By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The call for the creation of Ogoja State received renewed momentum on Saturday, 19th July 2025, as prominent stakeholders from Cross River State’s northern senatorial district presented a compelling case during the South South Zonal Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution held in Calabar.
Leading the charge was former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, SAN, who submitted a memorandum on behalf of the people of the northern district. Agabi traced the historical context of state creation in Nigeria, stating that early agitations centred on the Middle Belt, Midwest and Calabar-Ogoja-Rivers (COR) states. However, rather than empowering minority groups as intended, the proliferation of states since then has, according to him, worsened the plight of these groups.
“Our agitation is not borne out of malice. It is rooted in good faith and constitutional entitlement,” Agabi declared. “The people of Ogoja have continued to suffer indignities — poor roads, lack of electricity, inadequate access to water and dysfunctional schools. Our young people have been brutalised mentally, and the majority live in squalor while leaders live in opulence.”
He added, “The creation of Ogoja State is a call to allow us take our destiny into our own hands. It is a cry for justice, equity and inclusion — a constitutional right, not a favour.”
Agabi, 79, emphasised that Nigeria’s continued survival rests on addressing structural imbalances and listening to the voices of marginalised communities. “The creation of states should continue until every community can manage its affairs,” he stressed.
Several other stakeholders echoed Agabi’s position. These included Papa Dc Enamhe, Convener of the Movement for the Creation of Ogoja State; former Cross River Chief Judge, Michael Edem Eneji; Johnny Agim, SAN; retired Commissioner of Police, Lawrence Alobi; Cletus Obun; Solomon Ekam; and Associate Professor Achi Bekomsom.
They argued that the people of the old Ogoja Province — comprising Yala, Ogoja, Bekwarra, Obudu, Obanliku, Boki, Ikom and Etung — have remained marginalised for over five decades, despite other provinces like Enugu, Abakaliki and Calabar having been granted statehood.
“The old Ogoja Province was a recognised colonial administrative unit, yet we remain the only one without a state,” Enamhe said in an exclusive interview with The Beagles News. “Creating Ogoja State would correct this historical injustice, promote development, and bring governance closer to the people.”
He commended the support of various ethnic groups and communities across the proposed state, including Obanliku, Obudu, Bekwarra, Ogoja, Yala, Ikom, Etung, Boki, Obubra, and neighbouring regions such as the Efiks, the Southern Initiative, and the Igede nation of Benue State. “We are done with the public hearing. Now is the time to lobby for the third reading,” he added.
The public hearing, which was part of a broader national constitutional review exercise, was chaired by Kingsley Chinda, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review. Chinda noted that the public engagement aimed to ensure that Nigerians actively own and shape the nation’s constitution.
“We’ve toured all the geopolitical zones, and this South-South hearing includes stakeholders from Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River,” Chinda explained. “Our task is to ensure the voices of Nigerians are reflected in the final amendments. The 10th Assembly will amend the Constitution twice before the end of its term, with the first phase to be concluded by the end of 2025.”
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, represented by his deputy, Peter Odey, applauded the committee’s effort, describing the exercise as historic and timely. “The constitution, like any living document, must evolve with time. The provisions of 1999 are no longer responsive to today’s realities,” Otu said.
The governor also called for increased inclusion of women and Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in governance and reiterated the need for a decentralised police system to enhance national security.
Apart from Ogoja, the demand for other new states — including Obolo State from Akwa Ibom, and Bori and Atlantic City states from Rivers — also featured prominently at the public hearing, signalling a broader push for structural reorganisation across the South South region.
