THE PLACE OF ETCHE NATION IN RIVERS STATE. (By Chibuike Godspower Iroegbu)

It is now 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 consanguinity of the Etche bloc ( both LGAs) as a nation.

Irrefutably, the carving out of Etche LGA from Ikwerre LGA and sitting 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-à-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 voting 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 only group that has been constantly denied that Senatorial right, apart from the statutory political positions 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 beyond 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 dominance to favour Hon. Andrew Uchendu, despite the fact that his Ikwerre bloc, apart from taking their shot at the red chambers, amassed most of the juicy positions, including the governorship and ministerial positions, 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 positions 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 sitting 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, an ambassador, a head of any federal institution or agency. In the state, 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-opposition 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, ideological creed and leaning, we MUST demand that our rightful place and consideration are non-negotiable. Enough is Enough.

What else would you expect when you are marginalised? Etchie would have felt better if they had belonged to Imo state where they originated and naturally belong to. But since they would want to belong to a state that is known for massive oil production, what else would you expect? This is also happening to Ndokis in the same Rivers state.

We see etche people as Ikwerre people

First saw this article in Proud to be Etche facebook page.

Kenmatt:
What else would you expect when you are marginalised? Etchie would have felt better if they had belonged to Imo state where they originated and naturally belong to. But since they would want to belong to a state that is known for massive oil production, what else would you expect? This is also happening to Ndokis in the same Rivers state.

You need to see how some of them speak ill of Imo and Abia state.

I wish them goodluck in Rivers state, they deserve better than they are currently getting there.

Etche seem to have commanded more political clout in the old Eastern region and old Rivers state than Ikwerre but had since been overtaken by Ikwerre.

My friend, as long as Rivers East is concerned the Senatorial positions is to continue to rotate between Upland (Ikwerre and Etc he) and Riverine (Okrika). Same applies to other positions.

since 2007, Rivers East has Governor(Ikwerre), Senator (Okrika) and Minister (Ikwerre). It would have been fair if the Ikwerres give up the ministerial slot for you guys.

Come 2019, Okrika shall either retain Rivers East senatorial seat or we go for Governor. Hopefully, a Dankwambo-led PDP federal government that will be formed in 2019 will appoint an Etche man as minister if he is to pick from the Rivers East.



BTW: I hate this tribal kind of politics also.

Meanwhile, there is no division in Rivers state

TonyeBarcanista:
My friend, as long as Rivers East is concerned the Senatorial positions is to continue to rotate between Upland (Ikwerre and Etc he) and Riverine (Okrika). Same applies to other positions.

since 2007, Rivers East has Governor(Ikwerre), Senator (Okrika) and Minister (Ikwerre). It would have been fair if the Ikwerres give up the ministerial slot for you guys.

Come 2019, Okrika shall either retain Rivers East senatorial seat or we go for Governor. Hopefully, a Dankwambo-led PDP federal government that will be formed in 2019 will appoint an Etche man as minister if he is to pick from the Rivers East.



BTW: I hate this tribal kind of politics also.

Meanwhile, there is no division in Rivers state

Read it again and see the true you in ypur post. Flip flopping.


God help you

Nkwa nwuke kwere nde Etche!

Jonas Nwuke did a lot for Etche people, he was a minister in the Eastern region those days.
Etche had retrogressed politically since then, they allowed themselves to live in the shadows of Ikwerre people, and the result has been brutal on them.

Etche now an ethnic nationality?? hehehe

TonyeBarcanista:
My friend, as long as Rivers East is concerned the Senatorial positions is to continue to rotate between Upland (Ikwerre and Etc he) and Riverine (Okrika). Same applies to other positions.

since 2007, Rivers East has Governor(Ikwerre), Senator (Okrika) and Minister (Ikwerre). It would have been fair if the Ikwerres give up the ministerial slot for you guys.

Come 2019, Okrika shall either retain Rivers East senatorial seat or we go for Governor. Hopefully, a Dankwambo-led PDP federal government that will be formed in 2019 will appoint an Etche man as minister if he is to pick from the Rivers East.



BTW: I hate this tribal kind of politics also.

Meanwhile, there is no division in Rivers state

You and your kindergateen political calculation. Ijaws will remain minority in rivers state

ain't etche and ikwere same same.