The people of Igbanke, an Anioma-Ika-speaking community domiciled within the administrative precincts of Orhionmowon Local Government Area, Edo State, has endorsed the bill for the creation of Anioma State, however demanding to be included in the Bill before the National Assembly.

They made their position known in a letter submitted to the Delta State Government during a solidarity rally held in Asaba, Delta State capital, on Monday, where they, alongside the nine Local Government Areas that make up Delta North Senatorial District, unanimously endorsed the initiative.

Throwing their weight behind the demand for Anioma State to be zoned to the South-East geopolitical zone of the country, Igbanke people revealed that they have six autonomous communities, namely Ake/Obiogba, Idumuodin, Igbontor/ Idumuiru, Oligie, Omolua, and Ottah, which are all presently administered in Orhionmwon LGA of Edo State but are Ika-speaking communities.

This was contained in a letter signed by HRM Lucky Osunde, the Obi of Oligie Kingdom, HRM Julius Isitor, Obi of Ottah Kingdom, HRM Blessing Igiebor, Obi of Idumuodin Kingdom, all in Igbanke as well as Pastor Ifeanyichukwu Idagbon, the President-General Omolua Progressive Union and five others, including Chief Jude Ogbekile, the Leader of Igbanke Strategic Initiative.

The people in the letter submitted to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, alongside the one signed by the representatives of the nine communities of Delta North, described the agitation for the creation of Anioma state as a long-standing political and cultural movement in Nigeria, primarily driven by the people of the Anioma region, and called on the support of stakeholders towards the bill.

Accordimg to them, “if Igbanke is included in the proposed Anioma State, it will help them unite with their kiths and kin and address the issue of socio-cultural exclusion and discrimination. It will aid in preserving their cultural heritage and bring growth and development to Igbanke land”.

“There is no gainsaying that Igbanke is grossly underdeveloped in terms of infrastructure (roads, railways, schools, hospital, rural electrification among others. Igbanke people are also discriminated against and stereotyped by the Edo-Speaking people because of our Ika identity. Joining Anioma State would bring prosperity to Igbanke. It will foster a profound sense of belonging and ensure equitable representation, social inclusion, and the development of our land.”

We are a peaceful and law-abiding community and will continue to contribute to the economic growth, social cohesion, unity, peace, and progress towards the sustainable development of Nigeria, they pledged.

In the same vein, the representatives of other Ika-speaking communities in Edo State including those from Iru called for the inclusion of their communities in the proposed Anioma State, as they are tired of the discrimination and subjugation from their Benin neighbours occasioned by their Igbo ancestry.

Further, they said there is no affinity between them and the Benins despite being in the same State and Local Government Areas, rather they are ancestrally, culturally and linguistically homogeneous with the Anioma people and the larger Igbo tribe.

Prince Johnson Erijo, Chief of Staff to the Delta State Governor, who received the people on behalf of Governor Oborevwori of Delta State, reassured that the present administration in the state remains open, attentive, and supportive of their aspirations, particularly on the ongoing agitation for the creation of Anioma State.

He explained that the issue of State Creation is well-defined within the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, noting that the process requires due diligence and adherence to laid-down procedures, including the submission of petitions and memoranda to the National Assembly, followed by further constitutional steps. (The Sun)