By John Akubo
In the evolving mosaic of Nigeria’s federalism, the agitation for state creation remains one of the most enduring political demands—one that speaks to equity, representation, and developmental justice.
Among the loudest and most consistent calls is the quest for Okura State, proposed to be carved out of the present-day Kogi East. And at the very heart of this agitation stands Senator Jibrin Isah, popularly known as Echocho—a lawmaker who has emerged as the unmistakable arrowhead of the movement, combining constitutional tact with grassroots passion.
For the people of the Igala/Bassa bloc, the creation of Okura State is not a fleeting political aspiration; it is a deeply rooted historical demand, a mission for dignity, and a constitutional necessity. And Echocho has thrown his full weight behind it—galvanizing legislative support, amplifying the voices of his constituents, and laying the foundation for what could become one of Nigeria’s most strategic new states.
At the recently concluded Zonal Public Hearing of the Senate Constitution Review Committee in Jos, Plateau State, Senator Jibrin Isah did not just show up—he took the lead. Representing Kogi East with poise and purpose, he stood shoulder to shoulder with delegates of the Okura Development Foundation (ODF) as they submitted a comprehensive memorandum seeking the creation of Okura State and the consequential legislation for 14 additional local governments proposed within it.
Echocho’s presence was not symbolic. He was deep in the trenches of legislative advocacy, securing endorsements, speaking with colleagues across party lines, and reaffirming the resolve of his people.“I am not here to make a show,” he declared boldly. “I am here because this is a generational task, and we will see it through.”
So far, Senator Isah has secured the signatures of 55 Senators in support of Okura State, and he has vowed to mobilize more before the House of Representatives public hearing in Minna from July 11–13. In a National Assembly known for political caution, Echocho’s energy has become a rallying force.
The proposed Okura State is not a political invention—it is a reimagination of the defunct Igala Native Authority, a once-thriving administrative unit that was second only to the Kano Native Authority in terms of wealth and governance structure during the pre-independence era.
Comprising nine current Local Government Areas—Ankpa, Dekina, Idah, Ofu, Omala, Ibaji, Olamaboro, Bassa, and Igalamela-Odolu—the proposed Okura State spans 14,000 square kilometers, with a population estimated at over three million. It shares boundaries with Benue, Enugu, and Anambra States, as well as the Rivers Niger and Benue—placing it at a strategic confluence for trade, agriculture, and industry.
The region is blessed with abundant mineral and agricultural resources—including oil, coal, limestone, gold, iron ore, and barite. It is Nigeria’s largest producer of cashew nuts, and home to one of the country’s most arable agricultural belts.
Yet, despite these endowments, Kogi East has suffered disproportionate development and representation. The 1991 census manipulation, many argue, reduced the region’s demographic weight from 54% to 46% of the then Kabba Province—leading to fewer federal constituencies, wards, polling units, and development projects.
Senator Echocho captures this succinctly: “Our population, which should have been an advantage, has instead been used to limit us. Okura State is our path to correcting that structural injustice.”
The push for Okura State is not new. It began as far back as 1980 during the Second Republic and was one of the states approved for referendum in 1983. Unfortunately, the military coup that brought General Buhari to power on December 31, 1983 truncated the process. While other proposed states on that list—such as Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Ekiti, and Zamfara—have since been created, Okura was left behind.
The Igala Kingdom, like the Benin Kingdom, the Sokoto Caliphate, the Oyo Empire, and the Kanem-Bornu Empire, is one of the precolonial civilizational pillars of what is now Nigeria. These other kingdoms have been beneficiaries of multiple states carved in their honour. The Igala nation, in contrast, remains without a distinct homeland, despite being a majority in Kogi East and found in over 24 Nigerian states as minorities.
This, many believe, is both an anomaly and an injustice—one that Okura State would correct.
Echocho’s strength as a lawmaker lies not just in advocacy but in tangible grassroots delivery. Even as he pushes for Okura State, he is delivering on other fronts—unveiling projects that are preparing the region for the kind of autonomy statehood demands.
In Ankpa, a mega ICT Hub is underway, with land secured and contractors mobilized. New hospitals and motor parks are in progress across the district, and roads in Ajaka, Ugwolawo, and Itobe have been listed for construction.
Beyond that, Echocho has promised a massive empowerment rollout that includes tricycles, motorcycles, and entrepreneurial support tools—delivered not on party lines, but based on community need. He emphasized that traditional rulers, religious leaders, and youth groups will be key stakeholders in the next phase of grassroots development.
On the critical Ankpa-Abejukolo Road, he admitted that the funds allocated to lawmakers for constituency projects are insufficient. However, as Vice Chairman of the North Central Development Commission Committee, he has already ensured the road’s inclusion in the regional development budget—a testimony to his blend of strategic advocacy and political pragmatism.
Senator Echocho understands that state creation is a constitutional process, not a political favour. That’s why he’s focused on satisfying Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the requirements for boundary adjustment and state creation—including the consent of local government areas and support from two-thirds of the National Assembly.
In this regard, the Okura agitation is on firm legal ground. The proposed 14 local governments—created in 2002 by the Kogi State House of Assembly—meet all constitutional thresholds. Echocho’s strategy is to ensure they get consequential recognition through federal legislation.
He has also mobilized the three Kogi East House of Representatives members to speak with one voice, forming a formidable legislative bloc to complement the Senate push. “This is no longer a fringe movement,” he declared recently. “It is now a national conversation.”
With the National Assembly’s renewed openness to constitutional restructuring, the movement for Okura State is at its most promising phase since 1983. And with Senator Echocho at the helm, there is a sense that this time, it might just happen.
He remains unapologetically committed, reminding everyone who will listen: “I do not play propaganda politics. I work quietly, but I work consistently. And Okura State will happen—not as a gift, but as a right long overdue.”
As Nigeria once again faces the mirror of its federal architecture, the voices from Kogi East, led by Senator Jibrin Isah, are growing louder and clearer. Okura is not just a place on the map — it is a promise that must be fulfilled.
When the history of Okura State is finally written, Echocho’s name will not be in the footnotes. It will be on the front page — as the man who led a people’s dream out of the shadows and into the sun.
