From David Onuoja, Abuja
In order to fulfill all righteousness towards the creation of Okura State, the Committee driving the initiative, led by Chief Robert Audu, the Agenyi Attah Igala, has submitted its Memorandum with all the requirements to the National Assembly Committee on the Constitution Review.
Recently, the National Assembly Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution and creation of a new state, asked those who earlier submitted their Memorandum to go back and follow all the due process before coming back for their submission.
The Committee’s delegation, accompanied by Chief Audu to the National Assembly, are: Engr. Alfa Ibn Mustapha, Dr. Yakubu Ugwolawo, Secretary of the Movement, Prof. Godwin Ogbadu, Dr. James Aduku Odaudu, Hon. Bala Zakari, Mr Emmanuel Labija Oliya, and Hon. Salihu Ameh.
The said Memorandum, which was formally accepted and acknowledged by the National Assembly, outlined the rationale and justification for the creation of Okura State.
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This proposed state it said, would comprise nine local government areas in the Eastern Senatorial District of Kogi State, which include Ankpa, Bassa, Olamaboro, Dekina, Ibaji, Idah, Igalamela-Odolu, Ofu and Omala Local Government.
The creation of Okura State has been a longstanding demand of the people of the region, who have been advocating for greater autonomy and self-governance. The region is blessed with abundance of natural resources such as petroleum, multiple coals, limestone, marine and agricultural resources, tourism potentials among others.
Similarly, the Committee used the opportunity to also submitted a separate “Memorandum” seeking for consequential legislation for the creation of additional local government areas from the existing ones in Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji, Idah, Igalamela-Odolu, Ofu, Olamaboro and Omala.
It is worth noting that the local government areas in question, were earlier created during the administration of Prince Abubakar Audu but were later abolished, just like it was done in Lagos State under the then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President. The committee is now seeking the restoration of the local governments through legislation.
The Committee believed that Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated the political will and determination to correct the past injustices, especially as they relate to states and local government creation exercises.
Okura State Movement and stakeholders, strongly believe that their submission meets with the initial constitutional requirements and will be closely watching the National Assembly’s response and the subsequent steps, that will be taken to bring the dream of the creation of Okura State and the restoration of the scrapped local governments into reality.
This, was backup, supported, and encouraged by the Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Senator Jibrin Isah (Echocho), the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Abdullahi Ibrahim (Halims) representing (Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro), Hon. David Zacharias (Idah/Ibaji/Ofu/Igalamela-Odolu), and Hon. Paul Gowon Haruna (Dekina/Bassa).
Okura State Movement in their submission, makes it clear that the quest for the creation of the state is not an agitation borne out of any perceived marginalisation or animosity with other groups in the present Kogi State, but driven purely by the desire to bring development closer to the people and open more windows of opportunities to the people of the area.
