DO NOT
PUSH US TO THE WALL, EGBEMA PEOPLE WARNS LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT.
It becomes a trend whenever a section of
river state coughs owning definitely too some slight against her by the state
government. Some of the slight could range from: Lack of Recognition by a
Government which they overwhelmingly helped into power, when they are exploited
and neglected by some foreign oil extracting companies which they play host to.
Lack of Basic Amenities among other sacrosanct needs and issues common among
embittered people in River State. The wondrous question however to ask, would
be: When will the Egbema situation become a trend? When will the voice of the
marginalized, abandoned and impoverished and yet resourceful Kingdom be heard?
When will her plight as the world most forgotten and unknown status be changed
for good? When will Egbema Kingdom (one of the three resourceful kingdom that
makes up ONELGA, the second most resource endowed and oil-rich local Government
of Nigeria) become recognized in her own state where, arguably she accounts for
15% of the total revenue for the state and as a local Government (ONELGA) Some
18% of Nigeria’s total income? Well, your guess is good as mine.
The Egbema people of River state prior to 2015 Gubernatorial election
welcomed and showered the wike-led Government with unflinching support. This
was reflected in the massive turnout of votes recorded in the favour of the
Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). Abinito, the kingdom once more believed in the
juicy promises of what would be a usual and common political rhetoric common
among politicians.
Apparently, the people are amazed and too dump for speech as they have
been relegated to the background in the scheme of things in river state. The
Gov. Wike led state government has made numerous appointments, setting up committees,
confirmed awards and the likes for the purposes of delivering a framework that
will take the state to the next level. Sadly as we have noted, these
appointments and all other constituting bodies established, Geared at
developing Rivers State does not genuflect his promises to the Egbema people.
As the day goes, the neglect increases, leading to all manner of crime
and exploitation in the region by the bigwigs (political desperadoes) and multi-nationals
they play host to their explosive installations. (Nigeria Agip oil Company
limited, & co.).
However, our major grievance’s is not with the multi-nationals operating
in our land, but with the River state Government and political bulldozers in
ONELGA whom choose to play politics with the lives of its people.
Many at times we ask again the following questions:
*Are we really Rivers people?
* Why must we beg our state
government for appointment and recognition in a state we contribute more than
20% of its income revenue?
*Why is it that we have been
denied access to government house to seek for an audience with our state
Governor?
The River state governor cannot
denial knowledge of the fact that the people of EGBEMA gave him the highest
number of votes in ONELGA despite the undeserved number of (2 electoral wards)
it has against the 17 electoral wards in OGBA/EGBEMA/NDONI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
OF RIVER STATE.
We wish to remind the State
Governor all his campaign promises to us EGBEMA prior to the 2015 gubernatorial
election and after in the state that brought about his emergence.
·
VOTE FOR ME, AND LET ME SEE ANY OIL COMPANY THAT WE
SAY EGBEMA PEOPLE WILL NOT ENJOY WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO THEM. (GOV. WIKE
FEBRUARY 14TH 2015).
·
I WILL GIVE YOU A COMMISSIONER SLOT (POSITION) IN MY
ADMINISTRATION.
·
I WILL CONSTRUCT EGBEMA MGBEDE-AGGAH ROAD. (GOV WIKE).
·
I WILL UPGRADE THE OKWUZI-EGBEMA GENERAL HOSPITAL,
WHERE IS THE COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH HON. DR. ODAGME THEOPHILUS GO NOW TO
EGBEMA AND DO YOUR ASSESSMENT BEFORE RETURNING TO PORT HARCOURT. (GOV. WIKE
DECEMBER 3RD 2016)
·
I WILL VISIT EGBEMA AGAIN BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR
(GOV. WIKE DECEMBER 3RD AT THE FLAG-OFF THE OMOKU GENERAL HOSPITAL)
·
I WILL DUALIZE
THE OMOKU- EGBEMA ROAD ( GOV. WIKE FEB 14TH 2015 & DECEMBER 3RD
2016.
·
I WILL CONSTRUCT INTERNAL ROADS IN EGBEMA. (GOV. WIKE
FEB 14TH, 2015 & DECEMBER 3RD 2016)
OUR DEMANDS REMAINS:
1. GIVE US A COMMISSIONER’s POSITION
2.
GRANT THE REQUEST OF
OUR EGBEMA ELITES FOR THE RECOGNITION OF OUR ROYAL STOOL. THE NZE-OBI STOOL OF
EGBEMA KINGDOM AS A 1ST CLASS STOOL IN THE STATE, THE EZE-ALI STOOLS
AS 2ND CLASS AND EZE –EZHI STOOL AS 3RD CLASS IN THE
SATE. These will relief us of the fear of not been forgotten and neglected in
the Socio-cultural practice and genuine representation in our Golden state.
3. Review and correct the electoral ward injustice in
OGBA/EGBEMA/NDONI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA of River State.
4. Kick start the OMOKU- EGBEMA ROAD dualization. The
Road is in a very deplorable state.
5. Use your good position as the state governor to compel
the Italian oil giant (NAOC) to pay the 1billionaira environmental and aquatic
damage suit by the Egbema people to the NIGERIAN AGIP OIL COMPANY LIMITED. This
was as a result of their company’s equipment failure which caused a lot of
health hazard in the region. More so, the damages caused from using poor and
substandard equipment is not in favour of the Nigerian Law as a condition for
operation by foreign investors.
6. We need an information technology center (ITC) in
egbema. With this, students of the region and beyond will be sure of a jamb
computer based test center and other computer related examinations. It is
regrettable that OGBA/EGBEMA/NDONI L.G.A has no JAMB CBT CENTER. NOT UNTIL FEW
DAYS TO THE 2017 JAMB REGISTRATION CLOSSURE WHEN FEDERAL COLLEDGE OF EDUCATION
TECHNICAL OMOKU WAS GIVEN A CENTER. By the time the center was given virtually,
all Onelga students whom were candidates for the exams had gotten the jamb form
and posted to distanced places far away from home which then require spending.
Ordinarily if we had an IT CENTER in Egbema, this will not have happen. Parents
will save cost.
7. Apart from projects sited by oil companies in our
land, the EGBEMA people cannot boost of any state or federal Government project
in her Kingdom. We need state government’s project in Egbema. The street
lights, transformers in Egbema are not functioning. The dilapidated government
properties like the Egbema grammar school okwuzi, Community secondary school
Mgbede, Community Girls Secondary school aggah needs renovations and probably a
reconstruction. What about our customary & Magistrate court buildings? We
will love our streets to look as shining as the streets of Port Harcourt at
night were street lights are mounted on every electric pole. Or is Port
Harcourt the only place in river state?
8. OUR ONLY OKWUZI-EGBEMA GENERAL HOSPITAL needs urgent
attention as the structures and health facilities used there are below standard
and needs replacement. Its Building needs restructuring and more health experts
should be employed to cub health related challenges of our sick ones.
9. Appoint more EGBEMA SONS AND DAUGTHERS IN YOUR
CABINET. We need to have representatives at the brick house. Sad enough we
cannot boost of any son of egbema holding a lucrative position in the state. Until
that is done, we stand to continually be neglected.
10.Move some of your projects to Egbema. Port Harcourt
is too congested. All developmental projects must not be sited in Port Harcourt.
Think about building a tourist attraction with OUR NKISA EBOCHA River IN
EGBEMA. This, if executed by the state or Local government will be a good
source of income for the local and state Government. Example Obudu cattle ranch
in cross River state, tinapia, lagos bar beach and lots more. These are tourist
attractions in different state controlled and managed by the state government.
We still say thank you for providing us with THE PORT HARCOURT PLEASURE PARK.
These and many others too numerous to mention, are our
request to the state Government. Not
forgetting the just concluded politicized
awards from the Golden jubilee committee were more than 127 nominees were given
an award and not even a single award came to Egbema. Your Excellency, indirectly it is to say that Egbema have not affected
the State Positively. We in a loud voice condemn such awards because it lacks
inclusiveness and the committees did not make enough findings and research
before coming up with such nominees. however, We forgive that but vow not to
keep quiet the next time such a calculated denial of citizenship right of our
people is hijacked at the center. However, we wish to say “that our
Kingdom’s silence and non-involvement in violent participation in the state
should not be used as a reason to continually neglect and abandon us”. To earn
our support come 2019, the state Government must make us feel its positive
impact in terms of development, empowerment and equal representation in the
affairs of our state. The people of Egbema have vowed to continually support His
Excellency the Governor in any way he needs our help. While calling on him to
always be a “collective leader” which we have known him for.
May God bless our Governor His Excellency!
LONGLIVE RIVER STATE,
LONGLIVE ONELGA, &
LONGLIVE
EGBEMA KINGDOM!!!
SIGNED:
COMR. I.E.KELLY RUFUS
(LEADER EGBEMA MASSIVE MOVEMENT)
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