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Tag: Anioma State creation

  • South-East Legislators Urged to Champion Anioma State Creation Bill

    South-East Legislators Urged to Champion Anioma State Creation Bill

    By Anne Azuka

    South-East legislators at the National Assembly have been urged to intensify efforts toward the realization of Anioma State creation, as advocates seek to secure constitutional approval for the proposed state and its zoning to the South-East geopolitical zone.

    The call was made by Chief Cosmas Chikeobi Agada, Patron of the Ndi Na Asu Bia Socio-Cultural Organization (NNABSCO), following a recent solidarity rally in Asaba, Delta State, in support of the Anioma State creation bill.The rally, held about a week ago, drew a broad coalition of Anioma people from the nine local government areas of Delta North Senatorial District, alongside youths, women, and traditional groups. The demonstration also recorded participation from Igbanke and other Anioma, Ika-speaking communities in Edo State, all endorsing the creation of Anioma State and its alignment with the South-East.

    Participants at the rally appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to leverage their political influence to support the passage of the bill currently before the National Assembly.Speaking in an interview with journalists, Agada, who hails from the South-East, described Anioma State creation as a historic opportunity to address long-standing grievances and restore what he termed “lost Igbo territories.” He acknowledged that the process has faced setbacks but maintained that progress remains steady. “Despite some disappointments along the way, on the average, the process is still on course,” he said. Agada commended Ohaneze Ndigbo for officially endorsing the Anioma State project, describing the support of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization as a major boost to the agitation.“

    We give kudos to Ohaneze Ndigbo for endorsing Anioma State. We are very grateful. Now, we are appealing to South-East legislators to see reasons to work for the success of the proposed Anioma State creation bill,” he stated. He urged lawmakers to rise above personal and political interests, stressing that the bill represents a collective Igbo aspiration rather than a sectional agenda. According to him, the creation of Anioma State would serve as a first step toward reintegrating Igbo communities currently located outside the South-East zone.

    Agada explained that the bill is presently at the caucus stage in the National Assembly, where internal consultations and voting by legislators are critical in determining which proposed states advance in the constitutional amendment process.“ At this stage, the votes and commitment of South-East legislators matter greatly. While governors may exert influence during the concurrence stage, the immediate responsibility lies with lawmakers from the South-East to ensure the success of this bill,” he said.He expressed confidence that with unified support from South-East legislators, the Anioma State creation bill stands a strong chance of scaling through legislative hurdles.

    Advocates insist that the creation of Anioma State would promote administrative efficiency, cultural identity, political inclusion, and equitable development for Anioma people, while strengthening the South-East’s representation within Nigeria’s federal structure.

  • Anioma, Igbanke Communities Endorse Anioma State Creation, Seek Zoning to South-East

    Anioma, Igbanke Communities Endorse Anioma State Creation, Seek Zoning to South-East

     

     By Anne Azuka

    A coalition of Anioma people in Delta State has formally declared support for the Anioma State creation bill, calling for the proposed state to be zoned to Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone. The endorsement was made during a peaceful solidarity rally held on Monday in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

    The rally, which drew participants from the nine local government areas that make up Delta North Senatorial District, also featured support from the Igbanke community of Edo State. The Igbanke people affirmed their Igbo identity and expressed a desire to be part of the proposed Anioma State in the South-East.

    Participants marched from the Inter-Bau Roundabout to the Delta State Government House, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards in support of the Anioma State creation. Some of the placards read: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Please Give Us Anioma State,” “Anioma Youths Support Anioma State,” and “Anioma People Are Happy to Unite with Our Igbo Brothers in the South-East.”

    At the Government House, the coalition passed a vote of confidence in the Anioma State creation initiative and submitted two formal letters to the Delta State Government. The letters, signed by representatives of Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North East, Ika South, Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ukwuani, and Igbanke communities, were presented to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori through the Chief of Staff, Prince Johnson Erijo.

    The letter submitted by Benjamin Atagana-Ofochi Esq., representing Ukwuani, appealed to Governor Oborevwori to use his office to support the Anioma State creation bill currently before the National Assembly.

    Speaking on behalf of the coalition, leaders including Chief Kingsley O. Kainebi, Ambassador Chief Jude Ogbekile, and Apostle Ayo Ashiedu urged all relevant stakeholders to support the creation of Anioma State in the South-East. They reaffirmed that the Anioma people are ancestrally, culturally, and linguistically Igbo.

    In a joint statement, the coalition said: “We are legitimate indigenes of Anioma—Aniocha, Ndokwa, Ika, and Oshimili—collectively known as Delta North. We are ancestrally, culturally, and linguistically Igbo.”

    The group cited Article 20(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as the basis for their demand, stating that the Anioma State creation would better protect their political, economic, and sociocultural interests within the South-East zone.

    They added that while they have coexisted peacefully with neighbouring ethnic groups such as the Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw, and Itsekiri across different administrative eras, the time had come for Anioma people to have a state of their own and reunite with their kith and kin in the South-East.

    Responding on behalf of the governor, Prince Johnson Erijo assured the protesters that the Oborevwori administration was not opposed to the Anioma State creation. He said the government remained open, attentive, and respectful of the people’s aspirations.

    Erijo explained that the process of state creation is clearly outlined in the Nigerian Constitution and includes formal petitions to the National Assembly, legislative procedures, and the conduct of a referendum across the affected local government areas and communities.

    “If a majority of the people vote in favour of Anioma State, that decision will be respected,” he said, urging the coalition to sustain their peaceful approach as they pursue the Anioma State creation agenda.

  • Delta Government Backs Anioma State Creation, Insists on Constitutional Due Process

    Delta Government Backs Anioma State Creation, Insists on Constitutional Due Process

     

    By Anne Azuka

    The Delta State Government has declared that it is not opposed to the creation of Anioma State, provided the demand is pursued strictly in line with the constitutional provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The government’s position was made known on Monday in Asaba when Anioma youths, drawn from the nine local government areas of Delta North Senatorial District, staged a peaceful protest to the Government House. The protesters were seeking renewed support for the long-standing agitation for the creation of Anioma State and its zoning to the South-East geopolitical zone.

    The youths, who marched calmly to the Government House gate, displayed placards with inscriptions such as “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Please Give Us Anioma State,” “Anioma Youths Support Anioma State,” and “Anioma People Are Happy to Unite with Our Igbo Brothers in the South-East.”

    Addressing the protesters, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Government House, Prince Johnson Erijo, assured them that the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori harboured no opposition to the legitimate aspirations of the Anioma people.

    Prince Erijo said the state government remained committed to democratic principles, the rule of law, and the collective will of the people, stressing that any lawful demand supported by the majority would receive due consideration.

    He commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct, describing it as a demonstration of maturity, responsibility, and genuine commitment to their cause. According to him, Governor Oborevwori had been fully briefed on the protest and directed that the youths be engaged and their concerns listened to.

    The Chief of Staff noted that the agitation for Anioma State was neither misplaced nor improperly articulated, adding that it deserved sincere and objective consideration within the bounds of the law.

    He further emphasized the importance of unity among Anioma people, stating that a clear and common position would strengthen their agitation. According to him, internal disagreements could weaken the process and create unnecessary obstacles.

    Explaining the constitutional framework for state creation, Prince Erijo said the process involved formal petitions and memoranda to the National Assembly, legislative reviews, and the conduct of a referendum among the affected areas.

    He explained that such a referendum would involve Anioma-speaking local government areas, including Aniocha North and South, Oshimili North and South, Ika North East and Ika South, Ndokwa West and Ndokwa East, as well as other interested enclaves such as Igbanke in Edo State.

    Prince Erijo assured the youths that once a referendum was conducted and the majority of the people voted in favour of Anioma State, the decision would be respected. He reiterated that Governor Oborevwori would support any outcome that reflected the lawful and majority will of the people.

    Earlier, the protesting youths, speaking under a coalition, reaffirmed their demand for the creation of Anioma State and its zoning to the South-East. They maintained that ancestrally, culturally, and linguistically, they are Igbo people and should be officially recognised as such.

    Speaking through their leaders, including Benjamin Atagana-Ofochi of the Ukwuani Youth Vanguard, Ayo Ashiedu of Aniocha North, Kingsley Kainebi of Ika North East, and Chief Jude Ogbekile of the Igbanke community, the youths appealed to the Delta State Government for political and moral support.

    They acknowledged that state creation followed constitutional procedures but noted that the backing of sitting governors was critical in advancing such agitations. The group described the creation of Anioma State as a win-win arrangement, noting that Asaba would naturally become the capital of the proposed state, while Delta State could designate a new capital.

    The youths also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to support the bill for the creation of Anioma State, reaffirming their resolve to reunite with their kith and kin in the South-East.