Anioma State: I Want Freedom for My People, Not Governorship Seat, Says Ned Nwoko
Anioma State: I Want Freedom for My People, Not Governorship, Says Ned Nwoko
The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District and leading agitator for the creation of Anioma State, Prince Ned Nwoko has again denied any interest in the governorship of the state when created. Speaking during a stakeholders’ summit convened by him in Asaba on Saturday to enlighten his constituents on the motive behind his pending bill at the National Assembly for the creation of Anioma State, Senator Nwoko said his major desire was to secure the freedom of his people of Delta North district..
The meeting was attended by numerous critical stakeholders in the Anioma nation, including some serving and former National and State Assembly members, traditional rulers, community leaders, women and youth groups.
Addressing the gathering, Senator Nwoko noted that the agitation for the creation of Anioma State has been a long standing quest which started over six decades ago, expressing the optimism that the dream would come true through his efforts.
He paid tributes to prominent sons of Anioma of blessed memory who started the struggle, including Asagba (Prof) Chike Edozien, George Orewa, Senator Nosike Ikpo and others. He said the meeting was meant to reawaken the consciousness of Anioma people on their desire to be independent.
The highly respected and charismatic lawmaker pointed out that it does not matter whether the state would be in the South East or South South geopolitical zone, stressing that he was only interested in Anioma people having a state of their own, and has no ambition to be Governor of the state.
Speaking further, he said he would prefer Ndokwa Federal Constituency to produce the first governor of Anioma State when created. He said a gesture would assuage the feeling of marginalization and neglect by Ndokwa people under successive administrations in the state. The other reason he gave is the fact that Ndokwa constituency is a major oil gas producing area in the country.
Speaking on the pending bill for the creation of the state, which he sponsored, he explained that it has successfully passed the first reading and would soon be read the second time, after which a public hearing would be organized preparatory to its passage. He promised to sponsor many Anioma people to the public hearing to show their support for the new state.
The Federal lawmaker said he was confident that President Bola Tinubu would give assent to the bill. Similarly, he said he said he was very hopeful that it would enjoy support from across the country as required by the Constitution.
Senator Nwoko told the stakeholders that he would do everything in his power to garner the support of his colleagues for the new state, pointing out that the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, was favourably disposed to the creation of Anioma State, but with a caveat that he would prefer it to be in the South South.
He urged sons and daughters of Anioma to see the agitation for the creation of their state as a collective responsibility and be prepared to be part of the success story of the new state.
In their separate remarks, Hon Ngozi Okolie, Hon Ossai N. Ossai, Hon Emeka Nwaobi, and some traditional rulers, including Ochendo Asagba, Engr. Louis Edozien; Obi Henry Kikachukwu of Ubuku,-Unor, Dein of Agbor, Ikenchuku Kiagborekuzi 1, among others, thanked Senator Ned Nwoko for his commitment to the agitation for the creation of Anioma State and pledged their support for the quest.
