Nothing unites and grows a human society more and faster than Equity and Justice. The twin sisters of Equity and Justice guarantee a sense of belonging to everyone and make it possible for everyone to bring out the best in one for overall development and prosperity of the society. It also fast tracks stability in social cohesion and, even, security.
On a sharp and debilitating contrast, the absence of Equity and Justice in any society goes a negative long way to affect the psyche of those who nurse the perception of being treated inequitably and unjustly.
The framers of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, had, in Sections 14(3) and 318(1) unambiguously and boldly assured Minorities and the Weak of protection of their collective interest and rights through the Principle of Federal Character. Those Sections allay the fears of Minorities and the Weak of natural tendencies of domination by Majority and Strong ethnic groups in the country.
Expectedly, by extension, the Principal of Federal Character, which shall guarantee equity, justice and fairness, should apply to the State Governments in election or appointment of key positions in the States. Such key positions include but not limited to;
(1) Governor of the State,
(2) Deputy Governor of the State,
(3) Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly,
(4) Commissioners,
(5) Permanent-Secretaries, (6) Chairmen of Boards of Parastatals, (7) Directors-General, and others.
The name, Ukwa-West Local Government Council Area, is purely administrative and, to some extent, political. The indigenous People of Ukwa-West are Asa, a sub-ethnic Minority clan of the Igbo Nation. Asa, as the Indigenes prefer to be called, is exceptionally blessed with enormous mineral resources. Crude Oil, ( Petroleum, Diesel and Kerosene) and Gas are found in very large commercial quantities in such Asa Communities as Owaza, Umuorie-Asa, Uzuaku, Isimanu, and so on. In fact, Oil Wells in Umuorie-Asa are known for producing Aviation Oil. Ukwa-West is a major economic hub in, not just Abia State, but Nigeria as a whole.
The People of Asa and their Ndoki Neighbours, that is Ukwa-East Council Area, have had a lot of encounter with forces of marginalisation. In pre-independence era, the People had very visionary, intelligent, altruistic, patriotic and intrepid Leaders. They were visibly courageously led by Chief O. C. Ememe(Voice of Moscow). When they were not sure their political identity and existence would be guaranteed in defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria, they had to write a Petition to British Colonial Government, complaining of marginalisation in Old Aba Division of Umuahia Province.
It was based on their Petition that they were invited to appear and defend their collective interest before Sir Henry Willink’s Commission of Inquiry to Allay The Fears of Minorities of Eastern Region of Nigeria. Chief O C Ememe led that Delegation in 1958.
Their submission was a huge success as Asa and Ndoki Clans were eventually delineated as a Federal Constituency in 1958, as Aba-South Federal Constituency. In the General Election that followed in 1959, Asa and Ndoki People had their own Federal Constituency and Chief O. C. Ememe was successfully elected into the Federal Parliament, as it was then called, on the platform of National Council of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC. They were no more as encumbered and obfuscated by marginalisation by their Majority Ngwa neighbours.
The point being made here is that Asa People of Old had a clear vision for themselves, for their unborn generation, knew what they wanted, knew how to get about it, and were never known as sycophants and (or) cowards.
Under the present Government in Abia State, is it Labour Party or Zenith Labour Party, Asa People have had very humiliating experiences. About Two Thousand Hectares of their land were taken in the name of building not only an Industrial Innovation Park but also for the construction of a Seaport at Owaza. What a deceit?
Of course, after Government’s acquisition of the said land, that was the end of Abia Industrial and Innovation Park. The unprecedented large number of Hectares of Land have been overgrown with weeds. Sadly and ironically, owners of the lands, who can not step into the lands any more to carry on with farming which is their only means of livelihood, have not been considered worthy of any compensation. The People have now been impoverished!
Of course, no body is talking of the so-called ‘Seaport at Owaza’ because even the State Government, itself, knows, ab initio, that the talk of constructing a ‘Seaport at Owaza’ was a deliberate ploy to deceive the People and dispossess them of their lands. The State Government knows that it is at Obuaku-Ndoki in Ukwa-East that a Seaport can feasibly be built, and not Owaza, for now.
In November 2023, the Government of Abia State appointed and sworn-in 24 Permanent-Secretaries in its Civil Service. Abia State has 17 Local Government Council Areas. Permanent-Secretaries in the Civil Service of any State are among the key Positions that shall reflect the heterogeneous composition of the State.
It was very sad and painful that out of the 24 Permanent-Secretaries appointed in Abia State Civil Service, none came from Ukwa-West, Asa. Yet, Ukwa-West has four Directors in the Civil Service of Abia State. Yet, some Local Government Areas got more than three Slots.
In reaction to that open display of injustice, I had raised objection to it. I wrote against it. But the State Government gave no attention to my objection.
Embarrassingly, even my own Asa Elites were completely and strangely silent over that despicable show of injustice against Asa People.
As if that clear case of marginalisation against Asa People was not enough, about a week ago, Abia State Government sworn-in another set of 9 Permanent-Secretaries in its Civil Service. To the chagrin and consternation of every true born Asa Man, I mean true born Asa Man, no indigene of Ukwa-West made the list. What a way to humiliate a People and tell them, ‘go to hell and burn to ashes’!
In all these cases of Inequity and Injustice, I find it inexplicable and, of course, unacceptable that Asa Leaders and People are keeping mute. They have become like a People who see nothing, feel nothing and say nothing.
Even though I am not a Lawyer, I strongly believe that such spate of Inequity and Injustice, as being ridiculously forced on Asa People to suffer, can be challenged in a Court of Competent Jurisdiction by Asa Development Union.
But the Union, for reasons only known to her, is also keeping quiet. I have, therefore, become a lonely voice in a suffocating wilderness. I might even be seen as being leprous and, so, should be avoided.
Taking all the scenarios into critical consideration, I have, therefore, decided to boycott Asa Day 2024 Celebration, holding at Central School, Obehie-Asa, on Thursday (Afor) 26th December, 2024.
In my People’s wisdom, if salt loses its taste, it would be of no use wasting time and resources going to the market to buy it.
If Asa Development Union can not raise an ordinary eyebrow over the unprecedented marginalisation and humiliation Asa People have been subjected to by the present Government in the State, it would be of no use my going to identify with the Union in a Cultural Ceremony that, at best, amounts to a useless jamboree. I boycott!
Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Okwubunka of Asa and Oke Amadi Gburugburu is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State and writes from his native Asa land beautifully located between Aba in Abia State and Port-Harcourt in Rivers State.
Friday(Eke)20-12-2024.
