By EHIGIMETOR IGBAUGBA

Agitation for creation of Ogoja state from the present Cross River on Wednesday in Calabar, gained momentum following a public forum organised to harmonise position and demand for the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum was organised by the Old Ogoja Province People’s Initiative.

In his remarks at the forum, its convener Dr Cklaimz Enamhe, said that it was time to look beyond the past, and focus on the future.

According to him, we need to look beyond what happened in the past and look to the future as our moment is now.

“The Ogoja man is ready and prepared; we have all come in unison to say this is the moment we have been waiting for, give us an Ogoja state.”

Enamhe noted that Gov. Bassey Out, had spoken to the beauty inherent if the state was created, and the prospect it would hold for the future.

He also said that similarly all the council chairmen, councillors, senators and paramount rulers from the area of the proposed state were ready for its creation.

Also speaking during the forum, a former Military Administrator of Kwara, retired Col. Pam Ogar, disclosed that all provincial headquarters way back in Nigeria had been made states except Ogoja.

He said he was in support of the creation of Ogoja state because the proposed state had the landmass, resources, as well as personnel to manage its affairs.

Similarly Prof. Francis Mogu, a former Secretary, Movement for the Creation of Ogoja state said lack of unity and infighting robbed area of statehood in the past.

He however, said that in spite of the delay, “God’s time is the best” and the time for the actualisation of the state was now.

In the same vein, Mrs Rita Anyim, a former chairman of Ogoja Council Area, said that the proposed state would be one of the most viable in the country if created, as there was abundant resources to harness for its development.

She expressed optimism that the present administration would help in actualising its creation.

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review had announced that it received 31 proposals for state creation from the public. (NAN)