Leaders and stakeholders from the Aniocha and Oshimili areas of Delta State have firmly opposed the proposed bill by Senator Ned Nwoko seeking to create Anioma State and align it with Nigeria’s South East geopolitical zone.
Speaking under the umbrella of Njiko AniomaOshimili, the group described the move as “a distortion of history and a betrayal of Anioma’s distinct identity.”
In a communiqué signed by Dr. Okey Okonta, one of the prominent voices of the group, the leaders stated that they were “unequivocally against Senator Ned Nwoko’s bill proposing Anioma State as the sixth state in the South East.”
According to the statement, the bill disregards the region’s historical and administrative roots, which have always been linked to the South South rather than the South East.
“This stance betrays Anioma’s distinct identity, historical trajectory, and the vision of our past leaders like Senator (Obi) Nosike Ikpo, who represented Bendel East in the Nigerian Senate, and His Excellency Rt. Hon. Dennis Osadebey, the first Premier of the Midwest Region,” Okonta said.
He further noted that Anioma’s administrative evolution stemmed from Benin and Delta provinces, later forming part of the Midwest and Bendel States, now Edo and Delta States. “Our territories were part of Benin and Delta Provinces, evolving into the Midwest/Bendel, now Edo and Delta States – solidifying our ties to the South South,” he added.
Dr. Okonta dismissed Senator Nwoko’s argument as “a historical fallacy”, pointing out that the 1989 resolution of Anioma Royal Fathers clearly affirmed Anioma’s independent identity.
“Anioma is Anioma; Anioma is not Igbo. We are a syncretic cultural area with diverse origins — Bini, Igara, Yoruba, Igbo forming a distinct pathway. Not all Anioma people speak Igbo as their native tongue, which underscores our diversity,” he said.
The communiqué also referenced prominent Anioma figures, including the Asagba of Asaba, Professor Epiphany Azinge, and traditional leaders from Offac, Onu Ika, and Ndokwa, who had previously warned against any political or administrative attempt to subsume Anioma into the South East.
“This disregard denigrates the original concept of Anioma statehood championed by our leaders, predicated on sustaining Anioma’s independent identity within the South South,” the statement noted.
The group condemned the move as “a form of modern slavery”, arguing that the proposal serves external political interests rather than the prosperity of the Anioma people.
“This move by Senator Ned Nwoko appears driven by South Eastern desires for increased population and landmass to amplify their national voice — a self-serving agenda disregarding Anioma’s prosperity. They want your money, not your prosperity. Anioma people will not be articles for appeasing the South East,” the communiqué declared.
The leaders called for unity among Anioma’s subgroups, including Ika and Ndokwa, urging them to stand against the bill. They also demanded a referendum should the issue proceed further, stressing that Anioma’s rightful place remains in the South South geopolitical zone.
“Anioma is Anioma. We will not be auctioned for political ambition. We call on all Anioma sons and daughters to stand firm against this affront, defending our distinct identity and rightful regional affiliation,” the statement concluded.
