Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District, has reiterated that the creation of Anioma State is a historic and non-negotiable aspiration of the Anioma people, describing it as a necessary step towards correcting what he called a longstanding political imbalance in Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Hit 95.4 FM in Calabar, the lawmaker traced the agitation for Anioma State to the pre-independence era, insisting that the movement was rooted in the historical, cultural and linguistic identity of the Anioma people as part of the wider Igbo nation.
Nwoko said the campaign did not begin with him, noting that as far back as 1949, traditional rulers from Anioma, including his grandfather and the Obi of Agbor, advocated the inclusion of Anioma people in the Igbo Union.
"I must state without equivocation that we are Igbo. Anioma is made up of nine local government areas in Delta State. We are what they call us," he said.
The senator explained that Anioma people have always identified with Ohanaeze Ndigbo, adding that the socio-cultural organisation recognises Anioma as part of the Igbo nation.
"We are part of Ohanaeze. Ohanaeze says there are seven Igbo states, including Anioma and Ikwerre. If Anioma succeeds, Ikwerre may also pursue its own state. Just as the South-East has Obis, we also have Obis. We are Igbos," he stated.
Nwoko disclosed that 97 senators had already endorsed the proposal for the creation of Anioma State, expressing optimism that the constitutional amendment process would eventually produce the desired outcome.
According to him, the creation of Anioma State would also help address what he described as the imbalance in the number of states across Nigeria's geopolitical zones, noting that the South-East currently has only five states.
He dismissed concerns over the economic viability of the proposed state, arguing that Anioma possesses sufficient human and natural resources to thrive independently.
"We have nine local governments, abundant natural resources, gas deposits and the Asaba International Airport. Delta State is the only state with two airports. We also have successful indigenous businesses and investors. We have Zenith Bank, UBA, Arise News and ThisDay. The Senate President also supported the creation of Anioma State without any lobbying from me," he said.
Reflecting on the history of the region, Nwoko said the identity of the Anioma people had evolved over time from Western Igbo to Bendel Igbo and now Delta Igbo, insisting that these changes had not altered their ethnic identity.
"There have been misconceptions about who we are. But our history is clear. My grandfather and the Obi of Agbor advocated our inclusion in the Igbo Union in 1949. Leaders like Chief Denis Osadebay also campaigned for a separate Igbo state long before I was born. This is a longstanding quest for self-determination and inclusion within the Igbo nation," he said.
The senator also recalled the suffering endured by Anioma communities during the Nigerian Civil War, particularly the Asaba Massacre, in which he said more than 3,000 Anioma people lost their lives.
"I speak both as a witness and a historian. I was brought up as an Igbo. During the killings, my family fled to Aba believing it would be safer because it was in the heartland, only to discover that Aba also became one of the centres of the violence," he recounted.
According to him, the experience of the civil war forced many Anioma people to conceal or downplay their Igbo identity in the post-war years.
Nwoko argued that the proposed state would help address what he described as decades of political marginalisation of the Igbo people, stressing that Anioma shares deep cultural, historical and linguistic ties with other Igbo communities.
He maintained that no other group was better positioned to occupy any additional state allocated to the South-East, noting that Anioma's landmass exceeds that of states such as Bayelsa and Ekiti.
"We have enormous natural resources, and our brothers in Edo State also support this aspiration. If they join us, we could even have up to 20 local government areas. We are part of Ohanaeze, and we have always been part of the Igbo nation," he added.
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