By Austin Ogwuda
THE Palace of the Asagba of Asaba has sent a six-paragraph letter to the office of the President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in connection with the ongoing process towards the creation of Anioma State, saying that it is totally in support of it.
In addition to the letter, the Asagba’s Palace has also sent correspondence to notable traditional rulers in Delta North seeking their collaboration in mobilising their subjects in support of the Anioma creation project.
The letter from the Asagba’s Palace was jointly signed by Louis O. N. Edozien, on behalf of Prof. Anthony Onuora Edozien (Ochendo Asagba) and Chief Patrick N. C. Ndili (Ihonor Asaba), Secretary Asagba’s Palace, copies of which were sent to the President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives, including Members of the National Assembly representing Delta North Senatorial District.
The letter reads, “Our distinguished Senator Prince Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State (our Anioma) is in the vanguard for the creation of Anioma State. He has presented a Bill on the floor of the Senate for the creation of Anioma State.
“For decades, way before Delta State was created, Anioma people with one voice have agitated and continue to agitate for the creation of Anioma State.
“We believe and align with Senator Prince Ned Nwoko that the creation of Anioma State will permanently address the imbalance of the number of States in the South East as it is composed today and assuage the insecurity in the region.
We fully identify with the resolve of Mr. President to restore peace and security in the South East.
“We respectfully invite Mr. President to take cognizance of our cultural, traditional and linguistic affinity with the people of the South East. Our boundaries with the present South Eastern State are well documented. Anioma State will be very viable as it has abundant human and natural resources.
“It is against this backdrop that we fully support the creation of Anioma State and totally support Senator Prince Ned Nwoko on the long drawn out quest for Anioma State.
“The people of Ahaba (Asaba) send their warm greetings and commend your wisdom in piloting the affairs of State”, the letter added.
Similarly, in another letter sent to HRM Emmanuel Efeizomor, the Obi of Owa/Chairman, Anioma Rulers Forum, the Asagba’s Palace stated that “in a recent interactive session with the Ochendo Asagba (Regent) and representatives of the Asaba community, the Distinguished Senator requested for support of Asaba for the Bill he has presented for the creation of Anioma State.
“He explained the peculiar circumstances of the moment that have placed the specific issue of creation of a Sixth State in the South East on the front burner of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Assembly at this point in time.
“He requested for support for his initiative in the form of a letter of support to Mr. President, copied to the Distinguished Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Honourable Members representing Anioma Communities.
“He (Nwoko) referenced his ongoing consultations to get similar expressions of support from all communities in Anioma.
“Ochendo Asagba has therefore written the requested letter of support to Mr President cognizant that the exigency of the moment has not allowed the usual wide consultations and consensus building with which we have always pursued our long standing aspiration for the creation of Anioma State but trusting that the firm commitment and resolve remains intact.
“We respectfully request that all the Anioma Communities through their Monarchs also write their letters of support demonstrating the same unity of purpose we have always applied in our continuing and merited quest for our Anioma State”, the letter further stated.
