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 1983.
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 adopted as well as the myriad of crises engulfing the nation today.
From his explanation, it appears that he is trying to take advantage of the structural imbalance in the number of states in the South East as a basis for pushing the narrative.
Let it be known that Anioma people are not desperate to get Anioma state but rather will prefer a state based on collective consensus and self determination as well as equity and justice.
Nothing is new about the agitation as our forebears had campaigned for same. What is only curious about the agitation is the call by the Senator for the proposed new state to be created as the sixth state of the South Eastern geopolitical zone and as expected it has been met with a resounding backlash as it does not tally with the wishes and aspirations of the Anioma people.
The people were not consulted, the political leaders, the traditional rulers who are the custodians of our culture were not consulted either. Call for state Creation and political zone adjustment cannot be done or argued without feeling the pulse of the constituents.
What are the opinions of relevant stakeholders towards the proposed idea? Anioma state is desired but certainly not as part of the South East zone or region.
The Aniomas and the south East region have never been the same politically and share no political affinity. Culturally Anioma people share affinity with the Igbo because most Aniomas speak a variant of the Igbo language of which they are proud of, however Anioma people by 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).
Culled from Vanguard.