By Victor Lewis
The South South Zonal Public Hearing on the ongoing Constitutional Review by the Committee of the House of Representatives has been assured that if created, the proposed Ethiope State has abundant resources and capacity to survive and sustain itself, even without reliance on allocations from the Federal government.
The assurance given by a high powered Urhobo delegation to the South South Section A Public Hearing of Constitution Review that took place in Yenagoa, the Bayelsan capital, last weekend.
The delegation which comprised of Distinguished Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, Hon. Ben Etanabene, member representing Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Olorogun Dr. Wilson Omene,, amongst others, took their turns to address the Committee on the need for the creation of Ethiope State, stressing more on its viability and acceptability.
Dr. Omene who is the Publicity Director of the Committee for agitation for the creation of Ethiope State, while addressing the Committee, recalled how the Urhobo have, overtime, borne the burden of other ethnic nationalities right from the days of Midwest through to Bendel and up till now in Delta State, adding that enough is enough.
“Today, we remain the majority in Delta State, as the largest contributor to the Commonwealth of the State. And in doing that, we still carry all the baggages of our neighbors. I call it baggages because it is now a load that is straining us. So, on the basis of that we say, no, enough is enough.
“If we have been given the reciprocity by these neighbors as we have been giving to them, then there shouldn’t have been any problem. But we have been experiencing hostility from these neighbors over the years.
“I will give you one typical example. In the last administration in the state, three universities were established by the state government. Out of these three universities, two went to Delta North, one to Delta South. We, the largest ethnic nationality, not a single one was given to us.
“So, we now saw that their hostilities were getting too much and we are a people that are not given to violence. We are not known for peace. So, we feel that we should have our own state so that we can get to the grassroots of developing ourselves”, he stated.
He emphasized the viability of the proposed Ethiope State, stating that if created, will have no difficulty in sustaining itself from its abundant human and natural resources, even without waiting for federal allocation.
“Everybody is aware that you don’t just wake up to start requesting for the creation of a State. You must be economically viable to become a State. And I therefore say that the proposed Ethiope State is extremely viable. We can even boast and beat our chest that we do not even need federal allocation to survive because we have over 400 capped up and operational oil wells.
“We have the manpower to run the proposed Ethiope State very perfectly. Apart from that, we have all the agricultural produce that you can think of in Nigeria’, stated.
Omene also lamented the plight of the indigenous Urhobo tribe who are majority in Warri Township, Warri South Local Government Area, adding that they have over the years been victims of oppression, intimidation and deprivation by their hostile neighbors.
He pleaded with the Committee to include the Warri-Urhobo f Warri South Local Government Area in the proposed Ethiope State.
“I want to highlight the issue of Warri South Local Government Area. Our people, the Urhobo people there have been suffering. And we, as peace-loving people, we don’t like violence. We have tolerated them for so long. Fortunately, the Supreme Court came up with a ruling in favour of our people there. And now they are part of us. And on the basis of that we are proposing that Ethiope State should be created for us”, Omene concluded.
Earlier in his presentation, the leader of Warri-Urhobo delegation to the public hearing, Olorogun Victor Okumagba had strongly advocated the inclusion of the two Urhobo kingdoms in Warri South Local Government Area in the proposed Ethiope State.
Similarly, the member representing Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Benedict Etanabene, who presented the Bill for the creation of Ethiope State, also took his turn to reiterate the viability of the proposed State.
According to him, all his colleagues in the National Assembly from the designated area are in support of the Bill, just he said that over 9 million Urhobos from the zone have indicated their support for the creation of Ethiope State.
He said: “My elder brothers in the National Assembly, my colleagues and Urhobos in particular, we are fully in support of the creation of Ethiope State. We have almost nine million persons in Urhobo today. We don’t want to talk about in other places. So we have all the viability. Urhobo is one of the largest custodians of gas in Nigeria today. And I think and I’m convinced that the request for the creation of Ethiope State has satisfied all the requirements as specified by the Constitution.”
Summarizing the presentation of the position of the Urhobo in the Bill for the creation of Ethiope State, Senator Dafinone stated that: “I sincerely support the proposal for the creation of Ethiope State. The State will be very viable and will meet the constitutional requirements for a State.
If Ethiope State is created there will be more representations for the Urhobo people in the National level. There will also be more representations for the Urhobo people at the State level. It will be our state. We will have to accommodate other tribes, but we will dominate our state.”
Fielding questions from newsmen on the sideline, Senator Dafinone expressed optimism on the possibility of the present government to create new state, adding that he was very hopeful just he noted that it was important to get prepared so that whenever the exercise comes up, Ethiope State will be created along with others.
“I am hopeful about the constitutional review. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have gone round the country to make sure the voices of Nigerians are heard. And that should mean that the final document should represent the voices we heard all round the country. Clearly there will be issues to reconcile. There are conflicting issues if you listened very carefully and that is what we are going to do when we get back to the National Assembly – harmonize the various views and debate them again to make sure they are realistic.
“You know there are some people who hold the view that no state will be created. And if Urhobo sit at home and believe that no state will be created, and if eventually states are created, we will be left out. So, we will get there and if states are created our own Ethiope State will be one of them”, he concluded.
In a brief remark while making his submission on behalf of the people of Warri-Urhobo, Olorogun Victor Okumagba expressed the desire of the Urhobo in Warri South Local Government Area to be part of the proposed Ethiope State.
He said: “Warri-Urhobo has no discussion, consultation or interaction with the proponents, the Itsekiri people who are demanding the creation of Warri State. We therefore reject and oppose the request, because the demand is unrealistic, rather we call for and support the agitation for the creation of proper Delta State or Ethiope State.
“Without being told everybody can attest to it that Urhobo is due for a State. Therefore, the demand is justifiable.”
COMMENTS