Igbo states are one, united, says Anioma movement
By John Okezie
The Anioma State Creation Movement has declared that all Igbo-speaking states remain one united family, bound by common heritage, language, and destiny, despite state boundaries created by successive governments.
The group said this unity was forged through shared history and experiences, especially during the civil war when all Igbo, irrespective of state of origin, suffered the same fate of defeat, hunger, death, and humiliation, and were given only £20 each to restart life.
In a statement signed by its Media Director, Chief Tonnie Osita Oganah, the movement said: “We all speak the Igbo language, though dialects differ. We eat the same food, wear the same traditional attire, share the same four market days, observe the same wedding and burial rites, and hold the same naming ceremonies.
“We share one worldview, built on hard work, self-help, republicanism, and enterprise. Our names are similar, our dialects mutually intelligible, and our determination the same. Anioma is Igbo, and most of our towns and villages bear Igbo names. We all share a common destiny.”
The statement followed the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review’s unanimous endorsement of a new state for the Southeast, which the movement described as a “bold and historic move” toward equity and balance in Nigeria’s federal structure.
Oganah said the endorsement represents a major breakthrough in the decades-long agitation to address the imbalance that leaves the Southeast with only five states, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, while other regions have six, except the Northwest with seven.
He praised Senator Ned Nwoko for leading the renewed agitation, describing him as “the living convener of the Anioma struggle” originally championed by the late Dennis Osadebe, Nigeria’s first Premier of the Mid-West Region.
He dismissed claims that Nigeria cannot afford new states, insisting that the real issue is mismanagement of resources and not lack of funds.
“The latest federal allocation was over ₦2 trillion. If leaders manage funds properly, Nigeria will thrive. State creation will create jobs, empower youths, and open up new development corridors across regions”, he noted.
Reaffirming Anioma’s place in the Southeast, Oganah said: “Anioma means ‘the good land’ and deserves its place among its brothers. We wear the red cap, eat Akpu, speak Igbo, and uphold our ancestors’ values. We are one with the Igbo nation.”
He maintained that creating Anioma State will not only achieve equity but also strengthen Nigeria’s unity. “A balanced federation will make the country stronger and restore confidence in national integration”, he concluded.
