The Zik, Osadebe proposal for Onitsha, Ogbaru to join Anioma state creation

By Nwankwo T. Nwaezeigwe

Amid the maleficent clamor to lump the proposed Anioma State together with the Southeast geopolitical zone by some Anioma political hirelings led by Senator Alhaji Ned Nwoko and his Southeast petty-minded mercenaries, the people of the Onitsha and Ogbaru subgroups represented by the three Local Government Areas of Ogbaru, Onitsha North and Onitsha South have resubmitted their age-long request to join their kith and kin west of Niger either as part of the proposed Anioma State or the present Delta State through boundary adjustment. 

According to their latest submission, they averred that they have more in common historically, politically and culturally with their kith and kin in the present Delta State and thus should be considered part of the South-South geopolitical zone and, not Southeast. Indeed, for them being part of the Southeast puts them in the difficult position of being treated as strangers in their own land. 

Additionally, they have held several consultative meetings with both political and traditional leaders of the present Anioma subgroup across the Niger who affirmed their willingness to welcome them into their fold. In other words, what is before us currently is not about Anioma State being part of Southeast, but part of Southeast joining the South-South geopolitical zone. This is the position of one hundred percent of indigenous Ogbaru and Onitsha people.

It should be recalled that in 1994, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Dennis Osadebe, Chief Ukpabi Asika and Chief Philip C. Asiodu jointly signed a petition to the Chairman of Committee on Creation of States and Local Governments at The National Constitutional Conference, demanding for the creation of Anioma State based on common historical, cultural, political and linguistic commonalities.

“The letter which was written on their behalf by Chief (Prof) A. N. A. Modebe, the Ogene Onira of Onitsha and dated 12th August 1994, states inter alia:

Dear Mr. Chairman,

In the quest for a more perfect Union to our Federal Republic, permit us to resubmit, for the consideration of your Committee, the National Constitutional Conference and the Federal Military Government, a formal request for the CREATION OF ANIOMA STATE.

This request which was made in our individual and collective capacities as concerned citizens of the Anioma State Area, and with, the strong support of our Royal Fathers, the Traditional Rulers of the Area, was placed before the Federal Military Government. And we firmly believe that it commanded a serious consideration, its actualization being delayed by the ensuing political crisis in the country.

As part of the fulfillment of the Transitional Programme of the Federal Military Government, and in its search for a durable way forward for our country, on behalf of the National Constitutional Conference, been assigned the duty and responsibility of helping to create a democratic polity in which no group of people feels threatened or is oppressed.

The signatories to this petition, viz:

CHIEF THE RT. HON. DR. NNAMDI AZIKIWE, P. C.

THE OWELLE-OSOWA OF ONITSHA

CHIEF THE RT. HON. DR. DENNIS OSADEBE

THE OJIBA OF ASABA

CHIEF DR. UKPABI ASIKA

THE AJIE-UKADIUGWU OF ONITSHA

CHIEF PHILIP C. ASIODU

THE IZOMA OF ASABA”

The above petition signed by our homines potestatis politicae et sapientiae clearly puts Senator Ned Nwoko’s claim of initiator of the quest for Anioma State on the roguish baseline of Anioma political history. In other words, what should concern every Anioma patriot right now should be how to facilitate the political exit of Ogbaru and Onitsha people from the present Anambra State and join their kith and kin in Delta State, South-South. 

Indeed, there is no doubting the fact that the people of Onitsha and Ogbaru Local Government Areas of the present Anambra State are political aliens in their own land, politically, culturally, historically, linguistically and socially. For instance, like the case of Anioma people of Delta and Edo State, you will never see any indigene of Onitsha or Ogbaru associated with the roguish title of Eze Ndigbo in a foreign land. They know, they respect and, they appreciate the value and dignity of their time-honored and time-tested customs and tradition like their Anioma kinsmen west of the Niger.

There is also high standard of respect to constituted traditional authority among the people of Onitsha and Ogbaru as in the case of Anioma people of Delta State. In none of these two groups does the Church leadership, whether Catholic or Anglican, dictate the course of the people’s customs and tradition. Equally remarkable is the fact that none among these people—Onitsha and Ogbaru, as in the case of Anioma people of Delta State, is the President General of the Town Development Union treated as superior to the traditional ruler of the town. 

We also noticed a situation where the five Southeast State Governors gathered at Enugu and unilaterally appointed a President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo. The present Governor of Delta State who is Urhobo cannot attempt such with Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU); not even Ifeanyi Okowa could have tried such for Anioma people as Governor. Every Government institution in Delta State operates within the limits of its constitutional and traditional roles and powers.

Indeed, as far as Anioma people are concerned, Ohaneze Ndigbo is only the political instrument of the Southeast, which does not pursue their collective interests. This clearly explains why no Anioma indigene of repute associates with Ohaneze Ndigbo since the exit of such Anioma icons as Chief Ralph Uwechua, Col Joseph Achuzia and Obi Openpe Nwaka. 

So, there are many characteristic differences between Anioma people and their Southeast kinsmen that make their joint political association unworkable. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Dennis Osadebe, Chief Ukpabi Asika and Chief Philip Asiodu saw these differences; hence their petition for an Anioma State that will include Onitsha and Ogbaru people of the present Anambra State.

Dr. Nwankwo T. Nwaezeigwe, PhD, the Odogwu of Ibusa; Nigerian activist, critic and commentator leaves in exile