A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Anthony Idigbe, has urged restraint, sensitivity and sober reflection in the renewed agitation for the creation of Anioma State, warning that mishandling the matter could reopen historical wounds and fuel fresh divisions among the Igbo.
Idigbe issued the caution on Thursday while speaking as a guest at the 2025 Annual Dinner and Award Night of Otu Oka Iwu, an association of Igbo lawyers, held in Lagos. The event was chaired by Ikechukwu Emetu, deputy governor of Abia State, and attended by prominent figures including the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), and the President‑General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Senator John Azuta‑Mbata.
He also cautioned against the agitation being hijacked by personal ambition, noting that some individuals were already positioning themselves for political offices, which could undermine the broader interests of the people. Reaffirming the shared identity of the Igbo nation, Idigbe stressed that Anioma people are an integral part of the Igbo community, united by cultural bonds and common traditions.
Idigbe called on leaders to communicate responsibly, act with wisdom and patience, and ensure the agitation strengthens unity rather than creates divisions in the larger Igbo political landscape.
