…Aniocha and Oshimili Leaders Denounce “Historical Fallacy,” Demand Referendum on Anioma’s Regional Affiliation
The people of Aniocha and Oshimili under the banner of Njiko AniochaOshimili, the mouthpiece of the two localities, have strongly rejected the bill sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, proposing the creation of Anioma State as the sixth state in Nigeria’s South East geopolitical zone.
In a communiqué released after a strategic consultation, the group condemned the proposal as a misrepresentation of Anioma’s history, cultural heritage, and political identity, describing it as a betrayal of the vision of past Anioma leaders who championed the quest for statehood within the South South region.
According to the communiqué signed by the leadership of Njiko AniochaOshimili, Anioma’s administrative history has never been aligned with the South East. The statement recalled that the Anioma area was historically part of Benin and Delta Provinces, later becoming part of the Midwest Region, then Bendel State, and now Delta State, firmly anchoring its ties to the South South zone.
“Senator Ned Nwoko’s argument is founded on historical fallacy,” the group stated. “He ignores the 1989 resolution of Anioma Royal Fathers which emphatically declared: ‘Anioma is Anioma; Anioma is not Igbo.’ Our people constitute a syncretic cultural area of diverse origins Bini, Igara, Yoruba, and Igbo with a distinct identity that cannot be subsumed under any regional political convenience.”
The statement further emphasized that not all Anioma communities speak Igbo as their native language, underscoring the heterogeneity that defines the Anioma nation.
The communiqué referenced the position of the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty Prof. Epiphany Azinge, an erudite scholar and legal luminary, who alongside other Anioma traditional and opinion leaders from Offac, Onu Ika, and Ndokwa, has consistently advised against any attempt to affiliate Anioma with the South East.
“This disregard for the counsel of our revered traditional institutions amounts to a distortion of the very foundation upon which Anioma statehood was conceived, an independent, inclusive state within the South South,” the group noted.
Describing the proposed regional alignment as “a modern form of political slavery”, the Aniocha and Oshimili representatives accused proponents of the move of seeking to exploit Anioma’s economic viability to serve South Eastern political ambitions.
“During the Nigerian Civil War, Anioma people faced marginalisation despite our sacrifices. We will not walk that path again,” the communiqué warned.
“General Lucky Irabor, a proud Anioma son who is not of Igbo extraction, represents the diversity we celebrate. Our identity is not to be traded for political relevance.”
The group alleged that the proposed alignment is being driven by South Eastern interests seeking expanded population and territory for political leverage.
“They want your money, not your prosperity. Anioma people will not be traded as articles of appeasement to any region,” the group stated emphatically.
The communiqué urged all Anioma sons and daughters, as well as allied ethnic groups such as Ika and Ndokwa, to close ranks and reject the move. It further called for a referendum to determine Anioma’s rightful regional placement, should the controversy persist.
“We have written to the Presidency and the National Assembly to express our collective and unequivocal position, Anioma belongs to the South South geopolitical zone. Our history, culture, and administrative evolution affirm this reality.”
“Anioma is Anioma. We will not be auctioned for political ambition. Let every Anioma son and daughter stand firm in defense of our distinct identity, our history, and our rightful place in the South South.”
