The people of Abi and Yakurr local government areas, in Central Senatorial District of Cross River State, have dissociated themselves from the agitation for the creation of Ogoja State.
The people from the two LGAs, who formed a coalition called Abi-Yakurr Peoples Assembly, made their position known in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting and a visit to Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River.
The communiqué, signed by Dr Sam Eno, the Secretary of the Assembly, was made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
The Assembly contended that the inclusion of Abi and Yakurr among the 11 local government areas proposed to the National Assembly to constitute Ogoja State was done in error.
They said they had earlier protested the inclusion of their local government areas in a letter written to Mr Kanu Agabi, SAN, a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, who is the leader of Ogoja State Creation Forum.
The people noted that, while they were not opposed to the creation of the new Ogoja state, they preferred to remain within Cross River.
“The meeting affirmed the inherent right of the Abi and Yakurr People to decide their political allegiance. It was unequivocally agreed that the Abi and Yakurr people desire to remain within the Cross River State.
“The importance of the Abi and Yakurr Peoples remaining within Cross River State was underscored as a critical element of their collective identity and future prosperity.
“There was also unanimous support for the creation of Ogoja State. The meeting recognised that the creation of an additional state from the current Cross River State would likely foster significant economic development.
“However, it was emphasized that Abi and Yakurr would continue to be part of Cross River State,” the communiqué read in part.
On the visit to the governor, the Assembly said they presented a formal declaration of their unwavering resolve to remain an integral part of Cross River State, contingent upon the prospective creation of Ogoja State.
They said the governor, on his part, expressed support for the Abi-Yakurr people’s preference to remain within Cross River State, recognising the enduring cultural and historical connections that bind them.
The governor also briefed the Assembly on his strategic efforts to reclaim the 98 oil wells that were extricated from Cross River State, a move pivotal to the state’s economic revitalization.
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