COMMUNIQUE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE IZU-ANIOMA NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) AND ELDERS FORUM MEMBERS.

PREAMBLE:

The National Executive Committee and the Elders Forum members alongside some critical stakeholders in Izu-Anioma had an emergency meeting on Wednesday, July 24th, 2024 at the National Secretariat of Izu-Anioma to brainstorm on the now contentious and sensitive quest for Anioma State. The meeting also had in attendance:

1) Club ANIO 50  represented by Chief Chris Okwute (Retiree of AGIP Oil Company) and Chief Tony Obuaya, (Retiree of Shell BP, Nigeria)

2) Barrister Luke Enelichi, Chairman Izu-Anioma Towns Union, Abuja Branch

3) Oduoma Club represented by Mr Patrick Okenyi (President) and Mr Uche Emma Aboh (Secretary General)

4) Chief Mrs CV Obiora – Former President, National Council of Women Societies and member Izu-Anioma Board of Trustees.

THE IZU-ANIOMA HISTORY

The founding fathers and progenitors (forefathers) of Izu-Anioma include Rt Hon Chief Dennis Osadebey, Senator Nosike Ikpo, Dr George Orewa, Mr Fortune Ebie, Chief Eric Opia, Prof BIC Ijeoma, Chief Izah, Chief Patrick O C Ozieh (POCO), Chief CCI Otite, Chief Uso Onianwa, Chief PA Dunkwu and Chief Col Mike Okwechime all of blessed memory.

Also, Chief Philip Asiodu, General Godwin Alabi Isama Rtd and many other prominent Anioma Sons and Daughters have played different roles in nurturing and shaping the many decades old history of Izu-Anioma.

Many prominent Anioma Traditional Rulers, Academicians, Politicians and men and women of goodwill from different strata of life have made various positive contributions over the years and we recognize and salute them all.

Our forefathers founded Izu-Anioma as the Umbrella/Apex body – THE SOCIO-CULTURAL AND POLITICAL PLATFORM (NON PARTISAN) FOR ALL ANIOMA PEOPLE.

They drew up a constitution and registered it with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to stand at par with other big Ethnic Nationalities like the Arewa group, Afenifere and Ohaneze Ndigbo and locally in the State with the likes of Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) etc.

Izu-Anioma belongs to all sons and daughters of Anioma land, and every true Anioma son or daughter is a member of Izu-Anioma as a right whether you accept it or not.

Therefore, we cannot be subsumed or annexed into another ethnic group without our consent.

WE ARE ANIOMA PEOPLE, OUR LAND IS ANIOMA, OUR LANGUAGE IS ANIOMA AND OUR CULTURE IS ANIOMA. PERIOD!

KEY RESOLUTIONS

1) THE ANIOMA STATE DEBATE

After a very robust deliberation, we agreed to play a fatherly role in the debate preferring to work on mediation and engendering unity of all Anioma people instead of taking sides and jumping into the fray.

Obviously, there is a practically total agreement by all Anioma Sons and Daughters that we want a state of our own with all the well orchestrated gains widely canvassed in every public media space available.

The quest for Anioma State creation dates back to 1954 by some accounts.

We must not allow ourselves to lose focus on this age long dream of our forefathers and present day Anioma citizenry.

WE WANT ANIOMA STATE, OUR OWN STATE, PERIOD!

2) THE URGENT NEED FOR ANIOMA UNITY

For over ten years, following the schism in the Apex/Umbrella status of Izu-Anioma, and under the leadership of General Godwin Alabi Isama Rtd, former National President of Izu-Anioma, we have worked assiduously for Anioma unity.

With the successful unification with Anioma Congress, a very valuable and powerful partner and a closer collaboration with Club ANIO 50  and ODUOMA CLUB, we plan to work more closely with other Anioma groups, Women Societies, Town Unions Leadership, and also the Political Class, Business Community, the Academia, and other Professional Groups etc.

We are planning to host a Pan Anioma Conference to forge better Anioma unity and to advocate for Good Governance (especially following the Supreme Court Judgement on Local Government Autonomy and the tremendous opportunity this offers)

CONCLUSION

We would like to specially express our sincere gratitude to our Forefathers, Traditional Rulers, The Clergy and other critical Stakeholders who have over the years worked hard to engender Anioma unity.

It is now expedient and more urgent than ever before for Anioma People to unite and commit themselves to speaking with one voice at critical times like now and in the future whenever the need arises.

LONG LIVE IZU-ANIOMA!

LONG LIVE ANIOMA PEOPLE!

LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

Pastor Dr Kingsley Ojie,

National President.

Dennis Esso Boniwe,

Secretary General.