AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE ESAN NATION From: Royal Princess Gloria Omono Okojie, an Indigene of Uromi in Esanland

 

Subject: Charter for Regional Governance, Gender Parity, Layered Defense, and Economic Self-Reliance 

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Esan Nation, Standing firmly upon the monumental legacy of the late Chief Anthony Enahoro, CFR—the Architect of Nigeria’s Independence who bravely moved the historic motion for self-rule in 1953

Chief Anthony Enahoro always championed a profound vision for our people: he wanted Esanland to be entirely self-governed, economically self-reliant, and to stand as a glorious pathfinder for the benefits of regional governance across the entire Nigerian federation. 

He believed that true democracy must be built from the bottom up, and that efficient governance is one that derives its power directly from the grassroots. This vision is the continuation of a life-long struggle. Having proudly ran for the House of Representatives under the then National Reformation Party (NRP) led by the late Chief Anthony Enahoro—as the party no longer exists for now

I have long waited for the day true regional governance will commence, proving his doctrine that decisions affecting the grassroots are best made at the grassroots. To secure our future, we must establish this modern blueprint for administrative self-reliance, gender equity, and neighborhood security, while preserving absolute peace with our Bini neighbors and all surrounding sister territories. 

This Charter proposes a structured pathway forward for our five Local Government Areas, our Wards, and our ancestral communities, serving our population of nearly one million citizens.

ARTICLE I: THE STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT FOR ALL-INCLUSIVE REGIONAL HARMONY 

Frontier Sector Neighboring Territories Historical/Cultural Relationship Citation Shared Interests & Boundary Management Local Governance Mechanism

 The Southern Frontier Edo South (The Bini Nation) We cite our inseparable ancestral roots to the ancient Benin Kingdom and our enduring cultural vow 'Esan gbe 'Do' (Esan does no harm to Bini), honoring centuries of shared royalty. Protecting the vital Ehor-to-Benin City transit, commercial food supply corridors, and preventing local agrarian land friction. Esan-Bini Inter-Council Security Task Force (Joint patrols between Esan border councils and Uhunm wonde/Orhionmwon). 

The Northern Frontier Edo North (Afemai, Owan, Akoko-Edo) We cite our deep linguistic and cultural ties as brothers of common Edoid heritage. We explicitly honor the kinship between the Enijie of Esanland and the Otarus (Atarus) of the North. Sharing trade networks along the Ewu-Auchi axis, ensuring agricultural safety, and maintaining mutually respected non-aggression protocols. Esan-Afemai Joint Boundary Arbitration Panel (Coordinating transit safety and local dispute resolutions). 

The Eastern Frontier Kogi State (Ebira, Igala, Ogori Nations) We cite our long-standing cross-border relationship with Kogi State. We recognize our shared farmlands along the Ibaji-Uloshi and Ogori sectors, where our farmers have peacefully interacted. Jointly resolving emerging border-island agricultural frictions, protecting cross-river fishermen, and securing trade flowing down into our markets. Esan-Kogi Inter-State Border Peace Commission (Collaborative security along the northernmost agricultural boundaries). The Southeastern Frontier Igbanke (Orhionmwon LGA) 

We cite our direct historical brotherhood with Igbanke. We explicitly honor the ancestral migration links between Amahor in Igueben LGA and the Idumuodin quarter of Igbanke. Protecting our close trade relationship along the Igbanke-Igueben corridor, safeguarding local markets, and promoting structural unity with our border kin. The Esan-Igbanke Joint Border Committee (Ensuring trade security and social collaboration).

ARTICLE I: THE STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT FOR ALL-INCLUSIVE REGIONAL HARMONY

 Frontier Sector Neighboring Territories Historical/Cultural Relationship Citation Shared Interests & Boundary Management Local Governance Mechanism The Southern Frontier Edo South (The Bini Nation) We cite our inseparable ancestral roots to the ancient Benin Kingdom and our enduring cultural vow 'Esan gbe 'Do' (Esan does no harm to Bini), honoring centuries of shared royalty. Protecting the vital Ehor-to-Benin City transit, commercial food supply corridors, and preventing local agrarian land friction. Esan-Bini Inter-Council Security Task Force (Joint patrols between Esan border councils and Uhunm wonde/Orhionmwon). 

The Northern Frontier Edo North (Afemai, Owan, Akoko-Edo) We cite our deep linguistic and cultural ties as brothers of common Edoid heritage. We explicitly honor the kinship between the Enijie of Esanland and the Otarus (Atarus) of the North. Sharing trade networks along the Ewu-Auchi axis, ensuring agricultural safety, and maintaining mutually respected non-aggression protocols. Esan-Afemai Joint Boundary Arbitration Panel (Coordinating transit safety and local dispute resolutions). 

The Eastern Frontier Kogi State (Ebira, Igala, Ogori Nations) We cite our long-standing cross-border relationship with Kogi State. We recognize our shared farmlands along the Ibaji-Uloshi and Ogori sectors, where our farmers have peacefully interacted. Jointly resolving emerging border-island agricultural frictions, protecting cross-river fishermen, and securing trade flowing down into our markets. Esan-Kogi Inter-State Border Peace Commission (Collaborative security along the northernmost agricultural boundaries). The Southeastern Frontier Igbanke (Orhionmwon LGA) 

We cite our direct historical brotherhood with Igbanke. We explicitly honor the ancestral migration links between Amahor in Igueben LGA and the Idumuodin quarter of Igbanke. Protecting our close trade relationship along the Igbanke-Igueben corridor, safeguarding local markets, and promoting structural unity with our border kin. The Esan-Igbanke Joint Border Committee (Ensuring trade security and social collaboration).

ARTICLE II: THE MANDATORY ALTERNATING GENDER RULE FOR CIVIL INSTITUTIONS 

Our sacred traditional monarchies remain entirely outside the scope of modern administrative alterations; their lines of succession are ancient, immutable, and strictly patrilineal. However, all modern civil, political, academic, and statutory organizations within Esanland must be legally bound to absolute gender parity. 

To ensure fair representation for our population, which is 50.1% female and 49.9% male, no two individuals of the same gender shall concurrently occupy consecutive primary and deputy leadership seats. 

If a position is held by a man, the deputy must be a woman, and vice versa. • The State/Zonal Executive: If the Governor is a man, the Deputy Governor must be a woman, and vice versa. • Local Government Chairmanship: If the elected Chairman of an LGA is a woman, the Vice-Chairman must be a man, and vice versa. If the Chairman is a man, the Vice-Chairman must be a woman, and vice versa. • Political Wards: If a Ward Councillor or administrative committee head is a man, the direct assistant or deputy must be a woman, and vice versa. • Educational Institutions: From our primary and secondary schools up to Ambrose Alli University (AAU) at Ekpoma, if a Vice-Chancellor or Principal is a man, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or Vice-Principal must be a woman, and vice versa. • Legislative and Judicial Arms: 

This alternating rule strictly applies to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House, as well as high-ranking administrative judicial panels, and vice versa. ARTICLE III: THE ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE AND RAILWAY MANDATE 1. The Central Railway Corridor Network: Esanland is uniquely positioned along the Warri–Itakpe–Abuja Standard Gauge Railway line, with fully operational cargo-capable rail stations directly servicing Uromi and Ekehen/Igueben. 2. The Freight Train Mandate: Regional governance must aggressively petition and partner with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to institute a dedicated, goods-only freight train service. 

This train will run continuously from our local stations to Abuja and the North, and southwards directly to the Warri Seaport. 3. Logistics Hub Development: The 5 local government areas must collaboratively fund and construct massive, secure regional warehouses, grain silos, and offloading terminals adjacent to the Uromi and Ekehen rail facilities. 

This will allow our local farmers, traders, and manufacturing cooperatives to bypass expensive, deteriorating federal roads and export bulk agricultural commodities and products directly to national markets, achieving true economic sovereignty.

ARTICLE IV: THE UROMI EXECUTIVE GOVERNORSHIP MANDATE & HISTORICAL JUSTIFICATION 

It remains a profound historical injustice that since the creation of Edo State in 1991, no single democratically elected Governor has ever emerged from Uromi. Despite Uromi being the dense metropolitan and historical cornerstone of Esanland, its sons and daughters have been systematically sidelined from the state’s highest executive office. 

This exclusion stands in total contradiction to the unassailable political, intellectual, and national contributions of Uromi's indigenes, who have shaped the landscape of Nigeria and the world. We justify our urgent right to the executive seat through our peerless icons, led by the immortal heritage of Chief Anthony Enahoro, CFR (The Architect of Independence): the youngest editor in Nigeria’s history, national pro-democracy hero, Federal Minister, and the fearless nationalist who moved the first motion for Nigeria's self-rule in 1953. Uromi has continuously given its brightest minds, structural masterminds, and dynamic global professionals to the growth of Nigeria. 1. The Core Demand: We explicitly declare that in the upcoming regional cycles of the Tripartite State Power Rotation, political stakeholders must recognize that Uromi has paid its dues a thousand times over. 

It is time for a Governor from Uromi itself to take the reins of leadership at Government House, Benin City. 2. Application of Parity: In strict alignment with our charter, when a Governor from Uromi is elected, the executive mandate will follow our gender parity rules, ensuring a competent deputy of the opposite gender is paired to lead our state into an era of mutual prosperity. 

ARTICLE V: THE LAYERED REGIONAL DEFENSE FRAMEWORK 

1. Common Regional Defense Command: A unified strategic command defending the geographical outer boundaries of the Esan central plateau, specifically securing the shared frontiers along the River Niger, Kogi State, Delta State, and major transit highways. 2. Council Defense Units: Localized security architectures unique to the 5 local government councils, customized to tackle municipal threats, manage rural market safety, and protect our railway freight hubs and agricultural fields. 3. Ward Defenses: Autonomous, village-level neighborhood watches and intelligence-gathering units unique to each Ward, utilizing grassroots youth formations for immediate tracking and protection of citizens, including vulnerable children and disabled persons. 

ARTICLE VI: THE TRADITIONAL DIRECTORY OF ESANLAND 

Local Government Area (LGA) Esan North-East Esan Central Esan West Headquarter Town Uromi Irrua Constituent Kingdoms / Communities Uromi, Uzea Igueben (Okaigun), Ekpon, Ebelle, Okalo, Amahor, Ugun, Udo, Ewosa Irrua (Okaigesan), Ewu, Ugbegun, Opoji Ekpoma Esan South-East Igueben Ubiaja Igueben Ekpoma, Ogwa, Ujiogba, Idoa, Urohi, Ukhun, Egoro Ubiaja, Ewohimi, Ewatto, Ohordua, Okhuesan, Emu, Ugboha, Oria, Onogholo, Uroh, Ifeku Island, Illushi, Orowa, Iyenlen Page 5 of 6 Written by Royal Princess Gloria Omono Okojie, an Indigene of Uromi in Esand land Sons and daughters of Esan, let us embrace this structural model to build a highly secure, economically vibrant, and fully gender-balanced society that honors our past while securing our future. 

Signed

Royal Princess Gloria Omono Okojie An Indigene of Uromi in Esanland