The Space of Representatives has handed a invoice thru its 2nd studying, aimed on the founding of Ogoja Surrounding within the South-South geo-political zone.
The invoice, subsidized by means of Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in Go River Surrounding, along two others, seeks to amend Category 8 of the 1999 Charter to facilitate the founding of every other order within the area.
the controversy at the invoice’s common rules on Thursday, Offiono equipped a historic evaluation, pointing out: “To totally recognize the injustice confronted by means of the public of Ogoja, it is very important to inspect Nigeria’s historical past of order founding. Following the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates, 24 provinces, together with Ogoja, had been established.
“Under regional administration, from 1956 in the Eastern and Western Regions, and from 1957 in the Northern Region, these provinces persisted, including Ogoja. The era of state creation began on 27 May 1967, when the Supreme Military Council, under General Yakubu Gowon, created 12 states by grouping 10 regions, replacing the provinces.”
Offiono defined how the provinces had been consolidated into higher states, pronouncing: “Within the North, provinces had been grouped into six states: North East, North West, North Central, Kano, Kwara, and Benue/Plateau. The Japanese Area used to be re-organised into 3 states: East Central, South East, and Rivers. The Western Area used to be divided into 3 states: West, Midwest, and Lagos.
“In 1975, seven new states were created by General Murtala Mohammed’s administration, increasing the total to 19. Further state creation in 1987 and 1991 brought the number of states to 21 and then 30, yet Ogoja was excluded each time.”
Making his case for the proposed order, Offiono wired that Ogoja, an untouched province, merits to fix the ranks of states with sooner regional enlargement.
“Ogoja, with a population of over two million and a landmass of 12,158 square kilometres, boasts significant economic viability, driven by fertile farmlands. It is abundant in cash crops like cocoa, banana, rice, rubber, and groundnuts, and has rich mineral resources such as limestone, sodium chloride, quartz, and barite. Furthermore, the area includes notable tourism destinations like Obudu Cattle Ranch and Agbokim Waterfall.”
Offiono concluded by means of pointing out that the founding of Ogoja Surrounding would free up the possibility of cities like Obudu, Wanakom, and Gakem, fostering regional building.