Igbanke - Igbanke in Edo State

Igbanke in Edo State

The location of Igbanke in Edo State has continued to generate endless controversies. This is because the people are of Ika (Anioma) stock with homogeneous cultures and traditions with their kith and kins in (Delta North), Delta State. Critics of the location of the people of the community in Edo State hasve described this as anomaly while citing the marginalization of the people which has left the community grossly underdeveloped as an after effect. Several Anioma historians and organization have continually called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to cede the community to Delta State or at least accept it as part of proposed Anioma state. The location of Igbanke is believed to be responsible for its woeful state which explains why a large number of its population rely on Delta State, government-owned facilities such as hospitals for survival.

In recent times, "From the way the relationship is degenerating, the message is getting clearer by the day that the ‘Binins’ may not integrate the Igbankes into the mainstream of Edo politics. But political analysts say the Binis pretend during politics but once politics is over, the Igbankes are tagged Ika-Delta Ibo. The Igbanke people are perceived as brothers only when they can be used to perpetuate election rigging, exchange ballot boxes on their way to the collation centres among other crimes, says John Ede, a Benin-based political scientist..."Yes, that was then. Today, the truth is gradually unfolding. The present generation is beginning to understand that they are not brothers after all. They are to be known and not to be heard. They have been used and dumped." The Igbanke people have once again renewed hope in their inclusion in the proposed Anioma State.