I am shocked reading barrages of open letters and articles by some Anioma groups distancing themselves from the move by our distinguished Senator, Prince Ned Nwoko to have Anioma state created. The tones of some of these articles and letters left me wondering whether the authors of such articles and letters are from Anioma region or are being used by the enemies of the area to truncate the long yearning of the people to have a state.
It must be noted that prominent political leaders in Anioma have been in the forefront for the creation of Anioma State. Right from the time of Dennis Osadebay, our leaders have been working together to have Anioma State.
Now it sounds surprising to me that some individuals and groups are working with the enemies of the area to truncate the dreams of our forefathers.
Reading the avalanche of articles and open letters by these paid enemies of the zone, I can rightly point out two flimsy excuses given as reasons for their strong opposition to Senator Ned Nwoko’s bill on Anioma State creation. The first was that they were not consulted, not that critical stakeholders of the region were not consulted. The second reason adduced by those opposed to the bill, was what they called annexation of Anioma to South East.
These are uninformed assumptions.
*Consultation for the creation of Anioma State*
The consensus for the creation of Anioma State was sealed when Chief Dennis Osadebay of blessed memory handed over the flag of the struggle for Anioma state creation to Late Senator Nosike Ikpo in a meeting of the leaders of the zone held in Agbor in 1983.
Again in 2014, Anioma Congress, an apex sociopolitical group of Aniona people led by the Asagba of Asaba went round the country to canvas for support for the creation of Anioma state. They met prominent leaders at the time amongst whom were then President Good luck Jonathan, former President Obasanjo, former president Ibrahim Babangida, the then senate President David Mark and others.
These past efforts were the foundation which Senator Ned Nwoko, the senator representing the district is standing on to sponsor the bill for the creation of the dreamed Anioma State at the 10th Senate. The bible says “Paul planted, Apollos watered and God gave the increase”. The seed of the creation of Anioma State has been planted. The consultations had been long done, hence the previous agitation for the actualisation.
*DOES GEOPOLITICAL ZONE MATTERS*
The angry oppositions to Senator Nwoko’s bill for the creation of Anioma state, also stem from the notion that Anioma state is to become the sixth state of the south east geopolitical zone.
However, the reasons for opposing the creation of Anioma as part of South east were not clearly stated by those opposing the idea and there are no reasonable augment from them as to why they think it is not proper to include Anioma State in Southeast zone. As far as I am concerned, the zone Anioma State belongs is immaterial, what is important is the creation of Aniona state, and if zoning it to South East will facilitate its creation, I do not have any objections to that .
On the issues of consultations, I am aware that Senator Ned held series of meetings with constituents where he highlighted the compelling reasons why Aniona State should be in the south east geopolitical zone,
The fact is that there are strong indications that the present administration of President Ahmed Tinubu may want to correct some wrongs in the polity of the country to promote equity and fairness as key for peace and harmony needed for uninterrupted development of the country. It is a fact that the composition of existed geopolitical zones is tilted against the South east, which has only five states while the rest zones have six states with North west zone having seven state. This lopsidedness calls for correction and the idea is to create one state for Southeast geopolitical zone. This provided a rare opportunity to have Anioma state creatied as part of southeast to address the imbalance once and for all,
This rare window of opportunity to have Anioma state is what some folks are trying very hard to truncate by their hatred for the Igbos.
Majority of Anioma people agreed that creating Anioma state will open the area for accelerated development and offer more opportunities for the people.
Now what is wrong if Anioma State is created as the sixth state of the southeast geopolitical zone?
As I said earlier I do not have any problem with Anioma state being zoned to Southeast if such move will lead to the creation of the state.
The term geopolitical zone was coiled by Alex Ekwueme during the Abacha’s national conference, it was intended to bring ethnic groups of common homogeneity together for political convenient and nothing more. A geopolitical zone is not a political super structure, it has no power over the state and may only be relevant in presidential power rotation and when it comes to this point, Anioma people have the men with the political accumen to context the position against anybody from the zone.
In conclusion, I want to joined the good people of Anioma region in celebrating the first reading of Senator Prince Ned Nwoko’s bill on Anioma State creation at the hallow chamber of the Senate.
We should all rally round our most distinguished senator to realize Anioma State. More works are ahead and this is not the time to play spoiler’s role.
I am Ifeoma Onyeoma Agbomah, an Ika born politician.
