The Obuzor of Ibusa, His Royal Majesty, Obi Prof. Louis Nwaoboshi, has reaffirmed that the Anioma people of Delta State are historically rooted in Igboland.
The traditional ruler, who was speaking in his palace, noted that the push for correct regional alignment dated back to 1939 when colonial authorities first established Nigeria’s regional boundaries.
He said Anioma communities were mistakenly placed under the Western region, despite being Igbo-speaking and culturally aligned with the Eastern region, attributing the misplacement to inaccurate geographical markers used by the British during boundary demarcation.
According to him, the true boundary between the Eastern and Western regions should have been located beyond Abudu, in present-day Edo State.
“The boundary between North and West is not the River Niger, just as the boundary between North and East is not the River Benue. Therefore, the East–West boundary should have been after Abudu. We were placed where we should not be”, he stated.
Obi Prof. Nwaoboshi maintained that communities such as Ibusa, Aboh, Ogwashi-Uku, Ubulu-Uku and others in Delta North had always belonged to Igboland linguistically, culturally and historically.
“We have been shortchanged since 1939. Our fathers began this agitation long before now. I am not a pioneer. The people of Aboh, Ibusa, and Ubulu-Uku were already advocating for proper placement before the regions were consolidated”, he said.
He explained that he established a cultural organisation in 1980 to continue the longstanding agitation and safeguard Anioma identity.
The Monarch also highlighted the contributions of Anioma leaders over the years, referencing a notable son of the region.
“Fortunately, Senator Ned Nwoko is our son. He was here when we encouraged him to continue the struggle. It is in his blood because his father was among those who agitated in 1939. These families have been at the forefront from the beginning”, he said.
The Obuzor revealed that the name “Anioma” was conceived to unify Igbo-speaking communities in Delta North after Igbo groups in places like Imo and Anambra had already strengthened their identities.
The Monarch added that historical evidence supports the claim that the agitation predated Nigeria’s independence, citing a 1981 newspaper report that traced the movement to 1938 and identified traditional rulers from Aboh, Ibusa, Isele-Uku and Agbor as early advocates.
Obi Prof. Nwaoboshi blamed political reclassification for the identity confusion faced by some Anioma people, pointing to successive shifts from the Western region in 1939 to the Mid-Western region in 1963 and later to Delta State in 1991.
He dismissed contemporary geopolitical labels such as “South-South” as artificial constructs that did not reflect authentic historical boundaries.
In his closing remarks, the Monarch urged unity and reaffirmation of shared heritage.
“It is time they understand that we are one. Awaken and embrace your brothers”, he said.
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