My fellow Anioma people, for too long, the dream of Anioma State has resonated within our hearts. It is not a fleeting fancy, but a deeply rooted aspiration born from our shared history, culture, and destiny. We must not allow the whispers of pessimism or the self-serving opinions of a few to cloud our vision. Anioma is Anioma, regardless of artificially imposed geographical zones, and those zones cannot and will not impede the realization of our collective will.
Some question our path, citing geographical constraints. I ask you: what is the true geography of a people? Is it merely lines on a map, or is it the intricate network of shared values, common heritage, and mutual aspiration? When our brothers and sisters from across the South-South struggle for twelve hours to reach a common point within that same zone, while we can traverse the distance between Anioma and our South-Eastern kin in a fraction of that time, the answer becomes clear. Our connections are not defined by arbitrary lines but by the very fabric of our being.
Let us remember that the creation of other states in our nation’s history was not always predicated on rigid criteria. They were acts of faith, acts of vision, acts of belief in the potential of a people. And those states have flourished. We, too, possess that potential, that inherent capacity for growth and self-determination. We were once a region, the Midwest, forged without consultation, yet it became a testament to our resilience.
Therefore, I implore you, my brothers and sisters: cast aside unnecessary resistance. Embrace the opportunity before us. Come together, speak with one voice, and let that voice resonate with the unwavering commitment to the Anioma we envision. Let us seize this moment and build a future worthy of our ancestors and a legacy for generations to come.
Let peace and unity guide our path.
Chief Emma Ejiofor, PhD
