A proposal by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta north senatorial district in the National Assembly for the creation of Anioma State has elicited division within the district.
He had revealed during an interactive session with indigenes of Anioma in Abuja last week, that the creating Anioma state is not just about increasing the number of states but about ensuring fair representation and resource allocation for the South East.
According to him, the creation of Anioma State is both urgent and compelling, promising to present a bill for the creation of Anioma state.
But reacting to the proposal, the Ukwuani people which is among the nine local government areas of Delta north region in the state, popularly referred to as Anioma, disagreed with the senator.
In a statement on the issue, the Ukwuani people under the aegis of VOTAbanum, said they had been strange bedfellows with the people of Anioma and preferred to hobnob with the Urhobo, Isoko, Itsekiri ethnic nationalities than the people of Aniocha and Oshimili.
The statement was jointly signed by VOTAbanum, Chairman, Abel Emah-Iyesele; Secretary and Dr. Mike Akpati; Hon. Aneke Efemeni, Bar. Sam Chukuji, members.
They said it is a well and thoroughly considered view and opinion of the generality of Ukwuani people that Anioma is not an expression of the people of the zone.
“Before the proposal by Senator Ned Nwoko to rekindle the campaign for the establishment of Anioma State, the Ukwuani nation had already conveyed their stance in 2021 through the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), the leading socio-cultural organization of the Ukwuani people, in a report presented by the Adhoc Committee on States Creation and Geopolitical Zones Arrangements.
“Ukwuani had never been a part of the defunct Benin Province where Aniocha, Oshimili and Ika were integral constituents. Ukwuani congenially had been part and parcel of the original Delta province where we still share more robust cultural affinity.
“Ukwuani nation relates more comfortably and mutually with the people of the core Delta Province as against Aniocha, Oshimili, and Ika of the Benin Province. Though tongues may differ, and surely they do, the Ukwuani nation finds unity in diversity best within our Delta province enclave.
“The positions enumerated and enunciated above, is the considered views and strong belief that the Ukwuani nation will be comfortable and better of placed among the comity of states with the original core Delta province peoples, that is — the Urhobo, Isoko, Itshekiri, and Ijaw ethnic nationalities.
“With the comparative advantage Ukwuani has, Ukwuani nation can request for an Ukwuani state. We have the natural resources, population, land mass and human capital needs in abundance to make a nation state.
“We, the entire Ukwuani people are strongly and vehemently opposed to the creation of Anioma state without recourse to factors such as capital location, LGA distribution, placement of government facilities” the statement said.
