Emeka Esogbue

  Revisiting the Anioma Traditional Rulers Rejection of their Relocation to the East Central Region: History as a Repetition -        Emeka Esogbue Not many know that in history, the present Niger State, one of the nation’s 36 states in the North Central part of the country was originally intended for the Anioma people of Nigeria. In 1975, there was an agitation for the creation of more states in the country and a group started a rigorous campaign in which they sought to relocate the Anioma people from their Midwestern Region to the East Central to share a geographical space with other Igbo-speaking people but the Anioma traditional rulers rejected their relocation as well as a share of state with people who are not Anioma of the present Delta State. It was a firm decision taken by Anioma traditional rulers which eventually dissuaded the then Head of State, His Excellency Gen Yakubu Gowon from uniting the Anioma people with the Igbos of today’s S...

 Anioma's Atuma Community in Mournful Mood as Chiazor, Nigeria's First Commissioned Naval Officer Passes.  - Emeka Esogbue  The Anioma traditional flag has remained at half mast following the passing of Commander Onwurah Zonyenuno Chiazor, Nigeria's first commissioned Naval Officer and only a few in a nation of more than 250 million people are aware of the colossal loss of a high-ranking Naval Officer of his caliber. Incidentally, not many residents within the local government of his origin are also aware of the loss sustained by them hence life goes on.  Navy Commander Chiazor was an indigene of Atuma in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, a community in the same local government affiliation with Ibusa, Akwukwu-Igbo, Okpanam, and others.  Navy Commander Onwurah, initially with the Canadian Navy, was the most celebrated Nigerian Naval Officer of his time perhaps, and upon his return, prominent in building and indigenizing the Nigerian Navy base...