Anioma: Bridgehead to Nigerian Integration a Microcosm of the Nation

By Chris Nwaokocha Agboli

This maiden issue incorporates the names of more than two hundred towns and villages that constitute Aniomaland. The book highlights the political and economic history of Anioma and expatiates on the unique rulers of early Christian missionaries in the community. The profiles and the roles of more than one hundred traditional leaders, who are the Fathers of Aniomaland are comprehensively featured. This issue also focuses on the gallantry of Anioma warlords during the Ekumeku War (1888 1914) and finally draws attention to consistent efforts made by Anioma people towards the creation of Anioma state.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514400692

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Copyright © 2016 by Chris Nwaokocha Agboli.

Research Officers - Onukwugha Esin Osuji

               - Paul Nduka Esedebe

               - Gertrude Ijeoma Agboli

               - Paul Ikechukwu Agboli

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015913756

ISBN:  Hardcover   978-1-5144-0070-8

            Softcover     978-1-5144-0071-5

            eBook          978-1-5144-0069-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Rev. date: 05/12/2016

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Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Tribute

Preface

The identity, the people, population, human and mineral resources

The evolution of the name Anioma

Assault on Anioma identity by the colonial administration

The split of Anioma into two different divisions and provinces

•   Asaba Division placed in Benin Province, Aboh Division placed in Delta Province

•   Frontline Anioma vanguards

•   Some progressive associations

Traditional languages and dialects

Anioma: a microcosm of Nigerian nation

Names of towns and localities within Anioma community

Acknowledgments

1 : Roots of Anioma

The early history of Aniomaland

The origin of the indigenes, traceable to a combination of locations:

Benin (Edo), Igala, and Yoruba communities

Later migrations from Eastern Nigeria

The evolution of different linguistic expressions followed by the emergence of clans and subclans

2 : Colonialism and the Ekwunokwu (Ekumeku) War

The functional definition of Ekumeku: a secret movement of the silent militia

Locally symbolized as invisibility of the wind

The impact of the ruthless war on Aniomaland

3 : Cannon Fodder: Anioma and the Balance of Power in Nigeria

Anioma and the balance of power in Nigeria

4 : Tourist Destinations

Illustrated features of some tourist attractions in Aniomaland

5 : Anioma Festivals

Anioma has several festivals, which are held at different periods in a year; the festivals portray lessons on community leadership, political morality, etc.

6 : Traditional Governance

Focus on selected traditional rulers across Aniomaland; these icons play major roles toward the maintenance of peace in their respective communities

Their appointments and their relationship with political officeholders

7 : Remembrances

Posthumous profiles of a cross section of Anioma indigenes who left their footprints on the sands of time

8 : Postscript Opportunities and Challenges

A synopsis of opportunities and challenges in Anioma land within the

framework of the community’s human and material resources

An examination of how multiethnic nations such as the United States of America, Canada, and South Africa handle their respective ethics of integration

Epigraph

The epigraph If There Is No Struggle, There Is No Progress by Frederick Douglass is critically examined in this segment

The epigraph teaches humanity the relevance of consistent struggles in order to institutionalize equity and political morality

Appendices

Copies of few selected documents that Anioma leaders presented to various state creation committees

References

Dedication

To all Anioma people who lost their lives during the Ekwunokwu (Ekumeku) and Nigerian Civil Wars.

To all pillars and spines of Anioma, including Obi Egbuna of Issele-Uku; HRH Obi Oputa of Aboh Kingdom; HRH Obi Obika Gbenoba of Agbor; HRH Agbogidi Obi Ofulue II, JP, of Ubulu-Uku; Rev. Martin O. S. Nwadiei of Issele-Uku; Obi Chief J. I. G. Onyia and Rt. Hon. Chief Dennis Osadebay of Asaba; Chief F. H. Utomi, OFR, of Ogwashi-Ukwu; Most Grace Archbishop Anthony O. Gbuji of Akwukwu-Igbo; HE Ambassador Ralph C. Uwechue of Ogwashi-Ukwu; HE Ambassador Ignatius C. Olisemeka of Ibusa; Mr. R. I. Ebube and Chief C. N. Anumonwo of Ogwashi-Ukwu; Chief F. O. Osuhor of Umunede; Dr. I. M. Okonjo and Chief P. O. C. Ozieh, OON, JP, of Ogwashi-Ukwu; Comrade Nduka Eze of Asaba; Sir J. O. Ihonor, KSM, JP, and Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Ogwashi-Ukwu; Senator Nosike Ikpo and Professor Patrick O. Utomi of Ibusa; Chief Joseph Azubuike D. Y. Okogwu, Ojise of Asaba; Colonel M. O. Nzefili, Rtd., of Okolori-Efor in Ndokwa; Senator Mrs. B. U. Kerry of Akwukwu-Igbo; Sir Barrister Patrick N. Ikemefuna of Illah; Dr. G. O. Orewa of Agbor; Mr. Nelson N. Onyebujoh of Ogwashi-Ukwu; Rev. Dr. J. Kunirum Osia of Obomkpa; Dr. Joshua Easter Enueme of Adia-Obiaka; Hon. Emmanuel Okocha of Asaba; Dr. Benjamin N. Okwumabua of Issele-Uku; Professor J. C. Nwabueze of Ibusa; and Professor Emmanuel Osammor and Commissioner of Police Micheal O. Nzemeke of Ogwashi-Ukwu.

I specially dedicate this compendium and similarly congratulate the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency Dr. (Sir) Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, and Senator (Barrister) Peter O. Nwaoboshi on their victory at the recent national elections.

Finally, I dedicate this publication to all the members of my family for their active participation toward the fulfillment of this compendium.

Foreword

Foreword by Rev. Ben Nnaemeka Nwaochei, PhD

As a fellow Anioma indigene who has been involved in the struggle for the socioeconomic development of our people, I am delighted to be given the privilege to write the foreword to this book written by my respected friend, Dr. Chris Agboli. A seasoned Nigerian public servant of many years, he has distinguished himself as one who brings quality to whatever he determines to do. It is obvious that the author has brought this character to bear on the writing of his book. Listening to him speak at the 2010 Anioma World Economic Congress of the Anioma Association, USA, held in Washington, DC, on July 3, 2010, one could see and feel the fire and passion for Anioma inside Dr. Agboli.

In this book, titled Anioma: Bridgehead to Nigerian Integration, the author presents Anioma to the reader in a fashion that not many other authors have done. Dr. Chris Agboli opens a new perspective on the distinctives and long struggles of the people of Anioma in Delta State of Nigeria. According to the author, the book highlights the attributes of Anioma and its people as bridgehead to Nigerian integration. It draws attention to critical contributions of Anioma indigenes towards the development of Nigeria. It emphasizes concrete efforts made by the people toward the creation of Anioma State. However, after reading the book, I arrived at the conclusion that the author has done more than he has stated here. He presents in his book a compendium of useful data and information covering the geography, history, politics, economy, and social and cultural attributes of Anioma and her people.

For the geography student, the book provides useful information on the towns and villages that make up the area termed Anioma. It provides a complete directory of the towns and communities that populate the territory, including those that are traditionally omitted in maps. According to the author, Anioma people are not confined to the indigenes of only the territory known as Anioma but incorporate their kith and kin found in parts of the neighboring states to the east and west.

With great passion, Chris argues that historians and other writers, both ancient and contemporary, have not done justice to Anioma and her people, either through misrepresentation, deliberate neglect, or distortion of facts. For example, he cited the case of some writers who treat Anioma as an appendage of the Igbos of the southeast of Nigeria. Another case in point, he argues, is the way the Ekumeku uprising, which was clearly a major fight against imperialism by the people of Anioma against the British, has often been ignored or termed a rebellion by a band of savages. This reminds one of Nelson Mandela’s comments that a group may be seen as terrorists or freedom fighters depending on where one sits.

The book traces the history of Anioma to the arrival of foreign missionaries and explorers who arrived in this part of Nigeria in the 1830s. It presents an interesting account of the role of the Royal Niger Company and how Asaba became the administrative headquarters of what later became Nigeria. It was not until the amalgamation of territories to form Nigeria in 1914 that Asaba lost her premier position to Lagos.

The author argues that indigenes of Anioma have contributed significantly toward the integration, development, and unity of Nigeria all through the history of the country. Particularly fascinating is the part played on both sides by Anioma people in the civil war that followed the attempt of Biafra to secede from Nigeria. An issue that the author presents passionately is the struggle for the creation of a state for the Anioma people. The fight for Anioma state, he points out, started under the colonial rule and has not ended. Various Anioma leaders over several generations have exerted enormous pressure to have a state of their own. In spite of several exercises during which several states have been created in Nigeria, the dream for Anioma state has remained unfulfilled to date.

Readers will certainly be fascinated by the profiles of selected Anioma indigenes that have distinguished themselves in various professions and made notable contributions to society both locally and internationally. There is also a compilation of tourist destinations in Anioma that tour operators should take note of.

For scholars interested in various subjects relating to Anioma, the author has compiled a rich directory of references categorized into books, materials from government archives, materials from the Church Mission Society Archives, and sundry materials.

It is important to note that the author has thrown a challenge to others to explore the history, geography, culture, and politics of Anioma and publish their findings for a better understanding of Anioma and her people. I recommend Anioma: Bridgehead to Nigerian Integration for your reading pleasure.

Tribute to Chief P. O. C. Ozieh, OON, JP (November 17, 1928–July 21, 2011)

A Benevolent Nigerian Leader, the Father of Modern Anioma

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Chief Patrick Onwochei Chukwueloe Ozieh, OON, JP, was born on November 17, 1928. He was the first of eight children of late Mr. Felix Johnson Okofu Ozieh and late Rosaline Nwanti Ozieh of Umuozoma in Isiokwe Quarters of the Azungwu metropolitan village, in Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, Nigeria.

A renowned chemist and petroleum technologist, Chief Ozieh had his primary education first at St. Theresa’s Catholic School, Jos (1935–1938), and later at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Port Harcourt, before his admission to Government College Umuahia in 1945. He later attended National University of Ireland, Cork, where he graduated with BSc (Hon) degree in chemistry with physics as a subsidiary in 1955. Between 1955 and 1956, he was a postgraduate student at Oxford University, in London, for his postgraduate certificate in education. He later went back to Oxford University for his final City & Guilds certificate in petroleum technology in 1962. He further embarked on the program of advanced petroleum technology in the university and obtained the prestigious certificate in 1963.

A distinguished educationist, Chief Ozieh taught chemistry and physics at St. John’s College, Kaduna (1950–1952), and was later appointed the first Nigerian chief examiner in physics theory for West African examinations council (1962–1963). In 1982 he was appointed a member of the Federal Nigerian Government Scholarship Advisory Board. Chief Ozieh was employed by the British Petroleum, Nigeria, as a manager in technical services in 1961. He successfully served the oil company in various senior management positions for ten years before he resigned as area manager in 1971, so as to set up his POCO Group of Companies. Some of the companies that he established in various parts of Nigeria were the following:

i) POCO Steel Drums Production

ii) POCO Industrial Minerals Limited

iii) POCO Brick Factory

iv) POCO Independent Oil Marketing

v) POCO Pharmacy

In most of his private and public interactions, Chief Ozieh usually pointed out that his motive for establishing POCO Industries was to create job opportunities for young Nigerians and to improve the quality of lives of Nigerians. Chief Ozieh’s legacy as a sportsman and a sports administrator was outstanding. He participated at several national and international athletic competitions, particularly in cricket, and as an athletic coach. As a student in Cork University in Ireland, he was the first African to be appointed, firstly, as the games manager in the university and, secondly, as a member of the Cork City Sports Council.

In Nigeria, he