The long-standing call for the creation of Anioma State as the sixth state in Nigeria’s Southeast geopolitical zone is gaining renewed momentum following the recent approval by the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment for the creation of new states across the country.
Fresh reports according to Newday Reporters suggest that Onitsha, Anam, and Ogbaru Local Government Areas in Anambra State may be among the territories considered for inclusion in the proposed Anioma State, a move that could reshape the political and cultural landscape of the region.
The agitation for Anioma State is not new. It dates back to the Mid-Western era, championed by visionary leaders such as Chief Dennis Osadebe, the then Premier of the Mid-Western Region.
Osadebe and other early advocates believed in the shared ancestry, culture, language, and social heritage that unite the Anioma people with their Igbo kinsmen across the Niger.
Today, this vision is being reignited by Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. Building on the legacy of his forebears, Senator Nwoko has sponsored a bill seeking the formal creation of Anioma State from the present Delta State.
He argues that the time has come to correct historical imbalances and bring together Igbo-speaking communities currently spread across several states since the regional government system was dissolved into states.
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Senator Nwoko, a Prince of Idumuje-Ugboko and direct descendant of HRH Obi Nwoko I, has anchored his advocacy not just on politics but on preserving a royal and cultural legacy handed down through generations.
He sees the creation of Anioma State as both a symbolic and practical step towards strengthening unity, improving national security, and enhancing socio-economic development through better representation and resource management.
In a recent interview with Channels Television seen by Newday Reporters, Senator Nwoko revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had personally assured him of support, promising to sign the bill into law once it receives Senate approval.
The senator noted that this commitment from the President came before his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that further underscores his dedication to seeing the Anioma dream realized.
As Nigerians awaits the final decision of the 10th Senate and the President’s assent, many observers are watching keenly to see whether this promise will indeed materialize, and whether the birth of Anioma State as the sixth state in the Southeast will finally address the long-perceived marginalization of the Igbo-speaking people in the Nigerian federation.
