The attention of the Proudly Anioma-Proudly Igbo Group of Nigeria, a friendship/
family group of Anioma people and their eastern Igbo kith and kin has been
drawn to a “Press Release” written by some deluded individuals claiming to
speak on behalf of the entire Anioma people. To begin with, it is important to
note that the said group “Ndi-Anioma” as they call themselves is not the
umbrella body of the Anioma people at home and in the Diaspora. This
responsibility lies with the Izu-Anioma organization head by Brig. Gen Alabi
Isama (rtd), the Ajieh-Osa, Anagba and Ochiagha of Utagba land. In the charter
of Izu-Anioma, the Anioma people were not defined as an “ethnic group” but
rather an umbrella body covering the people identified in the course of Nigerian
nationhood as West-Niger Igbos, Western Igbos, then Midwest Igbos , Bendel
Igbos and now its often called Delta Igbos. Anioma is a political identity
covering the entire area and was coined by the venerable Chief Dennis
Osadebay in the late 1970s. It is important as well to note that our leader, Gen.
Isama has stated in several fora and without any bit of contradiction that
Anioma people are Igbos. We of the Proudly Anioma-Proudly Igbo organization
concur with his assertions. Therefore any claim, a self-seeking one for that
matter by a group of political wannabes parading themselves as “the umbrella
body of Anioma people” should not be taken by the general public seriously.
Their rant is not worth a pinch of salt. We are aware that those parading
themselves as “umbrella body of all Anioma people” have their loyalties tied to
a particular political party in Nigeria. With such interests, their unfounded
claims should not be taken by the public seriously.
As stated by one of our leaders Col Achuzie, the Ikemba of Asaba, we believe
that the issues leading to the end of Biafran war and the pacification which
followed thereafter has not assuaged a good percentage of the Igbo people of
Nigeria that they have been fully integrated in the country. Many of them still
feel they have been treated as second-class citizens and there are empirical
evidences to suggest that some of these claims have some taints of truth and
reality in it. Among some of the issues include the slicing off of some Igbo
communities out of core Igbo states and merger to other states. We can give
examples:
1. The area of Ndoki south covering the present Oyigbo (originally Obigbo)
transferred from the old Aba division and lumped to Rivers State in 1976. Also,
in the 1980s, three Ndoki villages namely Ohaobu, Mkpukpuaja and Ogbuagu
villages carved from the then Imo State and lumped to Etim-Ekpo LGA of Akwa
Ibom State. It is noteworthy to state that Oyigbo LGA apart from Oloibiri was
the first place in Nigeria to produce oil and gas in commercial quantities (at
Afam). Unlike Oloibiri which has dried-up since the 1980s, Afam and other
Oyigbo oil-fields keep yielding vast quantities of petroleum.
2. Egbema communities now in Rivers State. Egbema has 16 villages and out of
these 16 villages , 3 namely Mgbede, Aggah and Okwuzi has the largest reserves
of oil and gas in the community. This is apparently the reason they were
lumped to Rivers while the other 13 villages were left in Imo State where they
had to contend with more modest reserves of the commodity.
It is important to note that this “punishment” at least as perceived by many
Igbos did not end up with the eastern Igbo people. The Aniomas or Western
Igbos had to lose Ndoni area to Rivers State and Osekwenike-Onyah area to
Sagbama area of Bayelsa State. Just like the other examples we gave, all of
these areas are oil-producing. It is often claimed that the Nigerian Civil war
was a war fought over oil and gas and the actions of the federal government
just like these examples seems to reflect suggest that the federal government
had intended to give a tag of non-oil producing to Igbo areas including Anioma.
While it is interesting to note that parts of Igbo land has been excised and
lumped to other states, a good part of Itsekiri land embracing what is defined
as Ugbege area was lumped to Ondo State; A state where Itsekiri people are
not indigenous. This is one just an example of the double standards in Nigeria
which seem to swell such protests. It therefore lies with the federal government
to initiate moves to douse such feelings of alienation or punishment for the
war. A common song by Peter Tos , which has one of its iconic lyrics “Everyone
is crying out for peace but no one for justice” brings to the fore what we are
trying to pass across here.
Prof Chinua Achebe’s book “There was a Country” puts to rest any country
called Biafra. There was indeed a country called “Biafra”. However, Col Emeka
Odimegwu Ojukwu talked on a “Biafra of the Mind”. This “Biafra of the Mind”
has in our opinion different dimensions to it. Biafra is a part of the history of
Nigeria and there is no way we can forget about it collectively as Nigerians and
more importantly as Igbos. Therefore, anyone in whatever guise declaring
“Biafra died permanently in 1970 with the surrender speech made by Philip
Effiong” is being comical. In the United States of America, people freely talk
about the Confederate States of Southern USA and the old Confederate flag is
embedded in the state flags of many Southern States because it is deemed as a
part of their heritage. Telling Igbos and other Nigerians who suffered a lot to
pretend that no Biafra of the Mind exists is a sheer display of wickedness and
irresponsibility. There is nothing to ever stop a war which led to the death of
one-seventh of the Igbo people and left much of Anioma land decimated.
Anyone who claims that a “few resentful people of South-East origin” are the
ones behind the protests. We have seen some pictures of the protests and such
pictures do not seem to suggest that the protests were the handiwork of a “few
resentful people”. It seems to demonstrate a mass movement among the
youths of the South-east region in particular and areas of the South-south as
well. Protest like this as far as it is peaceful is a hallmark of a vibrant
democracy. Laying accusing fingers on MASSOB is diversionary. The
government must do the needful and address the grievances of these people no
matter how “stupid” it would seem. The idea of trying to separate Anioma from
Biafra is laughable. In the 1960s when the Biafra war was fought, the Aniomas
were drawn to it. The reason is not far-fetched; the war was perceived as a
rebellion of Igbos and Aniomas being western Igbos were involved. This is not a
peculiar case. From Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo
were drawn into the conflicts between the Hutu and Tutsi.
This is sadly a feature of ethnic politics which manifests at times as war in
Africa. Gen Obasanjo who was a major actor in the Nigerian Civil war and
former president, did not hide his understanding that Aniomas are Igbos. In his
Niger Delta Special Development Initiative of 2005, he had Imo, Abia and
Anioma area of Delta removed as beneficiaries. Yet he had Ondo and its rocky
capital city of Akure included as “part of the Niger Delta”. The said inventive
maps claimed by these people who represent just themselves and no one else in
Anioma is a proposal and it’s in tandem with International law and practices. It
was the case with South Sudan. In the original proposal Southern Blue, Abyei
and Nuba were proposed and this was adopted in the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA) of Sudan and South Sudan. Abyei was to decide after a
referendum while Southern Blue Nile and Nuba would decide after popular
consultation. Claiming that the “expansiveness of Biafra” has anything to do
with oil is ridiculous.
Firstly the price of oil has crashed significantly and there is nothing to suggest
that in future, oil will be “black gold” it used to be. Besides the southeast region
even with the exclusion of the areas annexed and lumped to Rivers has some
reserves of the commodity. Anioma herself also has oil. But anyone who thinks
that the future of Anioma , the larger Igbo race or Africa lies in oil or other
commodities has serious issues. The main drive of development is human
capital no less no more. Igbos has this factor perhaps more than any other
group in Nigeria.
It is also worthy to note that several Anioma people are well-disposed to the
protests and the involvement of Anioma towns of Agbor and Asaba towns
without any opposition in whatever guise confirms this point of view. This can
be collaborated by the opinion of Col Joe Achuzie, the Ikemba of Asaba. The
fact that our rulers and other leaders have kept a dignified silence to the matter
would indicate that we are not hostile to such protests as far as its done
peacefully and orderly.
It is therefore not the responsibility of a faceless organization to claim to have
“made a position”. Those who are making the position are just a group of
politicians based mainly in the UK using their paid lackeys to make some noise
for them. They hope in return for “loyalty”, the ruling APC would share some
“cakes” for them. This we know very well. Let us state once again that these
faceless people do not represent the Anioma people. Our prime organization is
the Izu-Anioma. Before we conclude let us dwell a bit on the points they raised.
1.”Anioma has never been part of Biafra in history or administration”.
This is how these people contradict themselves. These were the same people
who told anyone who seemed to care that Onitsha and Oguta are not “Ndi-
Igbo” but Ndi-Anioma. Onitsha and Oguta are in Anambra and Imo States
respectively. They were advised to refrain from such spurious claims but they
refused. Now, since it suites them to declare that Anioma had never been part
of Biafra, they have eaten their words and claims and have restricted Anioma
territory. This inconsistent game they play would only suggest that they don’t
even know what they are talking about. Anioma is the political identity of
Western Igbos which means they are scattered not just in Delta but also in
parts of Edo, Rivers and even Bayelsa State. Bringing the issue of a South-
south is inconsequential. There is nothing like that in the constitution of the
federal republic of Nigeria. We are also aware that we share the closest
relatives within the larger Igbo nation are within the “Biafran” communities of
Onitsha, Ogbaru and Oguta. Based on International law, we should be at liberty
to decide ultimately where we should belong. Sadly, Nigeria has failed to
restructure (based on ethnic groups) and create regions recognized by law just
like what was done in India by its first Prime Minister, Nehru.
2.”Our people accompanied Chief Obafemi Awolowo to Enugu, in May 6,
1967” – A fat lie.
Awolowo only took his western regional delegates to Enugu. No Midwest leader
was involved. Let the writers of this lie list the names of the supposed Midwest
leaders that accompanied Awo to Enugu and more importantly the Anioma
leaders that we invited. Maybe the writer, whom we suspect is one wannabe
“historian” seems to have forgotten is that the said delegation from the
Midwest was at the instance of the government in Lagos. And the Midwest
delegation pledged “neutrality” considering the seeming tension between the
East and the rest of the country. If they are sure of their claims, we dare them
to list the Anioma delegates in that said meeting with Ojukwu.
3. ”There was never a time, place nor venue, the leadership or representative of
the Anioma region agreed to enter into any form of alliance with the people of
the Southeast or any region in existence”.
Yet more lies. In the memoirs of Chief Dennis Osadebay, he was full of praises
for Chief Michael Okpara for all the support rendered to the Midwest regional
movement which led to the creation of the new region in 1963 and
enthronement of the NCNC in 1964. It is also well-known that many Aniomas
were members of the defunct Igbo State Union which cemented the ethnic
bounds of all Igbos, west and east of the Niger. There were even agitations to
carve out the old Asaba and Aboh divisions and have them merged with the
East with the likes of Rev SW Martin of Issele Uku as the main driver of the
proposal. To further expose their lies, we have attached a letter written by
community leaders of the Ika East area comprising of Umunede, Igbodo,
Otolokpo, Mbiri, Ute-Ogbeje and Akumazi and goes as thus:
“We the undersigned, on behalf of the people of Umunede clan,Igbodo
clan,Akwumazi clan,Mbiri clan and Ute-Ugbeje clan in Ika Division,Midwest take
this opportunity to express our deep gratitude on the historic liberation of the
Midwest and wish you God’s guidance.We equally take this opportunity to
congratulate His Excellency Major A.O Okonkwo on his appointment as the
Military Administrator of the Midwest and pledge our unalloyed support and
loyalty to his government. Although we the above 6 clans in Umunede zone
have already donated sums of money and foodstuff towards win the war funds
on individual clans,we jointly donate herewith the sum of 105 pounds to win the
war. WE FERVENTLY PRAY FOR GOD’S HELP THAT WE CRUSH THE
ENEMY.While thanking you for what you have already achieved-liberation of
Midwest-we wish to place here on record that it will be your guide while
deliberating on any future association, our feelings should be put into utmost
consideration” Signatories to this September 1967 letter to Ojukwu include: HRH
Obi N Gbenoba; Obi of Umunede. HRH A.O Iyeke; Obi of Igbodo, Obi S.C
Osagie; Obi of Akwumazi, HRH Obi Ogana; Obi of Mbiri and Regent I
Alekwe,Regent of Mbiri. Also signatory to that letter are political leaders
including Chief S.O.Osuhor, Chief Z.C Egbuchinem, Chief L.O.C Azikiwe,Chief
Odiase,Chief E O Nwabueze, Madam Julie Onyeagwu and Mr B.O Okoh. Source-
Nigeria: Echoes of a Century: Volume One 1914-1999 by Ifeoha Azikiwe.
A document like this can easily be sourced from the National Archives. The
representation of Anioma land in the maps could therefore be viewed based on
International practices as normal until the Anioma people deem it via a
referendum if they accept their inclusion or not.
Henceforward, the representation of Anioma in different maps of Biafra does not
and cannot amount to Anioma being part of Biafra. That can only be in the
figment of the imagination of desperate irredentist adventurers who creatively
made such maps to satisfy their thirst for empire-building. They may make
Anioma to exist in their maps, but the world must note that it does not have
our consent as we reject that tag, vehemently.
4.”The Anioma nation challenges pro-Biafra advocates to provide any evidence
or agreement in which Anioma leaders allied with them to secede from Nigeria
and became part of Biafra”
….Another laughable condition. It is well known in the history of Nigeria that the
declaration of a “Republic of Benin” with Albert Okonkwo as leader was in itself
suggestive of a movement which was emanated by the Biafran enclave. This is
even why the maps of the declared republic of Benin was similar to that of
Biafra. As such there is no need to isolate one from the other. In the letter we
posted in (3), one can clearly see that the community leaders in the Ika East
area were favorably disposed to identify with both the Republic of Benin and the
republic of Biafra. They even made a donation of over 100 pounds to support
the cause. It was common knowledge that the invasion of the Midwest region
and subsequent declaration of “Republic of Benin” had the support of Midwest
Igbos which brought serious consequences when the region was overran by
federal troops in 1967.
5.”Understand that barricading our roads and shutting down socio-economic
activities cannot earn them our backing nor patronage”
Well, for people of wrapped minds nothing don , no matter how civil it would be
would them any support. This is the same people who woke up one morning
and manufactured a new ethnic group. We ask them here to tell us what the
Midwest Igbos were called before Osadebay coined the name “Anioma”. It is not
the responsibility of a mere facebook group like Ndi Anioma to talk about
support, or alliance or whether the elites of the Igbo people support the
agitation or not. We are aware just like most Aniomas that in any protest no
matter how peacefully it was conducted would bring some discomfort. This, we
understand and this is why our rulers and leaders are indifferent on the matter
at least for now.

Anioma, is it not Asaba area people in Delta? They are Igbotic na. Nawa o, hahahahahaha, the civil war messed a lot of things up.

Wow! This is interesting!
The hard facts are well convincing!
I wonder what those: "We-are-not-Igbo" people have to say.

Amarabae:
Anioma, is it not Asaba area people in Delta?
They are Igbotic na.
Nawa o, hahahahahaha, the civil war messed a lot of things up.

please what is the meaning of the word Igbotic ?

It is we yoruba muslims that usually pretend to be 'Anioma' who hate Igbo. Our Afonja people think that to unite nigeria, Igbo, SE and SS must be divided and made to hate themselves so that oyel can keep flowing to hausa/fulani.

Good thread. The strong Igbo team of Proudly Anioma, Proudly Igbo group are really formidable and are playing their part in this Igbo unity project.

I read this article on the facebook page, but was too busy to open a thread on it here.

Good job, OP.

Wrong post

Nice one. A time is coming (and it is almost here) when all Igbos (in Akwa Ibom, edo, delta, rivers, benue and in other places) will come together and unite under ONE umbrella so as to fulfill our mandate as a people.

I only feel for those that dread the thought of unity among Igbos. It will surely happen.

Obodo bia kwelu mu o, ukwe ndi Anioma ooo
Obodo bia kwelu mu o, ukwe ndi Anioma oooo

Obodo kwegbali mu o, ukwe ndi Anioma oooooo
Ukwe anyi ji eje Mba ukwe anyi ji eli ego, ukwe ndi Anioma, ndi nwe egwu ooooooo

Repeat x3

Umunne anyi