By Maximus Progress
When the history of state creation in Nigeria is written, one name is already standing tall in the struggle for Anioma State—Senator Prince Ned Nwoko. To him, Anioma State is not just a political aspiration; it is a moral debt owed to a people who have been shortchanged for too long. And he has vowed to fight until that debt is paid.
A VOICE THAT WILL NOT BE SILENCED
At the National Assembly in Abuja, debates on restructuring, equity, and justice often fade with time. Yet, Nwoko’s voice on Anioma State continues to rise above the noise. Calm in tone but fierce in conviction, he has repeatedly declared:
“Anioma State is not negotiable. It is justice delayed, but it cannot be denied. For this, I will fight to finish.”
These words have become a rallying cry for Anioma sons and daughters, both at home and in the diaspora.
THE CASE FOR ANIOMA
Nigeria’s uneven state creation has long been a thorn in the side of the South-East. While the North-West boasts seven states, the South-East remains with only five. This imbalance is not only unfair but also politically disadvantageous. With Anioma State carved out of Delta North, the South-East would finally gain parity with other zones.
For Anioma people, the demand is more than numbers. It is about identity, history, and recognition. They share linguistic, cultural, and ancestral ties with the Igbo, yet they have remained politically outside the South-East fold. Anioma State would correct this anomaly.
As Nwoko explains it:
“We are not asking for a favour; we are demanding equity. Anioma has the population, the resources, and the history. What we lack is political justice, and that is what I am fighting for.”
A LEGACY OF STRUGGLE
The Anioma demand did not begin with Ned Nwoko. From Chief Dennis Osadebay, the premier of the old Mid-Western Region, to later agitators in the 1980s and 1990s, Anioma leaders have pressed for recognition. Yet, none has pushed the agenda at the national stage with the same consistency and intensity as Nwoko.
Unlike others who raised the banner only during election seasons, Nwoko has woven Anioma State into his legislative agenda, ensuring it is tabled at every opportunity. Analysts say his international exposure, legal background, and political experience have armed him with the tools to fight both within and outside the chambers of power.
CRITICS AND COURAGE
Of course, every agitation attracts opposition. Some argue that Nigeria’s economy cannot sustain new states. Others insist that political restructuring should take precedence over state creation. But Nwoko has never been deterred.
“Great nations are built on fairness,” he counters. “If we claim to be one Nigeria, then no group should remain perpetually disadvantaged. Anioma is not asking for charity. We are asking for our right.”
THE PEOPLE’S SENATOR
Beyond politics, what strengthens Nwoko’s resolve is the overwhelming support of the Anioma people. From Asaba to Agbor, from Igbodo to Onicha-Ugbo, market women, students, traditional rulers, and intellectuals see in him a torchbearer.
Chief Chukwuma Okolie, a community elder in Ibusa, captures the sentiment:
“We have had many who spoke about Anioma before, but Ned is different. He has the courage, he has the platform, and he has the determination. We believe he will not stop until Anioma becomes a reality.”
FIGHTING TO THE FINISH
What does “fight to finish” mean for Senator Ned Nwoko? It means sustained legislative lobbying, mobilizing Anioma elites, seeking alliances across Nigeria, and keeping the agitation alive in both media and public discourse. It also means preparing the next generation of Anioma leaders to carry the torch if the battle takes longer than expected.
For him, it is a cause greater than personal ambition. It is a covenant with history.
“I may not control the timing, but I control my resolve,” he says with finality. “Anioma State will come, and when it does, generations will say we fought and we prevailed.”
The journey to Anioma State is long and steep, but in Ned Nwoko, the people have found a fighter who will not surrender. Critics may doubt, opponents may resist, but his words remain unshaken:
For the Anioma State creation, Senator Ned Nwoko will fight to finish.
GOD BLESS SEN NED NWOKO
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