Stakeholders at a summit to discuss issues on the creation of Anioma state out of Delta have endorsed the proposal, saying it doesn’t matter whether the state when eventually created is in south-east or south-south geographical zones.
According to the constituents drawn from the nine council areas that make up the proposed state, time has come to realise the dream of Igbo-speaking people of the big heart even as they called on all to support the facilitator of the project, Senator Ned Nwoko.
Various speakers at the summit held in Asaba, weekend appealed to sons and daughters of Anioma extraction to unite for the cause and see the agitation as a collective responsibility.
They traced the agitation for the state to several decades ago when fore fathers of the area including the premier of defunt Midwest region, Sir Dennis Osadebey, some prominent traditional rulers in Aboh and Asaba divisions amongst others vigorously pursued the agenda.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of traditional rulers, chiefs and community leaders, former and present national and state assembly members, businessmen, women, youths, etc, Senator Ned Nwoko assured that Anioma state would be created having done his homework well adding that immediate past governor of the state Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has given him his words of supporting the state.
“I didn’t start the campaign for the creation of Anioma state but I hope to finish it. We will amend the constitution of Nigeria to have Anioma state. This process of getting it done has already started.”
Nwoko said the bill for creation of Anioma had gone through the first reading at the red chambers adding that before the end of the year, it is expected to go through the second reading.
He promised to mobilize Anioma people to the public hearing on the bill in Abuja assuring that “we will get support across the country as required by the constitution.”
The senator representing Delta north doused the rumour that his struggle for Anioma is to make himself governor of the new state stressing that it is for the good and well being of the people he represents at the national assembly.
He explained that when eventually the state is created, the first governor will come from Ndokwa nation, which has oil wells and gas more abundantly and has contributed immensely to feeding the nation but highly marginalized over the years.
“I want freedom for my people. The first governor of Anioma state will come from Ndokwa land. Out of the nine local government areas, three are oil producing. The three are Ndokwa nation. But it has remained the most backward. It produces oil and gas but the environment is devastated.”
He enumerated benefits of a new state to include bringing development closer to the people, having three senators, more representative members and many house of assembly members .
In their separate remarks, some traditional rulers, including Ochendo Asagba, Engr. Louis Edozien; Obi Henry Kikachukwu of Ubuku,-Unor, Dein of Agbor, Ikenchuku Kiagborekuzi 1, Hon Ngozi Okolie, Hon Ossai N. Ossai, Hon Emeka Nwaobi, among others, commended Senator Ned Nwoko for his resilience in the struggle for the creation of Anioma State and expressed concern for the indigenes of the senatorial district to support the cause.
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