By Austin Ogwuda
Controversy has continued to trail the creation of Anioma State as being proposed by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial district in the National Assembly.
Nwoko had recently said that he would soon be presenting a Bill for the creation of Anioma State.
According to him, “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”.
He added that “creating Anioma State is not just about increasing the number of States; it is about ensuring fair representation and resource allocation for the South East; the creation of Anioma State is both urgent and compelling”.
But reacting, the Ukwuani people which is among the nine local government areas of Delta North region of Delta State, Nigeria popularly referred to as Anioma in a strongly worded statement on the issue said that Ukwuani had been strange bedfellows with the people of Anioma and preferred to hobnob with the Urhobo, Isoko, Itsekiri ethnic nationalities than the people of Aniocha Oshimili.
The statement was jointly signed by:
VOTAbanum — Chairman; Dr. Mike Akpati —Member ; Hon. Aneke Efemeni — Member; Bar. Sam Chukuji — Member and Abel Emah-Iyesele — Secretary
Read full text of the statement released this Wednesday morning.
𝗨𝗞𝗪𝗨𝗔𝗡𝗜 𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗡𝗜𝗖 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗡𝗪𝗢𝗞𝗢’𝗦 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗠𝗔 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘
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.
Key Findings and Definitive Statements on Proposed Anioma State and Proposed South East Geopolitical Zone by the aforementioned committee are as follows:
- It is well and thoroughly considered view and opinion of the generality Ukwuani people that Anioma is not an expression of the people of the zone
- 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 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 positions enumerated and enunciated above, is the considered views and strong belief that the Ukwuani nation will be comfortable and better of 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, Ukwuani nation can request for an Ukwuani State. We have the natural resources, population, land mass and human capital needs 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, placement of government facilities, etc
- We, the entire Ukwuani people are strongly opposed to Anioma State, as proposed, being grouped others to the SOUTH EAST geopolitical zone.
Signed By:
VOTAbanum — Chairman
Dr. Mike Akpati — Member
Hon. Aneke Efemeni — Member
Bar. Sam Chukuji — Member
Abel Emah-Iyesele — Secretary