“We are shockingly surprised that the explosion suspected to be a bomb blast occurred in the face of a political meeting involving an Anioma son and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Victor Ochei, who ostensibly is nursing gubernatorial ambition.
“Our senses are particularly numbed and bafflingly bewildered that such could happen in our peaceful Anioma nation or any other human dwelling indeed, ” the group said in a statement jointly signed by Smart Ajaja , Gloria Eluebo Adagbon and Emmanuel Nwaokolo.
The socio-cultural group stated further: “Our region, particularly Obomkpa, venue of the political meeting where the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Victor Ochei, chose to inaugurate his political group, ‘Otumowane’, ahead of the 2015 general elections as reported, is a non-violent town.
“Some observers have tended to dismiss the deadly explosion as untimely detonation of ‘Mkpolo-Ani’ (cannons) archetypal to shots traditionally released by Anioma people in times of traditional burials and as a form of salutation for welcoming important dignitaries to the land.
“However, we suspect that the blast was purposefully targeted at destroying lives, especially the participants who had congregated for a peaceful political meeting. There can be no justification for any kind of violence whether with the use of cannon or incendiary explosive materials. Anioma people have never been known to welcome their guests in rooms furnished with explosive devices.
“That the explosion left two people injured including a lady simply identified by a source as a personal assistant to Bishop Ken Ebolum of Dominion Christian Centre, Asaba and who was later rushed to the State Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Delta State for treatment, is an indication that there was more to it.
“Any dispassionate mind will agree with us that the now lethal, calamitous and multifaceted bombings of the Boko Haram now ravaging the northern parts of the country began as an unconvinced speculation that people initially doubted until they grew bigger than the same people who demanded physical evidences in order to be convinced that such bombings were happening.
“Our concern therefore is that if not nipped in the bud at its early stage, violence may escalate in this region with life becoming unbearable for the common man who cannot be said to have benefited anything meaningful from these politicians. That it is thought to be the turn of Anioma in some quarters to produce the next governor of the state should not now amount to a ‘bombing competition’ among politicians with such ambitions.
“The implication for the common man is already well-known. We have an Anioma region marginalised by its own political representatives as well as vastly underdeveloped by the people in authority in the state and nation as a whole. We note that as a region with nine Local Government Areas, Anioma has nine Local Government chairpersons that should work towards bringing developments to the grassroots but nothing is happening. A daughter of this region is the Minister of Finance.
“The same suspected explosion target is the speaker of Delta State House of Assembly. There are numerous state commissioners of Anioma origin appointed by the State Government still nothing is happening in the region.
“The state chapter’s People’s Democratic Party chairmanship is occupied by an Anioma man. At the National Assembly are two representatives of the region; one in the Senate and another at House of Representatives. At the executive level, there are Anioma professors appointed as Special Advisers to the nation’s president.
“There are innumerable Anioma persons appointed at various Boards but the voices of many of these persons are never heard. In spite of the huge human resources it boasts, Anioma nation remains a region without the most basic amenities of life. With the exception of Asaba, the state capital, no town in the region can boast of power supply for a few hours. Dual carriage roads are missing in all the towns of the region yet we parade big names in government.
“Anyone can nurse aspiration but only the people will determine who is best suited to win their votes. Explosions will not help us elect a credible leader but achievements in office will do. Introducing explosions to the already politically and socially troubled region would only devastate the condition of the region.
“Many of us have no other place to call our home beyond Anioma, which is why Ndi Anioma encourages politicians to ply their trade with absolute caution and put the interest of our region before self-interest because in the end it is their score cards and not perpetuation of acts of violence that will ultimately judge them.
“We understand that the explosion issue is being investigated but urge the security forces to make its investigation known to the public in due course for everyone to become involved in the security arrangements of our region. The people at the center of the tragedy must also be identified for the law to take its effect.
“Our curiosity on how the Anioma region suddenly transformed to exploration arena should also be enduringly quenched to avoid future occurrences. The investigators of this occurrence should not dismiss the act as is known in the country. The Anioma politicians must shun attitudes that are deemed insalubrious to the unity of the region and Delta State as a whole and look up to the electorates as a determining element.
“These politicians should strive hard to pursue worthy performance while in office which in the end will leave them with eternal legacy. This is the stand of Ndi Anioma of Nigeria. “
