₦airaland Forum

We are all Biafrans, insist youth leaders of South South region

http://igbofocus.co.uk/We-are-all-Biafrans--insist-yo/we-are-all-biafrans--insist-youth-leaders-of-south-south-region.html

http://www.elombah.com/index.php/reports/press-statements/2714-we-are-all-biafrans-insist-youth-leaders-of-south-south-region

Written by Effiong
22nd November 2015

We are all Biafrans, insist youth leaders of South South region

Youth leaders of the South South region under the aegis of the COALITION OF SOUTH SOUTH YOUTH LEADERS met in Calabar on Friday, 21st November, 2015 and after appraising the situation in the country and the claim by some unauthorized persons who claimed to be South South leaders that the South South is not part of Biafra, hereby state as follows

1 The entire South South region is part and parcel of Biafra land.

2 The South East and South South have common cultural and historic heritage,

3 We call for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra

4 We warn the Nigerian Army not to do anything that will escalate the situation in the area.

5. We however still believe in one United Nigeria as long as justice and equity will prevail in the land.

That the name Biafra is sacrosanct and there is nothing wrong if the people of South East and South South decide they be called Biafrans but within Nigeria.

6 That Mr President should assure Biafrans that he does not hate them through his actions and conduct.

7 That nobody mandated those elements that went to Calabar recently to desclaim Biafra to speak on behalf of the South South. The South South was, is and will continue to be part of Biafra land but within Nigeria.

Effiong Thomas - For Efik, Annang And Ibibio Youth Leaders

Francis Amangala - For Ijaw Youth Leaders

Ambowei Dennis - For Niger Delta Youth Movement

Ogunbus Wiwa - For Ogoni Youth Leaders

Silas Wogu - For Ikwerre And Etche Youth Leaders

Thompson Uvhieredo - For Urhobo Youth Leaders

Iyere Anthony - For Ishan And Edo Youth Leaders

http://igbofocus.co.uk/We-are-all-Biafrans--insist-yo/we-are-all-biafrans--insist-youth-leaders-of-south-south-region.html

Written by Effiong
22nd November 2015

We are all Biafrans, insist youth leaders of South South region

Youth leaders of the South South region under the aegis of the COALITION OF SOUTH SOUTH YOUTH LEADERS met in Calabar on Friday, 21st November, 2015 and after appraising the situation in the country and the claim by some unauthorized persons who claimed to be South South leaders that the South South is not part of Biafra, hereby state as follows

1 The entire South South region is part and parcel of Biafra land.

2 The South East and South South have common cultural and historic heritage,

3 We call for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra

4 We warn the Nigerian Army not to do anything that will escalate the situation in the area.

5. We however still believe in one United Nigeria as long as justice and equity will prevail in the land.

That the name Biafra is sacrosanct and there is nothing wrong if the people of South East and South South decide they be called Biafrans but within Nigeria.

6 That Mr President should assure Biafrans that he does not hate them through his actions and conduct.

7 That nobody mandated those elements that went to Calabar recently to desclaim Biafra to speak on behalf of the South South. The South South was, is and will continue to be part of Biafra land but within Nigeria.

Effiong Thomas - For Efik, Annang And Ibibio Youth Leaders

Francis Amangala - For Ijaw Youth Leaders

Ambowei Dennis - For Niger Delta Youth Movement

Ogunbus Wiwa - For Ogoni Youth Leaders

Silas Wogu - For Ikwerre And Etche Youth Leaders

Thompson Uvhieredo - For Urhobo Youth Leaders

Iyere Anthony - For Ishan And Edo Youth Leaders

http://igbofocus.co.uk/We-are-all-Biafrans--insist-yo/we-are-all-biafrans--insist-youth-leaders-of-south-south-region.html

Debates on Igbo people and their neighbours...

https://www.nairaland.com/1072992/brief-history-ndokwa/2#40365843

Debates on Igbo people and their neighbours...

https://www.nairaland.com/1072992/brief-history-ndokwa/2#40365843

tonychristopher:
Says who ?
How are they related

Abraham begot Isaac who begot the twin brothers Esau and Jacob. The descendants of Esau are collectively called the Edom, while the descendants of Jacob are collectively called Hebrews (Israel). It is likely that the original Edom are the Edo/Idoma/Igala/Igbira people, while the original Hebrews are the Igbo. We need deeper intuition and serious intellectual research to unravel these historical connections. The Edom invaded parts of the Igbo territory that was the Urhobo/Isoko area, while the Yoruba intermixed with parts of the Edo territory that was the Igala area. In the Middle East, Israel and Edom are neighbours, and interestingly, the Igbo and Edo are neighbours in Nigeria. (Here, my use of the term "Edo" implies the Edo/Igala/Idoma/Igbira as they occupy the same stretch of contiguous territory and are direct neighbours of the Igbo). Many writers and historians have tried to explain the Igbo/Edo connections to Israel/Edomites, but they have not really used deep instinct to connect the whole dots. Very possible that the original home of the Hebrews and the Edomites was the present-day Igboland and Edoland respectively before their descendants made a planned migration and founded Israel and Edom areas of the Middle East. I have a good theory that explains these historical debates. We cannot rush to conclusions yet...

https://books.google.com/books?id=libxCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT29&lpg=PT29&dq=edom+igala+idoma&source=bl&ots=zdCKgrgYT2&sig=Zcl5OL4jZmsUTiUS5fruTkyhuuo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwizg870xKnJAhXJuB4KHba0CCoQ6AEIOzAE#v=onepage&q=edom%20igala%20idoma&f=false

http://www.hebrewigbo.com/oral.html

https://yemitom./2011/09/23/127/

https://books.google.com/books?id=DkksBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=igbo+israel+alaezi+edom&source=bl&ots=8Tf4ciVQFd&sig=n5rf1DIAfDwa9Y-eqk9UOJRatfM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwigsam_yanJAhUIXB4KHVH_C2sQ6AEIQDAF#v=onepage&q=igbo%20israel%20alaezi%20edom&f=false

https://www.afrikanistik-aegyptologie-online.de/archive/2011/3042/Igbo

Kirigidi:
OGWA (palace/assembly hall), URU/URUMU/IDUMU (street) nd OGBE (quarters) ar neva Igbo words. They ar undisputably Edoid words, copied by neighborin pipo. Dose words/nouns ar only used or found in areas/territories dat came unda d political, social nd cultural influences of Edo/Aka Empire in d ancient pasts, e.g. Ika, Ndokwa, Asaba, Onitsha, Ogba, Ikwerre, Western Ijaw, Owo, Eko/Lagos, Ilaje, Ikale, Ekiti, Akure, etc. I'm very sure dat Ogbe, Uru, Ogwa nd Idumu, ar not even in d vocabulary of far away Igbo clans such as Ukwa-Ngwa, Afikpo,Orlu, Abakaliki, etc, because dose places did not experience any significnt form of influences frm Edo/Aka land.

Kirigidi, you are wrong. You live in your own world thinking that everything from your own perspective is correct. You need to think outside the box. The words Ogbe, Ebo, Ogwa, Uhu/Uru are authentic Igbo naming patterns for communities and settlements, and they exist all over Igboland. Those words may also exist in Edo vocabulary, but are more widely used in Igboland than in Edoland. So, I would opine that either those words are shared from antiquity by both Igbo and Edo, or the Edo (especially eastern areas of Edo) borrowed them from Igbo, or the Edo communities where those words are used were originally Igbo-speaking but were subsequently absorbed by the encroaching Edo/Benin Empire.

These Igbo affixes and naming patterns for communities exist all over Igboland: Ogbe, Ebo, Uhu/Uru, Ulo/Uno, Agu/Aguru/Agulu, Ama, Umu, Onicha, Owere, Ezi, Ihite/Ifite/Ivite/Ibite/Ibute/Ishite, Ikenga, Obi/Obibi, Ogwa, Owa, Ana/Ala/Ali/Ani/Eli, Mba, Obodo, Ihu/Iru, Isi/Ishi, Ihi, Obo/Obe, Nta, Ukwu, Aboh/Abo/Abor, Elu/Enu, Ugwu, Isu, Oha/Ora, Ndi/Nde, Ebe, Ohia/Ofia/Ovia, etc.

Igbo communities bearing these names and affixes are too numerous to mention, and they exist in all nooks and crannies of Igboland, from the northern fringes of Igboland to the Southern fringes, and from the Eastern fringes to the Western fringes of Igboland. Let me also mention here that the word "Ama" is shared by both the Igbo and the Ijaw, and it means the same thing and used the same way in both languages. (*Ama in both Igbo and Ijaw means "The place/settlement/quarter of..."'). An Ijaw person might be too quick to say that the Igbo borrowed the word "Ama" from Ijaw. But here, I carefully say that the word is "shared" by both languages. Okay, but since Igbo population is larger than Ijaw, can we speculate that Igbo remnants who settled in Ijawland in primordial times brought the word "Ama" into Ijaw language? The surprise is that Igbo and Ijaw languages are not even related and do not seem to have diverged from a common ancestry, yet "Ama" appears to be the most prominent word that links both languages together.

But undeniably, Igbo language and Edo language are related. It is possible that Igbo and Edo originated from the same ancestor thousands of years ago. Igbo and Edo/Idoma/Igala/Igbira languages share similar structures and word patterns. So, since Igbo people and Edo people are related, it should not surprise anyone that certain words are shared by both languages. Over the centuries, some Igbo people settled inside Edo territory, and some Edo people settled inside Igbo territory. That is normal among all neighboring nations of the world. However, today, the Igbo territory is clearly defined, and the Edo territory is clearly defined. Kirigidi, I know you are an Edo person, and you generally view things with an Edo mindset. There is a huge debate between the Igbo and the Edo in the area of history and cultural diffusion. It is necessary to listen to Igbo viewpoints as well, so that you can broaden your perspective and arrive at a balanced conclusion.

realnews:
History of Onitsha According to - Nnamdi Azikiwe-
"One day I asked her (grandmother) the meaning of the word 'Onitsha'....I continued to belabor my grandmother to tell me more of the history and origins of the Onitsha people...."

Alright, we have heard the story Azikiwe got from his grandmother. What about the story he got from his grandfather? As you know, mothers usually add their own emotions and fantasies into oral history, and therefore their stories are not always true. On the other hand, fathers usually narrate oral history in a more direct and truthful way without letting their emotions get in the way. That is the reason why historians who want to piece together the oral history of a community usually interview the men and not the women. Alright, why would Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe believe the story he got from his grandmother, and not the story he got from his grandfather? Though Azikiwe did not tell us his grandfather's view on the history of Onitsha, we can still answer that question in a fundamental way. Onicha-Ugbo is the head of the entire Umuezechime clan (of which Azikiwe's village Onitsha [Onicha-Mmiri] is a part). The elders of Onicha-Ugbo, who are the bonafide descendants of the first son of Ezechime, said that their patriarch Ezechime came from Nri, one of the oldest Igbo communities. Historians have done a lot of research on this issue, and their findings showed that Chime (Ezechime) was an Igbo man. His name, the names of his followers, the names of his wife and children, the language and culture of his descendants, all evidence points to one direction: Igbo.

From all our research, Ezechime was a wealthy man who moved from Arochukwu to Nri-Awka area during the slave trade. Some of the Umuezechime clan, especially Onicha-Ugbo, said that Ezechime came from Nri-Awka axis, while the people of Nri-Awka axis said that Ezechime originally came from Arochukwu, settled in Nri-Akwa area (Northern Igbo), and founded many communties in both the Northern and Western areas of Igboland. (Note: "Ezechime" is sometimes spelled "Ezechima" in some Igbo dialects).

"Orofia is the second largest village in Abagana today in terms of population and land mass after Umudunu. As is the case with Umudunu, its founder was an immigrant called "Chime" ("Chima" in some dialects).

"According to further account of our sources, this Chime was a great warrior, adventurer, and statesman who came from "Ohafia" near Arochukwu in Abia State in search of slaves and merchandise. Some elders say that Chime rather came from Arochukwu but many of his followers were from Ohafia and environs. Our source had it that this man founded "Orofia" settlement in other towns like Nimo, Enugu-Ukwu, Eziowelle, Alor, Umudioka, Ogbunike, Ogidi, Ukpo, Oraukwu, and others in the course of his numerous adventures and expeditions, but finally settled in Abagana with his soldiers of fortune and founded "Orofia village Abagana". Chime later married from Akpu Abagana and eventually crossed the River Niger with his family and followers, and in the course of the adventure, he founded Onicha Ugbo, Onicha Olona, Issele Ukwu, Issele Azagba, Issele Mkpitime, Obior, Onicha Mmiri, which are all part of the Ezechima clan in Igboland."

Blackcnn:
My name is Ndidi, my brothers name are Chibugo, Uchenna, Emeke, Ifeanyi, Chike. I am from Ndokwa. We Igbos by nature, our culture, dialect, way of life. Those against are just wasting their time. God has made it so. Your argument here change nothing.

Anioma is even more Igbo than many communities in the East.

Dosinspector:
Am from delta and am igbo and a biafran, and any south southner who is not comfortable with biafra should naturalize with Osun or Oyo,its a free world.

The Igbo area of Delta State (Anioma) will join their Igbo brothers in the East. The current governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa is an Igbo man with excellent leadership qualities. After his tenure, Anioma can be carved out of Delta and merged with the Eastern Region.

https://www.nairaland.com/2708352/dsc-commence-full-operation-14

explorer250:
We are part and parcel of a greater whole which is the IGBO NATION.

"The carry over of this artificiality of boundary into Nigeria, is evident when Kwara and Kogi States are treated as Northern, instead of Yoruba (Western) States, or when Asaba and Agbor (Oshimili, Anioma and Ika) are included in a Delta State. It is therefore clear that a Conference of Nationalities will involve, not only a restructuring of functions between the bloated Centre and the States, but there also has to be, a re-grouping of the States along national/ethnic lines. To continue with the examples I have given above, Kwara and Kogi will merge with the Yoruba States and Asaba and Agbor (Oshimili, Anioma and Ika) should merge with their sister Igbo States east of the Niger."

http://www.waado.org/nigerdelta/essays/resourcecontrol/sagay.html

Realist2:
It's very painful that our people are not united like the north, we need to speak with one voice, deal with traitor among us and insist on what we want no matter what.

"The carry over of this artificiality of boundary into Nigeria, is evident when Kwara and Kogi States are treated as Northern, instead of Yoruba (Western) States, or when Asaba and Agbor (Oshimili, Anioma and Ika) are included in a Delta State. It is therefore clear that a Conference of Nationalities will involve, not only a restructuring of functions between the bloated Centre and the States, but there also has to be, a re-grouping of the States along national/ethnic lines. To continue with the examples I have given above, Kwara and Kogi will merge with the Yoruba States and Asaba and Agbor (Oshimili, Anioma and Ika) should merge with their sister Igbo States east of the Niger."

http://www.waado.org/nigerdelta/essays/resourcecontrol/sagay.html

pazienza:
[b] STATEMENT OF FACTS ON THE SUBJECT MATTER
The language and culture of the good people of Igbanke are losing their envious identity and relevance in culture-linguistic market-place in Edo state in particular and Nigeria at large.
Several reasons are evidently present to support the fears and anxiety of the people of Igbanke that our identity as a people would go into sudden extinction if urgent measures are not quickly taken to address our emasculation by Bini language dominance. The following points support the facts of the subject matter:
1) Igbanke is one of the few communities in Edo state that speak Ika language
2) Igbanke is located in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo state.
3) Igbanke, by name is in Orhionmwon LGA, but geographically, we do not share common boundary with any community in the council
4) From the eastern flank, Igbanke shares common boundary with Mbiri, an Ika speaking community in Delta stae, from west, it’s bounded by Oghada, another Ika speaking community in Uhunmwode LGA in Edo state. In the northern sphere, Igbanke has boundary with Ekpon, Ika speaking community in Igueben LGA while from the south, it has Agbor and Oza-Nogogo, Ika communities in Delta state as neighbours.
5) Igbanke is in Edo south senatorial district
6) Igbanke people and community came under the Bini empire during the latter’s expantionist programme.
7) Most of other Ika speaking communities that were conquered by Bini empire same time with Igbanke have gotten their independence in Delta state while Igbanke, Oghada, Otobaye, Iru, Ekpon and Ogbeka etc are selfishly scattered in three local government areas with the attendant linguistic discrimination and political marginalization.
Igbanke are gradually losing their linguistic and cultural identity as a result of our involuntary affiliation to the Bini language-speakers dominated Orhionmwon LGA.

ISSUES FROM THE STATEMENT OF FACTS
Consequent upon the facts drawn from the subject matter, some issues could be deduced to support Igbanke search for linguistic and cultural identity. These issues would go a long way in justifying our position.
1)Igbanke was deliberately, but selfishly carved into Edo state during the 1991 state creation irrespective of the linguistic difference between the people of Igbanke and the dominant Bini speaking population of the state.
2) Over 96% of Ika speaking communities in the defunct Bendel state were carved into Delta state while Igbanke and a handful other Ika speaking communities were severed into Edo state where they are presently subjected to acute linguistic and sundry discriminations
3) Because of linguistic factor, the people of Igbanke feel more at home with their kiths and kins (Ika speaking people) in Edo and Delta states.
4) Igbanke is made up of six (6) autonomous clans: Ake/Obiogba, Idumu-Odin, Igbontor, Oligie, Omolua and Ottah. These clans were governed by traditional rulers called ‘’Eze or Obi’’. These terms were of Ika origin, but have been forcefully changed to ‘’Enogie’’ a Bini term by the conquering Binis.
5) Our ancestral heritage like language, names and beliefs are being systematically destroyed by the domineering power of the Binis. [/b]

Anioma State when created should include all Igbo communities in Edo and Bayelsa (Onyah clan). Research shows that Onyah people of Anioma migrated from Egbu, one of the villages that make up the Alaenyi clan. The Alaenyi clan is made up of five villages: Ihite-Ogada, Awaka, Egbu, Owerri, and Naze. Some centuries ago, war broke out in the clan, causing many people from Egbu to migrate to different parts of Igboland. That was how Onyah migrated from Egbu in Southern Igboland to the Anioma area of Western Igboland. Even today, a large part of Onyah territory (Osekwenike) is carved into Bayelsa State. Igbo leaders must ensure that all these native Igbo communities outside the South-East region are lumped together with the South-East through boundary adjustments.

https://www.nairaland.com/1050134/anioma-state-must-created

http://www.etuusa.org/history.php

Identity crisis exists in Igboland especially among some Igbo communities in the South-South region of Nigeria. Igbo leaders should solve this problem fundamentally by declaring that all Igbo communities in the South-South should be merged together with the South-East region. Igbo leaders should make this demand a top priority and work together to achieve the goal.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe foresaw the present predicament in 1949 when he said, "The only worthwhile stand we can make as a nation is to assert our right to self-determination, as a unit of a prospective Federal Commonwealth of Nigeria and the Cameroons, where our rights will be respected and safeguarded. Roughly speaking, there are twenty main dialectal regions in the Ibo nation, which can be conveniently departmentalized as Provinces of an Ibo State, to wit: Mbamili in the northwest, Aniocha in the west, Anidinma and Ukwuani in the southeast, Nsukka and Udi in the north, Awgu, Awka and Onitsha in the centre, Ogbaru in the south, Abakaliki and Afikpo in the northwest, Okigwi, Orlu, Owerri and Mbaise in the east, Ngwa, Bende, Abiriba Ohafia and Etche in the southwest. These Provinces can have their territorial boundaries delimited, they can select their capitals, and then can conveniently develop their resources both for their common benefit and for those of the other nationalities who make up this great country called Nigeria and the Cameroons.

"Let us establish an Ibo State, based on linguistic and ethnic factors, enabling us to take our place side by side with the other linguistic and ethnic groups which make up Nigeria and the Cameroons."

Similarly, the Eze of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien with great wisdom and intelligence advised Igbo politicians to work towards unifying all Igbo communities into one geopolitical zone. Professor Edozien actually laid out conditions he believes will cement Igbo unity permanently. He called on the people of the South-East zone to support the creation of Anioma State and another for Igbo-speaking people of Rivers State to make for seven states, all of which will be lumped together in one zone or region.

https://www.nairaland.com/2390549/why-some-s-southerners-denounce-igbo

https://www.nairaland.com/2583504/1949-nnamdi-azikiwes-speech-ibo

Identity crisis exists in Igboland especially among some Igbo communities in the South-South region of Nigeria. Igbo leaders should solve this problem fundamentally by declaring that all Igbo communities in the South-South should be merged together with the South-East region. Igbo leaders should make this demand a top priority and work together to achieve the goal.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe foresaw the present predicament in 1949 when he said, "The only worthwhile stand we can make as a nation is to assert our right to self-determination, as a unit of a prospective Federal Commonwealth of Nigeria and the Cameroons, where our rights will be respected and safeguarded. Roughly speaking, there are twenty main dialectal regions in the Ibo nation, which can be conveniently departmentalized as Provinces of an Ibo State, to wit: Mbamili in the northwest, Aniocha in the west, Anidinma and Ukwuani in the southeast, Nsukka and Udi in the north, Awgu, Awka and Onitsha in the centre, Ogbaru in the south, Abakaliki and Afikpo in the northwest, Okigwi, Orlu, Owerri and Mbaise in the east, Ngwa, Bende, Abiriba Ohafia and Etche in the southwest. These Provinces can have their territorial boundaries delimited, they can select their capitals, and then can conveniently develop their resources both for their common benefit and for those of the other nationalities who make up this great country called Nigeria and the Cameroons.

"Let us establish an Ibo State, based on linguistic and ethnic factors, enabling us to take our place side by side with the other linguistic and ethnic groups which make up Nigeria and the Cameroons."

Similarly, the Eze of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien with great wisdom and intelligence advised Igbo politicians to work towards unifying all Igbo communities into one geopolitical zone. Professor Edozien actually laid out conditions he believes will cement Igbo unity permanently. He called on the people of the South-East zone to support the creation of Anioma State and another for Igbo-speaking people of Rivers State to make for seven states, all of which will be lumped together in one zone or region.

https://www.nairaland.com/2390549/why-some-s-southerners-denounce-igbo

https://www.nairaland.com/2583504/1949-nnamdi-azikiwes-speech-ibo

Identity crisis exists in Igboland especially among some Igbo communities in the South-South region of Nigeria. Igbo leaders should solve this problem fundamentally by declaring that all Igbo communities in the South-South should be merged together with the South-East region. Igbo leaders should make this demand a top priority and work together to achieve the goal.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe foresaw the present predicament in 1949 when he said, "The only worthwhile stand we can make as a nation is to assert our right to self-determination, as a unit of a prospective Federal Commonwealth of Nigeria and the Cameroons, where our rights will be respected and safeguarded. Roughly speaking, there are twenty main dialectal regions in the Ibo nation, which can be conveniently departmentalized as Provinces of an Ibo State, to wit: Mbamili in the northwest, Aniocha in the west, Anidinma and Ukwuani in the southeast, Nsukka and Udi in the north, Awgu, Awka and Onitsha in the centre, Ogbaru in the south, Abakaliki and Afikpo in the northwest, Okigwi, Orlu, Owerri and Mbaise in the east, Ngwa, Bende, Abiriba Ohafia and Etche in the southwest. These Provinces can have their territorial boundaries delimited, they can select their capitals, and then can conveniently develop their resources both for their common benefit and for those of the other nationalities who make up this great country called Nigeria and the Cameroons.

"Let us establish an Ibo State, based on linguistic and ethnic factors, enabling us to take our place side by side with the other linguistic and ethnic groups which make up Nigeria and the Cameroons."

Similarly, the Eze of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien with great wisdom and intelligence advised Igbo politicians to work towards unifying all Igbo communities into one geopolitical zone. Professor Edozien actually laid out conditions he believes will cement Igbo unity permanently. He called on the people of the South-East zone to support the creation of Anioma State and another for Igbo-speaking people of Rivers State to make for seven states, all of which will be lumped together in one zone or region.

https://www.nairaland.com/2390549/why-some-s-southerners-denounce-igbo

https://www.nairaland.com/2583504/1949-nnamdi-azikiwes-speech-ibo

Identity crisis exists in Igboland especially among some Igbo communities in the South-South region of Nigeria. Igbo leaders should solve this problem fundamentally by declaring that all Igbo communities in the South-South should be merged together with the South-East region. Igbo leaders should make this demand a top priority and work together to achieve the goal.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe foresaw the present predicament in 1949 when he said, "The only worthwhile stand we can make as a nation is to assert our right to self-determination, as a unit of a prospective Federal Commonwealth of Nigeria and the Cameroons, where our rights will be respected and safeguarded. Roughly speaking, there are twenty main dialectal regions in the Ibo nation, which can be conveniently departmentalized as Provinces of an Ibo State, to wit: Mbamili in the northwest, Aniocha in the west, Anidinma and Ukwuani in the southeast, Nsukka and Udi in the north, Awgu, Awka and Onitsha in the centre, Ogbaru in the south, Abakaliki and Afikpo in the northwest, Okigwi, Orlu, Owerri and Mbaise in the east, Ngwa, Bende, Abiriba Ohafia and Etche in the southwest. These Provinces can have their territorial boundaries delimited, they can select their capitals, and then can conveniently develop their resources both for their common benefit and for those of the other nationalities who make up this great country called Nigeria and the Cameroons.

"Let us establish an Ibo State, based on linguistic and ethnic factors, enabling us to take our place side by side with the other linguistic and ethnic groups which make up Nigeria and the Cameroons."

The Eze of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien with great wisdom and intelligence advised Igbo politicians to work towards unifying all Igbo communities into one geopolitical zone. Professor Edozien actually laid out conditions he believes will cement Igbo unity permanently. He called on the people of the South-East zone to support the creation of Anioma State and another for Igbo-speaking people of Rivers State to make for seven states, all of which will be lumped together in one zone or region.

https://www.nairaland.com/2390549/why-some-s-southerners-denounce-igbo

https://www.nairaland.com/2583504/1949-nnamdi-azikiwes-speech-ibo

Identity crisis exists in Igboland especially among some Igbo communities in the South-South region of Nigeria. Igbo leaders should solve this problem fundamentally by declaring that all Igbo communities in the South-South should be merged together with the South-East region. Igbo leaders should make this demand a top priority and work together to achieve the goal.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe foresaw the present predicament in 1949 when he said, "The only worthwhile stand we can make as a nation is to assert our right to self-determination, as a unit of a prospective Federal Commonwealth of Nigeria and the Cameroons, where our rights will be respected and safeguarded. Roughly speaking, there are twenty main dialectal regions in the Ibo nation, which can be conveniently departmentalized as Provinces of an Ibo State, to wit: Mbamili in the northwest, Aniocha in the west, Anidinma and Ukwuani in the southeast, Nsukka and Udi in the north, Awgu, Awka and Onitsha in the centre, Ogbaru in the south, Abakaliki and Afikpo in the northwest, Okigwi, Orlu, Owerri and Mbaise in the east, Ngwa, Bende, Abiriba Ohafia and Etche in the southwest. These Provinces can have their territorial boundaries delimited, they can select their capitals, and then can conveniently develop their resources both for their common benefit and for those of the other nationalities who make up this great country called Nigeria and the Cameroons.

"Let us establish an Ibo State, based on linguistic and ethnic factors, enabling us to take our place side by side with the other linguistic and ethnic groups which make up Nigeria and the Cameroons."

Similarly, the Eze of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien with great wisdom and intelligence advised Igbo politicians to work towards unifying all Igbo communities into one geopolitical zone. Professor Edozien actually laid out conditions he believes will cement Igbo unity permanently. He called on the people of the South-East zone to support the creation of Anioma State and another for Igbo-speaking people of Rivers State to make for seven states, all of which will be lumped together in one zone or region.

https://www.nairaland.com/2390549/why-some-s-southerners-denounce-igbo

https://www.nairaland.com/2583504/1949-nnamdi-azikiwes-speech-ibo

Identity crisis exists in Igboland especially among some Igbo communities in the South-South region of Nigeria. Igbo leaders should solve this problem fundamentally by declaring that all Igbo communities in the South-South should be merged together with the South-East region. Igbo leaders should make this demand a top priority and work together to achieve the goal.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe foresaw the present predicament in 1949 when he said, "The only worthwhile stand we can make as a nation is to assert our right to self-determination, as a unit of a prospective Federal Commonwealth of Nigeria and the Cameroons, where our rights will be respected and safeguarded. Roughly speaking, there are twenty main dialectal regions in the Ibo nation, which can be conveniently departmentalized as Provinces of an Ibo State, to wit: Mbamili in the northwest, Aniocha in the west, Anidinma and Ukwuani in the southeast, Nsukka and Udi in the north, Awgu, Awka and Onitsha in the centre, Ogbaru in the south, Abakaliki and Afikpo in the northwest, Okigwi, Orlu, Owerri and Mbaise in the east, Ngwa, Bende, Abiriba Ohafia and Etche in the southwest. These Provinces can have their territorial boundaries delimited, they can select their capitals, and then can conveniently develop their resources both for their common benefit and for those of the other nationalities who make up this great country called Nigeria and the Cameroons.

"Let us establish an Ibo State, based on linguistic and ethnic factors, enabling us to take our place side by side with the other linguistic and ethnic groups which make up Nigeria and the Cameroons."

Similarly, the Eze of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien with great wisdom and intelligence advised Igbo politicians to work towards unifying all Igbo communities into one geopolitical zone. Professor Edozien actually laid out conditions he believes will cement Igbo unity permanently. He called on the people of the South-East zone to support the creation of Anioma State and another for Igbo-speaking people of Rivers State to make for seven states, all of which will be lumped together in one zone or region.

https://www.nairaland.com/2390549/why-some-s-southerners-denounce-igbo

https://www.nairaland.com/2583504/1949-nnamdi-azikiwes-speech-ibo

EUROBOMBER:
My question goes thus, is kwara state Yoruba land and are there Yorubas in Kwara and Kogi?

"Yoruba-speaking people in Kwara State, the Kwara South Consultative Forum (KSCF) and Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), have called on members of the ongoing national conference to effect a boundary adjustment to merge the Yorubas of Kwara and Kogi states with the Yoruba of the South West geo-political zone of the country."

http://www.ilorin.info/fullnews.php?id=10658

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/confab-kwara-yoruba-seek-reunion-with-south-west/

http://www.blueprint.ng/2014/05/26/okun-yoruba-of-kogi-sos-to-national-confab/

Ugomba:
After Okowa tenure, Anioma state should be carved out and it will lovely if Nigeria implement Federalism then.

"Anioma can join Anambra State and become a member of the South Eastern group of states to which it truly belongs."

http://www.waado.org/nigerdelta/essays/politics/SagayOnDeltaCapital.html

menabadoo:
I have always reiterated that we aniomas are more Igbo than some parts in southeast.

The chairman of the lecture, Obi Edozien, re-emphasised this point: “We Igbo people are one. We must stop fighting over irrelevancies and emphasise the essential.”

Given this situation, there has been an increasing shift of paradigm. Many Igbo groups, especially in Delta state, have decided no longer to play the masquerade. The Obi of Asaba, Professor Edozien, actually laid out conditions he believes will cement Igbo unity permanently.

Obi Edozien then called on the people of the South-East zone to support the creation of Anioma state and another for Igbo-speaking people of Rivers state to make for seven states, all of which will be lumped together in one zone or region.

https://www.nairaland.com/2515691/anioma-state-best-choice-ndigbo

cheruv:
Anioma has the power of over 40M Igbos worldwide backing it.

The chairman of the lecture, Obi Edozien, re-emphasised this point: “We Igbo people are one. We must stop fighting over irrelevancies and emphasise the essential.”

Given this situation, there has been an increasing shift of paradigm. Many Igbo groups, especially in Delta state, have decided no longer to play the masquerade. The Obi of Asaba, Professor Edozien, actually laid out conditions he believes will cement Igbo unity permanently.

Obi Edozien then called on the people of the South-East zone to support the creation of Anioma state and another for Igbo-speaking people of Rivers state to make for seven states, all of which will be lumped together in one zone or region.

https://www.nairaland.com/2515691/anioma-state-best-choice-ndigbo

DonXavi:
Igbos are one no matter where they're located in this Nigeria. The set time for Biafra's birth in now, no amount of opposing force can stop it because it's ordained by God.

The chairman of the lecture, Obi Edozien, re-emphasised this point: “We Igbo people are one. We must stop fighting over irrelevancies and emphasise the essential.”

Given this situation, there has been an increasing shift of paradigm. Many Igbo groups, especially in Delta state, have decided no longer to play the masquerade. The Obi of Asaba, Professor Edozien, actually laid out conditions he believes will cement Igbo unity permanently.

Obi Edozien then called on the people of the South-East zone to support the creation of Anioma state and another for Igbo-speaking people of Rivers state to make for seven states, all of which will be lumped together in one zone or region.

https://www.nairaland.com/2515691/anioma-state-best-choice-ndigbo

Ugomba:
just imagine the idiot saying that I have identity crisis.
Lwkmd some people are funny sha.
After Okowa tenure, Anioma state should be carved out and it will lovely if Nigeria implement Federalism then.

Anioma will be merged together with Anambra State...

Radoillo:
I see. It hardly changes anything, however.

Actually, the fact that the particular Igbo clan that gave birth to Arochukwu already existed by 1000AD does change the whole argument. It is a well-documented fact that is upheld by oral traditions that Arochukwu, Ohafia, Abam, Edda, and Abiriba originated from the same ancestral lineage. That particular ancestral lineage is what I say already existed by 1000AD. This point changes the whole argument because before Arochukwu and these related villages (Ohafia, Abam, Edda, Abiriba) differentiated from one another, the ancestral community where they had lived together could be referred to by the generic name "Arochukwu clan".

The man Chime who founded many villages in the Nri-Awka area was the same Chime who founded the Umuezechime clans. Historians may not be able to say with certainty the exact year or century when Chime established these clans in both the Northern and Western parts of Igboland. From my research, however, I am inclined to say that Chime (Ezechime) was born in the later part of the 17th century, matured and founded these clans in the early-to-middle part of the 18th century. Pa Egwabor Iduuwe's dates could actually be more accurate than you imagined. However, some historians would insist that the Ezechime clans on both sides of Igboland were established around the 16th/17th century. What is certain is that our understanding of these historical events will get clearer with more time and more research.

These three professors, Ezeudu F. O., Nkokelonye C. U., Adigwe J. C., who have researched these issues also concluded that Ezechima (Chime/Ezechime) originated from Arochukwu. "Undoubtedly, Bini was originally a satellite state of Igboland. Before the advent of the white man, Obalike was Eze Nri and crowned Obas of Obodo Idu or Ana-Idu. This was the situation in the heyday of Nri ascendancy, ritual hegemony, and dominance, before the rise of Benin monarchy to imperial greatness (Jeffreys, 1941, p. 42). Jeffreys reported that when a new Oba of Benin was crowned, Nri man must be present. The Aro of Cross River Igbos claimed that they were already established and very active in Benin before the rise of Benin to imperial greatness. Chima (Chukwuma - an Igbo name), the founder of Umu Eze Chima in Onitsha was identified as an Aro commercial agent operating in Benin. The unforgettable encounter with the imperial forces pushing on all sides for imperial expansion of Benin Empire changed the migration direction and the course of Igbo which advance west of the River Niger."

http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED540919.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edda_people

Radoillo:
Actually, it was the early Western writers that put a 16th century date on the Ezechime migration based on the mention of an 'Asije' (thought to be Oba Esigie) in some versions of the traditions. Check Leonard's Tribes of the Lower Niger which appeared in print in 1906 or about that time. The first place where I saw the 1700 - 1748 date was in Zik's autobiography, 'My Odyssey'.

Anyway, the Ezechime movement is often connected with the Esumai Ukwu movement that resulted in the founding of Aboh. We have documented contemporary evidence that shows that Aboh was already a flourishing kingdom by 1668. So, Onitsha was most probably also already in existence by that date.

I don't know how you arrived at a 1000 AD date for the founding of Arochukwu. Anyway, whenever Arochukwu was founded, it didn't become an important town until the later part of the 17th century, and they didn't penetrate the Nri-Awka area until the 18th century.

When "Esume Ukwu" arrived Aboh, he saw his fellow Igbo men and women already living there. Note that "Esumai Ukwu" is also known as "Esume" or "Esumei" depending on the particular Igbo dialect. It is very possible that "Esume" is a dialectal variant of the name "Ehume/Ehime" found in other Igbo areas. For example, there is a village named "Ehume" in Obowo, and also "Ehime" village in Mbano, all in Southern Igboland. In Igbo dialects, "h" and "s" and "r" can be variants of one another. Example, the name "Osai" is a dialectal variant of "Ohai". In the same vein, think of the Ehume/Esume variant. The village Ute-Erume in Western Igboland could also be the same "Ehume/Esume/Erume" name, that is dialectal variants of the same Igbo name.

The point I am making here is that, from all my findings, Ezechima and his followers came from Arochukwu in the South-Eastern part of the Igbo nation. It is possible that Esume (Ehume) who was part of the Ezechima followers had already branched off and settled at Aboh before the Umuezechima clans were established. This explains why Aboh was already an established community by 1668 (in addition to the fact that the Igbo man "Esume Ukwu" met native Igbo people already existing in Aboh when he arrived).

As I stated earlier, Ezechima did not reach Benin. He and his followers only got to Agbor. From the writings of Egwabor Iduuwe, Ezechima was from Agbor and fled with his children and followers during the reign of Eze Adigwe of Agbor. According to the writer, Eze Adigwe became the King of Agbor in 1698, and later on, during his reign, Chima plotted against him, and the whole plan backfired, causing Chima and his followers to flee from Agbor. Now, since the reign of Eze Adigwe began in 1698, it means that Chima's exodus from Agbor most likely took place some years after 1698, most likely in the year 17XX, that is the 18th cenutry. That is one of the reasons why truthful historians put the establishment of Umuezechima clans between 1700 and 1748AD. (Refer to the book "History of Greater Agbor" written by an Igbo man named Egwabor Iduuwe from Agbor).

Historians agree that Ezechima and his followers fled from Agbor area to establish Umuezechima clans. However, some historians do not believe that Agbor was the primary source of Ezechima's origin. Agbor was just his tertiary settlement before the final dispersal. His primary area of origin was Arochukwu from where he and his followers arrived the Nri-Awka area, the secondary settlement. He settled in the Nri-Awka area for several years and established many communities there. According to oral tradition, Ezechima (also known as Chime or Ezechime) founded many villages within Ogidi, Nimo, Abatete, Oraukwu, Abagana, Eziowelle, Alor, Umudioka, Ukpo, Ogbunike and Enugwu Ukwu. From this Nri-Awka area, Ezechima and his followers crossed the River Niger and settled at Agbor, the tertiary and final area of settlement, from where he fled with his descendants to establish the Umuezechima clans.

I did not say that Arochukwu was established by 1000AD. What I said was that the particular ancestral Igbo sub-group from which Arochukwu branched off already existed by 1000AD.

Radoillo:
^^^ Arochukwu is too young to be the place Ezechime came from, if you ask me.

Umuezechima clans were established in the 18th century, and NOT in the 16th century as some ambitious historians are fabricating nowadays. Read the original books of early Western writers who obtained firsthand accounts of the oral traditions of the indigenous communities without any form of politics or fantasy in their mind.

Ezechima was from Arochukwu. The ancestral community from which Arochukwu originated already existed by 1000AD. Umuezechima clans were founded between 1700AD and 1748AD.

bigfrancis21:
WHO WAS EZECHIME?

The elders of Onicha-Ugbo, who are the bonafide descendants of the first son of Ezechime, said that their patriarch Ezechime came from Nri, one of the oldest Igbo communities. Historians have done a lot of research on this issue, and their findings showed that Chime (Ezechime) was an Igbo man. His name, the names of his followers, the names of his wife and children, the language and culture of his descendants, all evidence points to one direction: Igbo.

From all my research, Ezechime was a wealthy man who moved from Arochukwu to Nri-Awka area during the slave trade. Some of the Umuezechime clan, especially Onicha-Ugbo, said that Ezechime came from Nri-Awka axis, while the people of Nri-Awka axis said that Ezechime originally came from Arochukwu, settled in Nri-Akwa area (Northern Igbo), and founded many communties in both the Northern and Western areas of Igboland. (Note: "Ezechime" is sometimes spelled "Ezechima" in some Igbo dialects).

"Orofia is the second largest village in Abagana today in terms of population and land mass after Umudunu. As is the case with Umudunu, its founder was an immigrant called "Chime" ("Chima" in some dialects).

"According to further account of our sources, this Chime was a great warrior, adventurer, and statesman who came from "Ohafia" near Arochukwu in Abia State in search of slaves and merchandise. Some elders say that Chime rather came from Arochukwu but many of his followers were from Ohafia and environs. Our source had it that this man founded "Orofia" settlement in other towns like Nimo, Enugu-Ukwu, Eziowelle, Alor, Umudioka, Ogbunike, Ogidi, Ukpo, Oraukwu, and others in the course of his numerous adventures and expeditions, but finally settled in Abagana with his soldiers of fortune and founded "Orofia village Abagana". Chime later married from Akpu Abagana and eventually crossed the River Niger with his family and followers, and in the course of the adventure, he founded Onicha Ugbo, Onicha Olona, Issele Ukwu, Issele Azagba, Issele Mkpitime, Obior, Onicha Mmiri, which are all part of the Ezechima clan in Igboland."

clefstone:
The Orogun people are said to have migrated from present day Aboh, hence the name ebo-orogun. The Abohs speak Ukwuani language which is Igboid. Aboh trace their ancestral origin to Bini. For this reason the orogun have striking cultural similarities to the Abohs, such as language and things they forbid(killing iguanas and consuming snail and cocoyam).

Aboh people of Delta state are pure Igbo just like all Igbo communities on both sides of River Niger. The claim of Benin origin is a false fantasy. It has been proved that the Eze Chima groups and the recent settlers at Aboh were all Igbo. Both the autochtonous and recent settlers of Aboh were pure Igbo people.

IgboDelta:
WE THE IGBOS OF DELTA STATE ARE HAPPY WITH OUR GOVERNOR AND WE PRAY THAT GOD WILL LEAD AND DIRECT HIM TO GOVERN DELTA STATE WELL. THE MARGINALIZATION OF THE ANIOMA PEOPLE IS OVER FOR GOOD !!!

SEE HOW COLOURFUL AND BEAUTIFUL WE APPEAR IN OUR TRADITIONAL ATTIRE. IGBO CULTURE IS VERY RICH !!!

GOD BLESS ANIOMA !!!

GOD BLESS NDI IGBO !!!

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is making Igbo people proud. I am so happy to have this great Igbo man as the governor of Delta State. Anioma people of Delta are 100% pure Igbo and one of the greatest areas of the Igbo nation. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, thanks for your great leadership and for your magnificent commitment to Igbo integrity. God Bless Igboland.