By Fatima Saka
The distinguished senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Ned Nwoko, has moved for creation of a new state named Anioma, citing the necessity to combat the marginalization experienced in the region.
He emphasized that the establishment of this state would contribute to the development of the zones and have a positive political impact.
Senator Ned Nwoko disclosed that he has garnered backing from fellow senators from Delta, the South East, and various stakeholders for the formation of Anioma state in the South East geopolitical zone.
He mentioned that a bill for the creation of Anioma state had successfully passed its first reading in the Senate on July 2.
During an interactive session with journalists regarding the bill for Anioma state, Senator Ned Nwoko stated that the bill aims to amend the provisions of the 1999 Constitution to bring about the creation of Anioma state.
Highlighting the current disparity in the number of states, Senator Nwoko noted that the South-East geopolitical zone currently has five states, unlike other zones which have six each, except for the North-West with seven states.
Ned expressed that he got widespread support for the creation of Anioma state from key stakeholders, Nwoko mentioned that two other senators from Delta state, Ede Dafinone (Delta Central) and Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (Delta South), are in favor of the state’s establishment.
“Dismissive of a report alleging insufficient consultation prior to presenting the bill for Anioma state, Nwoko emphasized the timeliness and necessity of creating the state to address longstanding concerns and challenges faced by the Igbo community in Nigeria.”
He emphasized the urgent need to rectify the imbalance and historical injustices faced by the Igbo community, stressing that the creation of Anioma state would alleviate cries of marginalization and provide a more equitable representation for the Igbo population.
Nwoko underscored the importance of finding a lasting solution to the region’s issues, stating that the creation of a state serves a specific purpose of addressing critical concerns rather than being a trivial endeavor.
He expressed optimism in the current administration’s commitment to rectifying past wrongs and addressing the challenges faced by the South East region.
