Posted by By Joe Kalu on
The people of Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have threatened to pull out of the state and join their kits and kins in Rivers State if their indigenes are not appointed to represent the state on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The people of Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have threatened to pull out of the state and join their kits and kins in Rivers State if their indigenes are not appointed to represent the state on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The community has also threatened to burn down the oil station located at Owaza.
The feelings of the community was made public during a peaceful demonstration embarked upon by the youths in Umuahia last week.
At the Government House, the President of Owaza Youths, Comrade Simeon Nwagbara told the Special Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Chief Victor Ike Okoye that Owaza which controls 95% of oil in the state had long been marginalized while people from other parts of the local government area have always been appointed commissioners on the NDDC.
"We have three political zones in Ukwa West LGA and it is now the turn of Owaza in Ipu to produce the commissioner.
It is Owaza that produces 95% of the oil in Abia".
He disclosed that they have already written to Governor Peter Odili to accommodate them if their demand was not met. The youth leader who said that they have submitted six names to make its choice warned that "if government refuses to select the commissioner from our community, we shall break away from Abia State".
Receiving the demonstrators, Chief Victor Okoye said that government was in support of the people controlling their resources in the area and regarded their demand as legitimate. Chief Okoye promised to make their request known to the governor.