THE PLACE OF ETCHE NATION/ MARGINALISATION IN RIVERS STATE POLITICS BY OTHER BLOCS.

THE PLACE OF ETCHE NATION/ MARGINALISATION IN RIVERS STATE POLITICS BY OTHER BLOCS.

By com. Noble C Nwugha
It is over 50 years since the creation of our dear Rivers State. Precisely, the 27th day of May 1967 marked a watershed in the birth of the treasure base of our dear country. And then followed by the creation of the LGAs of Etche and Omuma which left no dent nor severance in the filiation and consangunity of the Etche bloc ( both LGAs) as a nation.
Irrefutably, the carving out of Etche LGA from Ikwerre LGA and siting of the headquarters in Okehi, and later Eberi as the headquarters of Omuma just for political and administrative convenience, is what could be described as the only government structure or institution in the whole of Etche ethnic nationality, despite her huge economic and political contributions to the country's treasury vis-a-vis her ever abundant human resources.
A nation (Etche) that is undisputedly the third largest ethnic group in Rivers State in terms of population, arable land mass, natural resources, including very rich petroleum deposit, rubber and palm plantation, and other agricultural produce has NEVER headed any of the federal government parastatals, boards, agencies, institutions, etc. To put succinctly, no Etche son or daughter has been considered worthy to head any of the over 500 government establishments.
It is more disheartening that even with all her natural and human resources, an ethnic group with the second largest votng population in the Rivers East Senatorial District has NEVER taken a shot at the senate, with the Senatorial zone structured, by default, into three ethnic nationalities (blocs) of the Ikwerres (4 LGAs); the Etches (2 LGAs); and the Wakirikes (2 LGAs). The Etche bloc remains the group that has been constantly denied that Senatorial right, apart from the statutory political positons of House of Assembly and House of Representatives, by virtue of the collapsing of Etche/Omuma as a federal constituency.
To take a glimpse of the political emasculation of the Etche people by the hegemonic blocs just within the configuration of Rivers East Senatorial District, with a ceiling from 1999 to date (because going beyound 1999 would open more wounds in the mind of an average Etche man). Of the aforesaid ethnic nationalities, the Ikwerres through Senator John Azuta Mbata had their turn of two terms from 1999 to 2007; the Wakirikes, from 2007 to date through Senator Thompson George Sekibo, for the third term; whereas the Etche bloc is constantly shortchanged.
Even with all these unarguable facts and figures, the Etche people were again disallowed the senatorial ticket via the parties' manipulatory internal zoning arrangement and oblique structure in answer to the interest of the hegemonic dominence to favour Hon. Andrew Uchendu of Apc , despite the fact that his Ikwerre bloc, apart from taking their shot at the red chambers, amassed most of the juicy postions both in federal and state lever, which including the governorship and ministerial positons, heads of known federal/state government parastatals and institutions amongst others; while the Wakirikes on the other hand, despite completing their two terms of 8 years was reconsidered (among other positons too); then the Etches were left with nothing but no choice than to fight and die for either of the candidates all in the name of party loyalty.
The Etches can be summarily described as a goose that lays a golden egg, but with nothing to show. Suffice it to say that given her rich petroleum deposit as the third largest oil producing nationality in Rivers State; and the second largest populated bloc in Rivers East, the prevalence of the presence of both the federal and state governments in the enclave would have been the envy of the others, in terms of government appointments and siting of institutions.
Again, taking a brief historical walk from the 1914 amalgamation of Nigeria, through the creation of Rivers State in 1967 to the carving out of Etche LGA in 1987 till date, no Etche son or daughter has been considered or appointed as a minister, ambassador, a head of any federal and state institution or agency,if not the recent appointment of Prof. Ozor Mercury Ndimele . the story is the same, nobody from the Etche bloc has occupied the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG); speaker; chief judge; and governor, just to name a few. Even in the naming of government institutions or edifice, no one from the extraction has been considered, either living or dead.
From the foregoing, it has become pertinent for every Etche person, like the Ogonis did in the December 10, 2016 rerun election, to bury all political sentiments, individual differences, animosity, personal ego and intra-oppostion to speak against this unceasing injustice against the people of Etche nation.
And like Bob Marley would say, "stand up for your right". No matter the political divide, ideaological creed and leaning, we MUST demand that come this APC's scheduled congress, the Rivers State APC Chairmanship position should be zoned to Etche and Chief Andrew Uchendu or whose ever that will win the National Assembly election petition Appeal shouldn't think of seeking for reelection come 2019. Rt Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi who happens to be our leader,should also not think of coming to run for same senatorial slot as Etche/Omuma will resist any attempts to do so.
Enough is Enough.