MEET FRANK OSHANUGOR
By Samuel Ashimedua Nwabuoku
To put it quietly, as a bystander to the current Anioma scandal, I have been following the arguments and rebuttals regarding our Distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko’s Bill for the creation of Anioma State and its consequent location in the Southeast geopolitical zone.
Though both sides are holding strong positions, I have been enjoying the discussions from every viewpoint, and one thing is certain: Both sides agree on one aspect of the argument, which is that they want an Anioma State, but they disagree about the proposed state’s geopolitical zone. From the camp of Prince Ned Nwoko, we have constantly been inundated with the reasons why Anioma must be located in the Southeast based on the similarity of culture and political benefits.
Unlike the above school of thought, the opposition to the state’s construction in the Southeast seems more rational and grounded in reason based on historical perspectives, uniqueness in identity and sensibilities of Anioma multi-sub-ethnic groups and their distinct cultural backgrounds, migrations and ancestry as well as security concerns in the Southeast geopolitical zone in which the inhabitants are compelled to sit at home on Mondays with violence perpetuated on people who dare go about their normal businesses. Also worthy of note is that most of these voices are not from political backgrounds and colorations.
The Ndokwa Neku, representing the interest of the Ndokwa/Ukwuani made their intentions known as soon as the proposal to move our people to the Southeast was disclosed, publishing their stance in multiple periodicals, including the Sahara Reporters. The people’s apex socio-political organization favours Anioma State in the South-South or a continued stay in the present Delta State.
Additionally, Onu Ika, the Ika mouthpiece group, Owa Progressives and Ikoro Agbor flatly refused to accept the Southeast as a homestead, preferring the South-South.
The most profound perspective comes from Dr. Ntony Nwaezeigwe who has written about four thoughtful essays that inform the public of the real situation. A more insightful criticism of the episode as a “political stunt” came from Arch Kester Ifeadi, the President of the Organization For the Advancement of Anioma Culture the largest platform for the projection of Anioma identity in Delta State and the culture umbrella of the Anioma people also condemned the Southeast idea requesting for further consultations.
Prof. Godwin Darah is another academic who also cautioned on the need for Anioma to be situated in the South-South.
As of now, we have heard from HRM Obi Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, the Obi of Owa, who counseled on a wide range of consultations to save the day.
Obi (Engr) Nduka of Issele-Uku Kingdom has recently added his voice to the growing list of dissent as well as many others, warning that Anioma should suitably remain in the South-South but regrettably most of these voices have often received verbal abuses and insults from the Senator’s media handlers thereby threatening to severely divide and rip Anioma into pieces which even neutral Anioma people have also started to complain about. Dr. Nwaezeigwe termed the public abuse of the Issele-Uku monarch, “sacrilege.”
The irony is that the people of Southeast are also competing with Ned Nwoko’s interest, pushing their own agitation forward and three have equally passed through the Senate’s first reading.
On July 3, 2024, Hon Amobi Ogah, the representative of the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Constituency, discussed a proposed bill to create Etiti State in the southeast geopolitical zone and termed Anioma State agitation a distraction. He said that what was important was to balance the southeast with a sixth state from within the region then Anioma can be contemplated in future as the region’s seventh state.
I have been thinking in my studied silence about how it is possible to overlook well-known voices from individuals and organizations. It appears that the distinguished senator is rather determined to pursue this agenda against all odds. My conclusion like those of many others, is that there is no road in Anioma in the Southeast.
Deacon Samuel Ashimedua Nwabuoku, is a Journalist
