Anioma Evolved from Different Histories of Origin- Historian Emeka Esogbue

In a well arranged interview at Festac in Lagos, historic Anioma issues were x-rayed by an ingenious historian, journalist, writer and Anioma activist, Elder Emeka Esogbue. He told Anioma Trust, Patrick Ochei how the name, Anioma evolved, the docility exhibited by Anioma elders in pursuing the agitation for Anioma State, the Umu Anioma agenda and other sundry Anioma issues, including the erroneous ceding of Igbanke to Edo State. Here are the excerpts!

Anioma: How do we meet you sir?

Esogbue: My name is Emeka Esogbue and I am from Ibusa, Oshimili North LGA, Delta State. I am a historian, a journalist and a writer. My parents are of course from Ibusa-Patrick Chukwudumebi and Nwasiwe Esogbue but they are now late. I think I am better known as an Anioma activist.

Anioma:As a historian, can you tell us how Anioma evolved as a nation?

Esogbue: Well, first and foremost the Aniomas are duly referred to nowadays as a people within the Delta region. They are a group of communities that have heterogeneous histories of origin. The major towns of Anioma are Asaba, Ibusa, Issele-Uku, Okpanam, Agbor, Obiarukwu, Kwale and the rest of them. It is important to known that Anioma people have different histories of origins unlike what is popularly concluded of them. For example, Ibusa have principal founders in Umejei who was said to have hailed from Isu-that particular Isu we have lost. And we also have Edini who was from Nri. We have Anyalobum, also another founder of Ibusa. So like I said, Ibusa can trace their origin to Igboland. We still have a number of them like Agbor-Agbor that traces its origin to Benin, that is well known in history and it is not contestable. We also have Otolokpo, another community in Anioma that traces its origin to Benin. They have seven villages which are Alugba and others. Otolokpo was founded by migrants from Ute-Ogbeje. We also have Abor-Aboh was founded by migrants from Benin led by Prince Obazuma. We have quite a number of them. And we have this community in Anioma called Ugbodu; Ugbodu people trace people trace their origin to Owo in present Ondo State. You could see how unique they are. We have Ebu-Ebu a kind of community in Anioma that traces its origin to Igala. So you see from what I have said that Anioma has different origins, unlike what people tell us. Some certain historians who are in error often make us to believe that since we are called Anioma, that we are collectively Igbos. That is wrong historically! It is wrong because Anioma was merely a coinage used perhaps around 1951 by Chief Dennis Osadebay. The initial “A” stands for Aniocha, the “N” stands for Ndokwa, “I” for Ika then “O” for Ohimili. So it is a confederation of about four local governments that existed at that time. It is from the names of these four local governments that the name Anioma was put together, basically it was a coinage made by Chief Dennis Osadebay, and then you have this “Oma”-Oma in Igbo language means something good. And if added to it, it gives it meaning. So, that is where the name Anioma is derived from. So basically, Anioma has series of communities that derive their origin from different ethnic groups like Igbo, Bini, Igala, Ishan, urhobo, Yoruba and so on and so forth. But today basically, they are seen as an ethnic group quite independent like any other existing group in Nigeria.

Anioma: If I may ask, what informed your signing up as a member of the Umu Anioma Foundation

Esogbue: Well, you know that Umu Anioma Foundation is an apex socio-cultural organization of the Anioma people. You know over the time I have come to discover that the region called Anioma is not really developed. And if you want to look at it basically you will discover that our leaders in the past were very docile. That docility arose from the fact that they were inclined to accept whatever came their way, and it is for that reason that Anioma has become under-developed. By habit we seem to often accept what comes our way, which is quite strange to me. I look at it as strange because within the Nigerian polity, you will get nothing if you don’t fight for it. Basically, the Umu Anioma Foundation was founded to see to the development of the Anioma region. It is my propensity to agitate for the betterment of my people, the people of Anioma. That is why I am a prominent member of Umu Anioma Foundation.

Anioma: So what have you done as a historian to enlighten the Anioma people about their origin?

Esogbue: Well, you will agree with me that my write-up is everywhere. I have done a number of works to enlighten the people to let them know that after the sweeping conclusion made by the British, we still have an identity. You know when the British came; they were the people that made the world to see us as a people attached to an ethnic group without doing an in-depth study of what our history of origin was. You don’t just conclude that the people belong to one ethnic group or the other without doing an in-depths study of who they were. The best way to study the history of the people is to look into their crown, their folktales, folklores, songs, their culture and whatever. So in my write-ups, I believe I have enlightened the people and I am carrying them on. I have been attending series of workshops where I make our people to understand that we must fight for ourselves, that we have a place to maintain. At the moment I am doing a book and the title of that book is “Anioma: The people on the other side of the Niger”. When it is published, it will enlighten the people more on who we are.

Anioma: Some Anioma people are agitating for the creation of Anioma State while some are clamouring for governorship of Delta State in 2015. What is your take on these emerging issues?

Esogbue: We are in the right direction. The agitation for Anioma State is long over-due. The agitation for Anioma is older than Nigeria as a polity, the agitation began as a recognition as a minority within the Nigerian polity, that if nothing was done to protect us definitely we would witness what we are witnessing today-the agitation for a separate state. And you will agree with me that that led to the catalogue of the Willinks Commission to take care of our rights. So what I can say is that the agitation of Anioma is quite older than the Nigerian polity. If you look at the proposed Anioma State, it is quite viable. It is viable by mineral resources, viable by human resources and so it is something that must be given to us, that agitation is due. And talking about Delta State and its governorship, you will agree with me that since creation of Delta State in 1991, we have never had a democratic governor, except the recent few days that Sam Obi occupied that position by accident. I say by accident because I know that my audience will understand the circumstance that led to his occupation of that very office. And so we have never really had a democratic governor of that state, why? It is because the other ethnic groups in that state often believe that Delta state belongs to them, that they are the core Deltans while we are peripheral Deltans and that the capital should not have been located in Asaba and that since we have the capital in Asaba, it is no longer our right to produce a governor for the state. It is quite misleading. It is misleading because that name “Delta” does not solely belong to any particular group. It is an English word. So I differ if they tell me that we are not Deltans because how close is Asaba to the River Niger and how close is Aboh to the River Niger, how close is Ibusa to the River Niger. An indepth study of that region will tell you that we are all located within the Niger Delta region. So producing the governor for Delta State in 2015 is our right and it remains our right. That is why sometimes I get amused when people say that Uduaghan is there, that there is this gentleman agreement that will enable him pass the mantle of leadership to the Anioma people in 2015, I don’t think that is possible. It is not possible because you won’t get it if you don’t fight for it. The other ethnic groups within the state will not fold their arms and watch the Anioma people walk into the state house in Asaba as governor of the state. This is why our people must be prepared to contest.

Anioma: But do you think we really have a united voice to fight a common course?

Esogbue: Well, I don’t know what you mean by a common course. Maybe you mean course of producing the next governor.

Anioma: (Cuts in) producing the next governor and also fight for the creation of the Anioma State.

Esogbue: Of course we do. Like I said to you before that in the past our leaders were docile. The new generation of our Anioma people now knows what it takes to fight a course. We are not going to take up arms, we are not taking up ammunition, we are not going to throw bombs anywhere, we don’t even have the capacity to do that. But now, we are beginning to give our people the orientation that, you must agitate for what you think is your right within the polity called Nigeria. And it is only when they do that, it come to you. Gen Olusegun Obasanjo became the President of Nigeria because Chief M. K. O. Abiola died in the battle for democracy; Dr Goodluck Jonathan is now the president of Nigeria because his people agitated for their right. So it is because people have become more united than what we used to be before. You can see what the Organization for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC) is doing, sensitizing them with Anioma Festivals. I mean there is unity in Anioma land now. We all know that we have become more united in the past. There are many socio-cultural groups now, there is Izu Anioma, Onu Ika, Umu Anioma Foundation is there. These groups are doing a lot of people work, telling our people that there is need for unity is what we have embraced. We are now working, and am sure, that with that we are going to be victorious in producing the next governor and in the course of making our region a better place for everyone to live in.

Anioma: So you are telling me that you are optimistic, and that you are foresee the Anioma State becoming a reality

Esogbue: Of course, of course. I know that Anioma State is going to be. I am telling you with assurances that Anioma State will be created. Why Anioma State should be created is you should remember that in 1983, even before Gen Babangida created more states in 1991, he was not the originator of state states creation in Nigeria. IBB inherited state creation from the civil government of Shehu Shagari. And you know that as at that time, anioma State was selected among the states that would be created in Nigeria, courtesy of Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo who was a senator at that time, who worked tirelessly to see that Anioma was selected. He appeared in the House of Senate to defend the viability of Anioma if made a state and all other criteria that it takes to create a state in Nigeria. And he did it so well that government accepted the proposal for Anioma State. What was left was only a referendum which was barely some few weeks before that referendum was to be conducted that there was a military coup. That is the military coup that brought in Gen Muhammadu Buhari and later Gen IBB also took over through a military coup. Babangida then created two states, Edo and Delta out of the defunct Bendel State. He couldn’t have created three states out of Bendel, so he had to merge our Anioma interest with those of our Urhobo, Isoko and Ijaw neighbours as to produce one state. He used Asaba which we wanted to use as Anioma’s capital for Delta State as headquarters while Delta was the name used by Urhobo in their own agitation of state creation. That was how Delta State came to be. I know that Anioma is very viable human resource wise and mineral resource wise. We have infinite access to rivers and streams. We have River Niger which separates Asaba from Onitsha that is if you are talking about geographical viability. We have Akwei River and other rivers. With these, we can get there.

Anioma: I believe that if we had somebody like Senator Nosike Ikpo introduce the creation of Anioma State to the senate in 1983, then somebody like Senator Patrick Osakwe would have taken a cue from there. But it was learnt that Senator Osakwe was against creating Anioma State based on statements credited to him in Washington DC, USA. What do you say about this?

Esogbue: Yes, everyone is entitled to his opinion. Senator Osakwe is just a person compared to other millions of Anioma people who believe that Anioma State will be created and that it must be created. So he is entitled to his opinion but his opinion differs from those of other several millions of Anioma people who want it.

Anioma: Do you really consider the political class as a threat to this ambition?

Esogbue: Do you mean federal or our people? But they are not. They know that the creation of Anioma State is long overdue. All we need to do is constantly remind them that it must be created. We let them know we stand to benefit if created; we stand to benefit a lot. Currently in Delta State, Delta State is known as the only state in Nigeria with two state capitals-one in Asaba and the other in Warri. That does not give room for the development of other Anioma communities, talking about the hinterlands. What development can you point out in Anioma communities? There are no developments as far as I am concerned, geographically, naturally, erosion is sweeping away almost all the communities in Anioma. The streetlights that we have are sham. In fact, I wouldn’t even look at what we have now on ground in Asaba as development. Have you seen an uncompleted Airport hosting flights? It is never done. People who know what I am talking about will laugh at us. It is only in Delta State that there was once a flight and that flight took place when there was to be election. And after the election what happened? We thought that after that flight there could have been series of flight taking place at the Airport, but it has never been so.That tells you that what our people are going through. As I speak to you there are no roads in Anioma communities. In fact, I seriously doubt if there are any dual carriage in any Anioma town, not even in Agbor, Umunede or Ogwashi-Uku. In Ibusa, what we have is just the Umejei Road. Even at the time our former governor was leaving, Chief Ibori, he almost left with the NYSC Orientation Camp in Issele-Uku but for the agitation that our people put up, otherwise he could have left with the orientation camp. And that is basically the only thing that the people of Issele-Uku can boast of at the moment. When you talk about quota system our people are strongly deficient. In terms of quota system in that state, we are lacking behind, it is a problem to our people. When you look at the current cabinet, how many Anioma indigenes can you see in this newly constituted cabinet of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan? It is high time our people woke up from slumber and do something. And the only way we can address this is if Anioma State is created because Anioma is by far larger than several countries of the world. Am not talking of countries in Africa but in the world. Anioma State is long overdue so people who tend to turn blind eye to the agitation of Anioma State do so because they believe that Delta State is potentially  richer than Anioma and if they succeed in getting to be governor of Delta State, they are out to benefit more money than from Anioma State. So it si for greed that those people say Anioma State should not be created otherwise the Anioma State should be created. We are independent of other ethnic groups in that state linguistically and culturally. The Anioma people are homogenous economically and homogenous economically and linguistically. We have related for centuries and so Anioma State must be created.

Anioma: There seems to be a deviation in our cultural attitude, what went wrong with us?      

Esogbue: Well, if there is a deviation from our cultural attitude, I don’t think I have noticed it, I just heard it from you now but I will still canvass for the strengthening of our culture, that is what the Organization for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC) is doing at the moment, you could see that on yearly basis we now hold Anioma cultural festival which boost our cultural orientation, it affords us the opportunity to showcase what we have to the world. The 8^th edition took place some months back and it was a fiesta to behold, it was a nice one very stately.

Anioma: But you can agree with me that our mentorship is system is fast depleting. Do you think we can ever recover our identity, owing to the incessant practice of cultism, ritual killings and all we now experience in our domin?

Esogbue: I want to agree that there have been some few cases of abductions and all of that in Anioma land. But it is not peculiar to Anioma. It is widespread to within Nigeria. Only that in the past, it was not known to exist in Anioma land. It is something that we must deal with and in dealing with this, we have to appeal to our people because people who commit these atrocities and evils live amongst us. They live with us. Some of them are our tenants. Others are those that we relate with everyday. If we help the police by giving them information on those that do this, it will make our Anioma land a better place. We also need to talk to our royal fathers, elders; we need to go back to our secondary schools, we need to organize some kinds of debates, workshops, talk programmes to educate them on the adverse effects of evils on our society. Cases of abduction and so on do not make a nation grow; it sets back a nation developmentally. So if we want to grow as a nation we must do away with all kinds of evil I our society. And so talking about mentorship, it is unfortunate that immorality is taking over morality in our today’s society. It is not something peculiar to Anioma but it’s something we can deal with if we go back to the roof and fundamentals like secondary schools, places of worship to educate our people to educate our people and make them to see reasons why we must not live with such atrocities in our society if we must move ahead.

Anioma: You are from Ibusa, what can you tell us about Ibusa?

Esogbue:

Well, Ibusa is a town in Delta State, as a matter of fact; Ibusa is located in Oshimili North Local Governent Area. One of your media houses once referred to it as “The Dusty, Hilly Little Town”. Ibusa takes its root from Isu and Nri though it is today an Anioma town. Ibusa is one of the important communities of Anioma. In the days of Ekumeku, Ibusa was the town that championed the course, it championed it to the extent that the British sustained casualties. The commander of the British forces was Major Feston. Ibusa forces was locally organized  but inflicted casualties on British forces, not until the British decided to use a kind of mundane arrangement by setting their farmlands ablaze allowing hunger to set in that Ibusa eventually surrendered. Ibusa is a community known for the number of professors it has, it has well over a hundred professors. Today, we are hearing Professor Augustine Onwuyali Esogbue who we are looking up to win the prestigious Nobel Prize in sciences. He is a scientist, an Atlanta based, he is known for his professional achievements and reputed to be the only Blackman in the service of NASA. We also have Prof Buchi Emecheta, we have the King of Ibusa, Obi (Prof) Louis Nwaoboshi. He is a well known academic and today he is the monarch of Ibusa. So Ibusa is well known and is one of the communities that Anioma are looking up to for their indigenes to play the vital role that will help the Anioma to get Anioma State.

Anioma: What can you tell us about Igbanke? What went wrong because they speak our language, formerly we refer to them as part of Ika but erroneously or intentionally Igbanke was drafted into Edo State so what do you think really went wrong and how do you think they can migrate back to become part of the Anioma nation?

Esogbue: This is quite a wonderful question. It is a question that I have been expecting to address. I am sorry that you said it was once an Ika community. Igbanke is an Ika community and it so remains an Ika community. It is actually one of those few Ika communities outside Delta State. The history of Igbanke is there for everyone to see as part of Anioma. Up till today, there has been four major sub-groups that make up Anioma community-Aniocha, Oshimili, Ndokwa/Ukwuani and Ika and Igbanke is one of our Ika communities. But you will understand that Igbanke found itself in Edo State today as a wish of an individual and that is one of those things we see in Nigeria today. An individual influencing the destiny of a whole community negatively, making them to remain separate from their own kith and kin in Delta State and that is why Igbanke though one of the largest communities in Orhiowon Local Government Area is most underdeveloped within that local government. They have been agitating to rejoin their kith and kin in Delta State or in the proposed Anioma State.nIt is a feat that we have to achieve. Some few years back, their youths had to go on peaceful protest asking their leaders to give way for their ceding to either present Delta State or the proposed Anioma State because of what they had been suffering. Igbanke is largely marginalized economically, politically and socially. And we understand the reason it is so. It is because it is not by origin part of Edo State and because they have been deliberately separated from their kith and kin that are in Delta State. You will understand that Igbanke citizens today have hospitals, churches, banks and even filing stations in Agbor, Delta State. There are several reasons why this are so; because they still see themselves as parts and parcel of Delta State even though they are artificially located in Edo State and anther is because they have not been provided with those infrastructures. It was Chief Obafemi Awolowo who said that the major criterion for determining the creation of a state is ethnicity. No matter how many states you tend to be creating on yearly basis, the moment people are separated from their own kith and kin; those people will continue to agitate for their own separate state. And that is what we are seeing in Nigeria today and Igbanke is a true reflection of that. But we are now happy that Igbanke people have woken up to this consciousness. We are now hoping that by the time Anioma State is created, Igbanke will rightly be situated in that Anioma State.

Anioma: So what is your advice now to the Anioma people, taking a cue from our historical background?

Esogbue: Yea, my advice taking a cue from our historical background is that we must forget where we are coming from; we must not forget that though we have different histories of origin, we have now evolved into a distinct group. We must now take our destiny in our own hands, we must now fight our course and see to it that we get what we get what belongs to us in the Nigerian polity. Until we do all of that, development will continue to elude us and we don’t want that. Anyi bu ofu!

Culled from Anioma Trust Magazine (Sep-Oct 2011), a publication of Wikinson Publishing, Lagos