This write-up is provoked by various statements credited to unknown persons in Ebiraland in the attempt to whittle down the combined effort of our past and present heroes who are the real champion behind Ajaokuta struggle that had lasted for several decades before our younger elements were even conceived.
At my age, as a senior citizen and a major stakeholder of Ebira project, I will be doing my generation a big disfavor if I keep quiet and allow the spread of falsehood over who is who in Ebiraland that should take credit for the continued and sustained struggle to save Ajaokuta from itself, as a student of history, I will attempt to give credit to whom it is due in decades of struggle to save Ajaokuta from dying an untimely death in the hands of our leaders, both past and present in this country. I stand to be corrected when I mentioned that His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ado Ibrahim, the paramount traditional ruler of Ebiraland should step forward and receive his award as a hero of Ajaokuta struggle.
Sentiment apart, that our number one traditional ruler who is over eighty years today is one voice to reckon with in our fruitless attempt to get the relevant Authority to save Ajaokuta from dying as a victim of bad leadership in recent time. All our traditional rulers, particularly the five Ohis, deserve awards for their fatherly roles to save the life of perpetually moribund Ajaokuta steel. The umbrella body of Ebira unionism, Ebira People Association, should come forward for a deserved place and mention in my hall of fame.
The youthful wing, Ebira Youth Congress, deserves mention as one of the unsung heroes of Ajaokuta struggle. The Nigerian media, both print and electronic, will readily come to mind in my attempt to write history in its naked form devoid of sentiment and grandstanding, other prominent Ebira people, namely, Alhaji Isah Ozi Salami, chief J. O. Omuya, Dr Philips Salawu, Engr Umar, the first Ebira engineer who worked with the steel company in the early eighties, Gen Salihu Ibrahim, Engr A. T. Ahmed of blessed memory, chief Bajeson and others too numerous to mention are all eminently qualified to be mentioned in my Hall of Fame for Ajaokuta struggle.
If there is a puerile attempt by the younger element led by Barr Natasha Akpoti in Ajaokuta struggle when history is being reviewed, Barr Natasha Akpoti would definitely get a mention, the point must be made that the struggle for Ajaokuta did not start and end with effort of Barr Natasha Akpoti, indeed she is a good Ambassador of Ebira nation, let’s give her a pat on the back for her timely contribution to the age-long Ajaokuta struggle that predates the birth of our younger generation who are under thirty years.
I wish to commend chief Otori from Ihima who is the union leader of Ajaokuta steel for his timely contribution to the Ajaokuta struggle.
If you ask me, I think it is high we allowed Ajaokuta steel company to die and leave the burial for the federal government so that we can have peace, progress, unity and true statesmanship in Ebira Nation.
Funny enough, what has Ebira Nation and her good people gotten since the inception of Ajaokuta in the real term when the steel company was alive and kicking,and billions of naira were pouring in from the Centre, my people were ordinary drivers, artisans, labourers of no consequential value. Until lately, all the top managerial positions went to outsiders while we became onlookers in that gigantic project, our mumu don do.
– Otori Ozigi is a retired public servant, journalist/PR consultant
