Presidents-General of the over 100 clans, kingdoms and communities of Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State have thrown their weight behind the Chairman, Senate Committee on Reparation on his move for the creation of Anioma state.
Rising from a meeting, they said that it became imperative to support Senator Nwoko to actualize his desire to have Anioma State as they noted with commendation, all efforts to have the state created as that would help assuage the age-long yearnings and aspirations of the peoples of Aniocha-Oshimili, Ika and Ndokwa-Ukwuani areas of the State.
Recall that a bill to alter the 1999 Constitution as amended to create Anioma State from the present Delta State was read the first time in the Senate July 2nd.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999( Alteration) Bill, 2024( SB. 481 was sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, PDP, Delta North, just as the bill seeks to alter three sections of the 1999 constitution, to delete the word 36 and replacing it with the word 37 to accommodate the new state and to insert the word Anioma, immediately after Delta in the list of states contained in the Constitution.
The proposed Anioma State would encompass the local government areas of Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North-East, Ika South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, and Ukwuani, with Asaba designated as the state capital.
The Presidents-General in a communique signed by Prince Igwe Nzekwe -Ndokwa East, Chairman, Chief Paul Oranyeli Oshimili South,1st Vice Chairman, Bishop Henry Uzor- Aniocha South Secretary and Chief Henry Menye- Ika North East, Treasurer, said that the clamour for the creation of an Anioma State that would cater for the peoples of Aniocha- Oshimili, Ika and Ndokwa- Ukwuani predated even the emergence of Delta State.
Others who signed the Communique are Pastor Justine Onyeibe- Ika South Welfare Officer, Samuel Osahenye- Aniocha North, Financial Secretary, Chief Benjamin Unue -Ndokwa West, Auditor, Dr Timothy Umukoro -Sec. Gen Ukwuani Forum of PGs/Ani Ndokwa Clans Association and Ogbuenyi Tony Nwaegbu-Chairman, Oshimili North Forum of PGs.
The Communique is titled, ” Anioma State: Community Presidents back Ned Nwoko.”
The Communique read: “The Presidents – General of the over one hundred clans, kingdoms and communities of Delta North Senatorial District have thrown their weight behind the creation of Anioma state proposed by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, representing Delta North senatorial district at the National Assembly.
“This is a communique issued by the Presidents- General after an extra-ordinary meeting held in Asaba, the Delta state capital.
“They noted with commendation, every effort to actualize the creation of Anioma State that would assuage the age- long yearnings and aspirations of the peoples of Aniocha-Oshimili, Ika and Ndokwa- Ukwuani areas of the State.
“The quest for the creation of an Anioma State, to cater to the peoples of Aniocha- Oshimili, Ika and Ndokwa- Ukwuani predated even the emergence of Delta State.
“That the presidents -General are convinced that the population of and the nine local government areas of Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State are sufficient for the creation of an Anioma State as desired by the peoples of Aniocha – Oshimili,Ika and Ndokwa-Ukwuani .
“That the Presidents – General expressed firm belief that the clans,kingdoms and communities of Delta North have lived and co- existed harmoniously for so long to be able to galvanize and harness the resources of the areas to build a formidable and upwardly mobile state.
“That the Presidents-General salute and pay sincere homage to past and present political leaders, monarchs and intellectuals who have worked tirelessly and are still working for the actualization of Anioma State in the South-South geo – political zone”