ABUJA — Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North) has stirred fresh debate over Nigeria’s ethnic boundaries, categorically stating that the people of the Anioma region have no historical or cultural connections to the Yoruba or Benin ethnic groups.
In a candid address regarding the identity of his constituents in Delta State, the lawmaker insisted that the Anioma people are fundamentally Igbo, despite decades of efforts to dilute that heritage for political reasons.
‘Igbos Are Everywhere’
Senator Nwoko dismissed claims that Delta North shares a lineage with the Benin Kingdom or Yoruba territories, asserting that the evidence of Igbo identity is visible across the entire region.
“Anioma has no business with Yorubas or Benins, no connections whatsoever. There is no Yoruba or Benin in Delta State,” Nwoko declared. “Igbos are everywhere in Delta North. Even in Rivers, the Ikwerres and the Opobos—they are all Igbos. Igbos are everywhere.”
He argued that the “Benin-origin” theory held by some sections of the community was a protective mechanism adopted following the Nigerian Civil War and events like the Asaba Massacre, as people sought to distance themselves from the Igbo label to avoid persecution.
The Sixth State Quest
Nwoko’s remarks are tied to his legislative push for the creation of Anioma State, which he proposes should be the sixth state in the South-East geopolitical zone. He believes this would finally correct the marginalisation of Igbos outside the current five South-Eastern states and restore the cultural dignity of the Delta North people.
The Senator noted that the Anioma Cultural Festival and various historical records confirm that the language, market systems, and traditional naming conventions of the area are identical to those found in the heart of Igboland.
Divergent Views in Delta
While Nwoko’s stance has been lauded by pan-Igbo groups, it has met with resistance from some local organizations in Delta North. Some groups, such as the Ndokwa Professional Network, have rejected the plan to join the South-East, preferring to remain in the South-South zone while maintaining their own unique sub-identity.
Critics of the Senator’s view argue that the region’s history is a complex tapestry of migrations that include influences from the Benin Empire, but Nwoko remains firm that 99.9% of the populace is ethnically Igbo.
As the Anioma State Bill moves through the National Assembly, the debate over heritage is expected to remain a central theme in the political discourse of the Niger Delta.
