With total affirmation and firmness of resolve, the people of Delta North Senatorial District, Friday unanimously demanded the creation of Anioma as the 37th state under the Nigerian federation.
This was the high point of a public hearing on Constitutional Review hosted by the 10th Senate of the National Assembly at Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa -Ibom state.
A bill for the creation of Anioma state sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District had in the past few months, inspired widespread clamour for Anioma, reaching crescendo with the constitutionally-driven public approval at the Senate hearing.
At the momentous event chaired by the senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio, with Senator Nwoko and several other federal lawmakers in attendance, the quest for Anioma topped deliberations, ahead of discussions on local government autonomy, gender equality, electoral and institutional reforms.
The Senate president Akpabio, said the pubic hearing witnessed by thousands of participants, from the six states of the South South geological-political zone, including royal fathers, socio cultural groups, women and youths, was organized “to ensure that the voices of the people are heard” for government action.
An avalanche of memoranda all supporting the creation of Anioma from the present Delta state were submitted at the public hearing, by various personalities and socio cultural groups.
Speaking on behalf of Anioma traditional rulers, the Obi of Ubulu -Uno, HRM Obi Afamefuna Henry Kikachukwu said all the royal fathers support the creation of Anioma state.
Obi Kikachukwu who is also the 2nd Vice -Chairman, Delta Traditional Rulers Council said “Anioma is overdue as the oldest state agitation in Nigeria’s history, lingering for 71 years, since the colonial times”
A coalition of over 100 civil society and cultural groups, represented by Dr. Omenazu Jackson, coordinator, International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, said the creation of Anioma would promote equity and heal wounds of the Nigerian civil war, inflicted by Anioma genocide of the 1960s.
This was collaborated by legal practitioner, Barrister Tony Ogana who was mandated to present a memorandum validating the renewed quest for Anioma .
In his remarks, Pastor Nwachukwu Ugbekile James of Akikuwa Cultural Initiative who spoke on behalf of Igbanke community in Edo state said the people shared genealogical affinity with indigenous Anioma and called for the inclusion of Igbanke in the proposed state.
Other speakers noted that the necessity of Anioma had been resonating across constituent communities of Aniocha/Oshimili, Ndokwa/ Ukwuani and Ika, expressing profound gratitude to senator Ned Nwoko for igniting the glow of Anioma statehood with unprecedented passion.
Key figures at the public hearing were the Senate committee chairman on Constitutional Review, Senator Seriake Dickson, Governor Umor Eno of Akwa Ibom state, represented by the deputy governor, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi, Senator Ede Dafinone, Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Florence Ita -Giwa among others.
