The traditional ruler of Idumuje Unor in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty Obi Charles Chukwunweike Anyasi III, states that the inhabitants of Delta North Senatorial District, popularly known as Anioma, are Igbos and affirms that Senator Ned Nwoko was correct in his classification of the people.
Speaking on a special TVC interview programme “Behind the Headlines,” Obi Anyasi III said there are “claims to different ancestries but Aniomas are statutorily Igbos.”
Reflecting on the historical and cultural identity of Anioma people, the Obi, a veteran media personality turned king said: “The original concept of “Anioma” (the good land) was by Sir Dennis Osadebay who proposed the acronym with “A” meaning Aniocha, “ N” Ndokwa “ I” Ika and “O” Oshimili, using additional letters M and A for poetic excellence.
“Anioma is empowered by nature. The land mass is approximately 6,000 square metres, with a current population of around 2 million people. The viability is rooted in a solid workforce, industries- formal and informal sectors, plants and fauna, cultural artefacts and dance patterns.”
Tracing the history of Anioma statehood, the Obi said it began in 1954 in London under the Lyttleton constitution regarded as the first genuine federal constitution in Nigeria, named after then Secretary of State for the colonies and aimed to strengthen regional autonomy.
He noted that the demand had “witnessed nine phases of agitation” with Sir Dennis Osadebay as the front runner of the Anioma struggle.
The monarch said the quest “has been gathering great momentum since last year when Senator Ned Nwoko initiated a bill for the creation of Anioma state in the 10th senate of the National Assembly”.
Obi Anyasi III said the “agitation represents a natural desire you cannot take away from the people.”
On the divergence of views about which zone the proposed Anioma state should be placed, the king said: “If you ask me as a person if I have a right of first refusal, I will say South South, but with the current political dimension, it probably would not work well. The reported mindset of the President speaks of the need to balance the equation of the federal structure with the reality of five states in the Southeast.
“When you bring food to the table, even in a local family setting, there are usually disagreements. Not everybody will agree to eat at the table. So if you are expecting that every Anioma person will say yes, that won’t be possible. There is right to public opinion. But what I am saying is if the current optics go for settlement in the southeast, and we see that we cannot change it, why don’t we accept it? That is the point.”
The monarch also addressed the potential benefits of Anioma and said it would yield greater opportunities.
He said: “The dividends of democracy will come closer with Anioma state creation. We moved from Midwest to Bendel to where we are now. We shouldn’t fear the future. I believe that with all we have, we can seek self determination for our state .
“The Delta state government is doing its best with the given resources. The state governor (Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori) is one of the best governors we have had. He is doing his best to ensure that development trickles down. But like I said, desire is inexhaustible.”
The Idumuje Unor traditional ruler, described by the moderator of the TVC programme, Nifemi Oguntoye, as a royal father who “embodies the cultural heritage and modern aspirations of Anioma people”, leads the debate that Anioma symbolises not only a viable entity but a historical necessity to balance Nigeria’s geopolitical equation.
