Aniocha and Oshimili Local Governments are made up of four (4) of the nine (9) Local Governments politically delineated as Delta North namely: Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South Local Government Areas.
Aniocha – Oshimili Elders Association (Izu-Ikei) is a non-Partisan Association registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission with Registration No. P86497, dated July 8, 2021. The motto of the organization is Afu Ekwu Na Egbu Ikei.
The aims and objectives are:
i. To provide guidance and collective leadership in all matters affecting the interest, solidarity and general welfare of Aniocha and Oshimili people.
ii. To promote unity among the Aniocha and Oshimili people.
iii. To mobilize and promote the general interest of the Aniocha and Oshimili people.
iv. To promote, protect and preserve the cultural heritage of the Aniocha and Oshimili people.
v. To promote human understanding among all people resident in Aniocha and Oshimili Communities.
vi. To research and publish findings on cultural, political and socio-economic issues concerning Aniocha and Oshimili people.
In pursuit of the organization’s objectives, we wish to contribute to the ongoing debate on the presentation of the Anioma State Creation Bill in the National Assembly by Sen. Prince Ned Nwoko. The beauty of democracy, which is freedom of speech and participation of all and sundry in the affairs affecting us as people of Anioma, is being explored effectively. The contributions of various individuals, socio-cultural groups and ethnic nationalities are commendable.
Balkanisation of Anioma People
The chronicle of the age-long struggle could be of great assistance to a better way to achieve our dream of political autonomy – Anioma State.
The unity of the West of Niger Ibo-speaking people of Nigeria was truncated by the colonial masters because of their formidable resistance against colonization – Ekumeku War. They perpetually kept the people of Anioma subjugated and dismembered.
This was probably the reason River Niger was adopted as the boundary between the West and Eastern Region only while River Benue and Upper River Niger were not used as natural boundaries in other parts of Nigeria. Onitsha, Ogbaru, Uguta and Ndoni people were cut off from their brothers in Ibo Land West of Niger.
However, the record has it that in 1939, during boundary adjustment, our Traditional Rulers Ibos west of the Niger notably, Obi of Aboh, Obi of Agbo and Obi of Idumuje Ugboko agitated against their exclusion from the Eastern Region.
In further pursuit of weakening the Anioma people’s political influence, Ndokwa was delineated to Warri Province while Ika, Aniocha and Oshimili were in Benin Province. This was the origin of the separation of brothers. While Ndokwa and Ndoshimili adopted Ukwuani as their Language in Warri Province, Ika and Enuani adopted Ika/ Ibo in Benin Province.
It is worth noting that Anioma nation is made up of the nine (9) Local Governments in Delta North Senatorial Districts, Igbake in Edo State, Ndoni in Rivers State, Uguta in Imo, Onitsha and Ogbaru in Anambra State.
It could be recalled that before the Nigerian Civil War, every Ibo-speaking person was introducing himself or herself as an Ibo before his or her region or town of origin. But with the creation of States during and after the war, the mode of introduction changed. The key pride-IBO was pushed to the back seat. The introduction changed to Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu person instead. It was only the Ibos west of Niger were referred to as Ika Ibo, Western Ibo etc.
Anioma State Agitation
It was because of the above developments that the figth for Anioma Identity ensued. This fight primarily championed by Odu Oma Club Nigeria. ANIOMA which was an Acronym of the first letter from the names of the four Local Government areas (Aniocha, Ndokwa, Ika and Oshimili) by Hon. Chief Denis C. Osadebe and his political emancipators is now a geographical area, a language, Culture and way of life of Anioma people.
The agitation of the creation of Anioma State under different names at different times such as Western Ibo Region, Niger and Anioma States dated back to 1954. The remarkable activities among others are:
I. Amia Conference of 1954 was for the creation of West Ibo Region.
II. In 1980, the Anioma State Movement headed by late Senator Nosike Ikpo submitted a memorandum for the creation of Anioma State. This was subsequently approved among other requests in 1983 by President Alhaji Shehu Shagari and the directive for the conduct of referenda was given. This was aborted by the second incursion into Nigerian Politic by the Military lead by Gen. Mohamadu Buhari in December 1983. It was only Anioma State that is yet to be created out of the 9 States approved for referenda.
At this juncture, it is worth stating that the agitation for the actualization of our Anioma State was sustained by various groups and individuals among them are:
I. Delta State Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Thought
II. Delta North Senatorial Zone Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Thought
III. Izu Anioma and
IV. Odu Oma Club Nig.
The Current Bill For Anioma State Creation
In the call for Constitutional Review and the possible creation of States and restoration of Regional Government, the three scenarios playing out are:
Equitable distribution of States – 7in each geo-political zone
Creating only one state to make up six (6) in the South East Zone as was proposed during President Obasanjo Presidency.
Restoration of Mid-Western Region.
In addressing the above scenarios, the pertinent questions we need to thoroughly evaluate before taking a stand are:
I. If an additional State is to be created out of South-South, are Anioma people sure that it will be an Anioma State?
II. If only one Ibo additional state is approved by the National Assembly to be created, and Anioma is voted for as an Ibo State; will Aniocha, Ndokwa, Ika and Oshimili ethnic nationalities reject it in a referendum?
III. Will the distractions from sub-ethnic nationalities in Anioma prevent us from achieving our long-time dream of having a state of ours? If Regionalism is restored and we fall back to the Midwest, will that erase the Iboness in the Anioma people?
IV. Has any State the authority to exert its powers on any State in the same zone?
V. What legacy are we leaving behind in respect of Political
Autonomy for our unborn children?
In evaluating and proffering solutions to the above questions, we should go outside our comfort zone, appreciate the socio- economic, political and cultural dynamics and the future of our children.
Conclusion
Izu Ikei Aniocha Oshimili believe that in every adverse situation, there is an equal or more benefits. We therefore urge all the people of Anioma to search for the hidden treasure in the current controversy instead of the causative agent(s). It is crystal clear that the pre-determined objective of the Anioma people is the creation of an Anioma State. The political dynamics at the right time will undoubtedly sprout the most logical zone to belong to.
Given the above, the organization’s positions are:
I. Sustenance of Unity of purpose among ethnic nationalities in Anioma
II. Absolute support of the age-long agitation for the creation of Anioma State.
III. Planning and execution of Town Hall Meetings to interface with the Traditional Rulers, various ethnic nationalities and socio-cultural/Political groups by Distinguished Sen. Prince Ned Nwoko.
Lastly, we call on all ethnic nationalities to join hands to ensure the realization of our Anioma State and other praiseworthy projects for the benefit of Anioma people in particular and Nigeria in general.
Sir Prince Clement O. Okonjo, JP,
President,
Onowu Chuks Esogbue,
Asst. Secretary.
