The founder of Maka Odimma Igbo, Nze Kanayo Chukwumezie, Monday, said his support for the creation of Anioma State is based on the Igbo affiliation and devoid of sentiment.
Nze Chukwumezie, who spoke with NewsNGR in Enugu, said an additional state in the South East was not negotiable to make the region at par with other regions in the country. He was reacting to the several agitations for state creation in Nigeria following moves to amend the 1999 Constitution. He lamented that while other regions in Nigeria have six states, with North West having seven, South East has only five.
Quoting him, “The sixth state question in South East has been on for decades inthe Nigeria. As an individual, I prioritise bringing our Igbo brothers that are outside South East back to our fold. That should be our primary objective. We have Igbo people that were carved out of Igbo land after the civil war that ended in 1970. That of Anioma is to make Delta State creation possible.
“But generally the goal was to weaken Ndigbo, including to deny us access to waterways. Why can’t we think towards that direction? Creating Anioma is synonymous with re-integration. Some Igbo people are in Kogi, Benue, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River. Why can’t we be thinking in that direction? That is why I support the creation of Anioma State. That will expand us, and indeed deliver River Niger to South East. Even if the capital will be in Asaba, I don’t have issues so far it will be called a South-East state. If we bring in our Igbo brothers back to our fold, and they are happy, it will be as win-win situation.”
He called on other state agitators to support the creation of Anioma State, adding that an additional state in South East would not deny the region an additional state depending on the resolution of the Tinubu administration on the number of states to be created in each rejoin.
He said, “Let us stop being selfish that everybody wants a state. That is not in a good Igbo interest. If Anioma is created, we then consider the Igbos on the Benue and Kogi axis. Those around that axis will be carved out of Enugu State. If it is Akwa Ibom side, we cut some parts of Abia to be created, and bring our brothers back to where they belong.”
He said Ndigbo outside South East regoin still identify with their Igbo roots, hence efforts should be made to reclaim them to the region. “Igbos in Delta and Rivers states are all in Ohanaese Ndigbo. Can’t we make them South East? I will prefer Anioma to others for now while we hope for more states for the sake of equity. What is the need of a state when we are not expanding, and we have the opportunity for expansion? That is the direction I want us to be thinking towards.”
The Vice President, Isu Anioma Town Union, Abuja, and one-time President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Federal Capital Territory, High Chief Victor Okei, earlier told our correspondent that Anioma agitators were not against another state creation from both South-South and South-East regions of the country.
He said, “The ceding of the Aniomas to Delta State was for the sake of state creation. It was to make the creation of Delta State out of the old Bendel State possible. It was influenced by the late Nigerian First Lady, Maryam Babangida. That was how we fell into Delta to boost the number of LGAs in the state.”
According to him, the Aniomas are not homogenous with other ethnic nationalities in Delta.
Quoting him, “We and the Urhobos are not homogenous. We don’t have the same cultures. The ceding of the three LGAs in Delta North to Delta State is by nature, and did not involve moving anyone from one place to another. We migrated from Igalla in search of fulfilment, identity and independence. Those that speak Igbo in Delta want to be identified as Ndi Igbo. We have nothing to do in a state where we don’t have anything in common with others. We don’t speak the same language.”
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