The House of Representatives has passed a bill through its second reading, aimed at the creation of Ogoja State in the South-South geo-political zone.
The bill, sponsored by Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in Cross River State, alongside two others, seeks to amend Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution to facilitate the creation of another state in the region.
Leading the debate on the bill’s general principles on Thursday, Offiono provided a historical overview, stating: “To fully appreciate the injustice faced by the people of Ogoja, it is essential to examine Nigeria’s history of state creation. Following the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates, 24 provinces, including Ogoja, were established.
“Under regional administration, from 1956 in the Eastern and Western Regions, and from 1957 in the Northern Region, these provinces persisted, including Ogoja. The era of state…