Uchenna Igwe

NdiIgbo, I’m from Anam. Geographically located in Kogi State. Anam and Nzam which still speaks Igala, are brothers. Further West still are our cousins the Ibaji/Igala. Speaks Igbo. Bears Igbo names. Known as Olumbanasa. (True trivia: Odobo, Enekpa, Igah, Iyano, towns in present day Ibaji LGA of Kogi, are quarters in Nzam). All in Anambra West LGA, Anambra State. In Igbo land. All physically separated from Igboland by big rivers, Niger and Omambala (the bridge connecting us to Igboland was only built in the 80s. Even today we call them, “Ndi Igbo” to distinguish from “ndi mbammili”, water people). The entire lower Niger was once under Igala rule until the Aboh rose to prominence- as corroborated by Landers Brothers (1830s) and Baikie (1854) expeditions? And there is nothing unusual about the Igala connection. The Abriba (small London, ndi Okpogho, Kalu ukwu na Kalu nta), the wealthiest Igbo group who control the seas and trade routes extending to Northern Europe, is Igbo mixed with Ejagham. Igala? Like Anam, like Nsukka, Osomala, Asaba, and Okpanam (Anam’s big brother), etc, etc. The Igbo are an ancient civilization. Neighbors influence it, it influences neighbors. We live at the edge of Igboland. Like Ikwerre, Ika, Etche etc. And the point? Anam remained Igbo during the Biafra war. In fact, Ndi Anam were amongst the most ferocious fighters during the Biafra war (been that way since time, ask Illah and Aboh, our brothers who inhabit the other side of the River Niger, whom we terrorized in the remote past, or the Fulani who attempted entry into Anam in the recent past). And that is precisely the point. No denial of our Igboness. No betrayal of our Igbo brothers. No abandoned property. No name change to escape Nigeria’s punishment of the Igbo after the war (like some of Ika’s prominent people, etc - “If I speak, I am in big trouble.") If Nnamdi from Ikwerre, Uche from Ika, Amechi from Etche etc say they’re not Igbo let them be. The Guilt from betraying your brothers is a terrible thing to deal with. And people will go to great lengths to cover it up - like saying they’re from Benin. It is difficult to accept Responsibility for breach of trust. To forgive yourself and grow. Unity is never forced upon any peoples (observe Nigeria’s condition forcing people to unite). Be patient. The Northern Irish were turned against their brothers in the South by the British. I believe the Emerald Isles will eventually be reunited. For now remember, NdiIgbo are NOT recruiting. Stay focused. Form a coalition of the willing. And keep pushing for regional autonomy. Our road is to Catalonia in Spain