We re-echo that the Anioma State become a reality in this dispensation. The President General of Apex Association of Anioma Indigenes Inc and members join their voices to support the Anioma State creation.
The demand for creation of a distinct geopolitical entity for the Igbo Speaking people on the West of the Niger was first made in the 1950s by the people of Aboh and Asaba divisions in then Western regional House of Assembly but this was turned down by the government of the former western region on the grounds that it would embolden the various ethnic nationalities in the country to raise such demands.
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The agitation didn’t stop. The traditional council of Chiefs from Anioma
of Delta State led by Chairman of the Izu Anioma, Chief Patrick Ozieh, in campaigning for its creation and claiming that the geographical spread of the area is richly endowed with crude oil and so is more viable than many existing states.
This cannot be ignored because it’s a justified demand that is long overdue. AAAI, will engage in a peaceful protest in promotion of this lawful demand, that binds the Anioma nation better. And fasten infrastructural development, and give us a distinct political identity and a sense of belonging in the Nigerian nation.
The then Late Asagba of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien, led a delegation of indigenes of Delta North Senatorial district to the National Assembly to demand for the creation of Anioma State in the Igbo linguistic area of the oil rich state.
This follow up action cannot be far from the fact that We Anioma people have been denied our own State and we are victims of divide and rule tactics and subtle manipulations by forces that have continued to use us as the hewers of wood and drawers of water which has denied Anioma nation its legitimate pursuit for political identity.
Note that, other requests made along with that of Anioma people have been granted.
Is this not a clear demostratioon of outright marginalisation ?
All conditions laid down by the constitution for the creation of Anioma State and some other states were concluded in 1983 on November 15, when Alhaji Shehu Shagari signed the document for the creation of 26 states. Anioma state was one of them.
They were to go for a referendum on December 31, 1983 but a coup halted the move.
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The movement for the creation of states in Nigeria can be traced back to 1937 when Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe advocated in his book ‘The Political Blueprint of Nigeria’, a federal form of government for the country and the division of the country into eight constituent units based on geographical configuration.
Dr Azikiwe was later joined by Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo who, in a book, ‘Path to Nigeria’s Freedom’ published in 1947, proposed a division of Nigeria into ten federating units with ethnic, linguistic and cultural affinity as the basis for the division.
However, Awolowo writing in 1966 seemed to alter his stand when he shifted ground and advocated for a re-division of the country into eighteen states —nine in the north and nine in the south based on linguistic and cultural affinity as well as economic viability of states in the Federation.
The struggle for the creation of Anioma state started a long time ago but it became more vocal in 1980. And men like Senator Nosike Ikpo (1933-2021) championed the cause for the creation of Anioma state.
At that time, what could be referred to Anioma comprised four local governments namely Ika, Oshimili, Aniocha and Ndokwa. Now the four local governments comprise nine local governments namely Aniocha north, Aniocha south, Ika south, Ika north-east, Ndokwa east, Ndokwa west, Oshimili north, Oshimili south and Ukwuani.
The suggestion to extend across the Niger was rejected by Senator Ikpo, along with Honorable Chief Martin Nwoseh, Honorable M.A. Agbamuche, Honorable A.N. Iduwe and Honorable G.N. Nwechue, in a letter dated December 11, 1980.
Anioma state creation will influence Asaba port becoming functional with economic benefits . The coastal roads will also become a priority because of the commercial benefits and the socioeconomic improvement the villages by the river bank would experience.
If the bar on the creation of new states, as contained in our 1979 and 1999 presidential constitutions had been lowered, Anioma could have become a state by now.
Anioma means “Good Land” in the Igbo language. Mineral resources identified in Anioma include a large deposit of gas at Okpai in Ndokwa East. The dominant industry in Anioma is education, hence the first teachers’ training institute in the Western Region of which the Anioma nation was part of was in Ibusa in today’s Oshimili North local government area. If it had been created, Anioma could have become the sixth Igbo state.
Major towns and villages in Anioma include Asaba, Ase, Agbor, Kwale, Oligbo, Ibrede, Ibusa, Gbanke, Igbodo, Igbuku, Illah, Isa-Ogwashi, Iselegu, Isheagu, Isikiti-Ishiagu, Issele-Azagba, Issele-Mkpitime, Issele-Uku, Isumpe, Mbiri, Ndemiri, Abbi, Inam-Abbi, Ezhionum, Nkpolenyi, Nsukwa, Obetim, Obi Anyima, Obi Umutu, Obiaruku, Obikwele,
Others are Idumuje Ugboko, Idumuje Unor, Ezi, Obinumba, Obior, Obodo-Eti, Obomkpa, Ogbe, Ogode, Ogume, Ogwashi-Uku, Oko Anala, Oko/Ogbele, Oko-Amakom, Okotomi, Okpa, Okpanam, Okwe, Olor-Usisa, Olu-Odu, Omaja, Onicha Olona, Utchi etc
Outstanding men and women* like Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, Chief Dennis Chukude Osadebay, Chief Ogoegbuname Idise Dafe, Chief Jim Ovia, Chief Nduka Obaigbena, Chief Tony Elumelu, Nduka Irabor, General Alaba Isama (rtd.), Mitchell Obi, Nduka Otionu, Ambassador Joe Keshi, Chris Okolie, General Fred Chijuka(rtd.), Colonel Trimnel, Major Okonkwo, Chief Sunny Odogwu, Nduka Eze, Godwin Emefiele, Colonel Igboba, Professor Fideli Odia, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie, Bode Bernard, Admiral Dele Ezeoba, Ambassador Ralph Uwechei, Dame Winnie Akpani, Dr. Austin Izagbo, Epipany Azinge(SAN), Frank Nwachukwu Ndili, Ike Nwamu, Emma Nyra Joseph Udeh, Maryam Babangida, General Lucky Irabor, Alex Iwobi, Professor Joseph Chike Edozien, Professor Patrick Utomi, Zulu Sofola, Sam Obi, Austine “Jay-Jay”Okocha, Nduka Odizor, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Lisa Omorodion, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, Demas Nwoko, Faze, Chief Phillip Asiodu, Emmanuel Ibe Kachukwu, Joseph “Hannibal” Achuzie, Sunday Oliseh, Ifeanyi Okowa, Joy Ogwu and others too numerous to mention, are all from Anioma.
Our ethnicity is Anioma.
Language is Anioma.
Dialect is Odiani, Ika, Ukwuani, eboh and Enuani.
Unless we stand out in our true identity, Anioma will continue to be an appendage, or a forgotten appendage.
The creation of Anioma state cannot be swept away by political manipulation this time around.
In our becoming a State, AAAI will enforce her three major objectives that will make Anioma State stand out. These objectives are good governance and citizenship through stewardship accountability live TV / radio programs, promotion of our cultural heritage and youths mental, economic and social developement.
Uwaoma nu!. Mbana ni o!
Akpomia mu unu!
I remain Apst. Patrick A. Nwanze, President General of Apex Association of Anioma Indigenes Inc.
