UKWA: The Milked, But Starved Cow. (Part 1)

UKWA: The Milked, But Starved Cow. (Part 1)
By: Comr. Obum Azunna.

For the purposes of clarity and broad understanding, permit me to shed a light on Ukwa-Land from the geographical point of view.

…THE UKWA PEOPLE of Nigeria are the inhabitants of the lower Niger-Delta basin, in the Southern Zone of Abia State.
Some of our people are located on the Southeastern section of the Imo River and stretched through over 50 kilometers to the Aba/Azumini River. Our neighbors in that axis are the Annangs of Akwa-Ibom State to the East, the Ngwa people to the North and the Ogonis to the South.
In the same vein, some Ukwa people are located in the areas lying around the Northwest section of the old Aba Region, across the Enugu- Port Harcourt expressway. Within this area, some communities like Umuikuko and Owaza respectively share common boundaries with Omuma and Etche Local Governments of Rivers State.
As it is always the case in every heterogeneous society, Ukwa is comprised of two distinct clans namely: ASA-clan and NDOKI-clan. The Asa people are inhabitants of the present Ukwa West L.G.A, while the Ndokis domiciled in the present Ukwa East L.G.A in Abia State. Ukwa people have an estimated population of over 150,000 people in 2006 census.
It is also pertinent to state here that Obigbo town, a place situated about 25 kilometers from the Port city of Port Harcourt, the headquarters of the present Oyigbo(Obigbo) Local Government now in Rivers State, is an Asa community in Ukwa-land.
It would be recalled that during the military junta, the ‘Mamman Nasir Boundary Adjustment Commission of 1976’ balkanized Ukwa-Land, wherein over 16 villages of Ndoki and 5 communities in Asa (Ukwa People) were merged to make-up the present Oyigbo Local Government of Rivers State.
Irrespective of the balkanization and subsequent destabilization of the entity, Ukwa has maintained her peaceful and hospitality index over the years. Ukwa has a very accommodating environment and has been described in many quarters as the most peaceful Oil Producing Territory in Niger-Delta Region. Their penchant for hospitality and love for others are evidenced in the teaming population of the stranger elements all over the communities.
Places like Obehie, Owaza, Uzuaku(Imo-gate), Akwete, Azumini, Ogwe etc., play host to a whopping number of people from far and near. And to say that over 60% of the said stranger population have literally naturalized in Ukwa-Land is to state the obvious.
The peaceful co-existence enjoyed by the visitors and companies operating in the area is very uncommon. Ukwa is richly blessed with mineral resources such as: Natural Gas and Crude Oil, as well as Industrial Sands. Ukwa is also known for a rich soil for Agricultural purposes. The Abia Palm Plantation in Ohambele/Obuaku and The Rubber Research Institute located in Akwete are veritable testimonies. Moreso, The Azumini Blue-River Resort and Popular Akwete Clothing/Weaving Industry are among the rare endowments that made Ukwa-Land a unique place.
There is ofcourse no gainsaying the fact that Ukwa is the only reason why Abia State was included in the Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria. Ukwa harbours over 100 Oil Wells in Owaza, Uzuaku, Umuahala, Umuorie, Umuokwo, as well as several capped Oil Wells in different locations both in Ukwa West and Ukwa East areas.
A situation that enables Abia State government to receive the 13% Oil Derivation Allocation on monthly basis. To be candid, the ingenuity and invaluable contributions of Ukwa-land in the economic, political and socio-cultural milieu of Nigeria, and Abia State in particular cannot be over emphasized.
… However, it is pathetic, disheartening and very unfortunate to state here that, No Capital Project Has Been Executed in Ukwa, Since the Inception of the Current Administration in 2015.
Oh! Ukwa; the Milked, But Starved Cow.

Comr. OBUM AZUNNA is a passionate writer and a Public Affairs Analyst.
….(pa.elbaziny@gmail.com