The Obuzor of Ibusa, His Royal Majesty Professor Louis Nwaoboshi, has reaffirmed that the Anioma people of Delta State are historically rooted in Igboland, insisting that their push for correct regional alignment predates Nigeria’s independence. He explained that the agitation began as far back as 1939, when colonial authorities first created regional boundaries.
Speaking in Ibusa, the monarch said Anioma communities were wrongly placed under the Western Region despite being Igbo-speaking and culturally aligned with the Eastern Region. He attributed the error to inaccurate geographical markers used by British colonial officials during boundary demarcation, adding that the proper East–West boundary should have been situated beyond Abudu in present-day Edo State.
“The boundary between North and West is not the River Niger, just as the boundary between North and East is not the River Benue. Therefore, the East–West boundary should have been after Abudu. We were placed where we should not be,” he stated. He noted that communities such as Ibusa, Aboh, Ogwashi-Uku, and Ubulu-Uku have always belonged to Igboland linguistically, culturally, and historically.
Professor Nwaoboshi said he established a cultural organisation in 1980 to advance the longstanding agitation and preserve the Anioma identity, stressing that Anioma leaders—including the forebears of Senator Ned Nwoko—have championed the cause for generations. According to him, the name “Anioma” was adopted to unify Igbo-speaking communities in Delta North after those in Imo and Anambra had consolidated their identities.
The monarch blamed decades of political reclassification—from the Western Region in 1939 to the Mid-Western Region in 1963 and ultimately to Delta State in 1991—for the identity confusion faced by some Anioma people. He dismissed modern geopolitical labels like “South-South” as artificial constructs that do not reflect authentic historical realities. Calling for unity, he urged Anioma people to embrace their shared heritage: “It is time they understand that we are one. Awaken and embrace your brothers.”
