The traditional ruler of Idumuje Unor in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty Obi Charles Chukwunweike Anyasi III, has declared that the people of Delta North Senatorial District, popularly known as Anioma, are Igbos.
Obi Anyasi III affirmed that Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents the district in the Senate, was correct in classifying Anioma people as part of the Igbo ethnic group.
Speaking on TVC’s special programme, ‘Behind the Headlines’, the monarch noted that while there may be claims of different ancestries, Aniomas are “statutorily Igbos.”
Reflecting on the origin of Anioma identity, the king, a veteran media professional turned monarch, credited Sir Dennis Osadebay with coining the name. He explained that “Anioma” (meaning ‘The Good Land’) was derived from an acronym: ‘A’ for Aniocha, ‘N’ for Ndokwa, ‘I’ for Ika, and ‘O’ for Oshimili, with the letters ‘M’ and ‘A’ added for poetic balance.
Describing the region, he said Anioma is naturally endowed, with a landmass of about 6,000 square kilometres and a population of around two million. According to him, its strength lies in a vibrant workforce, thriving industries, rich cultural heritage, and diverse flora and fauna.
Tracing the demand for Anioma statehood, the monarch recalled that it began in 1954 under the Lyttleton Constitution in London, which sought to promote regional autonomy in Nigeria. He said the agitation has passed through nine phases, with Osadebay spearheading the movement as its foremost advocate.
The monarch said, “The quest has been gathering great momentum since last year when Senator Ned Nwoko initiated a bill for the creation of Anioma State in the 10th Senate of the National Assembly”.
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Obi Anyasi III said that “agitation represents a natural desire you cannot take away from the people.”
On the divergence of views about which zone the proposed Anioma State should be placed, the first-class King said, “If you ask me as a person if I have a right of first refusal, I will say South-South, but with the current political dimension, it probably would not work well. The reported mindset of the President speaks of the need to balance the equation of the federal structure with the reality of five states in the southeast.
“When you bring food to the table, even in a local family setting, there are usually disagreements. Not everybody will agree to eat at the table. So if you are expecting that every Anioma person will say yes, that won’t be possible. There is a right to public opinion. But what I am saying is, if the current optics go for settlement in the South-East, and we see that we cannot change it, why don’t we accept it? That is the point.”
The monarch also addressed the potential benefits of Anioma and said it would yield greater opportunities.
He stated, “The dividends of democracy will come closer with the creation of Anioma State. We moved from the Midwest to Bendel and to where we are now. We shouldn’t fear the future. I believe that with all we have, we can seek self-determination for our state.
“The Delta State government is doing its best with the given resources. The state governor (Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori) is one of the best governors we have had. He is doing his best to ensure that development trickles down. But like I said, desire is inexhaustible.”
The Idumuje Unor traditional ruler, described by the moderator of the TVC programme, Nifemi Oguntoye, as a royal father who “embodies the cultural heritage and modern aspirations of Anioma people”, leads the debate that Anioma symbolizes not only a viable entity but a historical necessity to balance Nigeria’s geopolitical equation.
