Okiro Seeks Creation Of Councils In Oil-Producing Communities In Rivers, Imo

Former Inspector-General of Police and erstwhile Chairman Police
Service Commission (PSc) Sir Mike Okiro has alleged that his ethnic
nationality, Egbema, is being marginalised and relegated to the
background.

Okiro, who is the national leader of Ogbakor Egbema Alinso,
urged the Federal Government to create a local government to
include all oil-producing communities of Egbema in Rivers and Imo
states.

He said creating the council would allow the oil-producing
people of Egbema to have a voice and representations on national
issues.

Okiro said: “Egbema needs to be united. Unfortunately, Egbema is
divided into two, Egbema in Rivers and Egbema in Imo State. These
two set of people are the same. The same language, the same
culture. Egbema has 16 towns, 13 are in Imo State, while three are
in Rivers State.

“We were all originally in Rivers under the Old Ahoada Division
before they created part of it into Oguta Division. Oguta was a
district council, but later became a division. We are one.”

He lamented that the ethnic group remained a minority in two
local governments in Imo and Rivers states.

Wokocha Raymond, former chairman of ONELGA, said: “Egbema is a
very important segment in Nigeria. We have contributed a lot to the
Nigerian economy, yet we have nothing to show for it.

“Despite the number of oil wells we have, we have not produced a
representative in the NDDC. We have been denied even appointment
into the executive council (exco).””

Former Inspector-General of Police and erstwhile Chairman Police
Service Commission (PSc) Sir Mike Okiro has alleged that his ethnic
nationality, Egbema, is being marginalised and relegated to the
background.

Okiro, who is the national leader of Ogbakor Egbema Alinso,
urged the Federal Government to create a local government to
include all oil-producing communities of Egbema in Rivers and Imo
states.

He said creating the council would allow the oil-producing
people of Egbema to have a voice and representations on national
issues.

Okiro said: “Egbema needs to be united. Unfortunately, Egbema is
divided into two, Egbema in Rivers and Egbema in Imo State. These
two set of people are the same. The same language, the same
culture. Egbema has 16 towns, 13 are in Imo State, while three are
in Rivers State.

“We were all originally in Rivers under the Old Ahoada Division
before they created part of it into Oguta Division. Oguta was a
district council, but later became a division. We are one.”

He lamented that the ethnic group remained a minority in two
local governments in Imo and Rivers states.

Wokocha Raymond, former chairman of ONELGA, said: “Egbema is a
very important segment in Nigeria. We have contributed a lot to the
Nigerian economy, yet we have nothing to show for it.

“Despite the number of oil wells we have, we have not produced a
representative in the NDDC. We have been denied even appointment
into the executive council (exco).””