RECLAIMING IDENTITY: WHY THE IGBO NATION IS BIGGER THAN THE SOUTH EAST

The ongoing national conversation about state creation and geopolitical restructuring has once again brought to light a fact many Nigerians overlook or deliberately downplay: the Igbo nation extends far beyond the South-East geopolitical zone.

For decades, public discourse has been framed in a way that confines Ndigbo to five states Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. But this narrow political definition ignores a deeper truth. The Igbo people existed long before Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. Their language, culture, ancestry, and social identity stretch across multiple regions of the country.

THE FORGOTTEN IGBO-SPEAKING COMMUNITIES

Across the South-South, particularly in Delta and Rivers States, vibrant Igbo-speaking populations have preserved their culture for generations. From Anioma communities in Delta to Ikwerre, Etche, Ndoni, and parts of Ahoada in Rivers, the cultural and linguistic ties to the Igbo core are undeniable. Even outside these areas, traces of Igbo heritage can be found in parts of Benue, Kogi, and Edo.

Yet, despite these realities, national politics continues to treat the Igbo identity as if it is limited to only five states. This oversight is not only misleading, it is historically inaccurate.

A CASE FOR INCLUSION AND POLITICAL BALANCE

If Nigeria is sincere about equity, justice, and representation, then the idea of creating a state from Igbo-speaking areas outside the South-East especially from Anioma territory and integrating it into the South-East should not be controversial.

IT IS A LOGICAL AND CULTURALLY  CONSISTENT STEP.

These communities are Igbo by language, heritage, and ancestral identity. Their exclusion from the South-East bloc is a product of colonial boundaries, political bargaining, and decades of national restructuring that prioritized convenience over accuracy.

Realigning Igbo-speaking territories under one geopolitical umbrella would help correct long-standing political imbalances, give millions of people proper representation, and strengthen the collective voice of Ndigbo in national affairs.

A MATTER OF IDENTITY, NOT DIVISION

Those who oppose this idea often do so out of political fear or misunderstanding. But this is not about breaking states or forcing assimilation. It is simply about recognizing people for who they are and giving them their rightful place in the Nigerian federation.

The Igbo nation is one people diverse in expression but united in heritage. No geopolitical arrangement should diminish that.

CONCLUSION: A TIME FOR TRUTHFUL REALIGNMENT

Nigeria is at a turning point. If we are redefining our structures, then we must also redefine our assumptions. The Igbo are not limited to the South-East. They never were. Political boundaries should not continue to distort cultural realities.

Recognizing and integrating all Igbo-speaking communities into a common geopolitical bloc is not just a political necessity, it is a historical correction and a step toward a more honest federation.

It is time for Nigeria to acknowledge the full map of the Igbo nation.

#ANIOMA IS IGBO