EGBIRA VOICE WORLDWIDE PRESS RELEASE

The President, 

H.E, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,

Commander in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces, 

Aso villa, Abuja.

NIGERIA’S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT AND EGBIRA PEOPLE’S CONTRIBUTIONS, JUXTAPOSED WITH CASES OF DENIED DIVIDENDS: HAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA BEEN FAIR TO THE EGBIRAS?

 Introduction:

We, the Egbira ethnic nationality have been following the recent ugly development around Egbira nation in Nigeria as it affects our political Representatives and infrastructural developments in the land. The entire Egbira nationality is by this concern compelled to speak out and to draw the attention of Nigerians and Nigerian leaderships at all tiers of  government to the grave abandonment of the Nigeria’s historical background of which the Egbira Nationalists in our various settlements across Nigeria, which includes, Egbira Abaji in FCT, Egbira Agatu in Benue state, Egbira Panda in Plateau state, Egbira Etuno (Akoko-Edo) in Edo state, Egbira koton karfe/ Lokoja in kogi state, Egbira Mosum in kogi state, Egbira Toto in Nassarawa state and Egbira Opete/Tao in kogi state Central Senatorial District as majority-minority tribes has sacrificed for the political development before, during and after the Nigeria’s Independence in 1960.

It’s worthy of note that, Egbira tribal people were among the first ten recognized distinct tribes in Nigerian history.

It is against this background that we want to remind the Nigerian leaderships and Nigerians in general that we are not a “pushover” in Nigeria’s political development despite the fact that we have not been given our rightful place in the scheme of things, nationally.

For avoidance of any doubts and to buttress our assertion, we shall mention but a few, great personalities who stomp their feets in the struggles for Nigeria’s independence. The following great and worthy sons and daughters of Egbira extractions who have made sacrifices before, during and after Nigeria’s Independence readily comes to mind;

In 1902 when the greater parts of Nigeria were in the dark, an Egbira son named Alh. Owuda Adidi was appointed as a political agent of the British administration.

In 1903, other Egbira sons, like, Alh. Atta Omadivi and Alh. Ibrahim Onoruoyiza were also appointed as political agents of the British administrations which marked the beginning of British administration in Egbiraland (The present day Kogi Central Senatorial district) and Northern Nigeria.

In 1944, a bold and forthright young Egbira son, Alh. Habib Raji Abdullah played a vital role in the formation of NCNC for the attainment of national unity and political enlightenment of Nigerian people, he delivered a historic ninety minutes paper presentation in a conference towards the Nigeria’s national struggle for independence and declared inter-alia, thus: “This iniquitous British government in Nigeria is determined to keep us as slaves forever and the only way out as I see it and as I know it, is for every one of us to declare himself free and independent and be resolved to stand by that declaration and damn the consequences, if any”.

In 1946-1962, the political leaders of Nigeria which included Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Alh. Muhammad Sanusi, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alh. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa visited and made Egbiraland a political catchment campaign home.

Amb.Abdulmalik Atta- He was the first Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Britain who was handed over and delivered the Nigeria’s “Letter of independence” from Queen of England to the Nigerian government.

Alh. AbdulAzeez Atta He was the Secretary to Federal Government of Nigeria and Head of Civil Service during Gen. Yakubu Gown’s regime.

Alh. Habib Raji Abdallah, he was a frontliner in the struggle for Nigeria Independence. He was also handed over and delivered the UNION JACK, a symbol of sovereign Nigeria to the Nigerian government. And host of other eminent first-class sons and daughters of the Egbira Nationalists in their various chosen endeavors in the service and development of Nigeria till date.

It is important to state here that the Igbira Tribal Union (ITU) and Igbira Progressive Union (IPU) were fused together to form part of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), Late (Dr) Alh. Abdulrahman Okene was the Chairman of Northern Elders Forum, late George Ohikere was a Federal Minister of Works during the First Republic, In 1979 Alh. Adamu Atta was elected First, executive governor of Kwara State, Sen.Engr. A.T Ahmed- First Managing Director of Nigeria Airport Authority who established fourteen airports across Nigeria under his watch, H.E,Alh. Dr. Yahaya Bello broke the jinx of oppressive governance to become elected executive governor of Kogi State in 2016 and changed the developmental narrative of kogi state who was succeeded by amiable, H.E, Alh. Usman Ahmed Ododo and several others who are too numerous to mention here. They have all made sacrifices in the services to Nigeria with dint of honesty, forthrightness and hard work.

Looking back therefore, Egbira people have a towering historical background that cannot and will not be allowed to be overlooked or be misconstrued by Nigerians in the contemporary Nigeria. 

 THE ISSUES AT STAKE

Consequently, we wish to draw the attention of Nigeria’s leadership and the general public to some democratic dividends that we have been denied in our region which includes the Itakpe and Ajaokuta Steel industry since 1979 till date. Egbira nation of Kogi Central Senatorial District is the country’s gateway to the nation’s capital as well as a host community to Ajaokuta steel, the hope of industrialization in Africa and the world at large. In fact, in the appointment of Ministers of the Solid Mineral Resources Development Ministry and the Head of Ajaokuta Steel company which Egbira is the host community was sometimes denied us, let alone the employment policy of 60% for the host communities where government establishments are located is not being implemented in favor of Egbiras which cannot be acceptable in the oil host communities of the Niger Delta region, yet we maintained peace.

 In recent times, it will be recalled that a joint private owned NLG made a ground breaking ceremony/foundation laying in its attempt to site 5 LNG stations in Ajaokuta local Government Area, in Kogi Central Senatorial District, Kogi State. The said project has caused political interest, turmoil and legislative conspiracy against our female Senate Representative (Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-uduaghan) which erupted following the LNG location in Kogi state to serve Nigerians has become a serious concern to be worried about.

The abysmal misdemeanor of the Senate President towards the Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-uduaghan was a pent-up anger arising from the foundation laying of five LNG stations at Ajaokuta Steel Company limited which took place on January 30, 2025 as part of implementation of already plans of the government in the past.

The President of the Senate, Distinguished Godswill Akpabio had accused Senator Natasha Akpoti-uduaghan representating Kogi Central Senatorial District of “diverting” the Niger Delta’s resources to the Northern states because of the LNG stations project in Ajaokuta. 

Upon her return to Abuja from the historic foundation laying ceremony, the Senate President unjustly removed Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-uduaghan as the “Chairman” Senate Committee on Local Content, a position which he (Senator Akpabio) thought gave Akpoti the privilege to facilitate such projects to be sited around Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited which certified the environmental impacts conditions.

Surprisingly, there was ethnic sponsored protest from South -south geo-political zone, calling for the stoppage and relocation of the LNG stations same which the foundations were already being laid in Ajaokuta to the Niger Delta area, specifically within Urhobo community.

The chairman, Urhobo Oil and Gas Community led by one Dr. Ominimini, a Senior Legislative Assistant in the office of Senate President made a call in one of the national dailies calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to jettison the project.

Permit us to categorically state here that, threats and violence are not an exclusive right of anyone or group(s) of people, whoever that is threatening to cause destruction to other national facilities or the LNG location in Ajaokuta from where National railway line run through to other parts of the country, not to forget that Kogi state is strategically a gateway to both North and Southern Nigeria.

However, all these while we have chosen to maintain peace, brotherhood and to allow for the general well-being of all Nigerians, for a quick reminder, any attempt by the Niger Delta organization to disrupt the LNG stations in Ajaokuta will be matched with action and the nation will be at the receiving end of it all.

The drama of (Thursday 20, February, 2025) on the floor of the Senate was a cursory reaction to an unpleasant development between the President of the Senate and Senator Natasha Akpoti-uduaghan arising from resource control.

Her removal at the very point in time from the Local Content Committee hugely interprets the anger and the conspiracy against the LNG stations in Kogi Central Senatorial District, and indeed northern Nigeria.

WHICH RESOURCES WAS USED TO DEVELOPED THE OIL IN THE NIGER DELTA?

It is worthy to mention here that before the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta areas, the colonial Masters collapsed South-South into southern protectorate between Eastern protectorate and western protectorate using Northern revenues to develop the three Protectorates, respectively, inclusive of the so-called oil and gas in the Niger Delta for inclusive development.

Below are the revenue generations figures from the three protectorates to the Central Fund between 1939-40 to 1947-48.

For the years in reference, the Northern protectorate contributed 4, 883,028, Eastern protectorate contributed 1, 052, 882 and Western protectorate contributed 842,969. 

Total= 6, 762, 879.

 Source: Schedule III, Actual Provincial Revenue Contributions to the Central Fund during the colonial era without Oil exploration.

Having analysed the oneness in Nigeria’s spending, using Northern resources before the discovery and exploration of oil in the Niger-Delta region, I wish to appeal to the sensibility of the conspirators to see Nigeria as one indivisible nation, and to believe in the overall development of the country for the benefit of all. 

Enough have been done for the Niger Delta as several Development Commissions, including Amnesty program, 13% derivations, OMPADEC/NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta, and indeed, several empowerment programs which were to their own advantage. 

The siting of LNG at Ajaokuta is a national development, and not regional benefits as envisaged by the Urhobo community kingpin. Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited is a national asset and a lasting heritage which can transform Nigeria’s industrialization drives to arrive at our desired destination for national stability. 

Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited has suffered untold conspiracy for forty (40) years of a project that was near completion in the 80s. The Egbira nation, the host community will not fold her arms this time around and watch any obstacles and /or individual persons working against its completion since your administration has shown much commitment towards its completion. 

 Our Prayers

1. The press conference is to seek your Excellency’s intervention to advise the President of the Senate to maintain neutrality for the integrity of the nation’s highest legislative body.

      2. Presidential pronouncement on the no-going back on the establishment of the NLG stations at Ajaokuta being a national project aimed at reviving the steel company for nation building is necessary.

3. The NNPCL management is hereby called upon to ignore the call for the jettison or relocation of the NLG stations at Ajaokuta and sees the author of such a call as enemy of the Nigerian State. It will be a national shame and embarrassment of the highest order that an individual or tribal group in their delusive and tribal lust stands against the national project aimed at reviving a moribund national asset. 

4. We wish to remind H.E, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for the revival of the Federal government proposal to establish a Refinery in Kogi state by the former president Dr.Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) for which the Late Ohinoyi of Egbira HRM, (Dr.) Ado Ibrahim CON, allocated land area of 450 Hectares with a preliminary survey plan and an area Map at IBOGIRI-IN EBIYA DISTRICT ALONG OKENE/AJAOKUTA ROAD IN AJAOKUTA LGA, KOGI STATE with a forwarded detailed letter of offer ref.no. HM/MVL/PRE/07/26 dated 26th July,2010 which was in progress before the end of the regime, and government is a continuum.

 Economic value chain of the NLG to the country’s GDP and growth are as follows: 

1. Job Creation: An NLNG station in Ajaokuta will create employment opportunities for the local and Nigeria populace, both during the construction phase and in the long term.

2. Revenue Generation: The NLNG stations will generate revenue for the local, state and federal governments through taxes, royalties, and other fees.

3. Stimulation of Local Economy: The presence of an NLNG station will stimulate the local economy and environs by attracting other businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and shops.

Industrial Benefits

1. Synergy with Ajaokuta Steel Company: The NLNG stations will provide a reliable source of energy for the Ajaokuta Steel Company, enabling it to operate at optimal levels.

• Development of Industrial Cluster: The NLNG stations will engender the development of an industrial cluster in the region, attracting other subsidiary industries that can utilize the energy and infrastructure.

• Increased Industrial Activity: The presence of an NLNG station will increase industrial activity in the region, leading to increased production and economic growth.

Energy Benefits

1. Reliable Energy Supply: The NLNG station will provide a reliable source of energy for the region, reducing the reliance on grid electricity and fuel generators.

      2. Increased Energy Security: The NLNG station will increase energy security for the region, reducing the risk of energy shortages and disruptions.

      3. Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The use of natural gas as a fuel source will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment.

Regional Benefits

1. Increased Investment: The presence of an NLNG station will attract increased investment to the region, stimulating economic growth and development.

      2. Improved Infrastructure: The NLNG station will require the development of   supporting infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and utilities, which will benefit the local community Nigerians in general.

National Benefits

1. Increased Natural Gas Utilization: The establishment of an NLNG station in Ajaokuta will increase the utilization of natural gas in Nigeria, reducing the reliance on imported fuels.

• Improved Energy Mix: The use of natural gas as a fuel source will improve Nigeria’s energy mix, reducing the dominance of oil and increasing the share of cleaner fuels.

• Economic Growth and Development: The NLNG station will contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and development, increasing revenue, creating jobs, and stimulating industrial activity

In conclusion, we most humbly appreciate Your Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for giving listening ears to the concerns raised herein, and your zeal to transform Nigeria’s economy to reflect the reality on ground. Your several economic reform policies are working wonders in reshaping Nigeria’s image in the comity of nations across the globe.

Thank you for your anticipated action and positive attention to our clarion call your Excellency.

Nigeria shall be great again.

Convener:

Prince Ibrahim Anas (President General)

Dr. Kenneth S S Enebe (Secretary General)

Dr. Nasir Onujagbe (Deputy Sec.General)

For: EGBIRA VOICE WORLDWIDE