₦airaland Forum

Senator Ned Nwoko has disclosed that some Indigenous Igbos in Edo State have expressed a strong desire to join the proposed Anioma State in a bid to reconnect with their cultural and ethnic kin in the Southeast. According to Nwoko, these communities reached out to him, seeking integration with their fellow Igbos in the new state. The push for inclusion in Anioma stems from the shared cultural history between the Igbos in Edo and those in the Southeast, dating back to pre-colonial times.

In response to this development, the outgoing governor of Edo State acknowledged the significant presence of Igbos in Edo, but raised concerns about the economic implications of their departure. The governor emphasized that the oil fields located within these Igbo-dominated communities play a critical role in sustaining Edo’s status as an oil-producing state.

“If they leave, it means we will lose our oil,” the governor reportedly said. “They should remain here with us in Edo State, as one can maintain their identity regardless of which state they belong to.”

This situation raises important questions about how Igbos are perceived across Nigeria. Why does it seem that Igbos, whose industriousness and resilience have become legendary, are viewed as assets that other tribes in Nigeria are reluctant to part with? Is it genuine admiration, or is it merely the resources in their communities, like the oil in Edo State, that make them so valuable?

It is equally troubling that despite their contributions to the state, many Igbos in Edo face challenges such as being denied certificates of state of origin unless they adopt Edo or Benin names. Why should names like Emeka, Chinedu, or Okechukwu be seen as unfit for recognition as part of the state’s identity? This discriminatory practice not only undermines the unity that Nigeria aspires to but also speaks to a deeper issue of ethnic marginalization.

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I will never understand how Igbanke ended up in Edo State when they should have been with their fellow Ika's in Delta state

gidgiddy:
I will never understand how Igbanke ended up in Edo State when they should have been with their fellow Ika's in Delta state

Igbanke and Ekpon

gidgiddy:
I will never understand how Igbanke ended up in Edo State when they should have been with their fellow Ika's in Delta state

The Igbankes are not complaining