By Augustine Anonyai Ojei
The Anioma people are found in the Northern senatorial district of the present Delta State, originally (at Independence (1960) part of Western Region before the creation of Mid- Western Region in August, 1963.
Rt. Hon. (Chief) Barr. Dennis Osadebay (native of Asaba), one-time Acting Governor General of Nigeria, was the first and only Premier of the then Mid-West Region.
Anioma still remained part of that entity renamed Bendel State in 1976. Anioma constituted one of the five Senatorial Districts (Bendel East) of the defunct Bendel State.
At creation, Delta State which crystalized from the division of the defunct Bendel State into Edo and Delta States, Anioma became part of the newly created Delta state in August 1991, and had the privilege of hosting the State capital in Asaba.
In the geo-political configuration of Delta State, Anioma (called Delta North) is made up of nine out of the 25 local government areas of the state as follows : Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North East (which produced the immediate past Executive Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa), Ika South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Oshimili North, Oshimili South and Ukwani Local Government areas.
Social-cultural Attributes
Anioma people are linguistically of different ethnic backgrounds. There are communities within it that trace their origins to Benin, for instance, the Ezechime Clan, Aboh, Agbor, Owa, etc. Other trace theirs to the East ,majorly Nri (some Isu and Nteje, ecetra). These communities include Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Okpanam (which according to tradition have some with different origins), Asaba (in part- Nteje) and some others trace their roots to Igala in present-day Kogi State. These communities include largely Ebu, and partly Asaba and Illah. Some other communities in Anioma,for instance Eko efun (popularly called Ukwu’Nzu, and Odiani communities who speak Olukunmi; a variant of Yoruba language) trace their origin to Ile-Ife and Owo. The same with the Ubulus which claim similar origin and linkage to Ile-Ife ,though with counter linkage claims between them and Afor in Ndokwa.
What can be rightly deduced from these diverse accounts of the origins, is that various communities in Anioma must have likely evolved from the aforementioned language groups. What is equally clear is that various Anioma communities or groups have their spoken dialects with strong linkages to Ibo/ Igbo languages for which reason Anioma dialects are largely grouped as part of Ibo language in Nigeria.
The Anioma people, thus culturally appear to be caught in between her brethren in the East and her geopolitical brothers and sisters in Midwest, now called Edo and Delta States. Music with its emotional soul-lifting attributes is another area Anioma people are known for.
Values
As part of its cultural heritage, Anioma people hold to the highest esteem among others the following values, prominent among which is Eziokwu-bundu (truth is life), put in other words “honesty is the best policy”.
This is complemented by other values such as:
-Respect for the elderly,
-Respect for the healthy family life,
-Respect for hard work (dignity in labour),
-Sanctity of life, – Sanctity of marriage,
-Reverence to God Almighty (Chukwu), etc.
Cultural Attires
The native attires often adorned by Anioma men and women is white, popularly called “Akwa-Ocha” or Otuogwu. These clothes and related costumes are worn as ceremonial dresses, especially in major ceremonies,such as marriages,burial of the elderly and other major cultural or traditional ceremonies.
These dresses are classy and stand out anyone that adorns them. Most Anioma towns celebrate their annual festivals between the months of August and December every year. Such festivals include Ine , Ogbanigbe, Igwue, Ofala, New Yam, etc. In most of these communities, burial ceremonies of any form are suspended until the expiration of the period of festivities.
Social-political And Economic Spheres
Several Anioma indigenes have contributed ,and many are still contributing to the socio-political and even economic development of Nigeria. We may wish to note that at Independence (1960) Lt Commander O.Z Chiazor was recorded to be one of the most senior military officers in the then Nigerian Navy under whose command the Union Jack (British flag) was lowered on October 1, 1960.
Similar notables include Ms. Helen Anyamelune (Ugbodu) who was Miss Nigeris 1958; the highly celebrated Ms. Rosemary Anieze-Adams (Onicha-Olona) who was Miss Nigeria at Independence 1960, Mrs. Clara Ifeoma Okwechime (nee Emefiene), wife of Rtd Col. (Chief) Micheal Nduka Okwechime (one of the founding fathers of the Nigerian Army). Ms. Rita Anuku (Ika) was crowned Miss Nigeria in 1986. Mention must be made of Reverend Father Paul Obodochina Emecheta, the first West African to be ordained a Catholic Priest, 1928.
In the same vein, honour and reverence must be given to the late Rt Rev. (Dr) Samuel Wadie Martins, D.Litt (Honorary Causa), pioneer Baptist Missionary/Evangelist, who saw to the in-planting of Baptist missionary churches throughout the old Benin and Delta Provinces between 1922 when he returned from USA, till his death in 1976. He saw to the establishment of Baptist Primary Schools in most towns including Asaba, Warri and Benin-City. The same for the establishment of Baptist Hospital, Eku, Baptist Girls High School, Agbor, Pilgrims Baptist Grammar School, Ewohimi, Pilgrims Baptist Grammar school, Issele-Uku, Pilgrims Baptist Teachers Training College as well as the Technical College in Issele-uku, and Baptist High school, Benin -City, among others.
Anioma people are traditionally agrarian, vast in the production of food crops and livestock. Those in the riverine areas ply their trade in fishing and pottery, others generally in traditional cloth making.
This is aside from their great academic attainments in the educational sphere. Many Aniomans are found in the corporate world contributing to national economic development, be it in academics, banking, marketing communication, insurance, real sector/manufacturing industry, public service, non-governmental services, informal sector and the diaspora.
Developing Anioma
Many mini and micro enterprises have sprung up in Anioma area since the advent of this millennium. Asaba, the state capital and its environs are continually witnessing transformation. Towns like Agbor, Kwale, Okpanam, Obiaruku, Owa, Ogwashi-Uku and others have notably improved in terms of physical infrastructure. There is a clarion call for investment in the area. We welcome the establishment of the Dennis Osadebay University in Asaba, and University of Delta, Agbor. These in addition to earlier existing tertiary institutions in the area will boost socio-economic and educational development in Delta State and the nation at large .The establishment of a Federal University of Health Science in Kwale, is equally a welcomed development.
Our Appeal To Government
We would like to use this medium to passionately appeal to the Delta State as well as the Edo State and Anambra State governments where exist some Anioma people, to take greater interest in infrastructural development in these areas. These include roads, utilities, health and educational facilities.
We also appeal to the Federal Government to establish an industrial hub in Anioma area. The creation of an Export Processing Zone in Illah, Ugbolu, Asaba, Oko, Ewulu, Isheagu, Amai and Aboh/Ndosimili axes of Delta State to boost industrial development which will induce the venturing into the production of goods, that could be exported, and earn foreign exchange for the nation, will be economically worthwhile. The Warri, Sapele and Koko Sea ports would form a good linkage to the proposed processing zone. The multiplier effects this will achieve are better imagined.
Conclusion
Let me at this junction thank the Executives of Nji’ko Ndi Anioma, especially the President, a worthy comrade and champion of Anioma cause, Obuzor Chuks-Smith and his very visionary team. I join everyone in commending their efforts.
God bless them;
God bless Anioma;
God bless Delta state;
God bless Lagos state;
God bless Nigeria.
.Being a lecture delivered during the 2023 General Assembly of Njiko Ndi Anioma in Lagos on September 24, by Chief Augustine Anonyai Ojei, Ugwu’Eze Issele-Azagba; Ugwu’Anioma; member, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
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