The United Igbo Elders Council Worldwide (UNIEC) has said that the creation of the proposed Anioma state will foster unity among the Igbo nationalities.
The group observed that although there were agitations for the creation of additional states in Igboland, the proposed Anioma state deserves priority attention for equal distribution.
The group’s National Director of Media and Publicity, Prof Obasi Igwe, stated this while fielding questions from Journalists to clarify UNIEC’s invitation to participate in the Senate Committee public hearing on state creation and Constitution Review in Enugu. According to him, “UNIEC is a non-sectarian, non-denominational and non-profit-making organization of Igbo Elders that promotes Igbo objectives in the context of a united and just Nigeria.
“Therefore, there would be a Senate committee gathering on the creation of states tomorrow. We were brought in by Senator Ned Nwoko in connection with the creation of the proposed Anioma state. But there are many agitations for states creation in Igboland; and so, the objective of the United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC), is to concur or say yes.
“The Igbo Nation needs as many states as possible and we are not against any state creation. However, Anioma is our priority in order to provide them with the the same footing for self-determination with the present Delta State, where they are discriminated against by other ethnic nationalities such as the Urhobo, the Itsekiri and the Ijaw. So, we are not against any other state in the South-East or in the South-South that’s non-Igbo. We are only saying the priority or equalization state should be Anioma state.”
He added that apart from unity, the creation of Anioma state is capable of ‘liberating’ the Igbos in Delta State from undue marginalization of other ethnic nationalities and also engender development in the area.
According to him, “The creation of Anioma state will free the Igbo-speaking people in Delta State from the antagonism of other ethnic nationalities there. Two, the creation of Anioma state is for the benefit of the remaining parts of Delta State because they would be fewer in number and greater in proportion of the attention, they will get outside Anioma people, and then Warri will be in a position to be their capital city. Which means for the present Delta State, Anioma state will bring greater development and two capital cities in the same state; Asaba and Warri possibly.”
“Therefore, it’s a win-win for both sides. So, any Delta or Igbo person opposing the creation of Anioma state as a priority state is thinking in the interest of himself and not that of the Igbo Nation.
“All the other states in Igboland are important, but we are simply saying which state should come first. And remember we are anticipating restructuring in future. And this restructuring will be on the basis of ethic nationalities or group in some ethnic nationalities. The creation of Anioma state will be significant in the Igbo unity in that direction. Since the Igbos are consistently uniting by rotating the Ohanaeze presidency to Rivers State, this is another significant step Igbo people will be making towards that unity. This is the basis of the involvement of the United Igbo Elders Council Worldwide.
“Of course there would be rancour. But the question would be: is the rancour objective or not objective? Often times people become rancorous over things they do not understand. There are several other proposals for the creation of states in Igboland; but it’s important that those who are opposed to this should rethink and know that what we are after is the survival of the Igbo Nation in Nigeria and not the survival of South-East. South-East and Igbo Nation are not synonymous.
“Therefore, the Igbos have to be brought together because we don’t know tomorrow. They might be a plebiscite or referendum on the nature of Nigeria’s federalism. So, people who are together and coherent will be better positioned to advance their cause within arrangement.
“The best state to be created in Igboland is the state that will advance that unity consistent with the rotation of Ohanaeze President-General to Rivers State; an Ikwerre man, John Mbata. So, there will be rancour. But is it rational and reasonable or not?”
He lauded the Senator representing Delta North Constituency, Sen. Ned Nwoko, for championing the creation of the proposed state, adding he meant well for the Igbo nation.
“By the way, there ought not to be rancour if people are enlightened. The Igbos should unite behind His Excellency, Sen. Ned Nwoko for the creation of Anioma state as priority state among the Igbo people. If we get this, it means we have gotten six states in the South-East, and it also means we have gotten Rivers State because Rivers is substantially Igbo. The PG of Ohanaeze in River State makes a lot of meaning. Why? This is a state towards the Igbo unity, and we can’t afford to fold our hands to position the Igbo when Nigeria plans to restructure in terms of ethnic nationalities.”
