Stakeholders drum support for creation of Anioma State

Some stakeholders in Delta have declared support for the proposed creation of Anioma State.

Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP Delta-North), in a bill presented recently before the Senate, proposed the carving out of Anioma state from the present Delta in the South-South region and making it the sixth state in the South-East region.

The stakeholders spoke at an interactive session with the media and interest groups on Thursday in Asaba, Delta.

Speaking at the forum, Dr. Godwin Ossai, former dean of Novena University in Ogume, Delta, who hails from the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, said that the creation of Anioma State had been generally accepted among the people of the Delta-North Senatorial District.

According to him, wherever the issue of the creation of Anioma State is discussed, there is a general acceptance of its creation.

He urged the media to help disseminate and build consensus, truth, and commitment among the constituents that made up the nine local government areas of Delta-North to manage the distractions that were emerging.

Ossai cautioned that it was better to first have the state rather than express fear for any marginalisation thereafter.

On his part, Dan Okenyi, former State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, said that the agitation for the creation of Anioma State dated back many years.

He said that some of them met the issues in 1977; then, as a movement, he added that it was rather disappointing to hear certain persons kick against its creation.

“We are pained to hear people agitating against the creation of Anioma state; the state we are asking for is for the nine local government areas currently in Delta-North; no other town in the south-east is to be added to the proposed Anioma state.

“We had a meeting with the Igbo senators, and because of the marginalisation in the south-east, it is proper to create Anioma State to make it six states in the region.’’

According to Okenyi, the two senators from Delta-South and Delta-Central Senatorial Districts are in support of the creation of Anioma State.

He said that the creation of the Anioma state could be done under the doctrine of necessity, adding that the people of Anioma should rather be happy and grateful.

While urging the media to support the move through adequate education of the people, he expressed hope that the Anioma project would be realised.

“This agitation is not about Sen. Ned Nwoko; yes, it is true that God is using him to champion the project,” Okenyi said.

In his remarks, Mr. Victor Sorokwu, President General, Igbo Media Journalists (IMJ), said that the agitation for Anioma State was dated back to the period of regional government in the country.

According to him, the agitation for Anioma State must not be seen as an embodiment of one man.

He said that there was a need to sensitise the people on why Anioma State should be created.

Also speaking at the forum, Chief Ugo Ashibelua, Special Adviser to Sen. Ned Nwoko, said the people should look out for the merits of the project.

According to him, it is obvious that the Anioma people have close affinity with the Igbos in the south-east.

“Besides, what alternatives are there for those opposing the creation of Anioma State?’’ he asked.

He, however, urged the people to strive to achieve the creation of Anioma State in order not to become politically irrelevant.

In his contribution, the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Churchill Oyowe, said that it was apt for the people to agitate for the creation of Anioma State.

According to him, Nigeria is a big administrative entity; the creation of Anioma State will create more opportunities for all.

He said that the Anioma state, when created, could sustain itself given the quantum of mineral deposits among other resources in the area.

Oyowe said that the creation of the state would ensure administrative efficiency and enhance the development of the area.