Asaba, Delta – In a powerful and impassioned address today, Senator (Dr.) Prince Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has reignited the call for the creation of Anioma State, emphasizing the region’s deep-rooted Igbo identity and its historical quest for justice.

Speaking at an event marked by the backdrop of the Nigerian Senate and the 1999 Constitution, the senator delivered a detailed thread on X, outlining the cultural, historical, and political arguments supporting his demand.

Senator Nwoko declared, “Anioma is Igbo; Anioma deserves justice; and Anioma state must be created.”

He argued that the Anioma people, spread across nine local government areas in Delta North, share an inseparable bond with the broader Igbo nation through language, tradition, blood, and identity.

Citing shared market days (Eke, Orie, Afo, and Nkwo), cultural practices like masquerades, and linguistic similarities in names and dialects, he asserted that colonial distortions and post-war politics have unjustly marginalized the region.

The senator highlighted Anioma’s storied past, including the Ekwumeku Resistance War (1883–1914), a 31-year guerrilla struggle against British colonialism that showcased the region’s fierce spirit.

He also somberly recounted the Asaba Massacre of October 1967, during the Nigerian Civil War, where hundreds of men and boys were executed by federal troops in a tragic attempt at ethnic cleansing.

“Anioma bled not because of its geography, but because of its identity: Igbo,” Nwoko stated, underscoring the enduring trauma and resilience of the people.

Framing the creation of Anioma State as a matter of national justice, the senator pointed to the imbalance in Nigeria’s federal structure, where the South-East zone, predominantly Igbo, has only five states compared to six or seven in other zones.

He proposed Anioma State, with Asaba as its capital, as a natural correction, promising to bridge East and West while leveraging the region’s agricultural richness, oil and gas reserves, and human capital.

“Anioma State will unlock these potentials, attract investment, create jobs, and empower the next generation,” he said.

Senator Nwoko concluded by positioning Anioma as a unifying force, capable of fostering inter-ethnic cooperation and healing the wounds of war.

“Creating Anioma State will honour our martyrs, preserve our heritage, and secure our children’s future,” he declared, calling on all Nigerians to join the cause.

As the debate gains momentum, the senator’s advocacy marks a significant moment in the ongoing struggle for recognition and equity, with the eyes of the nation now turned toward Delta North.

Further developments are eagerly anticipated as the push for Anioma State continues to unfold.