Engr. Oriahi, PHD
In all the quest for Anioma State, beginning from Dennis Osadebay of the then Midwest region until now, none has advocated for a placement, or reintegration with their supposedly kith and kin in the South East. And the reason is simple; you cannot reinvent the wheel. For although the Anioma people are arguably Igboid, they cannot now be classified as Ndigbo by reason of their immigration and aculturization. The sociology of the “Bendel Ibos” is manifestly different from that of the Igbos.
Even though it is not one of the States being canvassed for by the Igbos of the SE, the campaign for the creation of Anioma State recently gained steam and momentum with the nod of Nigeria’s National Assembly to create additional six states in the Federation, With the original South Eastern region of Nigeria striped of its coast line and oil assets, the main political move here appears to be changing the revenue capacity of the SE geopolitical zone as we know it today. If this were not so, consulting the oil-rich Ndokwa constituents of the proposed State ought not to be at a political forum in Akwa Ibom State or a retreat anywhere else but Ndokwa.
All through history, there is this unifying bond that has developed the Anioma people as “Bendelites”, the Ukwannis and the Ika Ibos. Even when Delta and Edo states were created, our belonging to the same geopolitical South-South zone ensured continuity of our way of life. From the fact of the many, many years of our historical associations in commerce, culture, including sports and politics, there is this “feeling of oneness” of the Anioma people with the Oriafos from Ishan, the Egwailes from Igbanke in Edo State, the Etos from Isoko, the Odebalas of Sapele and the Odjegbas of Urhobo land in Delta State, what attributes do we really associate with Ndigbo? The way of life of Nigbo is different and must only be celebrated by those who have grown in it. Language contiguity has nothing to do with it.
Many ordinary citizens are indeed now asking that at a time when the Southeast is embroiled in active criminality by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant Eastern Security Network (ESN), killing and maiming innocent civilians and impeding commercial activities in their domain, who in his right mind would be advocating that his peaceful constituency becomes part of this unhinged violence? How can we extricate ourselves from our long and pleasant history just because of the ambitions of a politician whose commentary in the public space has become very toxic and embarrassing to the good people of Delta North?
