Charles Ogbonnaya, a prominent Igbo leader and elder statesman, has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government regarding the potential ceding of Igbo land to other regions amidst the growing demand for a return to regional administration.
Expressing his concerns, Ogbonnaya cautioned against rumors circulating that certain parts of Igbo land, particularly the Ohaji/Egbema local government of Imo State, might be handed over to the South-South region.
As a two-term Commissioner in Abia State, he also commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating legal action that resulted in the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to local government councils.
While voicing his support for the idea of reverting to regional governance, the elder statesman emphasized the need to protect the integrity of Igboland and avoid any territorial concessions to other regions.
Ogbonnaya proposed that if a return to the original four regions, as existed prior to military intervention in 1966, is not feasible, the most viable alternative would be to transform and strengthen the existing six geo-political zones into regional administrations.
He appealed to the Federal Government to resist any external pressure aiming to relocate the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State to the South-South region, as rumored.
Ogbonnaya warned that such a move would be deeply offensive to the Igbo people, potentially fueling animosity and resembling a declaration of “war” against the Igbo community. Notably, Ohaji/Egbema is an oil-producing area and a vital economic hub for the South East region.
Highlighting the importance of rectifying historical injustices, Ogbonnaya proposed that all Igbo-speaking Local Government Areas in Delta, Edo, Rivers, and Kogi States should be included within the South-East region.
He explained that during the politics surrounding the civil war, the Mamman Nasir Boundary Adjustment Commission had ceded parts of Egbema, where former IGP Mike Okiro hails from, to Rivers State. Ogbonnaya stressed that these areas rightfully belong to Igboland.
In the pursuit of unity and fairness, Ogbonnaya called for a unified effort to protect and preserve the territorial integrity of Igboland, ensuring that the aspirations and interests of the Igbo people are acknowledged and respected.
