Push for Ogoja State Creation Gains Momentum in Cross River

 The push for the creation of Ogoja State from the current Cross River State gained momentum on Wednesday in Calabar during a public forum aimed at unifying positions and demands for the new state. The event was organized by the Old Ogoja Province People’s Initiative.

Dr. Cklaimz Enamhe, the convener of the forum, emphasized the need to move beyond past grievances and focus on the future. 

He stated, “We need to look beyond what happened in the past and look to the future as our moment is now. The Ogoja man is ready and prepared; we have all come in unison to say this is the moment we have been waiting for, give us an Ogoja state.”

Enamhe highlighted that Governor Bassey Otu had acknowledged the potential benefits of creating the state. He also noted that local council chairmen, councillors, senators, and traditional rulers from the proposed state area were fully supportive of its creation.

Retired Col. Pam Ogar, a former Military Administrator of Kwara, pointed out that all former provincial headquarters in Nigeria had been granted statehood except Ogoja.

 He expressed his support for the creation of Ogoja State, citing its sufficient landmass, resources, and capable personnel to manage its affairs.

Prof. Francis Mogu, a former Secretary of the Movement for the Creation of Ogoja State, attributed past failures to achieve statehood to internal divisions. However, he expressed confidence that the time for Ogoja State’s creation had finally come, stating, “God’s time is the best.”

Mrs. Rita Anyim, a former chairman of Ogoja Council Area, asserted that the proposed state would be one of Nigeria’s most viable, given its abundant resources. She expressed hope that the current administration would support its creation.

This development comes as the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review revealed it had received 31 proposals for state creation from the public.

NAN