The clamour for the creation of an additional state out of the South-East geopolitical zone is age-long. However, it gained fresh momentum lately with a bill for the creation of Orlu State being championed concurrently by Senator Osita Izunaso and Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere Imo in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.
It is a shame that the South-East region has been subjected to palpable discrimination since the official end of the Nigeria-Biafra war in 1970. The war has continued unofficially without live bullets but through equally deadly policies meant to prove that the South-East is a conquered territory and so must be made to bleed.
How else would one explain that, out of the six geopolitical zones in the country, only the South-East has the least number of states? While others have six or even seven, only the South-East has five states, resulting in unquantifiable losses in terms of revenue and political patronage.
Therefore, the clamour for, at least, one more state in the South-East is not misplaced even though it has set off a plethora of demands from other zones.
Nevertheless, the move by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, for the creation of Anioma State brought a novel twist to the entire idea. It ranks far higher than even the popular demand for Orlu State, which Yours Truly had also rooted for before the true picture of Nwoko’s bill was unveiled to me.
The beauty of Nwoko’s bill lies in the fact that the Anioma State, when created, shall be carved out of the South-South and merged with the South-East region to bring the Anioma into the same bed with their kith and kin across the Niger. Very pragmatic and foresighted indeed!
What makes Nwoko’s idea exceptional is its bid to coalesce the entire Igbo race under the South-East zone. Interestingly, the Anioma people have never really denied their Igbo roots. They have always been pan-Igbo, priding themselves as Delta Igbo and very active in the affairs of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo. So, Anioma State in the South-East would make everyone Igbo without the divisive tag of core or non-core Igbo hoisted by the enemy.
It would be a thing of joy to reintegrate the Igbo brethren across the Niger than carving up the already existing states in the South-East, unless, hopefully and justifiably, more than one state would be created.
Strangely, Nwoko is receiving flak from some misguided and disgruntled elements who are definitely under the spell of the anti-Igbo brickbat foisted on the gullible by a Nigeria that was intentional in scattering the people to whittle Igbo cohesion and strength.
Well, democracy is a good thing. It throws up anything and anyone into the mix. That was why I was amused by a certain Ndokwa Renaissance Group, which threatened to mobilise the people to recall Senator Nwoko from the Senate. Unfortunately, these people have consistently betrayed their roots because of the porridge in strange pots.
Without prejudice to the meritorious demands for other states to be created out of the South-East, Anioma comes tops. The reasons for this are far-reaching but the most significant of this beautiful dream is the reunion of brethren separated by evil political maneuvering of a hateful Nigeria.
What the opponents of Anioma coming to the South-East fail to realise is that belligerent Nigeria see them as Igbo. That was why they were not spared the horrors of the 1967-1970 civil war, which was an aftermath of the 1966 coup purportedly led by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu. The war consumed many Igbo on both sides of the Niger, especially on the eastern flank because they saw Nzeogwu as Igbo, which he truly was.
Strangely, the same Nigeria sowed seeds of disunity among the Igbo by carving up the Igbo and dispersing them among other people with whom they shared no consanguinity. That dichotomous policy has never ceased. Sadly, some, out of greed still relish their parlous and slavish condition, even when an opportunity for freedom beckons.
Understandably, even the Yoruba are also making moves to reclaim their brethren in Kwara and Kogi.
Likewise, Anioma State would restore and foster the brotherhood that once existed among the Igbo before the year of the locust when enemies did the unimaginable by dividing brothers and resetting their minds to hate their very own.
It is pig-headed to want to remain on the leash of strangers when you could fraternise with your kin. Did they not say when the corpse starts smelling, the friend that seemed better than a brother would disappear? On such occasions, the adage that blood is thicker than water comes full circle. To believe that other ethnic groups in Delta State would love the Anioma more than their blood brothers in the South-East is inordinately asinine.
Moreover, Anioma State would not only bring all Igbo together but also accelerate economic activities and boost development. Onitsha, which is a walking distance to Asaba, is already rubbing off positively on the city. Feverish development is ongoing in and around the city with the active participation and investment of the Igbo returning from other parts of Nigeria. They are investing heavily there in the spirit of the ‘Akuruo ulo’ mandate being pushed across Igboland. They would not be doing that if they didn’t see Asaba as home and part of their own, as they disinvest from enemy territories where they seem not to be wanted anymore. Anioma State would doubtlessly give this more impetus for the collective good of the Igbo, with attendant huge economic gains.
Those who are hung on retaining the status quo are suffering from Stockholm syndrome where victims develop uncanny love for their oppressors. Understandably, years of intentional indoctrination have made them to be scared of their shadows. It is this long period of separation, coupled with wicked propaganda, that is fuelling their fear. However, it is absurd to even contemplate denying your mother’s food because of a strange woman’s lubricious delicacy, even if it is poisoned. Regardless of the biblical Daniel rejecting the king’s meat to remain true to his identity, God preserved him even in the lion’s den. So, this fear is uncalled for.
Until Nwoko’s masterstroke idea, Anioma could not be factored into the mix. However, that he wants the Igbo-speaking part of Delta State to join their kith and kin in the South-East became a trump card. If this is done, it would amount to killing two birds with one stone. The much-expected balance would not only have been achieved but the Igbo in Delta State would also reintegrate with their brethren in the South-East.
To decimate the Igbo, Nigeria balkanised the race by scattering its people to different states in Delta, Rivers, Edo, Cross River, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Benue. Interestingly, only the Anioma have retained their Igbo identity apart from a few disgruntled elements from Ukwuani and Ndokwa regardless of the ethnic and linguistic affinity. It is left to conjecture how they would transmute into Ijaw, Urhobo, or Itshekiri by choosing not to go with their other kith and kin because of immediate petty gains.
More progress would be made if the Anioma were allowed to chart a new course. The proposed Anioma State would galvanise them into more action and more progress. It would also bring about a stronger bond among the Igbo on both sides of the River Niger.
Nwoko is an avant-garde, who deserves commendation, not vilification. His idea is novel, fresh, and sensibly reasonable. Only little minds fail to see the glory in his vision for Anioma.
Creating the state would end the oppression and suppression of Anioma people in the larger multi-ethnic Delta State, and also lead to the emergence of a true Delta State, forever killing the resentment against former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, whom they accuse of creating a state for his in-laws when he sited the state capital in Asaba instead of Warri. The argument was that he took away the soul of the state, which also resulted in ill feelings against the Igbo in the state. The departure of Anioma would finally put this ‘anomaly’ to rest and allow the two neighbouring ‘state’ to flourish on their own.