The Senator Representing Delta North Senatorial District at the red chambers, Senator Ned Nwoko has said he is not responsible for the idea of pushing for the creation of an Anioma State.
According to Nwoko, the agitation for an Anioma State predates the creation of the entity Nigeria as it is today.
Speaking during an enlarge Anioma stakeholders summit with theme, ‘the renewed quest for the creation of an Anioma State’, held at Grand Hotel, Asaba, weekend, the Senator noted that he was only out to finish an agitation that was started more than fifty years ago.
He said, “we are one people, we speak the same language, wear the same clothes, eat the same food. So we know who the Aniomas are, except for people that live with us. I have been around, I love history, I have been around royal fathers, I have been around our elders, I like history and i know, that for a very long time, our people, our fathers, our forefathers, have been clamoring for an independent state, the state of Anioma.
“So what we are doing today is a continuation of whatever have been done or started almost fifty years ago. Like I always say for everybody that wants to listen, I did not start this process but my prayer is that I will finish it.
“When I was campaigning I made several promises and one of them was that we will seek an amendment of the Nigerian constitution. But We are not going to amend it for the sake of it, we will amend the constitution of Nigeria to have Anioma state. You must understand that there is a process and this process has already started, the process of getting it done eventually.”
Speaking further, the international lawyer disclosed that the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa was fully backing the creation of Anioma state.
He said, “I just came back from our party’s Congress, and at that meeting, I took my time to explain where we are to Senator Okowa, our party leader in the state, and he told me look Ned, I’m not opposed to Anioma state, I’m fully in support of Anioma state. You can quote me anywhere, Okowa told me that he is supporting Anioma state.”
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Continuing, Nwoko pointed that the quest for Anioma state was not due to any political interest, but for the development of the Anioma people, adding that, it has gained support from all stakeholders irrespective of political and party affiliation.
Also speaking during the summit, the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Hon. Ngozi Okolie, said he was fully in support of Senator Ned Nwoko and the quest for an Anioma state.
He said, “I’m hundred percent in support of Anioma state. When this project started initially, we had some reservations, but when Senator spoke to me personally I endorsed him hundred percent. To show my support, I was having a meeting in my house today, but i left them to come here and say yes, we want Anioma state.”
Other stakeholders who backed the quest for an Anioma State includes, traditional rulers from Anioma nation including the Dein of Agbor, Benjamin Ikenchukwu, socio-cultural groups, youth and student bodies, women groups amongst others.
