Miffed by the apparent ploy to split them into different local government areas, the Okrika people have made a passionate appeal to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review to revisit the plan to permanently balkanize them.

The view of the Ijaw group in Rivers State was made public by Senator Tarry Sekibo Odoabaiyi at the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review for the South-South Region in Port Harcourt.

He asserted that the matter got worse when the authorities moved the local government areas from Rivers South-East Senatorial district to Rivers East.

Calling on the Constitutional Review Committee to look into the matter Senator Sekibo said if the situation is allowed to subsist, “it would make them politically irrelevant,” he said.

However, he submitted that if the creation of Port Harcourt South Local Government sails through, then the present number of local government areas would increase form the present 23.

He further remarked, “taking Ogu/Bolo and Okrika would defeat the essence of the constitution to make justice and peace reign in the country.”

In a similar view the people from Delta State have called for more recognition in the constitution for minority groups in the country, saying as it exists now the minority groups are not heard.

Represented by Mr Blessing Umonela Ukiri the group said the incorporation of feelings of the different views of the people is important in creating fairness and equity noting that, “there is no way we can make progress there must be great emphasis that the judiciary is empowered and strengthened.”

Also, he remarked that the creation of new states must be based on consensus and criteria spelt out clearly.

Mr Ukiri frowned at the ambiguous wordings in the constitution observing that it creates confusion and diverse interpretation,” the language must be so simple so that there should be no room for manipulations,” he advised.