The Anioma of Delta State cannot be denied their Igbo heritage because it is politically convenient to do so. Philip Elueme, an Abuja-based analyst, argues that the Anioma deserve to be given their due recognition as Igbo and should benefit if any of the major parties decides to give its presidential ticket to the Igbo man

It is an immutable fact that the Anioma people in Delta State are Igbo, including the Ikwerre of Rivers State and all other groups with Igbo ancestry.

There are incontrovertible, historical, cultural, cum legal documents, etc. to defend this assertion, despite denials by a few. A man’s ancestry defines his origin.

The highest socio-cultural, corporate body of the Igbo, registered in Corporate Affairs Commission is Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The Anioma area, etc. is recognised as Igbo constitutionally in Ohanaeze. This was why the late Ogwashi-Uku born Amb. Ralph Uwaechue was elected president general of Ohanaeze when by zoning as enshrined in its constitution, it was Anioma turn to produce the president-general; also the late Asaba born Col. ‘Hannibal’ Achuzia was secretary-general at a time.

Besides, other Anioma sons and daughters, including the late Prof Tony Arinze (Ohanaeze president for University of Port Harcourt chapter) have held and are holding top positions in Ohanaeze as authentic Ndigbo. Lady Madam ‘Rita’ Daniels, our Nollywood actress of note and woman leader of Ohanaeze, from Anioma, also falls into this category.

At the formation of Ohanaeze, in a meeting at the late Sir Akanu Ibiam’s Enugu home, Anioma’s foremost political leader, the late Osadebey was in the meeting representing Ndi Anioma as one Igbo. Osadebey as one Igbo was premier of Midwest Region while Akanu Ibiam was premier of Eastern region.

At the Ahajioku lecture series, an intellectual festival showcasing the best of Igbo scholars – eg. Achebe, Afikpo, Nwabueze, Okigbo, etc. two Anioma sons, coincidentally Ndi Igbuzo, was privileged to deliver lectures at the gathering of Igbo intellectuals. The late sages; Prof Angulu Onwuejeogwu, renowned anthropologist, and Prof Nnolue Emenanjo, renowned linguist, delivered the annual Ahajioku lectures in 1987 & 2001 as authentic Ndigbo; an acknowledgment of ‘Anioma Igbonness’ even by the erudite, critical and ‘’all-knowing, best brains of the Igbo race and civilisation”

These facts are incontrovertible and historical despite denials by some revisionist historians.

Only a few days ago – the traditional ruler of Owa in Ika North East, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor hosted the ruler of Nri in Anambra State at his Owa palace, and during the parley, he traced the origin of his people to Nri, as indeed other Anioma communities have traced their ancestry to Igboland.

The fact of Anioma Igbo status was equally supported by works of historical linguistics, courtesy of the authoritative well-researched works of the late Prof Kay Williamson via, for instance, her 1987 University of Port Harcourt Convocation Inaugural lectures (I witnessed this lecture as a student in UNIPORT).

Prof Williamson posited: “From the study of historical linguistics, we learn that the enormous complexity of Nigeria’s languages has developed from a small number of original proto-languages, and thus that below the surface differences lie old and deep-seated similarities which point to common origins.

As the map categorising the Igboid language group by Prof Williamson in this lecture (Blench) included the Anioma, of Delta North across the River Niger west of Anambra State.

The works of Prof Emenanjo regarded as the leading Igbo linguist of repute and many Anioma linguists corroborate the fact that Anioma Igbo speak a ’sub-dialect of Igbo’ with some minor technical variations, in Ika & Ukwuani dialects. This is scholarly attested to by Ndokwa scholar, Ejimofor, and another lady scholar from the Ika , as indeed the outstanding work of the late Ika playwright, Prof Ukala, denoting names in Ika, which appears to support this linguistic approach also.

Based on these facts, despite denials by some Anioma sons due to modernisation crisis of identity flaws, the fear of the negative effect of being labelled rebels during the Biafran war and its after-effects, the case of the late Prof Kunirun Osia, a super minority Anioma son, whose ancestors migrated from Yoruba, which influenced his judgment to deny Anioma Igboness; Ndi Anioma are factually an Igbo race, the few instances of Ighala, Benin, Yoruba Urhobo/Isoko, etc. influences notwithstanding.

The late Uwaechue was an elected Ohaneze’s president general, he was at a time the Biafran ambassador to France, therefore, any Anioma son or daughter can, as an inalienable right, use the Igbo slot to become Nigeria’s president if it is his destiny.

Elueme is an Abuja-based Anioma political analyst

Seize noise there!
There you go talking about slot but when the D day comes even Peter Obi will be rejected by the rest of Igbos.

Leave Anioma alone, they are simply and better referred to as Anioma people and by God's grace very soon Anioma State will be born. Thank you.

I agree.

Igalas of Kogi and Idoma of Benue are also igbos.

So can you now go drink water and wait for the next broadcast for lamidi kwanu?

LeoDeKing:
I agree.

Igalas of Kogi and Idoma of Benue are also igbos.

So can you now go drink water and wait for the next broadcast for lamidi kwanu?

You no make sense

Who denied them before ? We know Igbos no man can deny igbos their heritage

Is anioma man not holding south east slot for CBN ?

But if it's emefiele ...let him go an the his king to declare agbor as part of Igbo land then we can talk

Here we go again

There are no Igbos in Niger Delta. Not a single one.

If there where, they would be clamoring to join their kin but no one is.
Igbos please stop this aggression. Dem say dem no do. No be by force.

LET ME SPELL IT OUT AS CLEAR AS IT CAN BE: ANYBODY WEY NO DEY EAT HUMAN BEING NO BE IBO

See below pre colonial map of clear cut cultural demarcation of Igbo Nation
Also see how long Igbos have been at being toxic. Na dem drive South Cameroon comot for Nigeria

Asaba Man Responds On Facebook To Asaba Is Igbo Claims

Asaba Inlaw: "In This Whole World You Couldn’t Find Anyone To Marry But An Igbo"

Short story: One of my earliest and most persistent memories is this - near my village, 1 kilometer from Asaba, was a camp where people lived.
Who are they I asked - “Wa bu Ndigbo” I was told. Translation: “They are Igbos”.
I was confused. Aren’t we Igbos, but I said nothing.
Another occasion I heard some commotion in the direction of the camp. Oh don’t be worried I was told. They are Igbos. Again so thought but we are igbos!

Fast forward 3 decades.
A friend of mine from Aba who married from Asaba, over a beer told me “I can’t get over Asaba people. During my native law, my wife’s people kept abusing her in the same language I spoke. They kept saying ‘so in this whole world, you couldn’t find anyone to marry but an Igbo?’”
These are true accounts.
People from my area… even the indigenes of ONITSHA (I’ve been told) consider themselves Not Igbo.
I grew up seeing my people refer to others as “Those Igbo people”.
I have just learnt that the phrase “Igbo enwere Eze” was coined by core Igbos to separate themselves from the Onitsha indigenes…
Following that logic, Asaba nwere eze .... kedụ ka ọ ga-esi bụrụ igbo?
ka anyi biri n’udo nwanne m nwoke
m zuru ikpe m

It’s not an issue to be swept under the carpet. We need to consider it seriously.

Just because everyone in America speaks English doesn’t change their ancestry (some are of German, Italian, Russian, African, Chinese ancestry...).
Ancestry can only be determined scientifically by DNA analysis. My sister discovered she has ancestors from Mali, Senega... of course!! The river Niger flows through those nations before it passes the shores of my village which sits on the West Bank of the Niger net Asaba.

Bottom line, you cannot teach a man how to write with his left hand in old age.
The real issue is why so many Igbo speaking people reject the idea they’re Igbo. (Like some Egyptians in an interview I watched - who can’t understand why they’re considered Africans at all!).
Let’s have an academic discussion why!
We may learn valuable lessons.
��‍♂️�
Good morning.

*****The heavy cannibal lines on below map indicate the limits of Igbo land and culture. All who fall outside the cannibal line are not Igbos. Plain to see.

This is a response to this mumu post

LeoDeKing:
I agree.

Igalas of Kogi and Idoma of Benue are also igbos.

So can you now go drink water and wait for the next broadcast for lamidi kwanu?

Board cast from the zoo cage

What is wrong with this people with attachee by force? Wht have Igbo's done for Anioma's people in terms of projects and developments?

This una inferiority complex is getting out of hands jor

What i don't understand here is why create topic saying some shit people are igbos,please ignore this kinda stories.Igbos biko

There's no ethnic group as anioma,anioma is just a union of different ethnic groups

[s]

helinues:
What is wrong with this people with attachee by force? Wht have Igbo's done for Anioma's people in terms of projects and developments?

This una inferiority complex is getting out of hands jor

[/s]
your harlot mother is forking random dogs just for 400 naira

helinues:
What is wrong with this people with attachee by force? Wht have Igbo's done for Anioma's people in terms of projects and developments?

This una inferiority complex is getting out of hands jor

Shaa I know you don't have sense!

Ned nwoko from Anioma have told you guys several times that he's Igbo, he has appeared several times in BBC Igbo, speaks Igbo fluently and has never for once denied being Igbo ... Or have you ever seen someone from Anioma in Delta state denying he or she is not Igbo?

I don't even know what's wrong with some of you Yoruba guys; you guys will like to claim yoruba people outside southwest, but when Igbos does the same it'll become a national issue for you people even even when people from such places never denied being Igbo!

Like are you people mad or something?? The other day was one foolish yoruba guy saying people ohaji Egbema in Imo state are Ijaws like wtf?

StrongandMighty:




Ned nwoko from Anioma have told you guys several times that he's Igbo,

What type of logic runs the Igbo brain?
Ned Nwoko, one person says he is Igbo and as such all Anioma is Igbo. The very next person from that same clan sitting next to Nwoko will say he is not Igbo. What about the numerous other nationalities all intricately woven in amongst each other in Anioma, many whose language are not even remote;y Igbo. Les than 3% of the people of Anioma will claim Igbo otherwise you would have seen them opening threads to defend their heritage. No, instead everyone wants to get away from Yeebos.

spearman:


What type of logic runs the Igbo brain?
Ned Nwoko, one person says he is Igbo and as such all Anioma is Igbo. The very next person from that same clan sitting next to Nwoko will say he is not Igbo. What about the numerous other nationalities all intricately woven in amongst each other in Anioma, many whose language are not even remote;y Igbo. Les than 3% of the people of Anioma will claim Igbo otherwise you would have seen them opening threads to defend their heritage. No, instead everyone wants to get away from Yeebos.

I know it's only a Yoruba fool that haven't stepped out from his enclave will come and argue; Anioma as a whole is Igbo!
Point out a single person from Anioma that has ever claimed not to be Igbo,I'm waiting...
You think Nigeria as a whole resolves around nairaland? Or you think Nigeria starts and ends here on Nairaland? Na your likes whose life resolves around nairaland get time be creating useless threads...point out one single person from Anioma that has ever claimed not to be Igbo and I'll only engage you further when you've done so.

Abeg leave those people.. I dealt with them in the wee hours of the morning. They forget the word Ani Oma is igbo and it's has a meaning and it is not a tribe.... They started the Delta igbo propaganda for years but they didn't have zamfara hausa and ondo yoruba...that one has become stale,now they have shifted to Anioma..Ignore them jare

StrongandMighty:

I know it's only a Yoruba fool that haven't stepped out from his enclave will come and argue; Anioma as a whole is Igbo!
Point out a single person from Anioma that has ever claimed not to be Igbo,I'm waiting...
You think Nigeria as a whole resolves around nairaland? Or you think Nigeria starts and ends here on Nairaland? Na your likes whose life resolves around nairaland get time be creating useless threads...point out one single person from Anioma that has ever claimed not to be Igbo and I'll only engage you further when you've done so.

Agbor is igboland...stop causing confusion by responding calmly to these guys

mrvitalis:
Who denied them before ? We know Igbos no man can deny igbos their heritage

Is anioma man not holding south east slot for CBN ?

But if it's emefiele ...let him go an the his king to declare agbor as part of Igbo land then we can talk

Bro, no need for these threads. The people know who they are.

Threads like this simply gets enemies aroused. They come in to spew hatred and division.

Na so one fulani pig for here been dey follow me argue sey my guy wey we be namesake for igbo we bn come from Rivers no be my brother. We dey speak same language o. Omo, laugh wan tear my belle.

Make dem conduct referendum make I see something.

spearman:


What type of logic runs the Igbo brain?
Ned Nwoko, one person says he is Igbo and as such all Anioma is Igbo. The very next person from that same clan sitting next to Nwoko will say he is not Igbo. What about the numerous other nationalities all intricately woven in amongst each other in Anioma, many whose language are not even remote;y Igbo. Les than 3% of the people of Anioma will claim Igbo otherwise you would have seen them opening threads to defend their heritage. No, instead everyone wants to get away from Yeebos.

Don’t mind the Mumu, they must attaché by force, Ned Nwoko said what? they are looking for people to keep oppressing.

OkwuEziokwu:
Bro, no need for these threads. The people know who they are.

Threads like this simply gets enemies aroused. They come in to spew hatred and division.

Na so one fulani pig for here been dey follow me argue sey my guy wey we be namesake for igbo we bn come from Rivers no be my brother. We dey speak same language o. Omo, laugh wan tear my belle.

Make dem conduct referendum make I see something.

They have run away from you oppressors, as far as possible, na una still they wan do attaché by force & cohesion.

I was shocked when I discovered the depth to how Ikwerre people detest igbos.

They would rather be slaves in a foreign land than remain with you people. Tufiakpa.

Buckeyemedia1:
They have run away from you oppressors, as far as possible, na una still they wan do attaché by force & cohesion.

I was shocked when I discovered the depth to how Ikwerre people detest igbos.

They would rather be slaves in a foreign land than remain with you people. Tufiakpa.

Mwuahhh.. chop kiss. Then argue with your blockos

The Anioma issue is a tricky one. Of the 4 quarters that make up Anioma, two, Aniocha and Oshimili, do not deny being Igbo. The king of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien, always celebrates being an Igbo man

The other two quarters gets hazy due to their edo influence. I have seen two Ukwuani men fight over the arguement of if they are Igbos or not.

In this type of situation, I always tell my fellow Igbos to embrace whoever calls you brother and leave the one who does not call you brother. Life is too short

Here we go again, attachment go attachment come.

007David:
The Anioma of Delta State cannot be denied their Igbo heritage because it is politically convenient to do so. Philip Elueme, an Abuja-based analyst, argues that the Anioma deserve to be given their due recognition as Igbo and should benefit if any of the major parties decides to give its presidential ticket to the Igbo man

There is no ethnic group called Anioma in Delta State.

StrongandMighty:


Shaa I know you don't have sense!

Ned nwoko from Anioma have told you guys several times that he's Igbo, he has appeared several times in BBC Igbo, speaks Igbo fluently and has never for once denied being Igbo ... Or have you ever seen someone from Anioma in Delta state denying he or she is not Igbo?

I don't even know what's wrong with some of you Yoruba guys; you guys will like to claim yoruba people outside southwest, but when Igbos does the same it'll become a national issue for you people even even when people from such places never denied being Igbo!

Like are you people mad or something?? The other day was one foolish yoruba guy saying people ohaji Egbema in Imo state are Ijaws like wtf?

There is no ethnic group called Anioma

LeoDeKing:
I agree.

Igalas of Kogi and Idoma of Benue are also igbos.

So can you now go drink water and wait for the next broadcast for lamidi kwanu?

IS THIS THING THAT THINKS HE’S HUMAN NOT ENOUGH NUISANCE ON THIS FORUM?
Imagine wanting to kill himself, I was even told that he has been Jobless and roaming the streets since he finished his OND from kwara poly 3 years ago and all his hopes rests on his cousin who wants to contest for councilorship election under apc, and the fact that his sister was impregnated and abandoned by an Ijaw boy from rivers state ( whom he ignorantly believe is Igbo) , because of this he wants to kill himself on nairaland politics and Igbo matter

Aniomas are Igbo with some Benin influences, it was one of their sons that led the Igbo coup which started the civil war.

spearman:


What type of logic runs the Igbo brain?
Ned Nwoko, one person says he is Igbo and as such all Anioma is Igbo. The very next person from that same clan sitting next to Nwoko will say he is not Igbo. What about the numerous other nationalities all intricately woven in amongst each other in Anioma, many whose language are not even remote;y Igbo. Les than 3% of the people of Anioma will claim Igbo otherwise you would have seen them opening threads to defend their heritage. No, instead everyone wants to get away from Yeebos.

Anioma they're not IGBO they're Hausa, Fulani, Tivi and Yoruba
I think you're now satisfied