talking about, go to any state that is doing well, it’s the Igbo people that are making those states viable. No other region can be compared with the Igbo. The Igbo are industrious, enterprising; if you want to know that Igbo can change and make things happen, change the system of government to regional government and see what the Igbo man can do.
The post What’ll end Biafra agitation –Ogah, Reps member appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.