In a historic and unanimous decision, the Izu Anioma—the umbrella body representing Anioma stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political leaders, and student representatives in Delta North—has endorsed Senator Ned Nwoko for a second term in the Senate. The endorsement comes in recognition of his leadership role in the ongoing campaign for the creation of Anioma State.
Endorsement and Commendation
Following a high-level stakeholders' engagement, leaders praised the senator for his "productive representation" in the National Assembly and his unwavering dedication to the Anioma State project. The endorsement marks a significant show of confidence in Nwoko's legislative performance and his commitment to advancing the interests of the Anioma people.
Warning Against Divisive Politics
During the meeting, traditional rulers cautioned against divisive political tendencies, specifically targeting former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his recent entry into the 2027 senatorial race under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Okowa, who declared his intention to contest, has sparked controversy by opposing Nwoko's stance that the proposed Anioma State should align with the South-East geopolitical zone. Instead, the former governor advocates retaining the state within the South-South region.
Stakeholders described Okowa's position as counterproductive, warning that conflicting narratives could undermine the long-standing agitation for state creation. They emphasized the need for unity and a focused approach to achieving the Anioma State dream.
Support for South-East Alignment
In a move to preserve unity and maintain focus, the Izu Anioma reaffirmed its support for aligning the proposed state with the South-East, insisting that this offers the most viable pathway for actualizing the Anioma State project. This stance was reinforced during a meeting of the Technical Committee on the Creation of Anioma State, held at the palace of the Obuzor of Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area.
Historical Context and Progress
Presiding over the session, the Obuzor of Ibusa, Louis Nwaoboshi, traced the agitation for Anioma State back to 1950, noting that successive generations have sustained the demand whenever constitutional opportunities arose. He commended Senator Nwoko for leveraging the current legislative window by sponsoring a bill for the creation of Anioma State, with Asaba proposed as the capital.
"This is a constitutional process which we, as a technical committee, are objectively piloting to fruition. Significant progress has been made, but the emergence of divisive politics is worrisome," the monarch stated. He warned against politicizing the movement, stressing that the collective aspiration for statehood must take precedence over partisan interests. "Politicising the state creation movement under our watch is unacceptable. The focus of all stakeholders must shift from party politics to the realisation of our age-long dream—Anioma State," he added.
Call for Restraint and Unity
The stakeholders further urged political actors in Delta North to exercise restraint, warning against actions that could derail the process or create unnecessary tension ahead of the 2027 elections. They emphasized that history would judge harshly anyone found working against the realization of Anioma State, calling for unity of purpose as the constitutional process gathers momentum.
