EBONYI STATE OF OUR DREAM: HOW WE STARTED AND WHERE WE ARE

____ THEOPHILUS IFEANYI IGWE.

Brief History
The name, "Ebonyi" was derived from the Ebonyi river which rises from Enugu Midlands, moving through most parts of the state and emptying into Cross river. Other States like Rivers, Cross river, Benue, etc were named in the same manner.
Ebonyi state occupies the land mass of 5,935km. As at 1991, the population of people in Ebonyi was higher than some several West African countries, such as; Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, etc.

Ebonyi state is made up of thirteen (13) local governments, with three senatorial zones, viz;
EBONYI CENTRAL: Central is made up of Ezza North, Ezza South, Ikwo, and Ishielu local government.
EBONYI NORTH: North comprises of Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Ohaukwu, and Izzi local government.
EBONYI SOUTH: South is made up of Afikpo North, Afikpo South, Ivo, Ohaozara, and Onicha local government.

The state has six(6) federal constituencies, and twenty-four(24) state constituencies.
The federal constituencies are;
1. Abakaliki/Izzi federal constituency
2. Afikpo North/Afikpo South federal constituency
3. Ebonyi/Ohaukwu federal constituency
4. Ezza North/Ishielu federal constituency
5. Ezza South/Ikwo federal constituency
6. Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo federal constituency.

The twenty-four state constituencies are;
1. Abakaliki North
2. Abakaliki South
3. Afikpo North East
4. Afikpo North West
5. Afikpo South East
6. Afikpo South West
7. Ebonyi North East
8. Ebonyi North West
9. Ezza North East
10. Ezza North West
11. Ezza South
12. Ikwo North
13. Ikwo South
14. Ivo
15. Ishielu North
16. Ishielu South
17. Izzi East
18. Izzi West
19. Ohaukwu North
20. Ohaukwu South
21. Ohaozara East
22. Ohaozara West
23. Onicha East
24. Onicha West.

STRUGGLE FOR THE CREATION OF THE STATE

The good people of Ebonyi suffered so much before the creation of the state. The strong ardent for the movement of the creation of the state was poised by absolute negligence, deprivation, and marginalization. The insipid slang "Nwa Abakaliki" was a name they used to insult the people of Ebonyi in those days. And it was an easy way of summarizing how primitive they are.

The people of Ebonyi had remained one from day one. In 1906, the administration of the colonial masters grouped Ebonyi under Ogoja province.
In 1957/1958 when Willink Commission was constituted by the colonial masters to enquire into the fears of minority. However, the people of Ebonyi approached the Committee via memoranda and oral evidence. As a result, the Ogoja, Ikom, Obudu were made a new Ogoja province, while Abakaliki and Afikpo division were grouped into Abakaliki province, with a provincial headquarters at Abakaliki.

The good people of Ebonyi remained one till unfortunate incidence happened on 3rd February, 1976. Then, Abakaliki division was made to join Anambra state, while Afikpo division was made to join Imo state, thereby separating the two brothers.

In 1979, when Alhaji Shehu Shagari was the President of Nigeria, he raised a new hope of the creation of new states.
On Tuesday, 18th November, 1980, a demand for the creation of Ebonyi state was formally presented to, and accepted by the house of representatives. Due to the genuineness and pathetic reasons behind the creation of Ebonyi state, the house of representatives moved the request to the committee on state creation. The committee visited and stayed in Ebonyi between 14th - 17th August 1981. They confirmed that the people are one, and truly needed the state.

Regrettably, the hope of creation of the state was dashed out, as Shagari's government ended up without creating any state, due to much political interference, and unnecessary bureaucracy.

When General Ibrahim Babangida wanted to create new states during his administration, the tireless founding fathers READ MORE: https://centralmedia.com.ng/2022/07/08/history-of-ebonyi-state/

Central22222:
EBONYI STATE OF OUR DREAM: HOW WE STARTED AND WHERE WE ARE

____ THEOPHILUS IFEANYI IGWE.

Brief History
The name, "Ebonyi" was derived from the Ebonyi river which rises from Enugu Midlands, moving through most parts of the state and emptying into Cross river. Other States like Rivers, Cross river, Benue, etc were named in the same manner.
Ebonyi state occupies the land mass of 5,935km. As at 1991, the population of people in Ebonyi was higher than some several West African countries, such as; Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, etc.

Ebonyi state is made up of thirteen (13) local governments, with three senatorial zones, viz;
EBONYI CENTRAL: Central is made up of Ezza North, Ezza South, Ikwo, and Ishielu local government.
EBONYI NORTH: North comprises of Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Ohaukwu, and Izzi local government.
EBONYI SOUTH: South is made up of Afikpo North, Afikpo South, Ivo, Ohaozara, and Onicha local government.

The state has six(6) federal constituencies, and twenty-four(24) state constituencies.
The federal constituencies are;
1. Abakaliki/Izzi federal constituency
2. Afikpo North/Afikpo South federal constituency
3. Ebonyi/Ohaukwu federal constituency
4. Ezza North/Ishielu federal constituency
5. Ezza South/Ikwo federal constituency
6. Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo federal constituency.

The twenty-four state constituencies are;
1. Abakaliki North
2. Abakaliki South
3. Afikpo North East
4. Afikpo North West
5. Afikpo South East
6. Afikpo South West
7. Ebonyi North East
8. Ebonyi North West
9. Ezza North East
10. Ezza North West
11. Ezza South
12. Ikwo North
13. Ikwo South
14. Ivo
15. Ishielu North
16. Ishielu South
17. Izzi East
18. Izzi West
19. Ohaukwu North
20. Ohaukwu South
21. Ohaozara East
22. Ohaozara West
23. Onicha East
24. Onicha West.

STRUGGLE FOR THE CREATION OF THE STATE

The good people of Ebonyi suffered so much before the creation of the state. The strong ardent for the movement of the creation of the state was poised by absolute negligence, deprivation, and marginalization. The insipid slang "Nwa Abakaliki" was a name they used to insult the people of Ebonyi in those days. And it was an easy way of summarizing how primitive they are.

The people of Ebonyi had remained one from day one. In 1906, the administration of the colonial masters grouped Ebonyi under Ogoja province.
In 1957/1958 when Willink Commission was constituted by the colonial masters to enquire into the fears of minority. However, the people of Ebonyi approached the Committee via memoranda and oral evidence. As a result, the Ogoja, Ikom, Obudu were made a new Ogoja province, while Abakaliki and Afikpo division were grouped into Abakaliki province, with a provincial headquarters at Abakaliki.

The good people of Ebonyi remained one till unfortunate incidence happened on 3rd February, 1976. Then, Abakaliki division was made to join Anambra state, while Afikpo division was made to join Imo state, thereby separating the two brothers.

In 1979, when Alhaji Shehu Shagari was the President of Nigeria, he raised a new hope of the creation of new states.
On Tuesday, 18th November, 1980, a demand for the creation of Ebonyi state was formally presented to, and accepted by the house of representatives. Due to the genuineness and pathetic reasons behind the creation of Ebonyi state, the house of representatives moved the request to the committee on state creation. The committee visited and stayed in Ebonyi between 14th - 17th August 1981. They confirmed that the people are one, and truly needed the state.

Regrettably, the hope of creation of the state was dashed out, as Shagari's government ended up without creating any state, due to much political interference, and unnecessary bureaucracy.

When General Ibrahim Babangida wanted to create new states during his administration, the tireless founding fathers READ MORE: https://centralmedia.com.ng/2022/07/08/history-of-ebonyi-state/

God bless Ebonyi state!