I have been reading Chief Nwankwo Tony Nwaezeigwe’s inflammatory perspectives on Anioma state creation debate and contemporary discourses.
He dwells on realm of the esoteric with an ingrained tendency to sound off. But perhaps his most addictive obsession is to sully Senator Ned Nwoko.
A faux fixation that seems to be the muse of his mischievous writings.
I am compelled today to give a revealing reproof of Nwaezeigwe’s acerbic social commentary, having referenced my community – Idumuje Unor and the entire Idumuje clan, including Idumuje Ugboko and Aniofu in his voyage of spooky propaganda.
Nwaezeigwe needs to hear this where he is hiding in Philippines:
The Idumujes are legendary aristocrats and warriors. Descendants of nobles, commandos of Ekumeku wars with Idumuje serving as garrison town of the anti colonial battles of the 1880s.
How can a self-styled historian like Nwaezeigwe howl warped narratives on a higher brood! What doleful misinformation!
For the education of alien Nwaezeigwe: Anioma is characterized by three distinct dialects under igboid linguistic genre: Enuani ( mother tongue of Aniocha/Oshimili communities) Ukwuani ( analogous to Ndokwa area) and Ika ( language of Agbor settlers and neighbourhood). There are also Olukumi ( Yoruba variant ) and Ozzara/ Igalla – influenced Anioma communities ( Ebu, Ugbodu and Ukwunzu etc)
Historical accounts by doyen of African history, Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike among other impeccable authorities, state that the evolutionary trend of Aniomas, followed migrational movements from Bini Kingdom, tinged with Nri Igbo Eastern axis, beginning from the 16th century.
According to sociological and anthropological findings, the genealogy of Anioma people is diffuse, because of hybrid migratory patterns. This is typical of most old African aborigines beginning from prehistoric times.
If Nwaezeigwe does not know where he came from, the Idumujes know their origin.We know who we are and what we are. We are a proud stock.A people of noble ancestry.
Nwaezeigwe also misfired ignorantly when he wrote in reckless rage:
“ Ned Nwoko’s town Idumuje-Ugboko never experienced any contact with Federal troops throughout the Nigerian civil war, being located in isolated zone ,off the routes of the advancing Federal troops and, thus there was no question of his mother advising him at the age of nine years to deny his Igbo identity”
Idumuje clan was a theatre of war. It is common knowledge today among Idumuje people that Biafran soldiers made forceful entry into Idumuje unor during the Nigerian civil war and stationed their base there for days at CMS primary school by the village square.
They roamed Idumuje unor, Idumuje Ugboko and Aniofu in violent annexation before their departure. Pellets of bullets had often been dug up in our farmlands years after, a stark reminder of a chilling unforgettable experience.
An uncle recently narrated how some Idumuje clan natives mysteriously repelled invading Federal troops at Onitcha ugbo/Idumuje Unor road in the peak of the war. Senator Ned Nwoko was right when he said the Idumuje rural folks nay Anioma,were forced to renounce their Ibo identity for fear of being massacred by the rampaging federal soldiers who identified and profiled them as “biafrans” and kindred of their war enemies.
My other uncle, beloved Ejime Chiazor , a trader, was murdered one tragic morning in Benin city by federal troops who pointed him out as an “Igbo” man.
The heaviest toll of the pogrom to my immediate family was the forced enlistment of my eldest brother Okeleke Chiazor alias Jabilo,into the federal army.
He was abducted and conscripted on his way to Asaba.Months later he was killed. His jaded uniform was delivered to my parents in heartless dishonour.
The jarring grief of Jabilo,the most handsome and energetic in my family, was one of the major setbacks that led to the untimely death of my mother few years later at barely 60. That was how Nwadini, one of the kindest souls (matriarch – merchant who fed majority) from Idumuje Unor died ,leaving me and the entire community heart-broken.
Among our kindred and larger Idumuje clan, we have all moved on in resilience and amazing grace. But we bear the indilible scars of a horrifying past, a gruesome genocidal war that would live in infamy till the last syllable of recorded time.
Where is the empathy of Nwaezeigwe? By his incendiary verses laced with distortions of history and people,he only boos his professional and moral integrity. He introduces himself as a former “ director of Igbo studies” Yet he is so igbo phobic. Who will tutor Tony Nwaezeigwe? A historian who tramples on history.
Nwaezeigwe attempted in vain to rankle our sensibilities on Senator Nwoko.
Nwoko’s goodwill resonates across multi-ethnic Delta. A symbol of unity and conviviality, enterprise and philanthropy . Ned is clearly more Deltan than Nwaezeigwe. Today the federal lawmaker is working in synergy with Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori,a diligent governor who has shown vision and sincerity of purpose in advancing Delta for the good of all. What has Nwaezeigwe offered Delta,even in the past 34 years. Nothing but divisive diatribe.
In Delta North ,Nwaezeigwe is a dwarf before Nwoko.
Opaque epistles are insignificant to epic exploits. Man to man,Nwoko stands unflappable above Nwaezeigwe and his chaotic rhetoric, The simple difference is that while Nwoko is excelling in Nigeria ,Nwaezeigwe is exiled in Philippines.This explains why it is easy to pontificate and throw stones from Utopia!
Nwaezeigwe had endlessly published baneful articles, crudely attacking Senator Nwoko over the agitation for the creation of Anioma state.
When has it become a crime to express a public opinion in Nigeria? Senator Ned Nwoko at the 10th senate of the National Assembly, initiated a bill for the creation of Anioma.
A movement he never claimed to have pioneered. Anioma foremost potentate, Sir Dennis Osadebay, Dr.George Orewa and Senator Nosike Ikpo ,( Nwaezeigwe’s ibusa kinsman) among other respected forbears,had championed the demand at different eras since 1954. The oldest state creation struggle in the history of Nigeria.
Senator Nwoko only rebooted the quest, in honour of Anioma founding fathers,to consummate the destiny of Delta North aborigines. Remarkably,all sons and daughters of Anioma ( Aniocha,Oshimili,Ndokwa Ukwuani and Ika ) desire the state as a necessity of history and equity.
Nwoko wants Anioma like everyone else,not out of haughty coercion but humble concern.Not to feed his ego but to fuel the collective passion of the people.
As this writer noted recently,the ultimate outcome on Anioma would be the property of the folk:
“ Though there is raging debate on which zone-South south or South East, the proposed state should be located, the idea of Anioma is enchantingly just and genuine. Referendum and government of the day will determine that. Enlightenment not emotions will settle it all”
Again,Nwaezeigwe is bitter that Senator Nwoko hosted a pro-Igbo conference at Okpanam and strangely questioned why the event was not held at Asaba! Are both towns not Anioma communities ?
Is Okpanam in Philippines?
Coming barely a year after Senator Nwoko hosted the now famous stakeholders’s summit on Anioma state creation at Grand Hotel Asaba, Nwaezeigwe goofed in grumpy mischief.
The Asagba of Asaba ,the amiable professor/king HRM Epiphany Azinge (SAN) holds Senator Ned Nwoko in warm aplomb as a good son and friend. Nwaezeigwe is too far to come between the king and the prince. When royals are together, a petty plebeian can only stand and stare in solitary bewildment.
A word for the pseudo Philippino “Cinna” on his conspiratorial tales:
Aniomas can read as highly enlightened people. We value dialogue. “Among the Igbos the art of conversation is regarded very highly” Chinua Achebe once lectured. In Anioma world, we communicate with meaning and motif. Not pen of harmful perfidy.Nwaezeigwe should spare us his depraved dangerous epistles.
Anioma land prides in goodness. Nwaezeigwe should refrain from tacky tantrums.He can go on and write encyclopedia on Ned and Anioma .It would come to no purpose.
We are not persuaded by Nwaezeigwe’s toxic quips.We abhor meal of lethal indoctrination . Poison is not part of Anioma menu.He should take his malignant hemlock to hawk in Manila.But pray he is not sanctioned over there as a security risk!
Happily on Anioma state, revered monarch,Obi Professor Chike Edozien of blessed memory, had counseled long ago, on May 5, 2001 in arcane wisdom:
“We should all resolve to work for a united Anioma nation. We have the men, we have the resources. Let us march forward with courage and vision,conscious of the fact that the weak are the victims of history.”
*_Caveat Emptor: All reflections strictly my thoughts._
Chiazor is a veteran Journalist & Media leader
