Senator Ned Nwoko’s Wisdom Resonates as Anioma Summit Holds in Asaba
Senator Ned Nwoko’s Wisdom Resonates as Anioma Summit Holds in Asaba
It’s history day for the good people of Delta North Senatorial District, otherwise known as Ndi Anioma. It is a day they have been looking forward to as they gather for an epochal summit at Ide Ahaba’s Grand Hotel, Asaba, the capital of Delta State. The great Summit is sure to galvanise the predominantly Igbo-speaking populace behind the quest for Anioma State creation.
The agitation for Anioma State creation is by no means a new movement as it dates back to over 60 years ago. The champion of the renewed push for the creation of Anioma State is no other person than the flamboyant and highly influential philanthropist, Prince Ned Nwoko who currently represents Delta North district in the Senate.
The district is really privileged to have this towering lawmaker with powerful national and international influence as its distinguished senator. Senator Nwoko, who is highly connected, is only keeping aloft the torch passed on to him and his generation by past Anioma heroes and heroines such as the former Premier of the defunct Mid-West region, Chief Dennis Chukwude Osadebay, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue and a host of other Anioma greats.
It is imperative to note that Senator Ned Nwoko’s current efforts is totally a selfless drive borne out of his genuine love for his people of Anioma, an endowed district made up of nine local government areas out of the total 25 LGAs in Delta State. As stated, he did not initiate the campaign for Anioma statehood but he is only a willing servant of his constituents, pushing the actualization of the state of Anioma in the desired direction.
Senator Nwoko is spending billions of his hard earned money to host sundry activities including organizing this unique summit of the entire people of Delta North to deliberate on the way forward for actualizing the dream of Anioma State.
One thing that is bound to resonate today is Senator Ned Nwoko’s advocacy for Anioma to be integrated into the South East rather than the South-South – a pathway which seems to be the only feasible and realistic option open for his people’s true independence and happiness.
The wisdom behind that calculated move by the Idumuje Ugboko-born prince will be on the front-burner today as diverse political, traditional and civil society leaders as well as analysts and opinion leaders of Anioma descent are beginning to wake up to the fact that the ultimate goal is the creation of Anioma State as a federating unit in the Nigerian federation. The Southeast route, if explored carefully with singular purpose, seems to be the shortest way to the realization of Anioma State. In truth, when restricted to such limited options, what else can an intelligent representative of his people do than go for what is most feasible?
The National Assembly and the federal government will be more likely disposed to approve the creation of Anioma State as part of the Southeast in terms of geo-political groupings. Anioma will serve to establish a balancing role as the sixth state in the Southeast geopolitical zone, which presently has five states only as opposed to Southsouth and other zones which already have six each, except the North West with seven. And Delta North in terms of linguistics, names and culture, has a consanguinal relationship with the Southeast more than the Southsouth with its multiplicity of disparate ethnic nationalities and culture groups.
We should also not oversight the fact that the agitation for Anioma state creation is a movement nurtured by generations of leaders from the Delat North district and even across the Niger in places like Onitsha, Uguta, Ogbaru and Ahoada, for decades. It is a longstanding quest struggled for and sustained tirelessly by a people united by culture and language. Thus, to abruptly dismiss it based solely on regional categorization could be viewed as a short-sighted decision, lacking in logic and historical perspectives.
Today is the D-day for the aggregation of Anioma stakeholders’ views and opinions. It is evident that most Anioma people want the state created without further delay regardless of the zonal placement because that will not affect the revenue of the new state. Also that will not stop the state from having three senators, more members of House of Representatives, at least a Federal Minister and Federal Permanent Secretary at all time among other benefits. Kudos to Senator Ned Nwoko for his foresight, selflessness and courage.
