Excerpts: Emeka Esogbue: Now Igbanke is located in Edo State yet its people rely heavily on Delta State facilities for survival. They purchase fuel from nearby Anioma; visit their hospitals; work in Delta State. They are to Delta State like Agbor. Do you still think Igbanke should be ceded to Delta State to join their kinsmen? Adagbon: Emeka Esogbue, your question here is factual and cannot be denied. Igbanke is Ika and it is natural for a people to tend to feel attracted towards their own people. That apart, Delta is a surrogate state for Igbanke people therefore, the National Boundary Adjustment Commission should come out to do the needful immediately. As an Ika community strangely placed in the stronghold of the Binis, bad implications are obvious. They include language barrier and huge nightmare for our people. The marginalization also has made it impossible for Igbanke to aspire to top positions in Edo State. The fact remains that as minority, it is absolutely difficult for an Igbanke man or woman to occupy such coveted position in Edo as the Government House. That is why I have continued to say that our people should be allowed to rejoin their kith and kin in the proposed Anioma State. Thankfully again, Anioma State has been approved by the ongoing National conference. It is on this basis that we call on the National Boundary Adjustment Commission and Edo State Government to move swiftly to carve Igbanke into the approved state once created. Let me use this rare opportunity to call on our sons and daughters in position, notable Anioma groups and organizations such as Ndi Anioma of Nigeria, Anioma Voice, Oganihu Anioma, Anioma Association USA Inc, Anioma National Congress, Izu Anioma and Anioma Political Forum including those I have failed to mention here to see that Igbanke rejoins its kith and kin in the proposed state. I must at this point state for the record that the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s administration is the only government that has remembered Igbanke since 21 years of existence of Edo State. I commend the governor for the road projects and refurbishment of Igbanke schools. That said, Igbanke’s future lies in the proposed Anioma State. After Comrade Oshiomhole’s government what happens to us? Any progress made now suffer will regression as witnessed after the Dr Samuel Ogbemudia’s administration. In summary, the Igbanke communities are excited at the prospect of joining their kith and kin in Anioma and will gladly cooperate with both the Edo and Delta state government on this. Emeka Esogbue: …On the part of Igbanke, what have you done to send this message to the Edo/Delta States. I mean the message of your willingness to join the proposed Anioma State? Adagbon: (raises her hand) Let me say that our people have always known that they are Anioma. We have gone beyond informing the relevant authorities of our intention to rejoin our kith and kin in Anioma. At the moment, the awareness is high in Igbanke as well as Anioma. We have sensitized and obtained the consent of majority of our people. We have also on our own organized two conferences, one in Lagos and the other in Igbanke. The Aniomas have also been working very closely with us. Our piece of work on this started with Umu Anioma Foundation, then Ndi Anioma of Nigeria down to Anioma Voice. We have also been working closely with relevant Ika bodies to ensure that we become part of the proposed Anioma State. Recently, Igbanke Nationals Progressive Association successfully tabled the issue of joining the proposed Anioma State at the ongoing National conference. After our submission, the agreement from the conference is that people have the right to join their ethnic groups so we celebrated it. It is now left for the National Boundary Adjustment Commission to work towards carving us into the proposed state once announced. Thankfully again, we share boundary with a number of Ika communities. We have not stopped working. We are still working, working till we are become of the proposed Anioma State... — via Stephen K. Dieseruvwe CARVE IGBANKE TO PROPOSED ANIOMA STATE GLORIA ADAGBON TELLS NATIONAL BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT... Gloria Eluebo Adagbon is the initiator of Igbanke Nationals Progressive Association. The Barrister-at-law and UK-based politician has been in the forefront for the advancement of Igbanke. In this interview, she speaks with EMEKA ESOGBUE on a number of issues that includes the need to relocate Igbank… dna-nigeria
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 07:36:06 +0000
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