Agitation for creation of Anioma state spans over 70 years — Okonjo

Agitation for creation of Anioma state spans over 70 years — Okonjo

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Asaba - Prince Clement Okonjo, President, Aniocha-Oshimili Elders Association”Izu-Ikei” on Tuesday, said that the agitation for the creation of Anioma state spanned over 70 years.

He noted that other states agitations only began a few years ago, adding that Anioma state remained most viable and resourceful to serve the need and complement the gap in the South East Zone as the sixth state.

Okonjo states this in Asaba at a One-Day Consultative/Advocacy Meeting with the Leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), South East Zone C on the Proposed Creation of Anioma State as the Sixth State of the South East and 37th State of Nigeria.

The octogenarians said that Anioma has the land space, population and resources to cope as a state compared to any other proposed state in the country.

He said that the meeting has become necessary to acquaint and urge the support of the South East journalists to support the call for the creation of Anioma state.

He said: “I will be 80 years in few months and I know that the creation of Anioma state is settled. Our distinguished Sen. Ned Nwoko has cleared the way.

“So, as journalists, you have a unique position to make it happen.

“This is a unique opportunity to realize over 70 years agitation for the creation of Anioma state.

“Anioma state will be beneficial to our people from the South East, so, those calling for the creation of other states are divisionary.”

Also, the Convener, Mr Victor Sorokwu,

Secretary, NUJ Delta Council and President, Ugo-Anioma Movement, said the meeting was at the auspices of Sen. Ned Nwoko, Senator Representing Aniocha-Oshimili at the National Assembly.

He said that the essence of the meeting was to project the creation of Anioma state as the sixth state of the South East and the 37th State in the country.

He said that Anioma people are bloody related to the Igbo’s and a fact that could not be erased by water.

“Our principal, Sen. Nwoko urged US to get involved with the media in the South East to advance the creation of Anioma state because Anioma is Igbo.

“Anioma offers the space and resources. The monthly federal allocation of all the states in the South East put together is not measurable to what what come to Delta state monthly.

“Politically, adding the over two million people of Anioma to the South East is an advantage to the region,” Sorokwu said.

In their goodwill messages, Mr Churchill Oyowe, Chairman, NUJ Delta Council, urged the people of South East to embrace the creation of Anioma as a win win.

According to him, it is time for the entire kins of the Igbo origin to unite in the creation of Anioma state for the greater good of all.

“The call for the creation of Anioma state is an opportunity. Anioma has all it takes. It will add as the sixth state and help to unit the Igbo’s as one.”

On his part, Mr Ezenwa Adiuku, Vice President NUJ, South East Zone C, and the team lead of the South East journalists, lauded Sen. Nwoko for being forceful in the push for the creation of Anioma state.

He noted that for every gathering of the “Ndi-Igbo” Sen. Ned Nwoko’s presence is felt.

Adiuku noted that Anioma Igbo origin was not in dispute, adding that there are Igbo’s in Kogi, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and other places in Nigeria.

“The clamour for Anioma state and others in the region are all genuine demands, but the most important thing is on how to make the state creation a reality in the region.

“It is my prayers that a civilian government will create a state and that should be in the South East,” he said.

Adiuku thanked the organisers for reaching out to them as blood relations, adding that as journalists from the South East, they would come up with a position as media to support the creation of the sixth state in the region. (NAN)