Ebonyi State Government initiates strong lobby

A strong lobby has been initiated by the Ebonyi State Government, ahead the December 7 visit of President Olusegun Obasanjo, to pressure for its inclusion among oil producing states. The state Commissioner of Information, Dr John Otu asserted that: "The President's visit will avail us the rare opportunity to showcase our solid minerals especially crude oil and bitumen found in the state since 1978.
He maintained that in spite of documented evidence which show the presence of crude oil in the state 29 years before oil was found in Oloibiri, Rivers State successive administrations have deliberately ignored such evidences and deprived the state from such revenues that would have accrued from that status.
"I think history is about to be rewritten because, we were taught and made to understand that oil was found at Oloibiri Rivers State in 1957. But we have documentary evidence to show that oil was first found in Ebonyi State 29 years before that of Oloibiri. We shall produce documented evidenceand urge Mr. President to confer the state with the status of an oil producing state," Otu stated.
When reminded that the President had assented the NNDC bill and the law is almost being implemented which may foreclose the possible inclusion of Ebonyi State at this point, Otu remained optimistic that "anything is amenable in a democracy. What has happened in the case of Ebonyi State is evidence of past marginalisation. The Federal Government should follow the right step by including the state among the comity of oil producing states to enable the state reap the right dividends for the people."

He pointed out that the President's visit will afford the state the opportunity to press for increased federal presence especially in the areas of Federal Ministries and Parastatals as well as seek adequate representation in ministries, board and parastatals; insisting that contrary to insinuations that the state lacks manpower "Ebonyi State has qualified manpower to fill its quota in these establishments."
According to the itinerary released by the state President Obasanjo is expected in the state via Enugu airport December 7. After a brief stop over at the Enugu Ebonyi boundary and Agba Ntezi-Isu road, he will proceed to Government House, then later commission the multi-million naira Nkaliki Hatchery; Ebonyi State Agricultural Development Project new headquarters; Ezzamgbo-Effium as well as the Ngbo electricity project and Abakaliki township roads.
President Obasanjo is also expected to lay the foundation of the permanent site of the state owned university at Ishieke. While on the second day he will visit Afikpo to commission the Government College-Secretariat-Eke-Ndibe Beach road; inspect the new site for the proposed bridge to link the Cross River at Ndibe Beach; treated to a boat regatta and later commission the Oriuzo Comprehensive Health Centre and rural electricity project before departing for Abuja.