An investigative Journalist, Publisher and President of a nongovernmental organization – Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative Chief Oby Christie Ndukwe, has lauded the moves for creation of Anioma State, adding that “is the beginning of a non kinetic approach to the Igbo struggle for reparation, political integration.”
According to her, “the cause has been on since the 8th Senate but will become a reality under the 10th Senate led by His Excellency, Godswill Akpabio, and championed by Distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko.”
Chief Ndukwe in a Facebook post recalled that at the APC South South Congress held yesterday in Delta State, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio had this to say: “Only one new state will be created in Nigeria and it will be Anioma State. Asaba will serve as the capital of Anioma State, while Warri will become the new capital of Delta State Anioma will be zoned to the South-East, making it the 6th state in the region.”
Continuing, she wrote, “This is a strategic move by the President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to challenge the status quo of imbalance in state creation, which has kept the South East dominated by the Igbos with the least number of states, thereby reducing their representation at the National Assembly, amongst other issues affecting political representation. ”
”It may not sound interesting to those who have long pushed for secession, but it is the beginning of a new thing for the marginalized Igbos of the South East,” she noted
”The benefits are huge, and space won’t permit me to state what this means. Apart from the additional state to upgrade the South East to Six, which other zones enjoy aside from the North West, Delta State would now have its long dream of a capital in Warri. Recall that when General Ibrahim Babangida created the state with a capital in Asaba, it raised a lot of dust! But that was actually a starting point for the Igbo people in Delta State. ”
”I do not see any reason why anyone would oppose this idea except for selfish and ignorant reasons, even though it is not expected that everyone would applaud the National Assembly and the President for this timely decision. What remains is when the new state would come on board to enable those who would occupy political offices to participate in the elections. Who knows? ”
”For now, I say kudos to all those who have been part of this quest, including yours truly!”, she finally commended.
