The traditional ruler of Idumuje-Unor in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty Obi Charles Chukwunweike Anyasi III, has affirmed that the people of Delta North Senatorial District, popularly called Anioma, are Igbos.

Obi Anyasi III made the remarks during a special TVC interview programme, Behind the Headlines, where he stated that although there are claims of diverse ancestries, “Aniomas are statutorily Igbos.”

Tracing the historical and cultural identity of the Anioma people, the monarch — a veteran media personality turned king, explained the origin of the name Anioma.

“The original concept of ‘Anioma,’ meaning ‘the good land,’ was by Sir Dennis Osadebay, who proposed the acronym with ‘A’ for Aniocha, ‘N’ for Ndokwa, ‘I’ for Ika, and ‘O’ for Oshimili, using additional letters ‘M’ and ‘A’ for poetic excellence,” he said.

He described Anioma as “empowered by nature,” with a landmass of about 6,000 square kilometres and a population of roughly two million people. According to him, Anioma’s viability is anchored on its strong workforce, vibrant industries, cultural artefacts, and rich dance traditions.

Speaking on the historical struggle for Anioma statehood, Obi Anyasi III said the agitation began in 1954 during the London constitutional conference that produced the Lyttleton Constitution, Nigeria’s first true federal constitution.

He noted that the demand for Anioma State has gone through nine phases of agitation, with Sir Dennis Osadebay as the front-runner.

He commended the renewed momentum since Senator Ned Nwoko initiated a bill for the creation of Anioma State in the 10th Senate, describing the push as “a natural desire you cannot take away from the people.”

On debates about whether Anioma should be located in the South-South or South-East geopolitical zone, the monarch said:

“If you ask me personally, I will say South-South. But with the current political realities, it probably would not work well. The mindset of the President seems to be about balancing the federal structure with the reality of five states in the South-East.

“When you bring food to the table in a family setting, there are usually disagreements. Not everyone will say yes. There is a right to public opinion. But if the current optics go for settlement in the South-East and we cannot change it, why don’t we accept it?”

Obi Anyasi III stressed that Anioma State would bring governance and development closer to the people.

“The dividends of democracy will come closer with Anioma State creation. We moved from Midwest to Bendel to where we are now. We should not fear the future. With what we have, we can seek self-determination,” he said.

He commended Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his efforts to ensure development across the state, describing him as “one of the best governors we have had,” but noted that the people’s aspirations remain strong because “desire is inexhaustible.”