From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Non-secterian and non-denominational group, the United Igbo Elders Council Worldwide (UNIEC) has said 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 deserved priority attention for equalization sake.
The group’s National Director of Media and Publicity, Prof Obasi Igwe, in a press statement from the organization and endorsed by him noted that UNIEC was duely invited to participate in the Senate Committee public hearing on State creation and Constitution Review held in Enugu recently.
According to him, “UNIEC is a non-secterian, 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 many states as possible and there’s no state creation move that we are against. However, as priority the number to be created is Anioma in order to provide them with the footing for self-determination in 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 Igbo-No. We are only saying the priority or equalization State should be Anioma state.”
Aside from unity, he added the creation of Anioma State was capable of ‘liberating’ the Igbos in Delta State from undue entanglements of other ethnic nationalities and engender development in the area.
He pointed out that, “the creation of Anioma State will free the Igbo-speaking people in Delta State from the antagonism of other ethnic nationalities there.
“Secondly, the creation of Anioma State is to 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 minus the 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 — restructuring on the basis of ethic nationalities or group in some ethnic nationalities. So creating Anioma state will be a significant state 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 did 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 think backward 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 district, Sen. Ned Nwoko, for championing the creation of the proposed stage, 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 being from 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” he insisted.
