The quest for the creation of Anioma State has spanned over fifty
years from the period of Western, Mid Western Region, Bendel and
now Delta state. Prominent sons and daughters from the four dialectic
groups of Aniocha, Ndokwa, Ika and Oshimili campaigned earnestly
for the creation of the new state. At the forefront of this movement
were Chief Dennis Osadebay, Sen. Nosike Ikpo, Prof. B.I.C Ijeomah, Prof.
Chike Edozien the Asagba of Asaba, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor the Obi of
Owa, Captain Bright Odili, Prof. Chike Onwuachi, Mr. A.O. Aniagwuya to
mention a few. The Anioma state movement and Anioma Youths
Movement as well as different sociocultural organizations did so much
to create the Anioma consciousness amongst the people. The agitation
was so strong that the State was actually considered by the then
National Assembly but was aborted by the military coup of December.
The Anioma state movement at all times had been, to have the
Aniocha, Ika, Ndokwa and Oshimili people in one state they could call
their own but never to be joined with the Eastern region as they had
enough man power and resources even more than some of the newly
created states. Rather it was the people of Onitsha and some parts of
the South Eastern zone that have been clamoring to join the Anioma
state due to some cultural affinity with the Anioma people.
All through the years the Anioma people have never been in the same
political zone with the South East region. Aniomas were in the western
region, Midwest region, Bendel state as well as the present Delta state.
In all these arrangements Anioma people have never played second
fiddle. Chief Dennis Osadebay was the first Premier of Mid Western
Region and an Anioma son, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa just completed eight
years as executive governor of Delta State before handing over to his
successor from Delta Central. Anioma people from history have shown
the capacity to relate well and compete favourable with her neighbours
and even in the present Delta state, Anioma hosts the state capital.
The recent move by the Senator representing Delta North- Prince Ned
Nwoko proposing the creation of Anioma state as the sixth state in the
South East was a rude shock to the Aniomas and could best be
described as a political stunt considering the approach he has adoptedas well as the myriad of crises engulfing the nation today. From hisexplanation, it appears that he is trying to take advantage of thestructural imbalance in the number of states in the South East as a basisfor pushing the narrative. Let it be known that Anioma people are notdesperate to get Anioma state but rather will prefer a state based oncollective consensus and self determination as well as equity and justice.Nothing is new about the agitation as our forebears had campaigned forsame. What is only curious about the agitation is the call by the Senatorfor the proposed new state to be created as the sixth state of the SouthEastern geopolitical zone and as expected it has been met with aresounding backlash as it does not tally with the wishes and aspirationsof the Anioma people. The people were not consulted. The politicalleaders, the traditional rulers who are the custodians of our culturewere not consulted either. Call for state Creation and political zoneadjustment cannot be done or argued without feeling the pulse of theconstituents. What are the opinions of relevant stakeholders towardsthe proposed idea?Anioma state is desired but certainly not as part of the South East zoneor region. The Aniomas and the south East region have never been thesame politically and share no political affinity. Culturally Anioma peopleshare affinity with the Igbo because most Aniomas speak a variant ofthe Igbo language of which they are proud of, however Anioma peopleby history are populated by people with Bini, Yoruba, Igala and Igbo ancestry. Linguistic affinity is not sufficient for regional realignment. Kogi and Kwara states are populated by Yoruba speaking ethic groups yet are in the North Central, so also are the Ikweres and other groups in Rivers. Any meaningful call for the creation of Anioma state cannot be achieved without the consultation and buy-in of the relevant stakeholders. We are however reassured by the distinguished senator’s press release where he admitted that more consultation is needed and advice that further deliberations in the National Assembly should be halted in the interim until relevant consultations are done to determine what is best for our people. Arc. Kester Ifeadi President Organization for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC) (Cultural umbrella body of the Anioma People).
