From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
Ogbako Ohaji Peoples Forum, the apex organisation of the people of Ohaji in Ohaji/Egbema council area of Imo State has vehemently rejected the purported inclusion of the district of Ohaji in the prosposed Orlu State Creation Bill, now before the National Assembly.
The group noted that while it is desirable for the creation of additional state in the south east for equity and fairness but that the Ohaji District belongs in Imo state.
They pointed out that the main target for the purported inclusion of Ohaji District that has no cultural affinity with Orlu or even a common boundary is her abundant oil and gas deposits, cash crops in Adapalm plantation, Obitti Rubber plantation and other monies yielding cash crops in Ohaji District.
The Position of the People was contained in a letter protest to the Senate President and made avaliable to Sunday Sun.
The protest letter which was signed by
Sir Fidelis Enyia(KSJI), National President, Dr. Theodore Amunwa, National Secretary,Com. Nwosu Nicholas Tochi
National President ,Congress of Ohaji Youth and Comr Edi Okezuo Victor
Secretary General National Congress of Ohaji Youth respectively.
It reads ,”For so long the people of South East has not left anyone in doubt that additional State needed to be carved out for the geo-political zone. This move therefore will not only correct the imbalance but goes a long way to assuage, placate and give them sense of belonging.
However, Ohaji district in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State with a population of 177,940, made up of 20 Autonomous Communities vehemently detest and reject the move to include US(Ohaji) in the proposed bill of Orlu new State.
Ohaji district inclusion in Orlu Senatorial Zone abinitio was more of political conquest and selfishness of few leaders who acquiesced to it then, hence an aberration whose time has come for correction.
Furthermore, we have no cultural and social affinity with Orlu people and political marriage should be by choice and agreement, and not by compulsion. It is the fundamental human right of Ndi-Ohaji to unanimously determine the State to belong. To that extent, we say emphatically NO to our inclusion in the new Orlu State but YES to Imo State where we rightly belong and wish to remain.”
Another point or reason for our rejection of the proposed Orlu State has to do with distance. The capital of Imo State which is Owerri is a stone throw to from any part of Ohaji town or village and can’t be more than 35 minutes drive, approximately 26 Kilometers, coming from the extreme part of Ohaji.
Whereas, the capital of the proposed Orlu State town is 69 kilometers which is roughly one 1 hour 24 minutes. Some of our communities have common boundaries with Owerri; for example, Avu, Okuku, Oforola and Obinze all in Owerri shares boundaries with Obosima, Ohoba, Umuokanne and Mgbirichi all in Ohaji. Let the proponents of the bill for new State creation tell the World where we have any boundary with Orlu people talk more of other things.”
It further read , ” Our marriage of inconvenience to Orlu people has only produced misery, deprivation, servitude and unpardonable marginalization, Owerri is the gateway of every Ohaji person as our nearest city, seconded by Port Harcourt in Rivers State. Every Catholic in Ohaji belong to Archdiocese of Owerri, same to Angelican whose Archdiocese is seated in Owerri. It would amount to unforgivable monumental error if we leave Owerri that has been our kit and kin to criss-cross towns and villages to Orlu.
There is no doubt that our abundant oil and gas deposits, cash crops in Adapalm plantation, Obitti Rubber plantation and other monies yielding cash crops are their target.
Conclusively, Ohaji will not be part of the proposed Orlu State. As much as we wish that the envisaged State in question succeeds, Ohaji will remain in Imo State.”