Anioma is My Ethnic-nationality not Igbo

<h1>Anioma is My Ethnic-nationality not Igbo</h1>Author: <a title="Emeka Esogbue" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/emeka-esogbue/41281.htm">Emeka Esogbue</a> Until we the Anioma People recognize the incontrovertible fact that we are indivisible group of people with one destiny concentrated in Delta and Edo States (Igbankes) we may continue to wallow in ignorance and ultimately end up giving our victory to our opponents or still, end up as what Prof. Ola Rotimi, the late Literary Guru called “A Butterfly that thinks himself a Bird”. In the instance, our opponents are the Igbos (of the South-East) If oral history in its own usual business continue to claim that some of us originated from the Igbos are we still Igbos? We have our own distinctiveness whether cultural and linguistic unique to us. We are united in Anioma and on “Enu-Ani we stand.

At least we have a place in the 250 ethnicities in Nigeria. We are today Aniomas and not Igbos. We have this sense of belonging because we know we have our own place in this Nation that place we shall move on to take with Renewed vigour.

If the Igbos see us as “Delta Igbos” the same way we were seen as “Bendel Igbos” in the past how do we see ourselves? We do not even need history in assisting us know that the Igbos are largely failures in the theatre of Nigerian politics for the reason we cannot rely on them rather we must understand the simple truth that an individual in this Land cannot belong to two different ethnic nationalities. We cannot be Aniomas and at the same time Igbos. Anioma is our own and our home. We have been deceived for too long by the Igbos.

Ohaneze will do us no good or can anybody pointedly tell me what we have achieved from this organization over the years? Instead we await Ohaneze to help us actualize the creation of Anioma state,the oldest state in agitation in Nigeria. If Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu led panel for the creation of additional state in the Igbo land could conclude that the creation of Anioma sate would mean an additional state for the people of south-south geo-political zone then the Aniomas are on their own and cannot count on the Igbos.

If the Governor of Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim has declared the readiness of the governor and people of the state to give necessary backing to the growing call for the creation of Njaba state from the present Imo and Anambra states (see the Punch newspaper, Monday, March 31 2008) We have no place amongst the people of Imo sate.

Is the proposed Njaba state more viable economically than Anioma? It is sad that 48 years after the independence of Nigeria, the Igbos have not yet familiarized themselves with the gimmicks of political competitions in Nigeria such that we begin to wonder if the politicians from this geo-political zone ever consult their Academics, Historians and other political scientists before formulating their “wash-wash” policies.

It is equally very wonderful that the Igbos would prefer to remain as they presently or even shrink in the name for the purpose of creating one additional state for the zone rather than extend and claim their either lost Anioma or Rivers state group. How unimaginable it would appear for the Igbos to carve out one more tiny state out of any of the present existing tiny states of the east.

The Anioma ethnicity has in the past sacrificed quite a lot for the Igbos but our rewards remain nothing but denial for separate existence or even to join them as our believed kiths and kin. During the civil war, almost all the Biafrian commanders were Aniomas. Even the Biafrians invaded the Mid-western region which at that time included the Aniomas. Series of massacres were also carried out in Asaba, Ogwashi-uku, Ibusa and other towns and villages though by the federal troops all of these we had to suffer for the Igbos.

Today, the Igbos would look the Aniomas in the eyes and boldly tell us they the prefer the creation of any out of mushroom names and not states of Urashi, Orlu, Njaba and other villages.

I hope the Aniomas have leant a lesson at least we now know we never for once belonged to the Igbos and that the Igbos do not see us as one of their own. We have discovered our root since 1951 and this can be found in Anioma. We have no inheritance in Ohaneze Ndigbo. The earlier we seek our own ethno-national umbrella the better for us.

Anioma “Ofu-obi kanyi jie je!

About the Author: Emeka Esogbue hails from Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria. He is is a History and International Relations graduate with lots of tremendous works. 
 
<a href="mailto:emekaesogbue@yahoo.com">emekaesogbue@yahoo.com</a>Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/anioma-is-my-ethnicnationality-not-igbo-391212.html" title="Anioma is My Ethnic-nationality not Igbo">Anioma is My Ethnic-nationality not Igbo</a>

Until we the Anioma People recognize the incontrovertible fact that we are indivisible group of people with one destiny concentrated in Delta and Edo States (Igbankes) we may continue to wallow in ignorance and ultimately end up giving our victory to our opponents or still, end up as what Prof. Ola Rotimi, the late Literary Guru called “A Butterfly that thinks himself a Bird”. In the instance, our opponents are the Igbos (of the South-East) If oral history in its own usual business continue to claim that some of us originated from the Igbos are we still Igbos? We have our own distinctiveness whether cultural and linguistic unique to us. We are united in Anioma and on “Enu-Ani we stand.

At least we have a place in the 250 ethnicities in Nigeria. We are today Aniomas and not Igbos. We have this sense of belonging because we know we have our own place in this Nation that place we shall move on to take with Renewed vigour.

If the Igbos see us as “Delta Igbos” the same way we were seen as “Bendel Igbos” in the past how do we see ourselves? We do not even need history in assisting us know that the Igbos are largely failures in the theatre of Nigerian politics for the reason we cannot rely on them rather we must understand the simple truth that an individual in this Land cannot belong to two different ethnic nationalities. We cannot be Aniomas and at the same time Igbos. Anioma is our own and our home. We have been deceived for too long by the Igbos.

Ohaneze will do us no good or can anybody pointedly tell me what we have achieved from this organization over the years? Instead we await Ohaneze to help us actualize the creation of Anioma state,the oldest state in agitation in Nigeria. If Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu led panel for the creation of additional state in the Igbo land could conclude that the creation of Anioma sate would mean an additional state for the people of south-south geo-political zone then the Aniomas are on their own and cannot count on the Igbos.

If the Governor of Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim has declared the readiness of the governor and people of the state to give necessary backing to the growing call for the creation of Njaba state from the present Imo and Anambra states (see the Punch newspaper, Monday, March 31 2008) We have no place amongst the people of Imo sate.

Is the proposed Njaba state more viable economically than Anioma? It is sad that 48 years after the independence of Nigeria, the Igbos have not yet familiarized themselves with the gimmicks of political competitions in Nigeria such that we begin to wonder if the politicians from this geo-political zone ever consult their Academics, Historians and other political scientists before formulating their “wash-wash” policies.

It is equally very wonderful that the Igbos would prefer to remain as they presently or even shrink in the name for the purpose of creating one additional state for the zone rather than extend and claim their either lost Anioma or Rivers state group. How unimaginable it would appear for the Igbos to carve out one more tiny state out of any of the present existing tiny states of the east.

The Anioma ethnicity has in the past sacrificed quite a lot for the Igbos but our rewards remain nothing but denial for separate existence or even to join them as our believed kiths and kin. During the civil war, almost all the Biafrian commanders were Aniomas. Even the Biafrians invaded the Mid-western region which at that time included the Aniomas. Series of massacres were also carried out in Asaba, Ogwashi-uku, Ibusa and other towns and villages though by the federal troops all of these we had to suffer for the Igbos.

Today, the Igbos would look the Aniomas in the eyes and boldly tell us they the prefer the creation of any out of mushroom names and not states of Urashi, Orlu, Njaba and other villages.

I hope the Aniomas have leant a lesson at least we now know we never for once belonged to the Igbos and that the Igbos do not see us as one of their own. We have discovered our root since 1951 and this can be found in Anioma. We have no inheritance in Ohaneze Ndigbo. The earlier we seek our own ethno-national umbrella the better for us.

Anioma “Ofu-obi kanyi jie je!

Emeka Esogbue hails from Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria. He is is a History and International Relations graduate with lots of tremendous works.

emekaesogbue@yahoo.com

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Article Tags: Delta State, Asaba, Ibusa, Anioma, Igbo, 250 Ethnic-groups In Nigeria, Ibo, Ohaneze, State Creation In Nigeria, Histroy Of The Aniomas

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1. cheta ojukwu (20:47, 29.07.2008)

it seems you are a half-baked historian, or have you not read the history of igbo people from E. Isichei who is from your part of igboland. Please tell your children the truth now not lies. The yoruba's in northern Nigeria are still called yoruba even the ones in Benin republic

2. Victor Ozorka (19:20, 22.05.2008)

He Chineke Umu Israel! Look at a butterfly calling itself a bird...You are not 'anu enu neither are you 'anu ani'? Your mates are trying to shrink off the divisive barriers that the Nigerian state had used to weld all the Ibos apart and here you are wallowing in ignorance, calling yourself 'Anioma'. I met an Agbor person in Germany and she told me she is Deltan. As if Delta is a tribal/ethnic group!

You claim that the Isu your ancestors were supposed to come from has gone out of existence but go to Anambra/Imo states and you will see the Isu. You are only speaking out of your heart because you feel hurt that the 'Igbos' denied you a separate state.. Are the Ibos the Nigeria stae..or the Government of Nigeria? Come to think of it the Igbos themselves are still busy trying to survive in the Nigerian state the way tings are now.

It all started after the war when Ibos on the other side of the Niger divide were taken in by the scheming Nigerian state by being excised into a so called Bendel state in order to wittle down Ibos! And those Ibos started calling themselves Ika Ibo/Bendel Ibo/ Ibusa instead of Igbuzo{Ibuzo)/ Kwale Instead of Ukwuani etc, just like the Ibos of the then newly created Rivers state.the Iwerres and the Etches, Ahoadas. But water always finds its level my brother, eventually!

Of what ethnic group were Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and the others? Is it not because of their purposed good quest to salvage Nigeria that the Igbos are suffering today..and also what caused the war?

To me you are making a big mistake as you will (mind my words) one day want to wish you never said all you said here. And that is when all these walls erected by the British colonialists and the Nigerian Hausa Fulani Oligarchy falls down flat in the form of the Nigerian state falling into pieces. As I have been shown so talk I. The Igbos and the Yorubas will one day decide in a referendum to go their separate ways fro Nigeria and then we'll see!!

And who asked you whether yo were Ibo or Anioma or anu-enu or anu ani? You are the one fighting with your self. Remember Eze C.C Nwuche of Rivers State coming to declare that they the Rivers Igbo are Igbos/Ibos as well when Ekwueme nearly became the President of Nigeria, which would hasve happened if not for the resolve of the Hausa-Fulani oligarchy not to allow an Ibo man ever become rule Nigeria. He even started participating in Ibo meetings! I mean Chibudom Nwuches father. The former deputy speaker of the Nigerian house of Assembly.

You claim you are a better politicians than those you call Igbos and here you are doing the same thing you accuse all of them of even though it is some of them that you have heard their views.

I just stumbled in here and when I saw what you wrote I was disgusted I nearly threw up. As I conclude this, I still have a wrenching knot in the pit of my stomach! Change your ways Emeka my brother or change your name, ka ofe roro aro zuoro anyi nri. I know you understand me very well.

By your write up here the aims of those that set us apart in the first place and are still keeping us apart are being achieved.

NB- And you mentioned the invasion of the wester region. Was in not enroute Lagos which was the then Nigerian Headquarters and which nearly succeeded. It is like someone saying the Ibos invaded Yorubaland forgetting that it was an attack then against the Nigerian government in war and not against the Yoruba per se. If you want to say something say the whole truth and not half the truth.

But anyway you can call yourself whatever you want to.. but that doesn't change you from what you really are! An Igbo/Ibo through and through!

3. uzzo ngene (19:18, 17.05.2008)

Mr Emeka; you have spoken well, but the thing's that no body is an Igbo, it's the language you speaks they referred to, as Igbo. for example I held from Enugu State and we were going through the same thing you were witnessing over there. is it now healthy for me to declare my home town as another tribe inside Enugu State, from these part of Igbo people? but instead of you creating another tribe from Igbo, why not use the same power to creat a State for own people within Igbo?

4. Peter Iwuchukwu (15:16, 30.07.2008)

I am from Obiangwu, Imo state a full blown Igbo man but I feel bad that whenever the policies or may I say politics of people is being crictised we the Igbos make alot of noise about it without anyone caring to know why we are having problems. This is why we may never find solution to our Igbo problem.

Today we have problems created by our Igbo leaders who have refused to move us forward. Can any one of us tell us what Nnamdi Azikiwe did for the Igbos especially as in when we talk about Awo?

We need to learn and ask ourselves one vital question. WHY DO IGBO FROM OUTSIDE THE EASTERN REGION KEEP DENYING US?

Something must be wrong with us indeed. Rather than make noise about it we need to go back to our drawing and boards re-strategise. Surely there is something wrong with the Igbo in general.

After all, when an ethnic-group is good other groups want to identify with it. I am not a historian but I know from the little Igbo I have read that every tribe today sees Egypt and Israel as their original home land because the place is doing well.

Anioma people and other Igbo from Rivers are Igbos. We need to put our house together and make them feel as one. we all all brothers.

5. john emeka (13:31, 11.10.2008)

You should understand that he that point his fathers house with left hand is nothing but fool, and you should stop dissvining your people by not been specific in your comments, you see your brother and called him Nwaonye Igbo, what do you expect him to call you? you have already denial him as your brother and after you will expect him to come to help in time of need and if he did not you say that the igbos did not recorganise us.

The Igbos recorganise the Aniomas but most of the Aniomas do not think of their origini and some of them follow up people explanation not cultural and enviromental explanation,

They forget what is called community, people with the same living,language, background and doing things,THAT THEY HAVE 85% TO 95% of the same with their brothers accros Niger in East than any other they can think of and truly this is not by human error but God way

Anioma what does it mean? Good Land in Igbo Language, igbos dies because of this people all the time in Northern Nigeria, if any thing happened to Chukwuma all the igbos will fight and defend him with thinking is he Agbor or Benin as they claim to be, tomorrow he will called you Nwaonye Igbo, (Igbo Person)you people should exmine yourself before coming for Anioma State Issue if you truly want to come back to your origini? or still want to be bart (usu na abughi anu enu ma obughi kwa anu ani)

6. steve paul (13:08, 22.07.2008)

language make and unify an ethnic group,as long as ibo language is mother tounge,it does not matter the dialect in it,you are regarded as full fledge ibo by blood,we should not deceive ourselves,all scandinavia speaks one language with dialectical differences,it does not mean to them that they are not one,once you touch one the one will come defensively,so try to understand.

7. 7 (11:04, 08.11.2008)

its so sad that in our present day some people still taking us for granted. The Igbo's cant force us to be part of them cos we know better. And the reason all the negative comments are pouring in its simply because igbo don't believe in themselves. We Anioma's (Deltan's) We are self confident. The igbo's should wake up and smell the cofee..gone are those days when ppl call us all kinds of names..Bendel lites,Bendel igbos,delta igbos..etc..We know who we are and its time we defined ourselves.so hate it or love it, there is no going back we are and will always be Anioma's

8. henry obi (11:00, 28.10.2008)

When we in Anioma say we are not igbos, it is simply disowning igboness.It does not destroy the fact of history of our origin, which in any case is still very much oral.If any bloody referendum occur in the nigerian state, the Aniomas will never go the ibo way.The fact of emerging from isu cannot perpetuate the igboness in us.Today we are a distinct people, with a distinct culture, a distinct poetry, a distinct art, a distinct location. A distinct people! But more importantly a zeal for self-assertion. What is the matter with the ibos? a basterdising hegemony? Crooked expansionist tendencies? Bullshit! You are simply looking to perpetuate your deceit, an all-serving ego of geographic stupidity.Ohaneze my foot.It is tolerable to be cheated by a stranger than someone who go by the name of brother.

Eso i thank you.In you i see a fresh assertiveness bodering on intellectuality.I am not surprised by all these cataract of responses from expansionist idigbos.They are serving their own interest.What do you expect? But you are serving our interest.They are all obviously angry because we are waking up to the realisation of their marginaliation...

Finally, Ibuzor does not mean 'ibos that live on the way". It means " Are we the first?".I have noticed that the first interprettaion serves the ibo interest best.In that name is both the derision and the hunger for expansion.Cheats!!!

9. ohaigiri (09:21, 28.06.2008)

Mr Emeka Esogbue,one would have thought that an educated igbo man like you,would have not be talking nonesense simply because you wanted to be noticed.İt is a petty if you can not and as old as you are can not understand the politics of divide and rule.Well i am igbo man too,one thing you fail to understand is '' İGBO'' is not a town but a language of people,(e.g) i am from Akokwa and i will not be stupid to say that i am from Akokwa nationality.The Tribe you are foolishly trying to distance yourself from is the tribe of your forefathers and this trbe have been existing before Abraham so nomatter what you do you can not run away from it you are İGBO,just like me and any other people from agbor to igwe ocha.
Some people in Rivers state said that they are not igbo,still they answer names like EZE,CHİBUİKE,NWUCHE,AMADİ etc.whose names are this?.some people forced them to change the name of their towns to distance themselves from their brothers,that is why you see something like ( oyigbo,rumuokoro,rumuomuma and etc. and why they don't put that R before their names?Mr.Emeka, this your write up is expected from a fool or illitrate,if you are not igbo man today tomorrow you will also say that you are not from ibusa.About Anioma state,if you can see beyond hatred, igbo, which is you and me don't need Anioma state because Asaba is capital, the whole events in delta state happend at our soil ASABA and portharcourt,if you create Anioma it mean that you are making our influence smaller not bigger as you have claimed.

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