BY GODFREY OSEIN
The push for the creation of Anioma State is gaining momentum, and it should. This is not a new conversation, but the current wave of advocacy, especially led by Senator Ned Nwoko, has reignited national attention on the demand for equity, justice, and fair representation in Nigeria’s federal structure.
However, there is a growing need to correct a harmful narrative: Anioma State is not Ned Nwoko’s personal matter, neither is it to feather his political ambition. It is a legitimate aspiration of the Anioma people, deeply rooted in the region’s history, identity, and place within the Nigerian federation.
Though Ned Nwoko has emerged as a leading voice in this movement, he is not the owner of it. He started from where the founding fathers stopped. He had said it several times that he did not start the fight but gave a caveat, that he would finish the fight.
The creation of Anioma State is not about any one individual, not about political ambitions or personal gain. It is about correcting structural imbalances and ensuring that the Anioma people have a voice and administrative presence that reflects their population and contribution to national development.
It must be clearly stated: Ned Nwoko has nothing personal to gain from the creation of Anioma State. He has openly and consistently declared, across several public fora, that he has no interest in becoming the governor of the proposed state. He has emphasized that his role is purely to advance the cause, using his platform, experience, and access to push a long-overdue agenda. His advocacy is driven by principle and a commitment to the future of Anioma people, not political positioning.
The argument that the Anioma State movement is a personal project of Senator Nwoko is therefore not only false but also dangerous. It attempts to shrink a regional cause into the frame of individual’s ambition, when in truth, it is a broader campaign for equity and justice. This distortion diverts attention from the real issue: the structural imbalance that continues to deny the Anioma region their fair share in the Nigerian equation.
For those claiming that stakeholders were not consulted and that Nwoko is running the movement as a personal project, that’s also a false narrative. It must be stated that everybody important in Anioma land, both political and traditional, has been consulted. Traditional rulers, political leaders, technocrats, youth groups, and other critical stakeholders from the Anioma region were approached for their input and support.
The advocacy has been transparent, inclusive, and rooted in community dialogue. Yet, many remain unwilling to support the movement, not because they question its necessity, but simply because they are not the ones pulling the strings. And since they are not at the driver’s seat or their preferred political leaders not the promoters, it should be brought down.
This is the unfortunate truth. Some people are driven more by ego than by vision. They would rather see the movement stalled than support a cause led by someone else. But this movement is not about personal glory, it is about the Anioma people. It is a disservice to the community, it is a disservice to the rural people who would want a government closer to them, if political rivalry or personal envy overrides collective interest.
Those who are truly committed to Anioma’s future should come forward willingly and support this cause. History is shaped by those who act, not those who sit on the sidelines waiting for the spotlight to shine on them.
Anioma State is already a serious national conversation, not a factional campaign. The movement needs unity, not division. It needs bold voices, strategic alliances, and above all, a people-driven vision. Those who believe in the future of Anioma should focus less on personalities and more on the purpose.
This is not about Ned Nwoko. It is about Anioma. And if Anioma must rise, its leaders, past, present, and future, must learn to put community above self.
Godfrey Osein writes from Agbor
