By Frank Iroroh
The case for the creation of Anioma State was robustly presented by the duo of His Royal Majesty, Obi Henry Kikachukwu, the Obi of Ubulu Unor (Vice Chairman of Delta North Traditional Rulers Council), and Chief Barr. Anthony Ogana, head, communication and publicity department of the Technical Committee on the creation of Anioma State.
The presentations were made before the Senate Committee on the Amendment of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, during its public siting held simultaneously on 4th-5th July 2025 in the 6 geopolitical zones in the country. The South South geopolitical zonal hearing was held in Ikot Ekpene Akwa Ibom State.
The major debate at Ikot Ekpene sitting of 4th July 2025, was at the instance of the Bill for the creation of Anioma State, sponsored by Distinguished Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (SNMN), the Senator representing the good people of Delta North, in the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Anioma State creation Bill has gone through the 1st and 2nd reading on the floor of the Nigerian Senate and was slated for the public hearing. It tops the agenda of the Ikot Ekpene public hearing.
The Senate Rules for public sitting were adopted.
The presentation of the Anioma case was preceded by great excitement and enthusiasm of Anioma people who were there, en mass to witness the historic event.
At Ikot Ekpene, Anioma is everywhere, as stated by Senator A. Bassey of Akwa Ibom East senatorial district. He clearly described the mood of Anioma people in the hall of Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, venue of the public sitting.
The Senate President Obong Godswill Akpabio, who conducted the proceedings, call for objections to the proposed Anioma State, and was answered with no objection, there was no opposition to the creation of Anioma State
The gavel was struck three times with a resounding No opposition to the creation of Anioma State This was the senate committee’s take home on the Anioma State creation bill. There was no opposition to the creation of Anioma State.
Presentation by the Isoko communities in Ndokwa East LGA
Isoko Communities in Ndokwa East LGA presented a case before the Senate Committee, they made it clear that they are not opposed to the creation of Anioma State, but argued that they are Isoko people domiciled in Ndokwa East Local Government Area and that they do not want to join Anioma State. They demanded to have a local government of their own in the new Delta State or alternatively be merged with Isoko North and Isoko South LGAS.
There was no objection to their presentation. This was noted by the senate committee.
Igbanke and Olije communities’ presentation.
Igbanke and olije communities currently domiciled in Edo State, also made a strong presentation before the Senate Committee. They said that they are in support of the creation of Anioma State, that they are Ika people, and that they want to join their Ika brothers and sisters in Anioma State.
There was also no opposition to their demand. This was also noted by the senate committee.
This was how the hearing went as far as the Anioma State creation public hearing is concerned.
The documents supporting the creation of Anioma State were tendered to the Senate Committee, thus providing the Nigerian Senate everything they need to proceed with the
3rd reading, and call for a referendum.
DELTA NORTH LOCAL COUNCIL CHAIRMEN SELF DENIAL.
The denial of Delta North local government council chairmen of the document they willingly signed in support of the creation of Anioma State is of no effect, it is medicine after death, colloquially put, their assertion is just a media stunt intended to appease the man who planted them in the Local Government Councils.
Their actions proved that they do not owe allegiance to the people who supposedly elected them to the office.
They boycotted the public hearing, thereby missing a golden opportunity to speak on behalf of their people, an opportunity for them to tell the Senate Committee what their people want or what they want for their people.
They prefer to obey the instruction of Okowa, their boss, rather than stand up for Anioma people.
They denied themselves and outrightly chicken out at a point when the people needed them most.
It is pitiable, and that is what happens when people allow clowns to be imposed on them by a single individual. Okowa is flexing his muscles, he is demonstrating to Anioma people that he has the power to dictate our future, time shall tell.
Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU) Grumbles
It was surprising to read a press release by NNU, claiming they were not allowed to present their position on the creation of Anioma State at the 4th July public hearing, which they sarcastically described as a sham.
The assertion of NNU is a blatant lie and a very big lie for that matter.
Everybody who wanted to speak was given a chance and time to speak.
The sitting adopted the Senate rules.
People and groups were permitted to speak. It was a no-hold bar section.
A call for memo was issued to interest groups long before the public hearing.
The question is, did NNU present a memo to the Senate Committee before the public hearing? If they did, they should have stood up to defend their position. They should have stood their ground and aired their view instead of resorting to blackmailing the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It must be pointed out that aside from the presentations of Anioma State creation case:
Women groups made cases for slots in government at all levels.
People with disabilities presented their case, and
The Nigerian Labor Congress NLC advocated for labor at the public hearing.
Issuing a press release that they were not allowed to present their case is crazy and hilarious, and a clear case of blackmail. Nobody from NNU stood up to speak. I challenge such individuals to provide evidence of his or her allegation.
However, there is a takeaway on the NNU press release. They made a great proposal. They stated that they want Ndosumili and Ukwani people to have 9 local government areas and two Federal Constituencies in the Anioma State.
This is a great demand, you cannot make an omelette without breaking an egg. There must be an Anioma State for the Ndokwa nation to have 9 LGAS and 2 Federal Constituencies. That is the essence of the struggle for the creation of Anioma State, to bring government closer to the people. That is the fight being championed by our distinguished senator, Ned Nwoko. It is a fight for all Anioma people.
I wish the Onu-Ika, the supposed mouthpiece of Ika people, would take a cue from NNU and put forward the demand of the Ika nation in the Anioma State. Onu-Ika should sample opinions from communities that make up Ika nation and come up with a position paper. They should not wait for Okowa to tell them what they should do and what they heartily desire. Ika North East LGA should be divided into three or four LGAs.
Anioma people should unite to realise the Anioma dream. Anioma State is for the sociopolitical and economic emancipation of the Anioma people.
Sen. Okowa and Sen Nwaoboshi cannot hold the Anioma nation to ranson.
It is evident that the opposition to the creation of Anioma State is being instigated by Sen. Okowa, who never hides his disdain for the creation of Anioma State.
He has recently been joined by Senator Nwaoboshi, both former senators who did nothing to uplift the Anioma people while in the senate. They are the ones beating the drums, danced by some of these clandestine groups.
The two former senators are being motivated by jealousy. Jealousy of not being in the spotlight. Okowa is bittered for not being the one in the spotlight. He should blame his incompetence and lack of foresight for his woes. He was in the Senate for four years, and he did mention anything about Anioma State creation. He did not even raise a simple motion calling for the creation of Anioma State. Now he is doing everything to truncate the struggle, he is not going to succeed.
The unfortunate news is that both Senator Okowa and Senator Nwaoboshi were not present at Ikot Ekpene, to state their objections to Anioma State creation. They cowardly hide and choose to play their hide and seek dirty games.
This is not a time to hide, they should be courageous enough to come out and publicity tell Anioma people where they stand on the Anioma State creation. Silence is not golden now.
They should tell us what they want and stop holding nocturnal meetings and instigating groups to derail the yearning of the Anioma people.
Sen. Okowa and Sen. Nwaoboshi should study the bill for the creation of Anioma State sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (SNMN) and tell Anioma people the areas they found repulsive and detrimental to the interest and political aspiration of the Anioma people.
Let them show us what they have and let us collaborate to achieve the Anioma State.
I support Anioma State creation. My community is in full support of distinguished Senator Ned Munir Nwoko in his drive, determination, and dexterity to deliver Anioma State.
Let’s unite to end slavery and marginalization in our own land, let’s fight for our freedom, freedom from haters who do not want to see us grow and freedom from slave masters within us.
We need unity of purpose as we prepare for the referendum on the creation of Anioma State.
Fank Iroroh is
A Nedite and
A member of the Media Subcommittee on
Anioma State Creation.
