Ned Nwoko’s proposal for creation of Anioma State divides Delta North

The Delta North senatorial district, which is represented in the National Assembly by Senator Ned Nwoko, is not in agreement with his proposal to create Anioma State.

He promised to file a bill for the creation of Anioma State, saying that it is both essential and compelling to do so during a recent interactive session with the district’s indigenous people in Abuja.

According to him, establishing Anioma State aims to guarantee equitable representation and resource distribution for the South East rather than merely adding more states to the union.

“I am presenting a bill for the creation of Anioma State to correct this historical oversight. Anioma is composed of nine local government areas, six of which are rich in oil and gas resources. The region also boasts significant human capital, making it a viable and sustainable candidate for statehood,” Nwoko assured.

However, the Ukwuani people, who live in Delta North’s nine local government areas, criticised the senator on Wednesday.

Abel Emah-Iyesele, Dr. Mike Akpati, Aneke Efemeni, and Sam Chukuji all signed the statement, which claimed that they had unusual relationships with the Anioma people and that they would instead mix with the Urhobo, Isoko, and Itsekiri ethnic nations than the Aniocha and Oshimili people.

They proposed that the idea that Anioma is not a representation of the people of the zone is a well-reasoned and carefully researched view and opinion of the Ukwuani people as a whole.

“Before the proposal by Senator Ned Nwoko to rekindle the campaign for the establishment of Anioma State, the Ukwuani nation had already conveyed their stance in 2021 through the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), the leading socio-cultural organization of the Ukwuani people, in a report presented by the Adhoc Committee on States Creation and Geopolitical Zones Arrangements.

“Ukwuani had never been a part of the defunct Benin Province where Aniocha, Oshimili and Ika were integral constituents. Ukwuani congenially had been part and parcel of the original Delta province, where we still share a more robust cultural affinity.

“Ukwuani nation relates more comfortably and mutually with the people of the core Delta Province as against Aniocha, Oshimili, and Ika of the Benin Province. Though tongues may differ, and surely they do, the Ukwuani nation finds unity in diversity best within our Delta province enclave.

“The position enumerated and enunciated above is the considered views and strong belief that the Ukwuani nation will be comfortable and better off placed among the comity of states with the original core Delta province peoples, that is, the Urhobo, Isoko, Itshekiri, and Ijaw ethnic nationalities.

“With the comparative advantage Ukwuani has, the Ukwuani nation can request for a Ukwuani State. We have the natural resources, population, land mass and human capital needed in abundance to make a nation-state.

“We, the entire Ukwuani people, are strongly and vehemently opposed to the creation of Anioma State without recourse to factors such as capital location, LGA distribution, and placement of government facilities,” they stated.

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