The campaign for the creation of Anioma State has gained renewed momentum following a meeting between Senator Ned Nwoko, traditional rulers, and members of the Technical Committee on Anioma State Creation. The meeting, held at the palace of the Obuzor of Ibusa, brought together representatives of various groups involved in the state creation campaign. Nwoko, a prominent advocate of the proposed state, has been pushing for its creation for several years. The meeting aimed to review progress made on the Anioma State project and consider the next steps in the campaign.
The closed-door meeting was described as a constituency briefing, and although details of the discussions were not made public, participants said the meeting reaffirmed their determination to sustain the agitation beyond the 2027 general elections. Nwoko assured stakeholders that the aspiration for Anioma State remained alive. The meeting focused largely on the broader state creation campaign rather than Nwoko's political future. Stakeholders stressed that the agitation should remain a collective project of the Anioma people and should not be tied to any individual, political party, or electoral contest.
The demand for Anioma State has been pursued for several years by traditional rulers, political leaders, professionals, youth organizations, community groups, and advocacy bodies across the Anioma-speaking areas. A member of the Technical Committee, Dr. Christopher Nwayalani, said stakeholders agreed on the need to sustain engagement and advocacy regardless of the outcome of the 2027 elections or whoever eventually represents Delta North in the Senate. The proposed state is being championed as a new political and administrative entity to be carved out of the present Delta State.
According to Dr. Nwayalani, the Technical Committee has continued to engage traditional institutions, political leaders, community groups, and other stakeholders as part of efforts to advance the proposal. The latest meeting highlighted the importance of unity among the various groups involved in the campaign, particularly given their different political affiliations and interests. Nwayalani noted that the creation of a new state ultimately required constitutional and legislative processes, making sustained advocacy and broad stakeholder engagement critical to the campaign.
The pursuit of Anioma State should transcend individual political ambitions and remain focused on the collective interests of the Anioma people. The meeting provided another opportunity for stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to the long-running aspiration. Stakeholders reportedly emphasized the need for unity and collective action to achieve the goal of creating Anioma State. The campaign has been ongoing for several years, with various groups and individuals advocating for the creation of the new state.
The creation of Anioma State would bring the total number of states in Nigeria to 37. The proposed state would be carved out of the present Delta State, and its creation would require significant constitutional and legislative changes. Senator Ned Nwoko has been a key player in the campaign for Anioma State, and his continued advocacy has helped to keep the issue in the public eye. The stakeholders' determination to sustain the agitation beyond 2027 suggests that the campaign is likely to continue for some time.
The renewed push for Anioma State comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with issues of governance and representation. The creation of new states is often seen as a way to address these issues and provide more effective governance at the local level. However, the process of creating new states is complex and requires significant political and legislative effort. The stakeholders involved in the Anioma State campaign are likely to face significant challenges in their efforts to achieve their goal.
Key points
- Senator Ned Nwoko and stakeholders have renewed their push for the creation of Anioma State, Nigeria's 37th state.
- The proposed state would be carved out of the present Delta State.
- The stakeholders have vowed to sustain the agitation beyond the 2027 general elections.
