RESPONSE TO SENATOR SAM OMINYI EGWU’S PETITION AGAINST THE LOCATION OF THE NEWLY APPROVED FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IN ISU, ONICHA LGA OF EBONYI STATE
RESPONSE TO SENATOR SAM OMINYI EGWU'S PETITION AGAINST THE LOCATION OF THE NEWLY APPROVED FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IN ISU, ONICHA LGA OF EBONYI STATE
RESPONSE TO SENATOR SAM OMINYI EGWU’S PETITION AGAINST THE LOCATION OF THE NEWLY APPROVED FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IN ISU, ONICHA LGA OF EBONYI STATE
Nassnews can recall that Senator Sam Egwu brought a petition before the Senate requesting the relocation of the NEWLY APPROVED FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IN ISU, ONICHA LGA OF EBONYI STATE.
The Senate referred the said petition to the Senate Committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions.
Unfortunately, the respondent was not around during the committee meeting in Senate.
Here is a response to Senator Sam.Egwu petition which will be taken before the committee again next week Thursday. ‘With explicit confidence in the Nigerian Senate for its well known tradition of abhorring injustice, and their value of upholding with highest regard justice, fairness and equity, we the Isu Elite, a group of men, women and young progressive youths of Isu community in Nigeria and Diaspora, are happy for the privilege to appear before this Distinguished Committee of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to state our case on the petition that seeks to relocate the newly approved Federal College of Education, Isu in Onicha Local Government area of Ebonyi state.
It is a fact that Onicha Local Government Area is the largest Local Government in Ebonyi State both in terms of land mass and population (estimated to be over 400,000), however, despite the very important nature of the Local Government and potentials in Isu clan, no single Federal Government or even State Government project has been sited there.
It is therefore with unbelievable indignation that our attention was drawn to the petition before this Distinguished Committee calling for the relocation of the Federal College of Education, Isu in Ebonyi South to Izzi land in Ebonyi North. It is pertinent to know that Ebonyi North which HE Senator Sam Egwu represents is already an urban area, hosting the State Capital and about 80% of all Federal and State Governments’ Institutions, Ministries, Agencies and parastatals in Ebonyi State.
In their very unfortunate and mischievous attempt to mislead the Nigerian Senate, the Federal Ministry of Education and indeed the Nigerian public, the petitioners had made claims that Ebonyi North Senatorial zone does not have Federal Government institutions.
Consequently, we the Isu Elite wish to set the records straight and state the facts that the Ebonyi North Senatorial District is already saturated with Federal and State Government institutions, Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals, numbering over 50.
Below are the list of Federal Government Institutions, Agencies, Ministries and Parastatals in Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone which HE Dr Sen. Egwu represents for your perusal and unbiased decision:
1. The Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (two large complexes, FETHA I and FETHA II)
2. The National Obstetric Fistula Centre (A medical Centre of Excellence and Regional Training Centre)
3. Federal Government Girls College, Ezzangbo
4. Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Abakaliki (4 Large Campuses –Ishieke, Permanent Site, PRESCO Campus, CAS Campus, all of them located within the Ebonyi North Senatorial District)
5. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN (this includes and ultra-modern complex in addition to the old one)
6. Ultra-modern permanent new complex of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS
7. Ebonyi State Pipe Production Company
8. Ebonyi State Fertilizer Production Complex
9. Proposed National Raw Materials Research Instittute
10. School Health Technology, Ngbo
11. The Ultra-modern and the largest State Secretariat in the Southeast of Nigeria, the Centenary City, Abakaliki
12. The Ebonyi State old and New Government Houses both in Abakaliki
13. The Nigeria Army Cantonment, Nkwagu, Abakaliki
14. The Command Secondary School, Abakaliki
15. The Federal High Court, Abakaliki
16. The Headquarters of the Nigeria Police, Ebonyi State Command, Abakaliki
17. The Ebonyi State Command, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC
18. The Ebonyi State Command Headquarters, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC
19. The Headquarters of the Ebonyi State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS)
20. The National Examinations Council, NECO
21. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, NAFDAC
22. Nigeria Metrological Agency
23. Ebonyi state Headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC
24. Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Abakaliki
25. Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Abakaliki
26. The Nigeria Immigration Service, Abakaliki
27. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Abakaliki
28. The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN Unity FM), Abakaliki
29. Federal Housing Authority Estate, Ezzangbo
30. School of Health, Ezzangbo
31. All the State offices of all Federal government agencies in Ebonyi state are located in Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone .
OUR PRAYER
Distinguished Senators, we the Isu Elite, hereby appeal to you to disregard Sen Sam Egwu’s petition as it is obviously intended to mislead the Senate and the Federal Government of Nigeria as the Ebonyi North Senatorial District is already well taken care of in all forms of government presence.
We therefore, appeal to the Nigerian Senate to join us and thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of Education for establishing the Federal College of Education in Isu, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State as it is in line with the constitutional provisions of Federal Character Principle.
The Federal College of Education, Isu should remain at Isu as already approved by our Leader President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
Signed:
Prof. Ogbonnaya Ogbu
Chief Sunday Chukwu
Dr. Livinus Okpara Nwonu
Barr. Vitalis Ude-Umanta
Chief Linus Njoku
OLD AFIKPO UNION
RESPONSE TO ALLEGED PETITION AGAINST THE LOCATION OF THE NEWLY APPROVED FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ISU, ONICHA LGA OF EBONYI STATE.
Our attention has been drawn to a petition purportedly authored by some unknown group of people claiming to be representing the interest of Izzi People of Ebonyi state whose petition allegedly called for the relocation of the newly established Federal College of Education, Isu in Onicha local government area of Ebonyi state.
The alleged petition which was laid on the hallowed Chamber of the Nigerian Senate by the first Executive Governor of Ebonyi state and the Senator representing Ebonyi North in the Senate, Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu is said to have called for the relocation of the College from Isu, to Izzi land on the unfounded claim that Izzi land has no government presence.
Ordinarily we would ignore such a mischievous and ill-intentioned petition which we strongly believe is sponsored by some enemies of the people of Ebonyi state who would stop at nothing to tear our young, but very vibrant, progressive and peaceful state apart on the altar of acrimonious politicking.
We are, however, shocked that Senator Sam Egwu who is ordinarily a father of Ebonyi state will allow himself to be associated with such an amorphous group whose intensions is already very crystal clear-to breach the peace we enjoy in Ebonyi state and sow an evil seed of discord, strife and stagnation in our dear state.
Based on the foregoing, therefore, we are wish to bring to the attention of the Nigerian Senate, the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Education and the general public the deliberate, but now unsuccessful attempt to pull the wool over our eyes and subsequently engender hatred and tear Ebonyi state apart as intended by the unknown petitioners.
Ebonyi state since its creation in 1996 has adopted what we call “doctrine of Equity” which was the standard operational code of the founding fathers of the state whereby equity, fairness and justice were the basic guidelines for everything that happens in the state. The doctrine of equity was the guide that made it possible for Ebonyi state to grow within a very first time because it engendered healthy sharing of benefits in the state.
As the component of Ebonyi state that was carved out of old Abia state, it is instructive to inform this distinguished senate Committee that aside from the fact that Onicha local government has a council Headquarters, despite being the largest local government in Ebonyi state, Onicha has zero federal and state government presence.
Also, it is on record that since the creation of Ebonyi state, the recently established Federal College of Education is the only such project and indeed government presence, be it Federal or State that has come to Ebonyi South Senatorial District.
It is therefore, very surprising that any people or group of people from Ebonyi North Senatorial District where all the government facilities, including the Ebonyi state capital are concentrated, agitate that the ONLY government presence that is coming to Ebonyi South Zone, and Onicha local government in particular be relocated to join the plethora of government presence in Ebonyi North thereby leaving Ebonyi South and Onicha Local Government hollow.
For avoidance of doubt, we list below some of the uncountable Federal and State Government establishments already existing in Ebonyi North Senatorial district:
1. The Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (two large complexes, FETHA I and FETHA II)
2. The National Obstetric Fistula Centre (A medical Centre of Excellence and Regional Training Centre)
3. Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Abakaliki (4 Large Campuses –Ishieke, Permanent Site, PRESCO Campus, CAS Campus, all of them located within the Ebonyi North Senatorial District)
4. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN (this includes and ultra-modern complex in addition to the old CBN complex)
5. Ultra-modern permanent new complex of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS
6. Ebonyi State Pipe Production Company
7. Ebonyi State Fertilizer Production Complex
8. Proposed National Raw Materials Research Instittute
9. School Health Technology, Ngbo
10. The Ultra-modern and the largest State Secretariat in the Southeast of Nigeria, the Centenary City, Abakaliki
11. The Ebonyi State old and New Government Houses both in Abakaliki
12. The Nigeria Army Cantonment, Nkwagu, Abakaliki
13. The Command Secondary School, Abakaliki
14. The Federal High Court, Abakaliki
15. The Headquarters of the Nigeria Police, Ebonyi State Command, Abakaliki
16. The Ebonyi State Command, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC
17. The Ebonyi State Command Headquarters, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC
18. The Headquarters of the Ebonyi State Command, the Department of State Services, DSS
19. The National Examinations Council, NECO
20. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, NAFDAC
21. Nigeria Metrological Agency
22. Ebonyi state Headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC
23. Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Abakaliki
24. Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Abakaliki
25. The Nigeria Immigration Service, Abakaliki
26. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Abakaliki
27. The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN Unity FM), Abakaliki
28. Federal Housing Authority Estate, Ezzangbo
29. Federal Government Girls College, Ezzangbo
30. School of Health, Ezzangbo
31. The multi billion naira Abakaliki International Market
32. The West African Examination Council (WAEC)
33. All the Ebonyi State offices of all Federal Government agencies in Ebonyi state are located in Ebonyi North Senatorial District
34. In the immediate and foreseeable future, Ebonyi North Senatorial District as the host of the State Capital Territory will continuously witness the deployment of over 60% of the state resources to its ever expanding developmental needs.
OUR PRAYER
Based on the above points, we, therefore, urge that distinguished Nigerian Senate to discountenance and disregard in its entirety the petition seeking to relocate the Federal College of Education, Isu as entertaining it will amount to supporting injustice and supplanting the peace that exists in Ebonyi state.
The Federal College of Education, Isu, Onicha LGA of Ebonyi state is a child of equity, justice and fair play and should not be killed and scarified on the altar of evil sentiment rooted in the quest for chaos and disunity in Ebonyi State.
Signed:
Dr. A. U. Nnachi Prof. Ogbonnaya Ogbu
National President Gen. Secretary
RESPONSE TO PETITION SUBMITTED BY SENATOR SAM OMINYI EGWU AGAINST THE LOCATION OF FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ISU ONICHA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EBONYI STATE.
PREAMBLE
We the people of Isu Community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State are very grateful to the Nigerian Senate for the opportunity giving to us to respond to the the frivolous petition submitted by Sen Sam Egwu against the location of the newly approved Federal College of Education, Isu, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by our dear President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
THE PETITION
The petition before this distinguished Committee as submitted by Senator Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District of Ebonyi State alleged that the location of the newly approved Federal College of Education in Isu, Onicha Local Government Area, amounted to injustice and neglect of Ebonyi North Senatorial District which the petitioners claimed lacked Federal Government presence.
The most Distinguished Senators, it is imperative to let you know that Isu, Onicha Local Government Area where the Federal College of Education is located is the largest Local Government in Ebonyi State. Despite the large size and strategic importance of Isu and Onicha Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, this is the first time we were remembered by siting any form of institution or any other facility by any government at both Federal and State levels.
We wish to state with all sense of truth, equity and justice that the claims of the petitioners are misleading and lack the truth.
It will shock you, our highly respected Distinguished Senators that Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone which Sen. Sam Egwu represents is already saturated with both Federal and state Institutions, Agencies, Ministries and Parastatals.
In the light of the above, we hereby wish to set the records straight and our verifiable facts that show that Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone has the following Federal institutions:
1. Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (two large complexes, FETHA I and FETHA II)
2. The National Obstetric Fistula Centre (A medical Centre of Excellence and Regional Training Centre).
3. Proposed National Raw Materials Research Instittute
4. Federal Government Girls Secondary School, Ezamgbo.
5. Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Abakaliki (4 Large Campuses –Ishieke, Permanent Site, PRESCO Campus, CAS Campus, all of them located within the Ebonyi North Senatorial District)
6. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN (this includes and ultra-modern complex in addition to the old CBN complex)
7. Ultra-modern permanent new complex of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS
8. Ebonyi State Pipe Production Company
9. Ebonyi State Fertilizer Production Complex
10. School Health Technology, Ngbo
11. The Ultra-modern and the largest State Secretariat in the Southeast of Nigeria, the Centenary City, Abakaliki
12. The Ebonyi State old and New Government Houses both in Abakaliki
13. The Nigeria Army Cantonment, Nkwagu, Abakaliki
14. The Command Secondary School, Abakaliki
15. The Federal High Court, Abakaliki
16. The Headquarters of the Nigeria Police, Ebonyi State Command, Abakaliki
17. The Ebonyi State Command, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC
18. The Ebonyi State Command Headquarters, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC
19. The Headquarters of the Ebonyi State Command, the Department of State Services, DSS
20.The National Examinations Council, NECO
21. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, NAFDAC
22. Nigeria Metrological Agency
23. Ebonyi state Headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC
24. All the State offices of all Federal government agencies in Ebonyi State are located in Ebonyi North Senatorial District
25. More so, Ebonyi North Senatorial District hosts the Capital Territory of Ebonyi State with over 50% of the state allocation and resources spent, and rightly so on the state capital territory.
OUR PRAYER
Based on the foregoing, therefore, we would request the Nigerian Senate to discountenance the petition before it as it is not based on facts and the reality on ground as Isu and indeed, Onicha Local Government is the most deserving of the newly approved Federal College of Education, as the Federal Government of Nigeria has rightly, justly and in the spirit of fairness located the school in Isu, Onicha Local Government.
We also urge Sen. Sam Egwu to voluntarily withdraw the said petition as it is not wise for him to try to undo what our dear President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has done.
Thank you.
Signed:
HRH Eze Abrose . O. Ogbu (JP)
Ezentum II of Isu Autonomous Community
Dr. Ifeanyi Orji
National President Isuokoma DevelopmentUnion
Chief Anthony Anoke
Chairman Isuokoma in Diaspora
Chief Chibueze Ukpaa
President, Isu Autonomous Community
Chief Sunday Unah Okoro
President, Anioma Autonomous Community
