OGBAKO OHAJI PEOPLE’S FORUM
IDI N’OTU NA OGANIHU
Head Office: Ohaji District Headquarters
Umuokanne, Ohaji, Imo State, Nigeria
The Senate President,
National Assembly,
Federal Republic of Nigeria,
FCT, Abuja.
RE: PROPOSED ORLU STATE : THE POSITION OF OHAJI NATION
The above organization is the Apex Social Cultural body and speaks for the good people of Ohaji District in conjunction with the other stakeholders. The organization wholly and entirely supports and commends the bill for the creation of states.
For so long, the people of South East have not left anyone in doubt that at least an additional state is needed to be carved out from this geopolitical zone. This move would not only correct the atrocious imbalance among the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria but would go a long way to assuage, placate and give them an equivalent sense of belonging.
However, the Ohaji Nation which is bigger than four Local Government Areas in some parts of Imo State is regrettably merged with Egbema. Ohaji Nation which has almost four hundred thousand (400,000) people in population made up of twenty five (25) recognized autonomous communities and seven (7) INEC political wards unanimously, unequivocally, and vehemently reject any attempt to include us in the creation of Orlu State or any other geopolitical contraption so named.
It is even more egregious and insulting that even as we write, none of the promoters of such phantom proposals, have thought it necessary to reach us as they have taken us for granted that we must acquiesce to their plans. It is pertinent to emphasize that the inclusion of Ohaji District in Orlu Senatorial zone abini-tio was an aberration as it was an inconvenient political marriage for strange bed fellows that was merely driven by greed, selfishness, annexation, conquest, bribery of a few leaders who acquiesced to this aberration but thank God , the time has come for it’s correction.
It is imperative to recall that a review of the political and historical development of Ohaji people is replete with facts and evidence showing that they had always wished to be in Imo State and this is provable from the following instances.
1 JUSTICE IRIKEFE 1975 COMMISSION THAT LED TO THE CREATION OF IMO STATE:
It is an incontrovertible fact that some illustrious Ohaji/Egbema sons and Ezes such as the Late Eze A. U. Assor, Chief C. N. Ogbuehi, Eze K. O. Ekwueme, and other prominent leaders articulated and presented their demand to remain in Imo State as against Rivers State and the commission granted their demand.
2. JUSTICE MAMMAN 1976 BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS COMMISSION AFTER THE CREATION OF IMO STATE
Evidence abound that the above named Ohaji/Egbema leaders with other Ohaji illustrious sons at the Umuapu sittings of the commission insisted to remain in Imo State and their request was granted by placing Ohaji/Egbema LGA in the defunct Owerri Province.
3. APPENDIX I AND II IN A MEMO SUBMITTED BY OWERRI OKIGWE , OHAJI AND EGBEMA LEADERS OF THOUGHT FOR THE CREATION OF NJABA STATE
According to the memorandum dated 12th January, 2009, signed by the leaders from Okigwe, Owerri, Ohaji and Egbema shown in appendix I which is a resolution signed by the leaders of Owerri and Okigwe zones with appendix II which is a resolution signed by all Ezes in Ohaji, Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas, all indicated their resolve to remain in Imo State but supported the creation of New State in the South East.
4. SEPARATE MEMO SUBMITTED BY OHAJI AND EGBEMA ON THE QUESTION OF CREATION OF STATE OUT OF SOUTH-EAST GEO-POLITICAL ZONE
Furthermore, in a memorandum dated May 12th, 2008. It was expressly stated that at several meetings of the elders, leaders of thoughts, Town Union Presidents, Youth Leaders, and other stakeholders of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, factors such as history, previous constituency delineations, cultural links, dialect, religious links, educational and geopolitical links obviously proved to all and sundry a long-standing affinity from time immemorial with the Owerri zone. Consequent upon these geopolitical, Ecclesiastical, political, educational, social, security, accessibility ties. Ohaji and Egbema rejected belonging to any state other than Imo state with Owerri as capital .
5. In our last letter to your office dated 11th June, 2024, this body reiterated that we have no cultural and social affinity with Orlu people. That political alliance and relationship should be by choice and agreement and not by compulsion and to that extent we say empathically NO to our inclusion in the New Orlu State but YES to Imo State where we rightfully belong and wish to remain due to proximity, religious and boundary ties.
Conclusively, we , like our forefathers and late Distinguished leaders would not shift ground that Ohaji District will be not part of the proposed Orlu State. As much as we support that the envisaged state in question succeeds. Ohaji with and insist we remain in Imo State or any state that does not have Orlu as capital.
It is our prayer that our letter would be given utmost attention as it is our fundamental right to determine where we should belong.
Signed:
High Chief Sir Fidelis Enyia (KSJI)
National President (Dikeoha Ohaji)
OGBAKO OHAJI PEOPLE’S FORUM
Hon Chief Johnbosco Ben
Chairman
OGBAKO OHAJI COMMITTEE ON STATE CREATION
Dr. Theodore Amunwa
National Secretary
OGBAKO OHAJI PEOPLE’S FORUM
Prof. Meshack Ifurueze
Secretary
OGBAKO OHAJI COMMITTEE ON STATE CREATION
Comr. Nwosu Nicholas Tochi
National President of Ohaji Youth Congress (NACOY)
Cc;
(i ) Senator Osita Izunaso
Senator Representing Orlu Senatorial Zone
(ii) Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu
Member, Representing Ohaji/Egbema| Oguta | Oru West Federal Constituency
(iii ) Hon. Dr. Uzoma Francis Osuoha
Member, Representing Ohaji/Egbema in Imo State House of Assembly.
(iv ) Hon. Ugochinyere Micheal Ikeagwuonu
Member, Federal House of Representatives, Abuja
