Mike Okiro, a former Inspector-General of Police has said Egbema people have been marginalised and relegated to the background in both Imo and Rivers States.
Okiro, who was also a former chairman of the police service commission and President of Ogbakor Egbema Alinso, called on the Federal Government to create a local government for all the oil-producing communities of Egbema in both states.
According to him, creating the council would allow the oil-producing people of Egbema to have a voice and representations on national issues.
He Egbema needs to be united, adding that unfortunately, Egbema is divided into two, Egbema in Rivers and Egbema in Imo State.
“These two sets of people are the same. The same language, the same culture. Egbema has 16 towns, 13 are in Imo State, while three are in Rivers State.
“We were all originally in Rivers under the Old Ahoada Division before they created part of it into Oguta Division. Oguta was a district council but later became a division. We are one.”
He lamented that the ethnic group has remained a minority in two local governments in Imo and Rivers states.
