By Austin Oyibode
The Odu Oma Club of Nigeria has called on all stakeholders across Anioma land to shun divisive politics and dishonesty as the campaign for the creation of Anioma State gains national traction.
Renowned for its long-standing involvement in Anioma affairs, the Club commended the positive strides recorded during the recent Senate Committee on Constitutional Review hearings.
However, it warned that political distractions and self-serving agendas could derail a struggle rooted in justice and historical identity.
In a strongly worded statement jointly signed by its President, Patrick Ogbogu Okenyi, and Secretary General, Uche Emma Aboh, the Club emphasized the critical need for unity among the people of Aniocha, Ika, Ndokwa, and Oshimili in pushing the statehood demand.
“The creation of Anioma State goes beyond mere political aspiration,” the statement read. “It represents the fulfillment of a historic quest for justice, identity, and self-determination by the Igbo-speaking people west of the Niger.”
The Club praised the openness and inclusivity of the recent public hearings held in Ikot Ekpene and Enugu, where various Anioma advocacy groups presented their memoranda.
It described the engagements as “transparent, well-articulated, and accommodating of dissenting opinions.”
Rejecting Divisive Narratives
Despite the progress, the Odu Oma Club expressed concern over emerging “divisive narratives,” particularly media-fueled debates over whether Anioma belongs to the South-East or South-South geopolitical zones.
“This debate is a distraction,” the group asserted. “Geopolitical zones are not constitutional entities and have no bearing on governance. Our focus must remain on the realization of Anioma State—not the revival of colonial boundaries.”
The Club also reminded detractors of Anioma’s deep historical and cultural ties to the Igbo nation, referencing the region’s pivotal roles in the anti-colonial Ekumeku movement and the Nigerian Civil War.
“Anioma’s placement in the Western Region in 1947 was a political miscalculation that fractured a united people,” the statement noted. “But the Anioma identity endured, resilient, visionary, and deeply connected to its Eastern kin.”
Condemning Sabotage and Internal Resistance
The Odu Oma Club did not mince words in condemning recent attempts to discredit the state creation process. It specifically criticized press statements by groups such as Ndokwa Neku and a forum of nine Local Government Chairmen, which questioned the credibility of documents submitted during the public hearings.
“Such actions are not only unpatriotic but dangerously undermine the collective struggle of the Anioma people,” the Club warned.
“This cause predates today’s actors and must not be hijacked by partisan interests or ethnic manipulation.”
Rallying Behind Senator Ned Nwoko
With the Anioma State Creation Bill advancing toward its third reading and eventual plebiscite, the Club urged all Anioma indigenes to stand in solidarity with Senator Prince Ned Nwoko, who currently leads advocacy efforts at the National Assembly.
“Anioma State will address long-standing structural imbalances in the South-East and unlock significant political and economic benefits, including new senatorial and House of Representatives seats, and greater administrative autonomy,” the Club stated.
A Call to Conscience
The statement concluded with a solemn reminder:
“God has given us the freedom to choose, but not freedom from the consequences of our choices. Let us choose unity over discord, progress over politics. Let us choose Anioma.”
