Engenni People Demand Inclusion in Bayelsa State, Cite Historical, Cultural, and Developmental Ties
…Say Exclusion from Bayelsa or Enfoldment into Proposed Orashi State Threatens Their Identity
Yenagoa — Traditional rulers and the people of Engenni Kingdom in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State have formally appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to consider their long-standing desire to be included in Bayelsa State in the ongoing state creation exercise.
In a detailed position paper, the Engenni people expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his “prompt intervention aimed at promoting the welfare of Nigeria and Nigerians,” and commended the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for hosting a public hearing that seeks to accommodate the aspirations of various ethnic groups across the country.
Tracing their demand to the 1996 state creation exercise that gave birth to Bayelsa State under the late General Sani Abacha regime, the people of Engenni revealed that their initial request to be included in the newly created state was not realised. However, they noted that their aspiration remained alive, especially after the federal boundary demarcation exercise, which they claim has yet to be made public.
According to the statement, the people of Engenni are urging the Senate Committee on State Creation to uphold their plea to become part of Bayelsa State based on a range of historical, cultural, and geographical reasons. They pointed out that most Engenni communities have become virtually integrated into Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, due to proximity and urban expansion.
“As an Ijaw clan, our dialect is closely related to that of Epie, Atissa, and Zarama, who are native to Yenagoa Local Government Area,” the statement said, adding that the Engenni River serves as a natural boundary separating them from the rest of Rivers State.
The community also highlighted the significant distance between Engenni and Port Harcourt — the Rivers State capital — as a major hindrance to development, despite the fact that the area contributes about seven percent of the state’s oil and gas revenue.
Expressing fears over a reported plan to merge their territory into a proposed Orashi State, which may comprise Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua-Odual, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni in Rivers State and parts of Imo State, the Engenni people warned that such an arrangement could spell the end of their cultural and linguistic identity.
“If the proposed Orashi State were to become reality, the Engenni people would be nearly extinguished, as the new state would be dominated by the Igbo ethnic group and located in Nigeria’s South-East region — far removed from our South-South Ijaw heritage,” the statement read.
They warned that allowing such a development would be tantamount to “rewriting a part of Nigerian history negatively.”
However, should their aspiration to be integrated into Bayelsa State not be actualised, the Engenni people urged the Senate to ensure they remain in Rivers State while demanding the creation of at least two autonomous local government areas for Engenni.
“It is lamentable that Engenni, a territory larger than many local government areas in Rivers State, is still lumped with other ethnic groups in a single LGA. This has contributed to our continued marginalisation,” the statement added.
The people of Engenni concluded their submission by appealing for justice, equity, and historical redress, stating that their demand is rooted in logic and patriotism.
“We trust in the Committee’s wisdom and sense of justice to give due consideration to our prayers. We wish the Senate Committee great success in its noble assignment, for the unity, progress, and equity of our dear nation,” the communique concluded.
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