FROM: OGBAKO ETCHE ACTION GROUP
TO: GOVERNOR NYESOM EZENWO WIKE

His Excellency,
Chief EzenwoNyesomWike, CON
Governor of Rivers State
Your Excellency,
OPEN LETTER TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR
OF RIVERS STATE
HIS EXCELLENCY, BARR. NYSOM EZENWO WIKE


Your Excellency, the good people of Etche
appreciates your achievements since assumption
of office as Executive Governor of Rivers State.
We the OGBAKO ETCHE ACTION GROUP write to
draw your attention to the unfair treatment of
Etche people in the scheme of affairs in Rivers
State and Nigeria at large. Etche as a distinct
ethnic nationality of Etche and Omuma local
government areas is currently in the Rivers East
Senatorial District.


Your Excellency, it will interest you to know that
since the return of democratic government in
1999, apart from the usual statutory positions of
every LGA which includes House of
Representatives, House of Assembly, Chairman
of Local Government and Commissioners, there
has not been any Etche person who has
occupied such higher positions such as the SSG,
Chief of Staff, Speaker of the House of Assembly
and other key appointments in the state. At the
federal level, Etche has been omitted from all
key positions such as Senator, Minister,
Ambassador, Presidential Advisor, DG, Permanent
Secretaries, Executive Secretaries and Chairmen
of MDG’s.



A quick enumeration here will suffice to highlight
the gross absence of Etche from high political
equation: Ijaws have produced two (civilian)
Governors, numerous ministers, Senators,
Presidential Advisers, Heads of Parastatals,
SSGs, Speakers of the Houses of Assembly,
Ambassadors, etc. Ogonis have produced many
Senators, SSGs, Ministers, Presidential Advisers,
etc. The Ndonis and Ogbas have produced a
Governor, Senators and Ministers; Ikwerres have
produced Governors, Ministers, Senators,
Speaker, Ambassadors, and Deputy Speaker of
the House of Representative etc.


In the current political dispensation, we foresee
a similar trend which is worrisome and which
Etche people cannot continue to ignore.
Etche people have contributed immensely to the
overall development of Rivers State.


For instance, during the struggle for the creation of
Rivers State, a prominent son of Etche, HRM Eze
ENB Opurum MFR fought assiduously alongside
Late Chief Harold Dappa prieye and few others
toh actualize our state creation. Etche remains
the second largest producer of oil and gas with
over 250 producing oil wells. We are third largest
Ethnic group in the state with a population of
over 1.4 million and a landmass of about 1300
square km and the second largest in the state.
Our manpower base comprises of all
professionals which includes eminent Professors,
experienced Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers,
Accountants, Managers, Politicians, etc within
the country and in Diaspora.


Your Excellency, in NDDC and Ministry of Niger
Delta which are established by law to develop oil
producing areas of which ETCHELAND is a major
contributor, no Etche indigene has EVER held any
position of Managing Director, Executive Director
and Rivers State Reps in the boards. Ironically
the roads leading to the oil producing
communities in Etche are in very serious
deplorable conditions. These roads include
Igwuruta–Chokocho-Okehi-Okpala Road,
Rumukrushi-Igbo-Umuchem-Ozuzu-Owerri Road,
Igwuruta-Umuchem-Egwi Road, Ulakwo-Odagwa-
Omuma road, Oyibo-Umuebule-Igbo road,
Umuebule internal roads, Umuanyagu-Okeroagu-
Odagwa-Akwa roads.


OUR PASSIONANTE APPEAL
Your Excellency, Etche people passionately
appeal for Government quick rehabilitation and
reconstruction of these two exit roads namely
Igwuruta-Chokocho-Okehi-Igbodo roads and
Rumukrushi-Igbo-Umuchem-Ozuzu roads to
enable our people easy access within this
yuletide season.


Your Excellency, we also appeal for your kind
consideration in the appointment of our sons and
daughters into key positions in your government
as we ask for your recommendation of our
people for federal appointments.

We also appeal that Etche should be included in
all your developmental agenda for Rivers State
especially the ongoing renovation of Government
Schools.
Please be assured of our continued support and
best wishes for your government.

Yours Truly,
HRH Eze K. O. Nwala KSC JP.
Chairman, Ogbakor Etche Action Group (Onye
Ishi Agwuru III Ulakwo/Umuselem clan)
Mr David Oguzierem
Secretary, OEAG