Governor  Okpebholo, Uzea is Dying! Criminal Herdsmen, Collapsed Schools, and Zero Development Demand Your Attention!- Okugbe-Ku Uzea Community 

In a deeply emotional and charged press conference organized by the apex socio-cultural group, Okugbe-Ku Uzea Community Development Association, Incorporated, the Uzea Kingdom of Esan North East Local Government Area has called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to urgently intervene in their dire circumstances. The community painted a grim picture of neglect, insecurity, and underdevelopment, pleading for action to prevent their extinction.

Uzea, comprising nine towns—Ewoiki Uzea, Uroh Uzea, Ebulen Uzea, Olinlin Uzea, Ukuaza Uzea, Idinegbon Uzea, Ebun Uzea, Ute Uzea, and Uzokhala Uzea—is beset by issues ranging from criminality to infrastructural decay. The press conference, which brimmed with palpable frustration and despair, outlined these challenges in harrowing detail.

Criminal Herdsmen and Insecurity

The Ojie of Uzea expressed deep anguish over the unchecked criminal activities of herdsmen in the kingdom. He disclosed that the herdsmen had been raping women and daughters, sometimes killing those who resisted and setting them ablaze. The monarch revealed that his own family members and workers had been kidnapped twice in 2024 alone. In a resolute tone, he declared that he no longer wanted criminal herdsmen in his kingdom, a call that resonated with the cries of many Uzea residents.

Collapse of Education

Education in Uzea has reached an abysmal state. Most primary schools in the kingdom were built as far back as 1955 during Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s era in the Western Region and have since become inhabitable. Worse still, most communities lack secondary schools, forcing parents to send their children to neighboring towns.

This lack of parental guidance has led to a surge in school dropouts, teenage pregnancies, and, in some cases, fatalities during childbirth. For the girl-child, education has become a near impossibility, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and despair.

Absence of Basic Amenities

Electricity remains an elusive dream in Uzea. Since its inception, the kingdom has never experienced electrification, leaving communities in perpetual darkness. Health facilities are virtually non-existent, with no hospitals, primary health care centers, or maternity units to cater to basic medical needs. This has resulted in alarmingly high maternal and child mortality rates.

Additionally, Uzea’s agrarian economy is severely hampered by the lack of motorable roads, making it nearly impossible for farmers to transport their produce to markets. This has plunged many families into deeper poverty, despite the kingdom’s abundant natural resources, including oil, gas, and gold reserves.

Marginalization in Political Representation

The kingdom has also voiced frustration over what it perceives as deliberate marginalization in Esan North East LGA. Since the return to democracy in 1999, no elective office has been zoned to Uzea, nor has any son or daughter of the kingdom held an appointive position of significance. This lack of political equity has stifled their developmental aspirations and fueled calls for the creation of Uzea Local Government Area.

A Cry for Immediate Intervention

The Okugbe-Ku Uzea Community Development Association pleaded with Governor Okpebholo to address these pressing issues, emphasizing that the community had overwhelmingly supported his election.

“We are at a crossroads,” the group declared. “We can either cry out for help and be saved or continue down this path, which undoubtedly leads to the extinction of Uzea as a viable kingdom.”

The group also warned against the potential encroachment of illegal miners on Uzea’s mineral-rich lands, urging the government to prioritize development in the area to safeguard its resources.

A Call to Leadership

Governor Okpebholo, Hon. Abubakar Momoh, the Minister of Niger Delta Development, and former Governor Adams Oshiomhole were all implored to take immediate steps to address Uzea’s plight. The association expressed hope that their cries would resonate with the state government and APC leaders, prompting decisive action.

The Uzea Kingdom’s tears are a stark reminder of the challenges facing rural communities in Edo State. Their call for equity, justice, and development underscores the urgent need for intervention to restore hope to a once-thriving kingdom now on the brink of collapse.

“Governor Okpebholo, the time to act is now,” the group concluded, their voices heavy with desperation. “Save Uzea before it is too late.”

Fond Attached the full communique below…