Abba Moro at 61: The hope for Edumoga state constituency

By: Tony Onwude

On 3rd July, 1958, SENATOR ABBA MORO was born to the family of Chief Moro Agbamu of Okwungaga, Ugbokolo in Okpokwu local government council of Benue state.

His humble beginnings and leadership prowess raised the hope of his contemporaries that sky will be his starting point. His appetite for education armed him confidently for political leadership and he is an intellectually mobile man who dedicated his life to service of humanity.

However, Senator Moro is one unique man that never believes leadership is a pundit pipe of wealth acquisition rather an opportunity to serve and better the society. The contributions of this quintessential leader and political juggernaut needs to be recorded in a compendium that will serve as a reference point for generations yet unborn.

Nevertheless, permit me to digress from normal birthday panegyric and encomium, and to focus on one of the numerous expectations of Comrade Moro’s constituents. Specifically, the restoration of two suppressed state constituencies by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

More so, prior to the returned of the current uninterrupted democratic rule in 1999, the present Okpokwu state constituency had two representatives namely; late Hon. Emmanuel Abu for Edumoga state constituency and Hon. Agbo Emmanuel for Okpoga/Ichama state constituency respectively. The electoral process was achieved through popular Option A4 i.e. electorates must queue behind their candidates under two parties system, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992. In reminisce, I can recall that the election was adjudged as the most transparent and fairest election in the political history of this nation but was short lived by happy trigger juntas.

However, it has been twenty years since Edumoga state constituency was suppressed into a single Okpokwu state constituency by INEC.
According to section 113 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provided that, “the boundaries of each state constituency shall be such that the number of inhabitants thereof is as nearly equal to the population quota as is reasonably practicable”.
The Edumoga district has six wards from the twelve wards in Okpokwu state constituency comprising of Ekeh, Amejo, Okonobo, Ugbokolo, Ojigo and Okpaile/Ingle wards with about 75 polling units and so many voting points.

It is a truism that Edumoga district is one of the largest district in the state in terms of population and land mass. Interestingly, it is a geographical settlement endowed with human and natural resources that needs to be explored to the fullest.

In furtherance to above, section 114 (1) of 1999 constitution (as amended) provided that “the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shall review the division of every state into constituencies at intervals of not less than ten years, and may alter such constituencies in accordance with the provisions of this section to such extent as it may consider desirable in the light of the review”. However, it is twenty six years now that Edumoga state constituency was last represented. This is long overdue for review having surpass the ten years provided by the constitution. Hitherto, what the Edumoga people are clamouring for is the restoration or approval by the INEC to operationalize this long awaited constituency through the instrument of law having been last represented in 1992.

In the same vein, Guma local council obtained a favourable judgement from Supreme Court for the creation of Agasha state constituency in the case of INEC vs Guma L. G. Council, suit no. (SC/195/2016). And in furtherance to that, the House of Representatives approved and directed INEC to comply with the judgement.

Secondly, the House of Representatives received a petition dated 29th September, 2018 from the Committee on Public Petition and directed that the boundaries of Ushongo state constituency be altered by restoring the suppressed Mata and Mbagwa state constituencies respectively.

Consequently, it has been revealed that the EDEMA social/cultural group attempted to pursue this struggle through legal process to no avail. Little we know what halted the process. Many attributed it to lack of cohesion among members in the struggle; to others, it was a fertile ground to breed conflict of interest while to others, it was lack of funds to execute legal process.

According to Robert Tew, “the struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow”. However, every struggle in your life has shaped you into the person you are today. Be thankful for the hard times, they can only make you stronger.

It is against this background that the Edumoga people are soliciting for the support of their noble son, SENATOR ABBA MORO. Despite the enormous tasks before him, to lead army of determined sons and daughters of Edumoga, Okpoga and Ichama to restore long awaited Edumoga and Okpoga/Ichama state constituencies accordingly. This should serve as a clarion call to the highly dignified technocrats, politicians, academicians and activists; irrespective of religion, creed, social and cultural divides of Okpokwu extraction.

However, the benefits of restoring the suppressed two state constituencies out of the current Okpokwu state constituency cannot be overemphasised. Firstly, it will reduce unnecessary political bickering among gladiators and supporters. In addition, it will equally quell the war like situation always experienced in Okpokwu with influx of military who do not have direct impact on the electoral process. It will foster radical development in terms of infrastructure within the constituency. More so, it will also serve as a breeding ground for younger politicians to test their popularity and to actualise the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill within the constituency.

Finally, while we recount on the endless advantages of this struggle to Edumoga state constituency; we pray that the Architect of the Universe grant our amiable SENATOR ABBA MORO good health and long life on this day of his birthday.

Happy Birthday Sir!