Cjrane2:


As an Igboman from Anioma part of Igboland.
I find this thread a little bit annoying! Why can't we make a similar thread about Afikpo Igbos, Ngwa Igbos or Nsukka Igbos saying they are proud of being Igbo? Or another Igbo group? It is clear that Nigeria's Fulani leaders agenda since time immemorial has been to balkanize Igboland beginning with carving out Igbo people at the periphery of Igboland and joining them with other groups or other states as minority there. In our stupidity, we allowed them to do it for way too long.

Every true Anioma person that didn't benefit from the politics of Nigeria or Bendel State knows we have NEVER hidden our Igboness. Of course there were a few people that were motivated by the Nigerian regime to come out and say rubbish about our Igbo ancestry in their desperation to kill Biafran unity. Those people have been relegated to the dustbin of history. Moreso, Anioma Igbos singularly paid the biggest price by the genocide of our people during the civil war. If we were not Igbos, WHY WOULD FULANI SLAUGHTER US IN OUR VILLAGES?

Again, our sons volunteered and fought bravely during the Biafran war. Nobody especially Col. Murtala Mohammed will deny their fear of Col. Joe Achuzia. I know threads like this are started by Afonjas to do their bid. But, when I see respectable monikers falling for their deceit I worry about the new generation that does not know their history.

Aksnoopy:
The issue of aniomas being igbo has once again been settled on twitter with majority of Igbo's who speak the anioma dialect of Igbo arguing that they are more Igbo than their eastern brother's and sister's. I totally agree with the fact that anioma's are truly igbo's, politics aside. Here is Hon ndudi elumelu, the younger brother of Tony elumelu the CEO of UBA bank affirming his igboness on the lower floor of the National Assembly.
https://mobile.twitter.com/UcheOkoyep/status/1254411102714310657

wirinet:


I thought you knew what a delta is, and how deltas form. Obviously, you don't. So let me school you, although IPOB are never interested in learning, they just spew propaganda and fantasies as fact.



The Niger Delta is the delta linking the River Niger to the Atlantic ocean. These are only 3 states namely Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states.

The political deltas were created by politicians as a means of distributing oil monies or derivation among oil producing states.

Abacha and Babangida created OMPADEC comprising 6 states namely Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers states. When Obasanjo came on board in 1999, he added 3 more states, namely Abia, Imo and Ondo and renamed the commission Niger Delta Development Commission.

Below is the 13% derivation for the first half of last year which reflect the percentage of oil produced by the states of the NDDC. Abia and Imo states contribution is less than 3%

tsdarkside:


am not yoruba....i dont know who told you that nonesense....
i have nothing with igbos,doesnt mean am yoruba....

have you people forgotin we are many tribes....??

i dont like how you south easterners behave....and am not alone that thinks like this....

their are even igbos dont like how many other igbos behave....

jimyjames:
The attendance of traditional rulers ,chiefs kings and queens all over SS/SE its a proof the old eastern region is still one united region, even though FG divided it into 2 geopolitical zones to stop them from uniting for a secession a second time

We had traditional rulers and chiefs , from ijaw , ikwerre anang , efik , ogoni , Ibibio , idoma etc all in afara ukwu ibeku to pay their last respect to nnamdi KANUs parents

UdechiHD:
You’re still not getting it. It’s obvious you’ll never understand. I don’t know when last you even returned home to observe certain changes in your land.

Imagine you of all people compare some political interviews of some Igbos to that of blatant Igbophobic denial of those others in the SS. None of those SE Igbos you listed have ever denied their Igboness. Not Okorocha, not Joe and not Uwazurike. As a matter of fact, they’ll fight you if you try to call them non-Igbos. Even the Igbo based SE state groups are always ready to refute any baseless claims from anyone, something that is a mystery in Anioma. Take a look at the newspaper reports you’re digging up about these individuals and see if it correlates to anything identity crisis?
Learn to separate political topics from identity crisis. Stop arguing semantics.

Already you’re firing your missiles at those who have given you utmost respect in this forum, yet you don’t see that something is wrong somewhere? Only you Ikechunna, and a handful that have also disappeared have held the forte for years on this forum. But you don’t ask yourself why are your comrades suddenly drowned their voices. Go online and offline and you’ll be shocked to see a surprise shift by the people you think are with you. Ask them why the change of heart and they’ll blame the SE for becoming Igbophobic. Cowardly excuses.

I can boast that you Ikechunna in no distant time may turn another Emeka Esogbue and give us flimsy reasons why you became anti-Igbo too. You’re gradually showing such traits and you don’t even know it. Imagine the vituperations you’re throwing on your suppose people.
You want to just fight those who point out the cracks in Anioma identity issues but yet, you’re not willing to understand the issues at stake.

The modern SE Igbo are no longer the unity begging type anymore. Something tells me that a new group is emerging in that axis. Not the IPOB unity beggars, but a stronger one is willing to cut off itself totally from those who play politics with the Igbo identity.

MelesZenawi:



Then why dissipating do much energy on Igbos issues. Seems you always feel alright hauling Insults at Igbos.

MelesZenawi:



Continue Insulting yourself and not Igbos.

maestroferddi:
You appear to be catching at straws.

Uwazuruike has never denied being Igbo. Infact he has invested over 20 years of his lifetime agitating for Igbo self-determination...

I am not absolving him from some making ill-advised and unguarded utterances.

FFK has been known to occasionally hit Yorubas hard but he has never denied his Yoruba roots...

Stop conflating issues by seeing apples as oranges...

UdechiHD:
Ikechukwu seems not to be in tune with current happenings in his area. I see a topic of 2006 when men like late Uwechue and Obi of Asaba were still active. The older pan-Igbotic ones are almost nearing their graves and the young Igbophobic elements are growing strong unchallenged. These days you hardly see any real offline Anioma group challenge the narratives of these Ignophobic elements in the zone and these groups are growing emboldened and agile each day, swallowing up followers and pushing their Anioma ethnic nationalism so fierce.

Someone said if a lie is repeated several times it becomes the truth. In years from now many of us picture an overwhelming silence of any Igbophilic trace in Delta north.

pazienza:


Nwanne, many SEners are not insulting Anioma for no reason.
Many do so because Anioma has created the room for the likes of Ojieh to unleash their madness, since he knows there would be no repercussions.

Since Ojieh made this comment, has the Asagba of Asaba, Obi of Agbor or any other Anioma group come out publicly to deassociate with him and debunk his claims?
The answer is no. So it is not out of place for those of us in SE to interpret this silence as passive support. Ojieh is not just a random individual, he is a head of an Anioma organization, telling Ndiigbo in SE to ignore him, with no widespread condemnation of his shameful act by Anioma royal houses and top people, is insincerity on part of any Anioma person.

It is beginning to look like Anioma want to eat their cake and have it. You want to be Igbo and non Igbo sometimes, because you have figured it offers you a form of political flexibility . You can let the deranged ones like Ojieh claim they are not Igbos and spite Ndiigbo when it's expedient, without your prominent institutions and personalities calling them to order or denouncing them publicly, while the seemingly Igbo Anioma people snoop in and take Igbo share of national cake when it's expedient with those of us in SE not being able to challenge it, so as not to be seen to be dividing the Igbo house.

Reason it well yourself, devoid of emotions. If Ojieh and his likes are able to make vitriolic sweeping comments like this without a media reply by Anioma royal fathers and relevant organizations, then what you or any Anioma person has to say on this, doesn't and shouldn't matter, and Ndiigbo in SE will be stupid to continue receiving this bullshit from that quarter, 50years post civil war.
At a point, enough has to be enough.

There is a need for the Igbos in the East to reach out to their brothers and sisters across the river Niger. This is not to say that we cannot stand on our own. The point here is that there is strength in number-“Igwe-buike”. The Igbos in the East should always seize the initiative because of their strength. They should make it their statutory duty to come to us and embrace us.

They are our fathers and, like most migration theories have confirmed about the origin of most of these communities, we are their children. We may not be business inclined like them because we are not cut out for such but we are educated and are good civil servants. Our word in most cases is always our bond. Our people are sincere to a fault and are prepared to fight with anybody for a just and sincere cause in as much as you don’t cunningly backslide or sabotage the cause. The causes that Major Nzeogwu, Pat Utomi, Col Tim Onwuatuegwu, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, Col.Nwanwo, Col. Achuzia had fought and still fighting for, is a testimony to our strength and character.

In fact to reinforce this view, I want OHANAEZE to move forthwith, their headquarters to either Asaba, Ibusa, or Ogwashi-Ukwu. I believed that the closer you are to us the better. Let us have a sense of belonging. By this invitation, I am not saying you should now come and colonise us. I am saying that we should relate and that there should be a strong cultural affinity and rapport.

Anybody in the Igbo culture area of Delta state who is in doubt about his or her Igbo historical connection, should contact Prof. Nolue Emenanjo, Executive-Director, National Institute Of Nigerian Languages, Aba, for more explanation and Professor Okoh, UNIBEN. The late intellectually versatile Prof. M. A Onwuejeogwu, another Igbo encyclopedist, who was from Ogboli-Ibusa, and founder of the Nri Museum, should have been another contact but for his death.

The intellectual bloc of OHANAEZE should not shy away from its responsibility. The bloc should pickup the pieces and do more research work in this Igbo culture area of Delta state to establish more historical connectedness and build on such relationships. The Israelis are doing exactly that all over the world. When the State of Israel was created, most Falashas of Ethiopia, were lifted to that state because it was established that they were Jews. The Yoruba is doing the same, tracking their Oduduwa kiths and kin all over Africa and even beyond, as far as to Brazil.

Besides, this is not a question of whether the people of Agbor or Ndokwa are disclaiming their Igbo-ness or have decided or deciding to opt-out, no, it is a question of research, based on solid historical and archaeological evidences. I reckoned that all research should focus on that title of “Obi” which has been handed over to our traditional rulers from generation to generation. “Obi”, as the title designate, is an undiluted Igbo nomenclature. It is not an Hausa, Bini, Yoruba, Ishan or Fulani terminology. Apart from the differences in Igbo dialects, accents or phonetics, and historical variances in origin, the other common variable for research revolves around this term and title of “Obi ”.

Flowing from this, and of secondary relevance, is the Igbo name of their subjects. For Example, the people of Agbor and Ndokwa bear names like Isioma, Ngozi,Nwabuzor, Nduka, Chukwuma, Chukwuekwu, Chukwuka, Ibegbulem, Nwanyimogor, Nwajei, Obika, Ijeoma, Ifeoma, Nwaokolo, Nwoko, Iwebelua, Chiedu, and other names with the prefix-“Umu”. And “Umu” is a complete Igbo terminology which means “Children”. Thus “Umu-dein” means the “ Children of Dein” and there is a street in Agbor with that name- Umudein street.

It is not an issue of sentiments, emotions and unsubstantiated trivialities. Almost all the traditional leaders of Delta Igbo communities that I’d listed in part {1} hold the title of “Obi” and not Oba. And if any of them wants to invoke the anger of the gods by changing to another title, just because the leader does not want any linkage with the Igbos, may the ancestors and IGBOPHOBIA take care of that person.

In about 1979, I travelled from Agbor to Benin-city to spend some days with late Prof. Mike Onwujeogwu, who was then { I think}, either the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences or the Head of Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Benin. One day, he told me to get dressed that we will all be travelling to Enugwu-Ukwu, the wife‘s village. While we were meandering through pot holes and following some short cuts here and there and stopping over here and now for the Prof. to greet his friends and for the wife to greet relatives, we came to a village called { I think} Isu or Isu-Aniocha near Awka. I was already fast asleep in the car.

Then the Prof. woke me up and said. This is Isu, where the founder of Igbouzo anglicised Ibusa, migrated from. He then gave me a thorough lecture of what happened. I was so stunned and flabbergasted. Since then, that indelible sight and lecture, even though he has written a book on it since 1972, has not left my memory.

After the civil war in 1970, my parents decided to migrate to Agbor. The Obi of Agbor then, Obi Ikechukwu, welcomed Igbos like wise was the Obi of Owa. Obi Ikechukwu has a friendly, approachable and welcoming disposition. By 1978, the Obi, just like any other Obi and going by the principles and practice of the patrilineal system, was anxious to have a son – a heir apparent. Fortunately, his Royal Highness had one from one of his wives, who was pregnant for him before he {the obi} died.

It was alleged that the heir’s life was in danger from other jealous wives and sensing that, the Agbor Council-of-Chiefs in consonance with perhaps, the Oba of Benin, decided to smuggle the young “Obi” out of Nigeria to London, where he lived and studied at Lewisham college, imbibed western cultures, MORES and ways of life and came back to assume his throne in about 2002. Since then, the young “Obi” has been behaving like the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Royal Highness should take time to study the history of his community. He should thrive to do away with most of his westernised ways. His subjects are complaining about that. Rumours have it that he wants to, or has changed his title from “Obi” to “Dein”. If unchecked by Agbor elders, then I won’t be surprised if at a later date he changes to Emir of Agbor. Although, I learnt from my source that it is a rumour; however, if is true and it is assented to by his Agbor Council-of-Chiefs, may the council direct all their subjects with Igbo names to drop such names and choose Benin names like Anini or Osunbor. Enough of this hypocrisy! If in this age some educated people are still contesting their culture and cannot make do with profound evidence before them because of a peculiar phobia of their own creation, then such a culture is a dead culture. “A contested culture is a dead culture.”

And this is why I call on OHANAEZE to embark on further research in this “Igbo culture area” of Delta state, establish the historical links, migration trends, patterns of settlement, cultural diffusion, symbolisms, feast and festivals and their resemblances, contacts and acculturation in the whole amalgam and; to try as much as possible, to harmonise researches that have been done already and to stand firmly by the synthesized result. There is a need to focus research on the following movements in their chronological order as culled in the late Professor Onwuejeogwu,s book titled: The traditional Political System Of Ibusa {1972}, namely;

“the Owerri-movement before A.D. 800 ; the Eri-movement about A.D. 800; the Nri-movement about A.D. 900 to 1911; the Isu-movement between the 15th and 16th centuries; the Ubulu-movement around the 17th century; the Aro-movement around the 17th and 19th centuries; the Idu or Bini-movement around the 18th century and the Igala-movement between the 18th and 19th centuries.” These movements, especially the Nri, Isu, Ubulu, Idu, Aro and the Igala movements should be of tremendous interest to OHANAEZE research unit and this is because these movements seemed to be the ones which have had profound impact on the cultures and thought processes of the people of these communities.

The studies and research should be based on technique of participant observation. By this, I mean the researchers have to live with the people they are studying over a long period of time. You don’t stay in the USA and London and lift opinionated articles devoid of any research technique to claim that you are Urhobo or Benin while your name is Emeka Okafor.

I believed strongly that If tomorrow the Jews are to prove that there is a trace of archaeological evidence establishing consanguinity between Igbo and Hebrew and as such, have come to lift the willing Igbos to the State of Israel, as they did to the Falashas of Ethiopia, I guess those people of Ika and Ndokwa and some others, who are still in a state of denial about their Igbo linkage, will automatically turn around to announce that their father’s father’s father’s father’s name is NRIJIOFO, just because they want to migrate to Israel. Funny world! I rest my case!

pazienza:


Nwanne, many SEners are not insulting Anioma for no reason.
Many do so because Anioma has created the room for the likes of Ojieh to unleash their madness, since he knows there would be no repercussions.

Since Ojieh made this comment, has the Asagba of Asaba, Obi of Agbor or any other Anioma group come out publicly to deassociate with him and debunk his claims?
The answer is no. So it is not out of place for those of us in SE to interpret this silence as passive support. Ojieh is not just a random individual, he is a head of an Anioma organization, telling Ndiigbo in SE to ignore him, with no widespread condemnation of his shameful act by Anioma royal houses and top people, is insincerity on part of any Anioma person.

It is beginning to look like Anioma want to eat their cake and have it. You want to be Igbo and non Igbo sometimes, because you have figured it offers you a form of political flexibility . You can let the deranged ones like Ojieh claim they are not Igbos and spite Ndiigbo when it's expedient, without your prominent institutions and personalities calling them to order or denouncing them publicly, while the seemingly Igbo Anioma people snoop in and take Igbo share of national cake when it's expedient with those of us in SE not being able to challenge it, so as not to be seen to be dividing the Igbo house.

Reason it well yourself, devoid of emotions. If Ojieh and his likes are able to make vitriolic sweeping comments like this without a media reply by Anioma royal fathers and relevant organizations, then what you or any Anioma person has to say on this, doesn't and shouldn't matter, and Ndiigbo in SE will be stupid to continue receiving this bullshit from that quarter, 50years post civil war.
At a point, enough has to be enough.

If there is any separate and distinct tribal group that has been contributing a lot to the development of Nigeria, it is none other than the Igbos of delta state. I believed that if IBB’s regime had given us our cherished Anioma State, we would have fared better than under the present gang-like hegemony of the Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ezon, Isoko and Ijaw. We never bargained for this present raw deal with IBB. In fact, we were better off under the Benin Kingdom than under the present Urhobo ‘Korokoro’ arrogant domination and hegemonic tendencies.

One of the basic problems with most ethnic and tribal groups in the South is that they do not forgive. We always have this tendency to add new grudges on old grudges which does nothing but create negative multiplier effects. While the North is moving on, even though there are proven cases of wide spread poverty in that region, the South is always antagonising itself.
What has happened to our Southern Governors meeting which was initiated by Tinubu and others? It has faded as quickly as it was started and yet the Northern Governors Forum is still on course. “Ego-massaging” is daily killing the South, and yet we claim superiority in the Education sector. Acquired education, which ought to act as a catalyst to forging closer unity and ties among us, has seemingly become irrelevant in our quest for a united front.

Education is supposed to be power but in the South, because of our ego and pride and this innate tendency to sell out over a pot of pottage, we have deliberately refused to use our education for effect. We are always busy fighting ourselves. Honestly, I think we need to initiate the process of de-schooling ourselves.

On the 27 of August 1991, when IBB’s regime created Delta and Jigawa States among others, there were murmurs when Asaba and Dutse were strangely chosen as state capitals instead of Warri and Hadeija. The people of Warri and Hadeija protested but IBB’s regime stood its ground. Even Delta Igbos were not happy that they were not given Anioma State. IBB had simply thought he’d killed two birds with one stone by merging the two agitations { Delta and Anioma States} into one, but what he created was a hotchpotch and a terrible amalgam. Delta state is literally the ugliest hippopotamus I have ever seen.

One of the dangers in the game of numbers is that the Urhobos never hid their plan to deny Ika Igbos the benefits that go with a State capital. They openly proclaimed it that Delta Igbos will never see the light of development. And since that State was created, they have been behaving true to their primeval proclamation with pure antics. Going purely and cunningly by the caveman’s logic, Asaba, the State capital, is still as it were when it was created in 1991- a complete derelict of a capital. This is sad.

The irony of this act of impunity is that the same people who are fighting for injustice in the Niger Delta are deliberately and consciously denying the Igbo-speaking people justice in Delta State. The ubiquitous James Ibori, as a former governor of the state, was virtually operating from Warri, leaving Asaba in the most despicable state of disrepair. How can you be crying foul against the Federal government and fighting for justice when your stock is virtually denying Igbos in Delta State the same justice?

Yet, in the North, typical of their characteristic homogeneity, the people of Hadeija have since forgotten and forgiven and had made up and moved on, with the people of Dutse. May I please remind the Urhobos that the Igbo culture area of Delta state, as was thoroughly studied by the late Professor Mike Onwuejeogwu, though with some historical variances here and there, comprised {amongst others} the following towns and villages; Asaba, Ibusa, Okpanam, Ugbolu, Anwai, Igbodo, Achalla. Ogwashi-ukwu, Ubulu-ukwu, Ubulu-Okiti, Obior, Issele-Ukwu, Okwe, Agbor, Umunnede, Ekwuoma, Issele-Mkptime, Onicha-Ugbo, Onicha-Olona, Onicha-Ugwu, Illah, Ezi, Ebu, Idumuje-Unor, Idumuje-Ugboko, Akumazi-Umuocha, Kwale, Utagbu-egbe, Utagbu-Unor, Obinomba, Obiarukwu and Owerri-Olubor.

These are towns and villages inhabited by human beings, not cockroaches. They have been dominated, made pauperised and completely alienated by the Urhobos in criminal collaboration with their kiths and kin. None of the aforementioned towns and villages have witnessed any atom of development since that state was created. Every development is channelled to Warri, Sapele, Oghara, and Ughelli – the homes of the Urhobos, Itsekiris, Izons, Isokos and the Ijaws.
What crime have we committed? After all, we never had the slightest premonition of IBB’s intention when that creation was about to be announced. All that everyone knew was that, two states were requested from Bendel, and the likelihood was that it would only get one. Again, most of the Igbo speaking towns never bargained for the capital to be in Asaba.

Even in our quest for Anioma State, it was agreed that the capital must be central to act as a centrifugal pull, and not push, to its inhabitants. In other words the chosen Anioma State capital would have pulled people to it and not push people away from it for lack of space. So, what crime did we commit that is beyond the redemption of the Urhobos?

It beggars belief for some to have argued and still argue that Asaba was chosen because IBB’s wife, Mariam, was from that town. As far as I am concerned, that argument did not and still does not hold water to this very day. Had IBB a wife in Dutse which, against all odds and bets, was the chosen capital of Jigawa instead of the more favourite Hadeija town? If your answer is a definitive no, then throw such insinuations about Asaba into River Sapele for good.

Besides, of social relevance here is the fact that most of the legacy of developments in this area were the ones provided by Col. Ogbemudia during the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon. The roads linking up most of these communities were constructed under his government. The general hospitals and very clean public pipe borne water were provided by him.

Today, all the public taps have dried up. The hospitals are just “mere consulting clinics”. Most of the feeder roads Ogbemudia constructed are still better than the new ones that were done afterwards. A typical example is the old road linking Asaba, Ibusa, Ogwashi-ukwu, Ubulu-ukwu, Obior, Umunnede to the present newly expanded Benin / Onitsha express road, which was constructed after the civil war. That road is still better than the ones other regimes- put together- have constructed in subsequent years in that area.

Ogbemudia’s record held him in good stead that when he contested the governorship election of the then Bendel State under the NPN ticket, against Prof. Ambrose Ali in the1983 election, he swept the polls in that area to the discredit of the UPN. His past record of performance spoke for him. And up to this date, |I still reckoned he is the best. Whatever oil money |Ibori got from the federation account he literally ‘drank’ like water with nothing to show case in these Igbo communities.

I hope Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Daniel Okumagba, and Rtd General Paul Omu, who were both alumni of Saint Thomas Teacher Training College, Ibusa, and others, will re-adjust their definition of injustice. Let them pay a visit to their alma mater and I can assure them that they will develop goose pimples. If they feel that the injustice of the Niger Delta is unmerited, then they should check their glaring injustice against the Igbo people of Delta State. No tribe has the monopoly of violence. The fact that our people have not reacted does not depict cowardice.

Our stoical silence is philosophical and historical. Philosophical because we are a mature people. And, historical because of the seemingly heroic act of our two sons, Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu {from Okpanam} and Captain Tim Onwuatuegwu { from Illah} in the 15 January 1966 coup to which our people are still being held some time in opprobrium.

The area still has people of calibre, namely: Prof. Pat Utomi, Prof. Nwawolo, Prof. Okonjo, Dr. Okonjo Iweala, Prof. Fidelis Odita { QC and SAN },Col. Nwawo, Col. Okwechime, Col. Achuzia, Prof. Okoh, Prof.Emenanjo, Prof. Onwuachi, Prof. Elueze, Prof. Edozie, Prof. Emmanuel Nwanze, Mike Ovie {MD, Zenith Bank}, Sabastin Adigwe {MD, Afrique Bank}, Atuche Francis { MD, Bank PHB}, Tony Elumelu {MD, UBA} and an up and coming sharp chap called Mr. Rowland Nwanze.
With what I saw in these areas when I went home in October 2007, I just hope that one day, a push will not become a shove. I also pray that one day, these oppressors will be given their so called “genuine Delta State“, believe it or not, it would be good riddance to bad rubbish. Go, soak yourself in your crude oil but the present fact remains, that whenever you point one of your accusing fingers to the Federal government for the neglect of the Niger-Delta, you forget that the other four fingers are pointed towards you.

If these people, shouting injustice, would be honourable and sincere enough to themselves, let them show their humanity by embarking on a fact-finding mission of the Igbo culture area of the state. They will be ashamed and shocked of what they will discover. It is poverty, misery and neglect of a people callously being executed by “educated” Urhobos as pre-planned, since 1991. Most developments in these communities are simply being executed through self-efforts.

To most Urhobos and their kindred-spirit, it is better for the North to seep the crude oil than for their closest neighbours to enjoy it. It is this same surreptitious and slippery attitude that they exhibited during the Biafran war, supporting General Gowon to keep Nigeria one and to annihilate us.

Today, it is a fact which has come to dawn on all of us that the chickens have come home to roost. Whether we believe it or not, the three regions in the South have been humiliated in one way or the other by the same North in systematic fashion. First, it was the Igbos during the civil war. Second, was the Yorubas in the light of the arrogant and criminal annulment of the June 12, 1993 election; and finally, the Niger-Deltans who are now feeling the heat from the same North.
The final onslaught against the whole South by the North is now on cause; and that is, to make sure that they bring the Southerners to their knees until they learn to wink no more. Their mission statement of the early1960s as proclaimed by their leaders, of throwing the “Koran into the Atlantic ocean,” is about to be accomplished. The interpretation of that aphorism for those who care to know is simple. It means partly, the conquest of the South.

And I can assure all Southerners that the North will succeed if we continue with this our braggadocio, endless divisive bickering, chronic unforgiven spirit, stereotypical and antagonistic attitude and blame game. May I use this opportunity to call on the South to rally round Alhaji Asari Dukobo and to also take cues from Bode Eluyera’s analysis of our luggardist Nigeria. Besides, I just hope the Urhobos will change for good and use their numbers for the positive and even development of the state. What is good for the geese is also good for the ganders. “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere”.

It is unfortunate that our crisis of identity extends to our own Igbo brothers and sisters across the Niger who are supposed to know better. Unfortunately, they regard themselves, as “the proper Igbos” while the Delta Igbos or Ika Igbos or Western Igbos are often lumped and regarded derogatorily as “Hausa-Igbos”. This is despite the solid research and studies to the contrary by the late Prof. M. A. Onwuejeogwu. His studies, and here I refer to Nri Museum, show that there is no nomenclature like “Hausa Igbo” or “proper Igbo”. Igbo is Igbo! Period.


These “proper Igbos” exhibited this same ambivalent and marginal behaviour towards our Biafran officers of Delta Igbo extraction during the civil war. The “proper Igbos” should get it into their heads that there is strength in numbers and that we feel unperturbed about their historical ignorance about us, because all Delta Igbo communities know their origins and history. I rest my case!

[quote] It was a happy moment for the Igbo at Owerri yesterday when the governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and his predecessor, Dr. Chris Ngige embraced and chatted with each other explaining his role in the political conflict between them.

But both used the event for reconciliation, with laughter all over.

But from the tumultuous gathering at the Annual Ahiajioku lecture held at Owerri yesterday came a thunderous verdict unity among the Igbo.

The lecture delivered by the novelist Chinua Achebe who arrived the venue with his wife, Christie and three children: Ike, Chidi and Nwando, was chaired by the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien.

There were also the governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, and Anambra governor, Mr. Peter Obi as well as Abia, Delta, Ebonyi, Rivers, Enugu who were represented.

There were delegations also from the Obong of Calabar and Jaja of Opobo, several traditional rulers including the Obi of Ogwashi uku, Prof. Chukuka Okonjo, Ikelionwu of Ndikelionwu, Prof. Chukwumemeka Ike, among others.

However, Achebe in his lecture entitled Igbo, Intellectualism and Development praised the lecture rebranded by the state government to be the framework for development and not just for intellectual sake, the series would help redirect the miseducated Igbo caused by colonialists.

Using samples from his novel, Things fall apart as illustration, Achebe said the Igbo share a lot of brotherhood and yet have their differences.

Saying the worldwide celebration of the novel is not about him but the story, which is Igbo story.
But h used the little difference in the name, Ahiajioku and Ifejioku which means the same thing: celebration of the yam god in Igboland to share the little differences tat exist in the dialects of the Igbo, saying the Igbo should not allow the little differences among them cause their disunity.

The Igbo, he told the audience made of ministers, senators, the academia, the clergy, Achebe blamed the problem in the use and study of Igbo language on a white missionary who he said could nit grasp the differences that exist in the Igbo dialect. He did not know the Igbo speak in their various dialects: Igbo na au na olu na olu, he said. Dialects are a tiny thing that should not divide the Igbo. Igbo unity is paramount, he maintained.

It is therefore a thing of madness for anyone to call anyone whose dialects sounds different from the other as non-Igbo, adding that even in the markets, the people speak in their dialects.

It is therefore sacrilege for anyone to tell a teach that its is wrong to speak in his mother tongue. Nobody, he said, has the right to stop any child from speaking his mother tongue.

Achebe also spoke out for women integration in Igboland. He used the exile chapter of Okonkow in Igboland illustrate this, said that mother is supreme.

Igbo people have developmental ideas and knowledge as can be found in their creation stories, he pointed out.

However, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Edozien saying all Igbo are one, itemised seven agendas which he said are essential for Igbo unity which he said for two years, Ohanaeze ndigbo could not achieve.

He harped on the need for creation of two more state for Igbo people out of the present Delta and Rivers State to give equal states to three regions, under one region,

He also asked that state governors in the seven state Igbo dominate should empower Ohanaeze financially and the eze ndigbo proliferation across the country and beyond should be stopped.

Th e Asagba asked that the Igbo should rater elect one king as Eze Igbo through the traditional rulers and tat the ruler should rule till death as is the case with the papacy.

Ohakim in his contribution also spoke on Igbo unity as did Prof. Pat Utomi who introduced Achebe. Utomi had located the problem with the Igbo in lack of humility and reverence for vanity.

But Ohaikm asked Ohanaeze not to allow division among it, nor allow internal contradictions thwart its efforts.

He also blamed Nigerians under development on injustice and ethnicity.
Things, he went on, do go wrong in societies but such are moments to work and repair and not to apportion blames, saying that Achebe’s message is essentially all hope is not lost.

pazienza:


Nwanne, many SEners are not insulting Anioma for no reason.
Many do so because Anioma has created the room for the likes of Ojieh to unleash their madness, since he knows there would be no repercussions.

Since Ojieh made this comment, has the Asagba of Asaba, Obi of Agbor or any other Anioma group come out publicly to deassociate with him and debunk his claims?
The answer is no. So it is not out of place for those of us in SE to interpret this silence as passive support. Ojieh is not just a random individual, he is a head of an Anioma organization, telling Ndiigbo in SE to ignore him, with no widespread condemnation of his shameful act by Anioma royal houses and top people, is insincerity on part of any Anioma person.

It is beginning to look like Anioma want to eat their cake and have it. You want to be Igbo and non Igbo sometimes, because you have figured it offers you a form of political flexibility . You can let the deranged ones like Ojieh claim they are not Igbos and spite Ndiigbo when it's expedient, without your prominent institutions and personalities calling them to order or denouncing them publicly, while the seemingly Igbo Anioma people snoop in and take Igbo share of national cake when it's expedient with those of us in SE not being able to challenge it, so as not to be seen to be dividing the Igbo house.

Reason it well yourself, devoid of emotions. If Ojieh and his likes are able to make vitriolic sweeping comments like this without a media reply by Anioma royal fathers and relevant organizations, then what you or any Anioma person has to say on this, doesn't and shouldn't matter, and Ndiigbo in SE will be stupid to continue receiving this bullshit from that quarter, 50years post civil war.
At a point, enough has to be enough.

In an article written by one Mr.Chris Okafor, on ARTICLES BASE, the fellow wanted to correct what he likened to a misconception by Late Amb. Ralph Uwechue the ex president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Ibo social cultural organization.

It seems Mr. Okafor wasnt aware of the fact that the later, Amb. Uechue is also from Ogwashu ukwu. But that's by the way. What I found totally strange was how a man who set out to correct what he termed a misconception eneded up dishing out more misconceptions. First, here is a quote from Mr. Okafor in his effort to correct the misconception by Uwechue: "Anioma people just like every other tribe, villages, towns or ethnic groups in Nigeria today cannot be said to come from one particular area. This is not what is at stake. What is at stake is that we, the ANIOMAS are over due for the immediate creation of our own State." My question to Mr. Okafor is how Anioma became a tribe...in what way and by whom?

It is very unfortunate that people who do not even know what Anioma stood for are usually the ones making futile efforts to make it an ethnic group. I am personally aware that Anioma is simply a coinage given to the constituent Local Governments in Delta north senatorial district in anticipation to make it a state. Anyone who isn't aware of the reasons Anioma was formed should go and read more before coming to the internet to write wishful stories.

The fact that one misinformed Proffessor Kunirum wrote that ANIOMA is now an ethnic group does not make Anioma an ethnic group, it rather makes Proffessor Kunirum a misinformed fellow. The Nigerian system had confused us all from knowing the line between literacy and intelligence and so many of us often mistook literacy for intelligence. Having read Dr Kunirum's book where he wanted for reasons best known to him to make Anioma a separate ethnic group away from the larger Ibo attachment makes me conclude that he and his likes are very literate, not intelligent. The fact that Dr Kunirum while running away while no one is chasing after him is enough to ask questions: why the run?

Furthermore, if Kunirum and his fellow confused likes form an Anioma ethnic nationality, what will be the language, I mean mother tongue of this 'new' tribe? If they chose Ibo as the mother tongue of the new ethnic nationality, wouldn't that make them silly?

True it was that there are non Ibo elements present in Anioma, but these where refugees that we, the indegenes assimilated linguistically and culturally. Do we now need to change the name of our village because two or three visitors are not comfortable bearing the name? Mr. Okafor suggested that the Ikelike people of Ogwashi were the first settlers in Ogwashiukwu, how? And how do you mean that the 'uku' in Ogwqashiuku means great in Bini? So what does the same mean in Ibo?

In as much as some of us are willing to keep deluding themselves and others without any tangible reason, it is a thing of shame that these people don't ask questions. How come the almighty Bini as you usually portray could not hold on to their languages once they are a mile away from Bini? And do you not imagine how a strong conquering people will loose their language and culture to the conquered people? What are the reasons that most of the settlements founded by these Bini wanders usually had the Umu prefix? How did a powerful Bini prince suddenly threw away his proud Oba title and picked up Obi while he and those with him are all Bini?

Lets take the history of Umunede for instance which goes thus:
Umunede Kingdom was founded by a Benin Prince, called EDE and his wife, IYE who migrated from Benin and settled in the present location, later known as Umunede. The exact date of migration of Ede and his wife from Benin was not recorded but generally, historians put the approximate period as the Thirteenth Century A.D., during the reign of Oba Ewedo The Great (1250-1280 A.D.) Thus, the Kingdom is over seven hundred years old and many historians believed that Umunede Kingdom is one of the oldest kingdoms east of the Benin Empire.



Historians had contended that during Oba Ewedos reign, the Oba had two battles to fight: a diplomatic battle against the great nobility led by the Ediommehan and military battles against Ogiamien III in order to destroy once and for all this anti-royalist movement. As a result of these events, many princes and noble men fled with their families to different safe locations.



The second wave of migration to Umunede probably took place under Oba Ewuare The Great (1440-1485). During his reign, an attempt to eliminate members of the nobility who were threatening the monarchy gathered momentum and brought about another wave of migration out of the Benin Empire.



Historians also believe that there were other settlers before and after Ede and Iye arrived at the present location but no one was sure when those earlier settlers arrived at this same location. However, later migrations to Umunede were well documented. For example, there were other immigrants from Ishan, Benin-speaking areas and Yoruba areas of the west between the 16th and 19th centuries and their quarters are well known in Umunede. Also, there have been large number of immigrants from the Eastern Igbo-speaking area since the last quarter of the 19th century and, since the civil war; Umunede has also been witnessing a large number of immigrants from neighbouring towns and villages.



All historical accounts showed that Ede and his followers did meet a collection of people in the present location, later called Umunede. Those who were already in that location were probably not as strong and organized as Ede and his followers. Therefore, Ede was able to impose his rule and leadership upon the earlier settlers. In fact, it has never been contested that Ede brought to Umunede the type of administrative and social structures, which were already in place in the Benin Empire. Firstly, the monarchical administration, which Ede and his followers brought from Benin, was established in Umunede and hence up to today, Umunede still has traditional and hereditary kingship. Secondly, the mode and type of worship and traditional festivals correspond to the practices in the Benin kingdom. Thirdly, the mode of building houses in ancient Umunede was also that of Benin tradition.



Every available document showed that Ede and Iye had four sons in the following order of seniority: Ilege, Edware, Oba and Ile. Those four sons and their descendants constituted the original four main villages of Umunede. Available information also showed that it took some time before the kingship, as we know it today was fully established. When it was fully established, it took and Igbo title, Obi instead of Ovie or Onogie, which are the titles kings that descended directly from Benin. But, why Obi? Probably, the main reason was that in the course of centuries of living together and inter-ethnic marriages, each of the various groups living in that location started to lose its original ethnic identity, thus giving way to develop on Unumede language and culture- the language being very close to those of Ibos West of the Niger, while Unumede culture was predominantly that of Binis until the first assume that language of the dominant tribe in Umunede. History did not record and alternative title to Obi.

What is the common sense in arguing or trying to say that a man a fugitive precisely who came with his wife and four children and met a 'group' of people now becomes the founder of the village together with the people, not persons he met on ground? Could it not be better put that Ede was a Bini sent to rule the colony with the authority of the Oba who was later assimilated into the population? If that was the case, how then did the people turn around to start answering Umu Ede which translates thus as children of Ede?And how did the Bini warrior quickly took up Obi as a title instead of Oba? Common sense says that it is a more powerful and conquering culture that overshadows the weaker ones. Here, people are telling us that it was the other way round: weaker cultures dominating the stronger ones.

Then that gives us another angle that people east of the Niger also bears Ede. We should consider.
Umu Ede means children of Ede corrupted to Umunede. What was the name of the Town before Ede, his four children and wife showed up?

The story continued: "Every available document showed that Ede and Iye had four sons in the following order of seniority: Ilege, Edware, Oba and Ile. Those four sons and their descendants constituted the original four main villages of Umunede. Available information also showed that it took some time before the kingship, as we know it today was fully established. When it was fully established, it took and Igbo title, Obi instead of Ovie or Onogie, which are the titles kings that descended directly from Benin. But, why Obi?" Yes, Why Obi? Although the writer continued with a "probably" that was not well researched and therefore didn't make any sense. They wrote: "Probably, the main reason was that in the course of centuries of living together and inter-ethnic marriages, each of the various groups living in that location started to lose its original ethnic identity, thus giving way to develop on Unumede language and culture- the language being very close to those of Ibo West of the Niger, while Unumede culture was predominantly that of Binis until the first assume that language of the dominant tribe in Umunede. History did not record and alternative title to Obi." Did Ede and his children live for centuries as to change from Ovie to Obi when in the first place, they never had an Oba title?
We should learn how not to interpret mythology as history.

There was an article I read by Emeka Esobgue where the Oba of Bini was boldly claiming that Igbanke people are Edo (Idu) and not Ika. Why wouldnt he say so with pride when the people themselves choose to embrace mythology instead of conducting a research on themselves? Even Emeka Esogbue that tried to wave off Oba's assertions equally ended up along the same line of lazy history by also claiming that the Ika are from Bini. If they are from Bini, then why confront the Oba for trying to reclaim his children? The only sensible way to counter such claim is simply by writing a history based on investigations, not by rewriting a well known myth.

There is no way anyone can seperate us Anioma and Ika from the rest of Ibo.
If we are not Ibos, then no one is...for what is Ibo and who is one?

....to be continued

REVELATION/INFORMATION from both HRM Dr. E.O. Efeizomor II OON; JP, the Obi Of OWA in Ika North LGA, who is also the incumbent Chairman, Anioma Traditional Rulers Council and HRM Prof. J.C. Edozien CFR; JP,the Azagba Of Asaba/Ahaba both in Anioma, Delta State

I believe that as perfect custodians of our Anioma culture and traditions, our Royal Fathers are in an advantage and better position to educate us more on our Igbo identity, rather than the Osia's among us whose interests are PERSONAL.

Uninformed, unsuspecting and gullible Anioma sons and daughters, especially those in diaspora have been bamboozled by Dr. Kunirum Osia's "Trojan Horse" article on "Who We (Anioma people) Are" . This article which is found in Anioma.org website by Dr. Osia (who has abandoned and severed his relationship with the Anioma Association USA and every Anioma individual, after ending the tenure of office as the Founding Nat'l President, Anioma USA). Osia's poisonous and caustic academic exercise write-up has remained a sour source of reference by some Aniomans in diaspora who believe that whatever our great scholar Kunirum Osia, a PhD holder in Political Science dishes out must be "swallowed"

I Remain a Proud Igboman


Anam/OO
President,CISA

Two highly placed traditional Rulers inDelta State, the Asagba of Asaba, Professor J.C. Edozien CFR; JP., and the Obi of Owa in Ika North Local Government, Dr. E.O. Efeizomor II OON; JP., have stressed the need for Ndigbo, no matter the geopolitical location in which they are based, to be united in the quest for Ndi-Igbo to again become relevant in Nigeria in particular and the world in general.



Professor Edozien made the remarks when he granted audience to a delegation of IWA, ASA World, CISA and EIC.



The traditional Ruler, a former academician, who received the delegation with a retinue of his fully attired members of cabinet, said that although Asaba people were located in the south south geopolitical zone, “most of my subjects hail from Nteje in Oyi Local Government of Anambra State”.


Professor Edozien noted that "nothing could be achieved by Ndigbo unless unity prevailed among members of the ethnic group irrespective of the geopolitical zone in which they are based”.


He appealed to IWA to work assiduously to resolve the crisis in World Igbo Congress, WIC, and, thereafter "IWA, WIC, ASA World, CISA, EIC and other Ndi-Igbo associations in the diaspora should pool their resources together to uplift the welfare of Ndi-Igbo”.



The Asagba expressed delight over the efforts of IWA, ASA World, CISA and EIC to project, through the museum on Igbo Village to be opened on September 17, 2010 in Stanton , Virginia in the United States of America , the contributions of Ndi-Igbo to one of the major civilizations in modern history.


On his own part, the Obi of Owa in Ika North Local Government of Delta State, Dr. E.O. Efeizomor II OON; J.P., said that research had traced the origin of Ika people to the Nris of Anambra State.


Dr. Efeizomor II who has been on the throne for fifty years, said that what was significant about the research was that it was conducted by Ika intellectuals.



The traditional Ruler said that although the “Ikas were making spirited efforts to identify and relate with Ndi-Igbos in the South East geopolitical zone, the efforts were not being reciprocated, hence a few Ikas have reservations over their affinity with Ndi-Igbo”.



The Obi of Owa presented to members of the IWA delegation a book to buttress his assertion that Ikas were, according to him, “proud Ndi-Igbo of Nri ancestry”.


Dr. Efeizomor II said that the entire Ika traditional institution was happy to participate in the Igbo Day that was held in Owerri on September 29, 2009 adding that “Ika people look forward to joining our brothers and sisters in taking part in more Ndi-Igbo activities in future”.

pazienza:


Nwanne, many SEners are not insulting Anioma for no reason.
Many do so because Anioma has created the room for the likes of Ojieh to unleash their madness, since he knows there would be no repercussions.

Since Ojieh made this comment, has the Asagba of Asaba, Obi of Agbor or any other Anioma group come out publicly to deassociate with him and debunk his claims?
The answer is no. So it is not out of place for those of us in SE to interpret this silence as passive support. Ojieh is not just a random individual, he is a head of an Anioma organization, telling Ndiigbo in SE to ignore him, with no widespread condemnation of his shameful act by Anioma royal houses and top people, is insincerity on part of any Anioma person.

It is beginning to look like Anioma want to eat their cake and have it. You want to be Igbo and non Igbo sometimes, because you have figured it offers you a form of political flexibility . You can let the deranged ones like Ojieh claim they are not Igbos and spite Ndiigbo when it's expedient, without your prominent institutions and personalities calling them to order or denouncing them publicly, while the seemingly Igbo Anioma people snoop in and take Igbo share of national cake when it's expedient with those of us in SE not being able to challenge it, so as not to be seen to be dividing the Igbo house.

Reason it well yourself, devoid of emotions. If Ojieh and his likes are able to make vitriolic sweeping comments like this without a media reply by Anioma royal fathers and relevant organizations, then what you or any Anioma person has to say on this, doesn't and shouldn't matter, and Ndiigbo in SE will be stupid to continue receiving this bullshit from that quarter, 50years post civil war.
At a point, enough has to be enough.

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.”

This point arose out of the tendency among Igbo people to regard some groups as not “real” Igbos on basis of dialectal differences. It also exists in the form of clearly Igbo-speaking people with Igbo names and cultural patterns declaring themselves as “not Igbo” but ethnic minorities.

This is very rampant among Igbo groups in the South-South zone who believe that by so self-declaring publicly, they would be more acceptable among the real minorities and allowed to take their places as ethnic minorities.

Experience has, however, shown that this self-delusion hardly ever produces their desired results. Whenever the push comes to the shove, the real minorities remind them that they are Igbo people who are out to take what belongs to the minorities through the back door.

This phenomenon was evident in 2006 when former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State (who loved to call himself a “Rivers man,” as if Rivers State is a tribe) was running for president. Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark openly declared Odili an Igbo man, arguing that the South-South president that the minorities have been agitating for was not meant to go to “an Igbo man.”

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.

"Ofili is not making an accurate statement although he is entitled to his views even when he is wrong. It is ridiculous for people who speak Igbo and who properly know their ancestral home to say they do not know their origin again or for another person to begin to give inaccurate facts," he told Saturday Independent in an interview.

"We have people in Anioma and theyform one-third of the population and that has also reflected on the number of local government areas it commands. The entire Delta may not trace their origin to the East (Igbo) it is not contestable but the people of Anioma traced their origin from the East and there is nothing bad in joining Ohanaeze Ndigbo."

Uwechue said belonging to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo would promote unity among the people, rather than focus on divisive tendencies that will not do anyone any good.

"If we do not belong to the stock they will not have given us the president-general. It is because they know. Even the present president of Aka-Ikenga, the intellectual think-tank of Ndigbo, is from Delta and all this promotes unity and a sense of belonging. I am from Ogwashi-Uku and we know our origin. That we have Ijaw people in Delta State does not mean they do not know that they belong to Bayelsa State. Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the grand umbrella for all Igbo stock, for all that have the Igbo origin including those in the Diaspora, so our inclusion is not out of place.

"What the world needs now is unity and any umbrella that will ensure that it is promoted must be encouraged. But I know that there is a deliberate effort in some quarters to tear Ndigbo apart for fear of their solid demography, which is a political force that some are not comfortable with."

Uwechue said that identifying with your source does not make you an enemy of other people.

He added: "People like Dennis Osadebe clearly identified where we belong. And we know it, so it is not for anybody to come and re-write history. The issue is not subject to unnecessary debate because we are well informed to knowwhere we are coming from. Nobody is seeking for any relevance with the organisation because without (it) one is already relevant."

Chinablack:
former western Igbos, Midwestern Igbos, Bendel Igbos and now delta Igbos are no longer Igbos just because one victim of identity crisis say so

maestroferddi:
Your attempts at trying to deflect from the issue at hand is looking infantile.

You think we are not in the know? Think again!

The Igbos will no longer condone what looks like an institutionalized ploy by some of your people to sabotage Igbo interests.

The Yorubas have kin in Okunland in Kogi State and folks in Kwara...You don't see them allowing themselves to be willing tools.

Instead of venting your frustrations on the wrong people, you can rise up today and accentuate your Igboness.

Don't be an 'audio' Igbo when some of your people are doing all they can to denigrate Igboness.

Stop making it look like you are doing anybody a favour by identifying as an Igbo.

This nationality is standing on a sound footing.

Even our detractors can only wish...

maestroferddi:
You achieve nothing with this...

Joe Igbokwe is a pariah in Igboland.That is even obvious to the blind.

No serious-minded Igboman would waste a droplet of saliva discussing a turncoat whose concern is all about talking his way to the next meal.

There was a groundswell of condemnation and disavowal from almost all Igbos against Joe Igbokwe when he made the referenced remark...

Can we say the same with the sundry misdeeds of some of your Anioma brothers?

Ojiofor:


He will lie to everyone that it's only people from Ika axis that indulge in Igbo denier as if Luaretta Onochie, Emeka Esogbue and Ibe Kachiukwu are from Ika. Ikechunna is a lost soul.
Ask yourself why is he the only one from that chameleon region on this thread insulting people like a demented dog?

maestroferddi:
I suppose you were living under a rock when Kachikwu flatly denied being Igbo?

Take time to assimilate...There is more to it than cussing and shouting....

MelesZenawi:


Blame those fighting an imaginary battle not us that will gladly refer to you guys as Anioma as Republicans that we are.

maestroferddi:
Nobody is falling for anything.

You Anioma folks have yourselves to blame for providing the ammunition with which the traducers and enemies of the Igbos are attempting to undermine and disparage the Igbos.

When people like Ibe Kachikwu was trying senselessly to ingratiate himself to his Oga at Bourdlllon by pooh-poohing his Igboness, how Anioma people/leaders rose up to correct him?

Dude, we are all inform and are privy to the cacophony of discordant voices coming out of your land....Try to deal with that and leave the little matter of simple-minded element running amok here...

We are mature enough here to read between the lines.

maestroferddi:
I don't even know where I will start in educating you.

You are just blowing hot air without devoting even one-tenth of the time you are expending in making impetuos comments and throwing up tantrums to critical thinking...

Buhari believed he was rewarding an Igboman in appoint Ibe Kachukwu as the Minister of State for Petroleum in 2015...

Neither Kachikwu nor other Igbo deniers put up a public disclaimer denying Igboness then...

In the eyes of most non-Igbo Nigerians, an Igboman was appointed to a sensitive position in government...

Okowa's emergence as the Governor of Delta State was forged on the anvil of allowing power rotate Delta Igbos...that, at least, is how other Deltans saw it...

We can go on and on on how Anioma elements go about operating as Igbos of convenience....

You can sulk all you want but the issue is that someone needs to call you guys out..

Granted there might be pro-Igbo sympathasizers among you but their impact is on the scale of negligible/feeble to that of nonexistence...

BTW, I find your aspersions on the Igbos puerile and plain simplistic..

MelesZenawi:


Trash. Infact anything Igbo ends at River Niger and anything after it are just bini people.

Nonsense.

MelesZenawi:



Case closed.
Igbos on political gains...that's all.

There are many instances and this is 2020 to continue reminding people to be this be this or be that.

You don't force people to be who they doesn't want to be. Ibe kachikwu was asked, are you Igbo, his reply was Simply...No, I am more of Lagos and Nigeria.....

The other one was asked he said no, I am from Oshimili north , Anioma.

Now they likes to be Identified as Anioma even tomorrow then why fighting a failed battle when they doesn't want to be seen as Igbo.


Lauretta Onochie today doesn't want to be referred to as an Igbo woman, infact she hates that...She simply want to be referred to as Anioma woman.


So since this is what they want, I don't see any reason why anyone should stop them. After the Anioma is registered and one day it will be finally registered as a language under Nigeria.

maestroferddi:
Unfortunately for you, I am grounded on Delta Igbo issues especially as it concerns this denial of Igboness...

One wonders where the so-called Igbo accepters are with volume of antipathy and negative vibes/coming from your side...

The behaviour ranges from denial to apathy and even outright Igbophobia....

There was a time some sections of the South East were trying to manufacture a strange/funny identity for themselves because of negligible dialect issues...The whole of the South East rose up in condemnation and the misadventure died a natural death...

What do you guys do about the chameleons in your midst? The answer is zitch!

It appears you are wont to continue using your Igbo identity for political gains.

All we are saying is that you should graduate from your feeble claim to being Igbo to a demonstrable manifestation...

Strive to get the message....

horsepower102:


I saw their comments and I don’t support it. I was surprised coming back to this thread and seeing it went downhill. The enemy who started it has succeeded.

Nothing gives them the right to insult Anioma people they way they did.

Just like you say the opinions of few igbo deniers don’t represent the majority of Anioma, you also have to know that the opinions of those individuals don’t represent the rest of south east igbos.

If you are not a true Igbo or whatever that means, then no igbo on Nairaland is true igbo.

BUT

I do think that the aniomas ( in my opinion) need to be more proactive in squashing igbo denialism.

As obowo69 mentioned, some south east igbos have had painful experiences that made them just give up on seeking brotherhood with the Aniomas and other igbos in the south south.

Just like some Anioma people like you have had painful experiences from south east igbos.

All these lead to suspicion, anger, and resentment. Let’s not let our enemies win both within and outside.

horsepower102:


Hmm ikechunna, no matter what, I will always have your back even if we disagree. The south east igbos have their problems. That’s just not even an argument.

But when SE igbos point out the problems that they see being a stumbling block to true unity and healing, it’s not out of hatred.

SE igbos have been through a lot of betrayals and denials and to be honest with you, SE igbos have overtime develop serious trust issues.

Please put yourself in their shoes and see things from their perspective for once.

maestroferddi:
You are getting the whole thing twisted...

The point being made is that it is high time you guys stood up to be counted...

Think of what you can do for the Igbo family/unity and not what the Igbos can do for you...

Enough of this entitlement mentality in which you view yourselves as outsiders who must be coaxed to carry your weight in the general context of things.

The Aniomas are largely seen by some Igbos as 'beasts of no nation' available for use by traducers and enemies of the Igbo nation to attempt breaking our ranks.

You can preach inclusiveness among your people and not this visceral uppity you are displaying.

Let Anioma rise!

horsepower102:


You will be treated as equals the day your people accept and fully embrace their igbo identity. Until then, the igbos of the south east will continue to view you suspiciously and rightfully so.

Igbo identity is not something that can be worn like a clothing material. It’s skin deep.

For now, they are very confused people and you need to focus your energy on doing serious house cleaning.

It is not the role of south east igbos to do that for you rather it’s the “pro-igbo” identitarians amongst you that should do the cleaning.

obowo69:


Good. I will never beg anyone to be igbo. Its either you are igbo or you are not.

This is the right attitude every south east person should adopt and I 100% support it.

No condition is permanent and I know things will only get better for south East igbos. Those that deny us or play politics with Igbo identity will be Permanently shut out!!!

maestroferddi:
You can spare yourself these tantrums by getting a handle on things or bring yourself up to speed.

If I were to pataphrase, I would say that you guys in Anioma should ship in or ship out.

Nobody should take the accommodating nature of the Igbos for granted.

We have weathered storms and come out stronger for it.

We shall not stand and watch some roguish and undesirable elements from your neck of woods pour scorn and ridicule on the Igbos anymore.

The late Amb Ralph Uwechue was the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo...Late Col Joe Achuzia nicknamed Hannibal was among the most lionized of Biafran soldiers....Prof Nolue Emenanjo is among the foremost Igbo linguistics and many more people given opportunity for leadership and relevance in the Igbo cosmology...

What do we get? Senseless and unconscionable pettiness...

An African proverb goes thus:....'A man who points to his ancestral home with his left hand is insulting nobody but himself'...