EX-NDDC DIRECTOR TASKS OBOLOS ON UNITY

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The former Executive Director, Projects, of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Architect E. I. I. Ettah has urged the people of Obolos in the Niger Delta and diaspora to work out modalities towards strengthening their unity.
In a lecture titled “Unity, a panacea for Sustainable Development of Obololand” Architect Ettah said that the Obolos must be united to become relevant in the scheme of things.
The former NDDC director described the present effort of the summitorganizers as a re-enactment of the Obolo state union of old which comprises Oron, Eastern Obolo, Ibeno, Andoni as well as the Ohafia nations.
While tracing the origin of the Obolo nation to East Africa, he noted that long year of migration has led to the establishment of Obolo communities across Nigeria and decried the marginalization of Ibeno and Eastern Obolo Local Government Area by the Akwa-Ibom State Government.
Also speaking, the representative of Oron nation, Chief Nko Asuquo Offiong said that the Oron nation was in the summit to re-enact the relationship that has existed among the Obolos.
Chief Offiong said that it has become necessary to strengthen the relation to properly reposition the Obolos to face the dynamics and challenges of a growing society.
He decried the level of development of the Obolo nation inspite of the enormous resources and contribution of the area to the nation’s economy.
Also speaking, the chairman of the occasion, Dr Atinu Iragunima described the summit as historic as it would create opportunities for unity among the Obolos.
Dr Iragunima said that the voice of the Obolo’s can be heard in Nigeria if there is a common forum that binds them.
Earlier, the chairman of Ida Obolo, Mr Cyrus Mkangwung said that Ida Obolo is non-political, and non-religious without sponsorship.
He said that the organisation is to chart the way forward for the Obolos to know their history and urged for support.


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