Ogbako Etche sets Etche development agenda

The development of Etche Ethnic Nationality is now on the front burner as prominent sons and daughters from the area, recently converged to discuss matters concerning their future as a people. Africa Update obtained a copy of the communique issued at the end of the Ogbakor Etche Convention and it reads: COMMUNIQUE PRESENTED AT THE 2021 OGBAKOR ETCHE DECEM

PREAMBLE: The Ogbakor Etche December Convention is a statutory meeting of Ogbakor Etche, the apex socio-cultural organization of Etche people worldwide. The Convention affords the people of Etche ethnic nationality, to discuss issues affecting the nation.. The December 2021 edition of the Convention was yet another opportunity for that purpose as Etche sons and daughters from all walks of life converged to deliberate on issues that affect them.

The theme of this Year’s Convention was Pathway for Etche Nation’s Development. Keynote Speaker was Professor Love Akaja Akonye, of the University of Port Harcourt.. Chairman of the occasion was former President General of Ogbakor Etche, Reverend Father Dr Donatus Ukulor. The meeting was attended by the Grand Patron of Ogbakor Etche, His Eminence, Ochie E.N.B. Opurum JP. MFR, Member representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Hon Ephraim Nwauzi, Chairman of Etche Local Government, Dr. Obinna Anyanwu, Chairman of Omuma Local Government Council, Hon Chisom Nwaiwu, Former Commissioner for Sports, Chief Alwell Onyesoh,, former Chairman of Etche Local Government Council, Barrister Reginald Ukwuoma, Onye Ishi AgwuRU, Ulakwo, Umuselem Clan, His Royal Highness, Eze Ken Nwala, other traditional and religious leaders, opinion leaders, community leaders, captain of industries and business men as well as youth leaders and groups.

MATTERS OF DISCOURSE:
Arising from the theme of the Convention, speaker after speaker harped on the need for the people of Etche to chart a pathway that would lead to the development of the Ethnic nationality. This is against the backdrop that the people of Etche have not fared well in politics, economy and business spheres, and so on. It was agreed that development is a major cry of Etche people. The keynote speaker highlighted the need for mind shift from self-pity to that of progress, prosperity, sustainability, development and growth.

She also harped on unity, as well as human capital development in Etche, and advocated for a development agenda and commitment on the path of Etche leaders to actualize the development plan as well as the need to think ahead of the 2023 General Elections, access to political leaders, security in Etche, building social and Infrastructural outfits, as well as addressing land use in Etche as being critical factors to pathway to Etche nation’s development.

Chairman of the Occasion, Rev Father Donatus Ukulor said that it was necessary to have a glance at the score board of Etche to appreciate the present scenario of things in Etche. He posed pertinent questions pertaining where we have been? Where we are and Where we want to be? He advocated that the people of Etche must be courageous enough, especially in the area of politics., and suggested that the people of Etche must makes moves now to position themselves to get to where they want to be in the near future.

In his address, Grand Patron of Ogbakor Etche and Ochie of Etche land, His Eminence, Ochie E.N.B. Opurum JP. MFR. harped on the issue of insecurity, chieftaincy institution, politics, roads in Etche, Education, Etche cultural heritage, as well as leadership in Etche. He called on all and sundry to join hands together to make Etche nation as great as it should be.
Member representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representative, Chief Ephraim Nwuzi, said he had made efforts to attract development project to Etche and disclosed substantial increase in the budgetary allocation to Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in the 2021 budget of the Federation and promised to do more.

Former Commissioner for Sport Chief Alwell Onyesoh laid emphasis on the strategies to harness talents of potential youths in Etche. He advocated that all hands should be on deck to develop the teeming youths of Etche so that we do not use it as an opportunity to blame the youth.
In their separate goodwill messages, Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Hon Obinna Anyanwu, and Chairman of Omuma Local Government, Hon Chisom Nwaiwu, stressed the need for every Etche man and woman to come together to build Etche of our dream and that we must do what is right now and always to achieve or target.

In his presentation, former Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Dr Reginald Ukwuoma, harped on the need to harness the untapped capabilities of the Etche man. He was of the view that Etche has abundance of human resources that if adequately harnessed would lead to the development of Etche.

KEY POINTS FROM DISUSSIONS:
Etche has not fared well amongst the comity of Ethnic nationalities in the state
Etche nation is endowed with a lot of untapped human and natural resources
Etche is in dire need for development;
Etche people need to know there they are coming from, where they are and where they want to be;
All hands must be on deck to forge ahead the development of Etche;
There is need for unity and sense of direction to chart the way for the development of Etche nation;
Etche people should stop dwelling in the past and develop a positive mindset to take the future.