| It is not only sad but mistaking and unprecedented | | | | town has met all the criteria necessary. |
| that our Urhobo brothers with whom we share one | | | | The Anioma people have distinctiveness having been |
| state could advocate for the relocation of Delta | | | | westernized any historian of whatever origin can tell |
| state capital from Asaba to Warri, Ugheli or any one | | | | that common language is one value which holds |
| “true Delta” town as they put it, a | | | | Aniomas together, a unique bond that has united the |
| development they further claim the Delta state | | | | people of this area from time immemorial. Granted |
| House of Assembly can handle in order to make it | | | | that the various Anioma towns and villages have |
| peaceful one in so far the Aniomas decide to dialogue | | | | diverse history of origin and development but they all |
| it. | | | | have something in common. |
| This idea is still unwarranted and laughable because it | | | | Some people have argued that the Ndokwas should |
| suggests that Asaba is not a geographically located | | | | not be referred to as part of Anioma. In fact a |
| within the Delta of River Niger or that the Aniomas | | | | particular school of thought went further to state |
| are not part of Niger Delta region. We leave this | | | | that the Ndokwas formed part of the defunct old |
| particular question to Geographers to answer. If | | | | Delta province. It is an incontrovertible fact that the |
| today Edo state, Akwa Ibom state, Cross River | | | | Ndokwas have had more cordial relationship with their |
| state, Abia State amongst others all form part of | | | | Anioma brothers from time immemorial and share |
| Niger Delta we wonder why areas such as Ibusa, | | | | similar historical values, customs, culture, tradition and |
| Asaba, Oko, Okpanam, Ndokwa towns and villages all | | | | linguistics. The Ekwumekwu movement is a well |
| located few square miles away and lying at the Delta | | | | known resistance carried out against the British |
| of this river cannot be part of the Niger Delta. Will | | | | imperialists within the Anioma region and the |
| “Niger Delta” not now amount to mere | | | | contributions of the Ndokwa people along side their |
| nomenclature only in existence for the description of | | | | brothers in this region is well known and recorded. |
| Urhobo, Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri and the possession | | | | We also know that it was the loss of these wars |
| of oil? | | | | that led the British in their typical imposing manners to |
| Perhaps we forget too easily that at that time there | | | | divide the Anioma region and place them under |
| were two states in agitation namely Delta state and | | | | different provinces. This they hoped would weaken |
| Anioma and the then Military president, Gen. Ibrahim | | | | wherever they derived their sources of strength |
| Babangida decided to make something out of the | | | | from which they viewed as togetherness. It is |
| two states in proposal and the best he could arrive | | | | unnecessary to state here that one bad effect of |
| at was creating Delta state and situating the capital | | | | this movement was the permanent loss of Onitsha, |
| at Asaba. He might have tried hard to please these | | | | Obosi, Oguta and environs to the South-East |
| two blocs. One Urhobo indigene was to later describe | | | | geo-political zone as presently constituted. Even the |
| this act as a “creation of Delta state from | | | | Nigerian Government has failed to address this sad |
| Babangida personal bedroom” Will it not have | | | | development several years after independence. |
| pleased the Aniomas if Anioma state had been | | | | Was it not chief Obafemi Awolowo who pointed out |
| created with the capital at Asaba? Is the Delta south | | | | that in creating states cultural as well as linguistic |
| more dissatisfied that their agitation was not met? If | | | | affinities should first be considered above other |
| the Aniomas are so pleased with this development | | | | factors? I refuse to accept that tribally the Ndokwas |
| why has the agitation for the creation Anioma state | | | | are closer to the Urhobos, Ijaws, Itsekiris, and Isokos |
| continued even till this day? Today history is fast | | | | because I know that mere communication cannot |
| establishing that there is nothing wrong with the | | | | take place between these “true Delta |
| situation of Delta state capital at Asaba because the | | | | states” and the Ndokwas. |