 |
| Map of IGALA LAND |
In this Memorandum, the peoples of Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina,
Omala, Olamaboro, Ofu, Igalamela/Odolu, Ibaji and Idah local government areas
of Kogi State, with a population of one million and five hundred thousand have
requested that the area (Kogi East Senatorial District be carved out and be
constituted into a state of their own, known as Okura State with headquarters
at Anyigba.
This Memorandum has been signed by all the national, state
assembly members and councilors from the area requesting the creation of the
proposed Okura stae with the Capital at Anyigba in compliance with section 8
(i) (ii) (iii) of the 1999 Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria.
PREAMBLE:
The National Movement for the Creation of Okura State acting
for and on behalf of our people and having, obtained their mandates do hereby
humbly request for the creation of Okura State out of the present Kogi State
with the Capital at Anyigba. The
issue of state creation is a nagging problem in the body polity of this
country. Since 1967 when General
Gowon first split the county into States, many Nigerians have viewed the issue
of State creation as the only way of reducing political marginalization of one
ethnic group by another. Our
people rightly see State creation as a veritable means of bringing the
government nearer to the people and of ensuring equitable distribution of
natural resources and accelerating the pace of socio-economic development of
the country.
Also, since the first attempt at States creation, successive
Military Governments have attempted to redress the anomalies and inequalities
in State creation, but unfortunately the fair play and equity sought has not
been achieved.
2.0 HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
2.1 PRE-COLONIAL ERA
Several Centuries before the coming of the British Colonial
rulers to Nigeria, the Igala Kingdom was a well established Institution under
its paramount ruler, the Attah (Father).
The 18th Attah, HRM, Aku Odiba reigned from 1854
to 1870. The present Attah, His
Royal Majesty Alhaji Aliyu Obaje is the 27th Attah. The Kingdom extended South-ward to
Nsukka and Onitsha, West-ward to Auchi, North-wards to Lokoja and a larger area
of the present niger State and East-wards to Otukpo and Igumale areas. Igala kingdom was one of the recognized
kingdoms that existed before before the colonization of Nigeria by the British
Empire.
2.2 COLONIAL ERA
The Royal Niger Company, which handed power to the British
Government on 1st January, 1900 divided the Igala kingdom into three
different provinces. Idah area
which presently consists of Idah, Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu, and Ibaji Local
Government areas was put under Onitsha province, in the Southern protectorate;
Ankpa area which presently consists, Ankpa, Olamaboro and Omala Local
Government Areas was put under the control of Munchi province; while Dekina
area currently comprising Dekina and Bassa Local Government Areas went under
the control of Bassa province, both in the Northern Protectorate.
2.3 IGALA NATIVE
AUTHORITY
Igala Native Authority was created along with other native
Authorities in the Northern part of the country, to implement the indirect rule
system of the British colonialists in Northern Nigeria, between 1946 and 1954,
Igala Native Authority had become the second richest native Authority in the
whole Northern Nigeria; Kano Native Authority was the first.
It is of interest to note that the Igala Native Authority
(NA) in the then Kabba province had twenty districts, and indeed because of the
effectiveness of the Igala Native Authority administration, whose finances were
used to assist other less endowed Native Authorities in the defunct Northern
Nigeria, the Igala province was contemplated in 1964 by the Northern regional
Government to become the 14th province in the Northern region of
Nigeria before the Military coup of 1966 scuttled the process.
2.4 IGALA/BASSA IN
KWARA STATE
The Military exercise which created the 12 States in 1967
without consultation and consideration placed the Igala/Bassa area presently in
Kogi East Senatorial District, in Kwara State with headquarters in Ilorin. With River Niger and River Benue
separating the Igala/Bassa land from the mainland of Kwara State, the
Igala/Bassa were only mere appendages but appeared as tenants, hence the
denigration of our people as “Kwara Overseas.”
2.5 IGALA/BASSA IN
BENUE STATE 1976-1991
Once again, and in response to the dictates of
circumstances, we sought for a new opportunity and identity for our people
which will ensure continuity and homogeneity to Benue State in 1976. The essence of this was to guarantee
better social interaction and development of the State as one entity. The Igala/Bassa were in Kwara op to
1976 when they were excised and merged with the Tiv and Idoma to form Benue
State. Benue was uncomfortable for
our people because the long administration and social affinity between Idoma
and Tiv who had been in Benue province together; saw the Igala and Bassa as
strange bed fellows. Through out
the period between 1976 and 1991, when Igala and Bassa were in Benue State,
they continued to be reminded that they were not part of the deal that led to
the creation of Benue State in the first place. They were in that state of mind until the creation of Kogi
state in 1991 by the Babangida led military administration.
2.5 IGALA/BASSA IN
KOGI STATE 1991 TO DATE
With the creation of Kogi State, Igala/Bassa moved to
Lokoja to meet the Okuns, Ebiras and other ethnic groups with whom they were
together in the former Kabba province.
Instead of returning to join former allies in an atmosphere of peace,
candour and celebrity, the military brass who spearheaded the creation of Kogi
State, created discord and disharmony by favouring the part of Kogi from Kwara
in all political spheres.
The consequence is that we have remained up to the present
day one of the most rural and underdeveloped areas of this great nation despite
our vast human, natural and mineral resources. Under such a situation it could not be blamed upon our
people and other minority groups, for vigorously supporting the creation of
more states in Nigeria in order to preserve her unity and promote her fast
economic development.
The consequence is that we have remained up to the present
day one of the most rural and underdevelopment areas of this great nation
despite our vast human, natural and mineral resources. Under such a situation it could not be
blamed upon our people and other minority groups, for vigorously supporting the
creation of more states in Nigeria in
order to preserve her unity and promote her fast economic development.
2.6 AGITATION FOR THE
CREATION OF OKURA STATE SINCE 1981
During the vigorous agitation for States creation in the 2nd
Republlic between 1981-1983, Igala/Bassa people participated like other major
ethnic nationalities and submitted a request for the creation of Okura State in
May, 1981 to the national Assembly (See Annexure 12). Requests for the creation of Okura State and were submitted
to Justices Irekefe and Loius Abanefor panels on states creation, 1986 and
1995; to the National Constitutional Conference, 1995/96; (See Annexure 16) to
the last abortive, National Assembly Constitutional Review Committee and the
entire National Assembly in 2006.
It is pertinent to draw the attention of this august
committee to the earlier resolution pertaining the request for the creation of
Okura state that, that was submitted to the defunct 2nd Republic,
National Assembly in May, 1981 b the movement for the creation of Okura State
on behalf of Igala/Bassa people in the present Kogi East Senatorial District of
Kogi State.
Consequent upon the deliberations of the request submitted
to both the Senate and the House of Representatives and subsequent visit by the
members of the House of Representatives Committee on the creation of the
proposed Okura State to Anyigba to verify the signatories to the request
Memorandum for the proposed Okura State, sometime in 1982, the Senate on
Thursday 16th June, 1983 concluded proceedings and passed a
resolution recommending then proposed Okura State for referendum, having
complied with section 8 (i) (ii) (iii) of the 1979 constitution. (Refer to) National Assembly debates,
First Assembly, 4th session Senate official report, vol.3 No. 24 of
Thursdau 16th June, 1983. (pg. 11739-11754) Annexure 13).
Likewise, the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, 18th
January, 1983 concluded proceedings on the request for the Creation of Okura
State and also resolved that Okura state having satisfied the provisions of the
section 8 (i) (ii) (iii) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1979 be recommended
for referendum along with those already recommended. Ref 10) National Assembly, Fourth session, No 33, pg.89
(Annexure 15).
Since it is customary for the National Assembly to respect
the decisions their predecessors, we expect that the committee will do justice
to the request for the same Okura State which already scaled through both Hose
of the National Assembly in the past as it does not require much effort than
verification of signatories for its recommendation for referendum.
3.0 OUR REQUEST
Our memorandum is on the request for the creation of OKURA
STATE from the present Kogi State with the Capital at ANYIGBA.
3.1 LOCATION, LAND
MASS AND POPULATION
The proposed Okura State lies to the east of Kogi State
across rivers Niger and Benue, North Central Nigeria and is inhabited mainly by
Igala with other ethnic groups constituting about 15% of the total
population. Some of these ethnic
groups are Bassa Komos, Bassa-Nges, the Idomas, the Kakandas, the Egbira Mozum,
Hausa, Fulani, Ibo and Yoruba.
The proposed Okura state is bounded on the north by the
river Benue, on the South by Enugu and Anambra States, to the East by Benue
State and to the South-West by River Niger. The proposed State covers an area on 12,753.92km (Annexure
iii). It has population of
approximately One Million, Five hundred thousand (1.5M) people based on the
2006 population census figures.
The proposed Okura State should be made up of the following
31 Local Government Areas with their headquarters as outlined in the table below.
3.2 PROPOSED LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AREAS (LGAs), STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, FEDERAL HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SENATORIAL DISTRICTS AND ELECTORAL WARDS.
The proposed Okura state comprises nine (9) existing Local
Government Areas in the present Kogi State having sixty (60) districts, Ninety
seven (97) electoral wards, One Senatorial District, Three (3) Federal Constituencies and Eleven state
constituencies.
3.3 PROPOSED LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AREAS AND HEADQUARTER
S/NO Name of LGA Headquarter
1 Idah Idah
2 Ibaji Onyedega
3 Odolu Odolu
4 Igalamela Ajaka
5 Ugwolawo Ugwolawo
6 Igalogwa Aloma
7 Itobe Itobe
8 Ankpa Ankpa
9 Omala Abejukolo
10 Enjema Ofugo
11 Ojoku Okaba
12 Olamaboro Okpo
13 Imane Imane
14 Ogugu Ogugu
15 Dekina Dekina
16 Okura Egume
17 Agala Anyigba
18 Biraidu Abocho
19 Bassa Oguma
20 Gboloko Gboloko
21 Mozum Mozum
22 Ogodu Ogodu
23 Adanawo Emanyi
24 Ibaji 2 Ejule
25 Emekutu Ikebe
26 Iyale/Oganenigu Iyale
27 Akpanya/Avrugo Akpanya
28 Udaba Omala Obagaji
29 Oladihi Ibado
Akpacha
30 Ogbabede Ajogwoni
31 Udane Ogbonicha
32 Bassa East Kpanche
33 Bassa Central Akakana
3.4 PROPOSED
STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY CONSTUTUENCIES AND HEADQUARTERS.
S/NO Name of LGA Headquarters
1. Idah Idah
2. Ibaji Onyedega
3. Odolu Odolu
4. Igalamela Ajaka
5. Ugwolawo Ugwolawo
6. Igalogwa Aloma
7. Itobe Itobe
8. Ankpa Ankpa
9. Omala Abejukolo
10 Enjema Ofugo
11. Ojoku Okaba
12. Olamaboro Okpo
13. Imane Imane
14. Ogugu Ogugu
15. Dekina Dekina
16. Okura Egume
17. Biraidu Abocho
18. Bassa Oguma
19. Gboloko Gboloko
20. Mozum Mozum
21. Ogodu Ogodu
22. Adanawo Emanyi
23. Ibaji 2 Ejule
24. Emekutu Ikebe
25. Iyale/Oganenigu Iyale
26. Akpanya/Avrugo Akpanya
27. Udaba Omala Obagaji
28. Oladihi Ibado Akpacha
29. Ogbabede Ajogwoni
30. Agala Anyigba
31. Inachalo Ega
3.7 PROPOSED ELECTORAL
WARDS
A minimum of ten (10) wards are proposed for each Local
Government Area in the proposed Okura State. A total of three hundred and ten wards have been proposed
for the proposed Okura State.
4.0 VIABILITY FACTORS
The proposed Okura State is endowed with rich and abundant
human and natural resources as a key factor in any development is paramount and
thus is the greatest asset of the proposed Okura State.
4.1 GEOGRAPHICAL
FACTORS
Geographically, the area enjoys contiguous landscape and
topography. The entire area of the
proposed State is watered by two great rivers, Niger and Benue. These two rivers are important means of
transportation and fishing industry for the people.
The creation of an Okura State in this area will enable the
indigenes to address their problem of underdevelopment and poverty that is very
prevalent.
4.2 AGRICULTURAL
RESOURCES
The proposed Okura State could be termed as the food belt
of Nigeria as the abundant agricultural resources can transform the state’s
fortune if well harnessed. The
proposed state is blessed with abundant fertile soil that make it primarily
agricultural as evident in the location of the former World Bank supported
Agricultural Development Project in the area. Below is the list of some of the agricultural produce in the
proposed Okura State;
1.
Rice Bassa, Ibaji, Ife
2.
Yams All over the State
3.
Cassava All over the State
4.
Maize All over the State
5.
Palm produce All over
the State
6.
Forestry All over
the State
7.
Tomatoes Ankpa
8.
Fruits All over the State
9.
Fishing Bassa, Idah, Ibaji
10.
Poultry All over
the State
11.
Livestock
All
over the State
4.3 MINERAL RESOURCES
One of the most frequently used argument to demand for
States is economic viability, or self sustenance. If possession of mineral resources is a measure of economic
strength, Okura State is well endowed.
Some of the mineral resources of the proposed Okura State that are
capable of strengthening its economic base are shown below:-
1.
Coal Ankpa and Dekina
2.
Clay Idah, Bassa and Ankpa
3.
Iron
Ore Bassa and
Dekina
4.
Petroleum/Natural
Gas Idah,
Ankpa, Olamaboro, Omala and Bassa
5.
Salt Bassa
6.
Lime Ofu
7.
Marble Idah,
Ofu, Bassa
8.
Tin Bassa, Dekina, Ofu
9.
Limestone Ofu
10.
Gypsum Ofu, Bassa, Ankpa
11.
Uranium Idah
4.4 TOURISM POTENTIAL
Igala/Bassa land is a potential tourism destination. The people are warm and
hospitable. The weather is
Clementine; the land is green with grassland and forest. The topography is undulating as well as
flat. The rivers all all season
and fresh. There is temperate
plateau at Ogeneja for development into ranch and tourist centre. There are also many cultural monuments
and cultural festivals to attract tourists (national and international) in
fact, tourism is a golden mine waiting to be tapped in the proposed Okura State
because as part of proposed Confluence Tourism Development Project.
4.5 PROPOSED CAPITAL
AND INFRASTRUCTURE
The proposed capital city of Okura State is Anyigba. Anyigba is an old settlement situated
in the centre of the proposed Okura State. It is almost equidistant from all the boundaries of the
proposed Okura state, Anyigba has since assumed the zoned headquarters for the
Igala/Bassa because it was chosen as the permanent venue for ITALO, the Annual
Igala Cultural Festival (Now tagged Igala National Day) by one erstwhile Attah
Igala, HRM Obaje Ocheje. Anyigba
can best be described as the Igala Unity Centre, which is inscribed at its
roundabout, connecting the major highways to various places in Nigeria.
Anyigba is Kogi East Senatorial District Headquarters,
Zonal Headquarter of Kogi State ADP; the Campus of Kogi State University,
Anyigba is currently enjoying electricity supply from the Ajaokuta Power
Project and a giant 330KVA Power Station is under contruction by PHCN, and many
other facilities such as banks, primary and post primary schools are
situated in Anyigba. The Kogi State Government is currently
opening up roads in the town. It
is a principal commercial centre in Igala land. There is Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) station in
Anyigba and a Referral Hospital.
4.6 IMPORTANT TOWNS
Other important towns with suitable infrastructure to
support the administrative network/structures in the proposed Okura State
include, the Ancient Idah City where the palace of the Paramount Ruler, the
Attah Igala is situated, a Federal Polytechnic is also sited there.
Ankpa city is the commercial hub of Igala/Bassa land, and
is the Ankpa Local Government Headquarters; the Kogi State College of Education
is sited there.
Dekina is an old city that has served as the premier centre
of learning in Igala/Bassa land.
All the existing Local Government and districts headquarters have
permanent infrastructure that can be used for the take-off of the new state and
Local Government.
5.0 JUSTIFICATION FOR
THE REQUEST FOR THE CREATION OF OKURA STATE.
5.1 RETROGRESSION
As a result of deliberate distortions and political
manipulation, the Igala which forms 54% of Kogi State has been reduced to
44.27%, and there was drastic reduction in the number of representatives of our
people. Starting from the regime
of Gen. Babangida in 1985. The
Igala/Bassa people continued to witness a remarkable decline or reduced
national status in all ramifications.
Politically, Igala/Bassa areas usually were allotted one
ministerial position in the federal cabinet right from the First Republic. We also produced top administrators,
technocrats, parliamentary aids, ambassadors as our legitimate quota based on
our population and land mass. This
our natural vantage position has
been turned to a curse as we have been turned to mere human elements used to
balance political vacuum during reshuffling of states in this country.
Igala/Bassa has been winning the Governorship election in
Kogi State, not as a bitter, while they holds way at the Federal level because
of the number of their representatives in the National Assembly and in the
executive arm. The only permanent
solution to this dilemma is the granting of our request for the creation of
Okura State, as no principle and practice of rotational system can serve as
alternative because of the multi-party system in Nigeria.
5.2 POLITICAL
MARGINALIZATION
The people of
Kogi East Senatorial District (Igala/Bassa) have been marginalized in the
scheme of things in Nigeria for a long time from colonial era because they are
law abiding and accommodating.
It is one of the areas that have a reduced national status
despite her population and land mass which is more than seven of the existing
state in Nigeria today.
5.3 LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AREAS
Some of the largest LGAs in Nigeria are found in Igala
area. When Igaland was in Kwara
State, in 1969, the then Kwara State Government created six (6) Local
Government Authorities or Divisions for the Four (4) major geo-ethnic units in
the defunct Kabba province. This
were as follows:-
TABLE 1: LOCAL
GOVERNMENT DIVISIONS IN KABBA PROVINCE, 1969
A.
East of the Niger.
Main Ethnic Group
|
Local Govt. Areas
|
Population
|
Land Area
Sq.Km.
|
IGALA
|
1.
Ankpa Division
2.
Dekina
Division
3.
Idah
Division
3LGAs
|
264,987
188,703
231,300
684,880 (54%)
|
3,507
4,506
5,002
13,015
|
B.
West of the Niger
IGBIRRA
|
1.
Igbirra Division
|
325,275
|
3,279
|
KABBA (OKUN)
|
1.
Kabba
Division
|
180,037
|
7,270
|
LOKOJA/KOTON KARFE
|
1.
Kogi
Division
|
89,953
|
4,480
|
Total
|
3 LGAs
|
595,260 (46%)
|
15,027
|
SOURCE: Kwara
Statistical Digest (1974-1975, 9P 7 & 16).
Above shows that the western part now of Kogi State, made
up of Igbirra, Okun, Yoruba and Lokoja/Koton Karfe areas put together, had the
same number of Local Government Areas as Igalaland as at 1969.
The distribution of LGAs in 1991 at the creation of Kogi
State even gave a numerical advantage of the Eastern flank, (i.e the
Igala/Bassa) as follows:-
TABLE 2: LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS AT THE CREATION OF KOGI
STATE, 1991
MAIN ETHNIC GROUPS
|
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS
|
Igala (6)
|
Ankpa, Olamaboro, Deina, Bassa, Ofu and Idah.
|
Igbira (2)
|
Okene & Okehi
|
Kabba (2)
|
Kabba & Yagba
|
Kogi (1)
|
Koghi
|
Above also clearly shows that Kogi East made up mainly of
Igala and Bassan people had a total of 6 LGAs while Kogi West made up mainly of
the Igbirra, Okun (Yoruba) and Lokoja/Koton Karfe have five (5) LGAs at the creation of Kogi State in 1991. But as at today, Kogi East has a total
of Nine (9) LGAs and Kogi West has twelve (12) LGAs. This present situation in which Kogi East that came to form
Kogi State with more LGAs is superseded by Kogi West has been a source of
frustration and grievances for our people, moreso it was calculated to disrupt
the corporate entity of the state and to care our people.
TABLE 3: LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AREAS AS AT TODAY IN KOGI STATE
MAIN ETHNIC GROUPS
|
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS AS AT TODAY
|
POPULATION
(2006 CENSUS)
|
Igala/Bassa (9)
|
Ankpa, Olamaboro, Dekina, Bassa, Ofu & Idah,
Ibaji, Igalamel/Odolu, Omala
|
1,484,345
|
Igbirra (5)
|
Okene, Okehi, Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Mangogo.
|
884,396
|
Kabba (5)
|
Kabba, Yagba East, Yagba West, Ijumu, Mopar/Moro.
|
588,585
|
Kogi (2)
|
311161
|
5.4 CENSUS FIGURES
ALTERATION
Originally, the population of Kogi East was 54%, it has now
been fraudulently cut down to 44.27%.
This is most unsatisfactorily and does not augur well for peaceful
co-existence of the people in Kogi State.
Grand selfish interest was perpetrated in the 11991census,
which was largely discredited nationwide and even rejected by the 1999
Constituent Assembly due to the shameless manipulation. The current 2006 Census figures showed
that Igbirra population between 1963-2006 grew by an average of 550% while
Igala population grew by only 42% within the same period. Even with that incredible
falsification, the population figures for Kogi State as reflected for both
sides of the Niger in the 2006 census were: Kogi East (Igala/Bassa) is 1,484,345 and Kogi West (Igbirra,
Okun, Koton Karfe) is 1,794,142.
5.5 SENATORIAL
DISTRICT
Since coming to Kogi State in 1991
august, Igala/Bassa people have been retrogressively down graded. When we were in Benue State, we had one
full senatorial districts and one of our axis i.e Ankpa Axis teamed up with the
whole of Idoma land (Idoma and Oju Local Governments) and Kwer Local Government
in TV land to share a senatorial district. In Kogi State today, inspite of parity in population and
land area, Kogi East has only one (1) Senatorial District. Thhis is also a case of retrogressive
growth with grievous consequences.
5.6 FEDERAL
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
In the same way as Igala/Bassa
suffered a loss in the Upper House on leaving Benue for Kogi, so we did in the
Lower House. In the 1st
Republic Igala/Bassa representation in the House of Representatives was through
five (5) constituencies of Idah North, Idah South, Ankpa North, Ankpa South and
Dekina Bassa representative were Dr. Yahaya Atanu, Hon. Stephen Idakwo, Late
Dr. Abube Usman, Hon. Abubakar Abutu and Hon. Joel Abu.
In Kogi State today, there are Nine
(9) Federal Legislative Constituencies out which Kogi East with about 50% of
the population and about 50% of its land mass has 3 i.e just one third (1/3) of
the constituencies. This is not
only unfair but incongruous but retrogressive and degrading of humanity.
5.7 STATE
CONSTITUENCIES
Kogi East, while in Benue State had fifteen (15) State
constituencies, this has reduced to eleven (11) but Kogi West that had fewer
constituencies while in Kwara State now has fourteen (14) constituencies in
Kogi State. The resultant effect
is more constituencies were created in Kogi West and in Kogi East constituencies were merged. The negative impact of this dwindling
political fort of the people of Igala/Bassa land can only be most lamentable
and regrettable.
5.8 ELECTORAL
WARDS
Kogi East presently has 97
electoral wards which is just 40% of the total of electoral wards in Kogi
State. The remaining 142 wards
60% were allotted to Kogi West
during the distortion of the Local Government structure of the State. Ag Kogi East was short charged.
5.9 PRECEDENCE
Furthermore, the old provinces in
Nigeria have all been split into two or more state e.g Plateau province, Kano
province, etc. it is therefore not
out or place of Kabba province is constituted into two states.
In the entire former Northern
region, the Igala Native Authority (NA) was second richest native authority
coming only after Kano Native Authority, therefore believed that eh economic
viability of the proposed Okura State constituted the former Igala Native
Authority is not in doubt.
5.10 SUSTAINABILITY AND CORPORATE EXISTENCE
To debunk the argument on the
reciprocal viability, we wish to say that the demand for the proposed Okura
State is made in the belief that all the parties concerned would allow the
spirit of give and take for the sustenance and corporate existence each state.
5.11 ECONOMIC
VIABILITY
Our partners on the Western part of the River Niger are
blessed with many important Federal Government development projects such as the
multi-billion Naira Iron and Steel Complex at Ajaokuta; Itakpe Iron Ore Minning
and Dangote Cement Factory at Obajana, Okura State likewise is equally rich in
both mineral and agricultural resources to be harnessed.
5.12 ABUNDANT NATURAL
AND HUMAN RESOURCES
In addition, some states as presently constituted could not
be more viable in terms of human and natural resources when compared with the
proposed Okura State and the remaining Kogi State.
5.13 CORRECTION OF THE
INHERENT IMBALANCE AND DISTORTIONS
One of the major problems confronting the present
democratic government n Nigeria is the cry of marginalization, not only from
the disadvantaged Igala/Bassa people, but also from other minorities whose
interests have been completely ignored by the past Military regimes distortion
of Nigeria Geo-political structure because of primordial selfish interest of
some of their officers. The
lopsided creation of local government areas and constituencies in Kogi State
constituted a threat to peace, democracy and good governance especially, when
the populations concerned compete for resources which are allocated on the
basis of LGAs and constituencies.
The disadvantaged parts risked remaining in perpetual underdevelopment
if permanent remedial action is not taken.
To diffuse the intractable ethnic tensions, this dynamic
committee must look for a fair arrangement, using a democratic approach that
will guarantee peaceful co-existence between the various peoples of the
country. It is therefore important
to create states that take into account geo-ethnic balancing of the major
segments of Nigeria; so as to maintain equilibrium and avoid distortions
brought about by parochially minded ethnic champions who ignored their
responsibility to the entire nation in favour of their ethnic groups.
6.0 PRAYERS
We the Igala/Bassa people are aware of our background and
enviable position with which we are endowed, giving our numerical strength and
land mass coupled with our resourcefulness and humbleness that emanated from
our cherished socio-cultural, traditional heritage and agreed to be moved
around like “Nomadic Political Robots” from Kaduna to Ilorin to Makurdi to
Lokoja. We have also been
marginalized in many vital issues affecting our well being.
It is in the quest to ensure, justice, equity, fair play
and a sense of belonging that Igala/Bassa people are demanding for the creation
of Okura State as well as to enable them contribute positively to the political
and socio-economic development of our dear country, Nigeria.
We the Igala/Bassa people, all along merited to have a
state that we call our own to enable us have full representations at all levels
of government in Nigeria. Of
course our population and land mass are our natural endowments. Yet we have put up within much difficulties
and deprivations. We humbly make
this appeal to the august Committee and indeed the National Assembly, to take
bold steps in wiping our tears in correcting past ill treatments of our people
in this modern times, by granting our request for the creation of Okura State
with the Capital at Anyigba.
We have no iota of doubt that the National Assembly,
sustaining the transparent path you are already tredding, will ensure justice
will be done to us.
May god Almighty, grant you “King Solomon’s Wisdom” to enable
you succeed in this task.
MOSES EGENE ADAH
Alidu Jibrin
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