Our Ref:.. Your Ref:... Date:.

OUR POSITION
Preamble
Egbema is s community at the northern apex of River State. The people are
peace loving, and very obedient to the norms and rules for the corporate
existence of the country, Nigeria. The Egbema peoples Assembly is a non-
political organization, formed for the welfare and good of the Egbema
people. It is an umbrella organization comprising the various associations
currently existing in Egbema. These include the Youths, the Women, the
Opinion leaders, the students, the Chiefs, Traditional rulers, etc. We
therefore have a collective responsibility to serve the people and advance the
well-being of our people.

Perhaps a brief history of Egbema as a clan may be necessary at this stage.

The present day Egbema in Rivers State came into existence following the
great exodus of various groups from old Benin Kingdom during Oba
Ovoramis reign. The people transversed several communities, with a
fraction of the original group settling at each area where they spent some
considerable time.

One can easily find our kits and kins in various parts of southern Nigeria
today. These include the Egbema Ozubulu in Anambra State, the Egbu and
Egbema in Imo State, the Egweama in Bayelsa State and Egbema clans in
Delta and Ondo States.
 Before, the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) precisely 1957, the Egbema in
question was in old Degema Country Council, and later Ahoada Province
both in present day Rivers State.

Creation of States in 1967 shared Egbema into two unequal parts. This
Egbema consists of 16 major communities. While three (3) were left in
Rivers State, thirteen (13) were put in East Central State, and hence the
thirteen (13) remained in Imo State till date. That all parts of Egbema share
the same culture, tradition and customs is not in doubt. At a point in time,
Egbema had only one traditional ruler, not minding the state he came from.
This showed the unity and free mindedness of the people as a clan and a
nation.

Egbema people were predominantly fishermen and farmers prior to the

discovery of crude oil in very commercial quantity in Egbema area.
Currently several oil producing and services companies operate in Egbema,
some of which include Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC), Shell
Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Addax Oil, etc. This makes
Egbema a major player in the oil industry in Nigeria, with its attendant
negative environmental impacts, despite its high economic values. Such
adverse impact has destroyed our traditional means of livelihood fishing
and farming.

Having stated as above, it now behooves us to state our views in terms of the
forthcoming National Conference in order to give us a commensurate sense
of belonging, like other communities in this nation.

1. We, Egbema people, believe in one indivisible corporate existence

of this great nation, Nigeria. We equally thank the President, Dr. Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan for his efforts in keeping Nigeria one so far and for asking
for this conference in order for all aggrieved parties to discuss, with a view
 to finding amicable and lasting solutions to our problems. We equally pledge
our unalloyed support for his administrator.
2. After extensive and elaborate deliberations and consultations with
our kits and kin in Egbema in Imo State, we came to the conclusion that
Egbema deserves to be unified in one State Rivers State. Currently the
Egbema communities in Imo or Rivers State find ourselves as minority and
suffer extensive deprivation and marginalization. We sincerely and earnestly
ask that we be merged and put into Rivers State, where we rightly belong.
We are tired of the question; which Egbema?, when we introduce
ourselves as Egbema people in any function. This can be done through
boundary adjustment, or outright legislation. This demand should be given a
priority attention, which it deserves
3. We equally ask for the creation of three local government areas
from the Egbema. We are quite populous with very large land mass and are
equally economically viable.
4. We demand that a comprehensive and reliable environmental
impact assessment be carried out to ascertain the magnitude of
environmental degradation in Egbema. In doing this, a proper and
convincing team must be assembled for the purpose. In as much as we are
peace loving, we should not be taken for granted
5. We ask for a true and real federalism in the governance of this
country. If true federalism is practiced in Nigeria, the unnecessary rush for
the central positions in governance will be minimized.
6. True federalism brings the issue of resource control. States will be
made to control their resources but contribute a share to the centre. We
purpose 80% for the state and 20% for the centre. This is because much
responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the states.
7. We advocate for the abrogation of the current land use decree. This
law is outdated, counter productive and impoverishing. This should be
reviewed to return land ownership to the real owners, the indigenes.
8. The six geopolitical zones should form the major blocks in
Nigeria. With each empowered to create her own states and local
Government areas, in addition to having her own police force. The state
police force can work with the federal police as supervisors.
9. Membership of the national conference should be on the current
geopolitical zone basis. Each zone should have 100 150 delegates with the
zonal diversity in mind i.e.; ethnic representation, gender sensitivity (65%
males 35% Female), etc. No zone should have more delegates than the other.
10. The presidency should be on rotational basis i.e. rotating among
the zones. It should be single term tenure of 6 years only. This should be
entrenched in the constitution with the order of the rotation properly spelt
out and the major ministerial positions too.
11. The out-come of this national conference should be made
operational through a referendum. It should not go to the national assembly.
Its legitimacy will be derived from the referendum.
12. There should be no-go areas during the deliberations at the
conference.

We therefore believe that if these issues are properly incorporated, the

conference will be a success. God help us.
Long live the Egbema People.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long live our collective and corporate existence.
We remain law abiding Egbema people.

Prof. V.O. Nwaugo, Prof. J. Ossai and Rev. (Dr.) J.C Omaegbu.
For and on behalf of Egbema Peoples Congress