OHAJI/EGBEMA, OGUTA OIL & GAS PRODUCING ZONES STAKEHOLDERS.
PRESS CONFERENCE BRIEFING Today Thursday 7th day of March,2026.
Theme is:
The Imo State Oil and Gas Region: Challenges, Expectations, and Strategic Demands.
Purpose of This Briefing
This press conference is convened to:
Highlight the contributions of oil-producing communities to the economy of Imo State.
Catalogue key oil and gas companies operating within these communities.
Present our lived realities of neglect, deprivation, and marginalization.
Outline our strategic demands for justice and development.
State our position on the Imo Charter of Equity.
Imo as an Oil-Producing State
Imo State’s status as an oil and gas-producing state is firmly anchored in two Local Government Areas: Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta.
These regions:
Qualify Imo State for inclusion in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Significantly enhance the state’s federal allocation, surpassing several South-East counterparts.
Serve as a critical pillar of the state’s socio-economic development through oil and gas revenues.
Key Oil and Gas Operators
Major operators in these communities include:
Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited
Seplat Energy Plc
Anoh Gas Processing Company
Oando Plc
Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company
Antan Producing Limited
Dangote Group, among others.
These companies generate enormous value for Imo State and the Nigerian economy at large.
Our Reality: Contribution Without Commensurate Benefit
Despite our immense contributions, the oil-bearing communities of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta remain among the most underserved in Imo State.
Since 1976, our collective experience has been marked by:
Deplorable road infrastructure.
Erratic or non-existent electricity supply.
Limited access to quality healthcare and education.
High youth unemployment and economic exclusion.
Minimal political representation in key decision-making structures.
This is not merely unfortunate—it is fundamentally unjust.
The Equity Question
As discourse around the Imo Charter of Equity intensifies, a critical question arises:
What is the place of the oil-producing communities within this framework?
Equity is not symbolic—it is practical, measurable, and rooted in justice.
Established principles of equity remind us:
Equity will not suffer a wrong without a remedy
He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
Equity follows the law
Delay defeats equity
The pressing question remains:
Has equity truly been served in Imo State?
A Case for Justice and Reparation
Reparation is not charity—it is justice.
Across the world, societies confronted with systemic injustice have adopted deliberate corrective measures. The principle is clear:
Where there has been sustained deprivation, there must be intentional restoration.
Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta have:
Contributed immensely
Endured patiently
Engaged constructively
Now, they demand fairness, inclusion, and development.
The Political Imperative: 2027 Governorship
At the heart of this conversation lies a compelling and just demand:
The opportunity for Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta to produce the Governor of Imo State in 2027.
This is not a sectional appeal—it is a test of the sincerity of the Charter of Equity.
As Aristotle observed, true equity involves correcting imbalance—not ignoring it.
Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta have given much.
It is now time for Imo State to give back.
Capacity and Readiness
The region is not lacking in capable leadership.
Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta are home to accomplished individuals with the competence, experience, and vision required to govern effectively and inclusively.
Our Strategic Demands
We state clearly and unequivocally:
We want inclusion, not exclusion.
We want development, not neglect.
We want justice, not promises.
It is time for one of our own to serve as Executive Governor of Imo State.
These demands are fair, reasonable, and long overdue.
As Kofi Annan rightly stated:
“Natural resources can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how they are managed.”
Our Position
We affirm that:
True equity must be actionable and measurable
Reparation for Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta must be deliberate and immediate
Political inclusion—beginning with the 2027 governorship—is non-negotiable in the pursuit of justice.
Conclusion
For decades, Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta have been the golden goose that lays the golden egg, yet have remained denied the benefits of their sacrifice.
This must end.
The time has come for:
Justice over convenience
Fairness over favoritism
Action over rhetoric
Let history record that Imo State chose equity—not as a slogan, but as a lived reality.
Ndi Imo must recognize this moment.
The time has come.
It is the turn of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta to produce the Governor of Imo State.
Long live lmo state.
Long live Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A.
Long live Oguta L.G.A.
Conveners:
Barr.Prince.O.Nwakibea.
(Convener)
Co-Conveners:
Prof.Meshack Ifurueze.
Ogbuagu Hon.Walter Uzonwanne.
Engr.Davis Ogbuji
Elder Hypolite Uzoka.
Pastor Friday Amadi.
About The Author
