Oganah urges Anioma citizens to unite behind state creation movement
The Director of Media and Publicity for the Anioma State creation request, Chief Osita Oganah, has called on Anioma people to unite and rally behind the ongoing movement for the creation of their proposed state, urging them to shun divisive politics and false narratives that could undermine the initiative.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos recently, Oganah emphasized the need for increased collaboration between Senator Ned Nwoko, who is championing the state creation bill, the Anioma people, and the President Bola Tinubu-led administration. He particularly urged the political class within the Anioma community to set aside differences and work collectively toward achieving the shared goal.
Oganah urged Anioma people, especially the political class, to unite, shun rancour and false narratives being peddled against Senator Nwoko and other champions of the state creation request, while also encouraging continued support for both Nwoko and President Tinubu in their desire for a better Nigeria.
The media director’s appeal comes against the backdrop of recently held South South and South East Zonal Senate public hearings on constitutional review in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Enugu State respectively, where the Anioma State creation issue featured prominently in discussions. A public hearing on the proposal is slated for July 4, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the state creation process.
Oganah defended Senator Nwoko’s commitment to the cause, describing it as driven by altruistic rather than self-serving motives. “Senator Ned Nwoko is genuinely concerned that his Delta North constituency deserves a better place in the present political dispensation, hence he has aligned accordingly with the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration to better the lots of his people”, he explained.
The spokesperson highlighted the potential benefits that would accrue to the people if the proposed state becomes reality. “He is aware that if created, Anioma State will usher in an all- round human and infrastructural development, open up employment opportunities, boost security, tame marginalisation and promote mutual co-existence”, Oganah stated.
Addressing concerns about the economic viability of the proposed state, Oganah dismissed such fears as unfounded, pointing to the region’s natural resource endowments. “First, from available records, a large chunk of Anioma land has large quantities of high grade crude oil and gas- Nigeria’s major revenue earner. With these huge crude oil reserves, Anioma State, when created, will be receiving a huge federal allocation as one of leading oil producing states in Nigeria”, he argued.
Beyond natural resources, the media director emphasized the human capital advantage of the Anioma region. “Apart from crude oil, most importantly, Anioma has a preponderance of top notch human capital in all spheres of human endeavours”, he noted, suggesting this would contribute significantly to the state’s development prospects.
The Anioma State creation movement has gained considerable momentum in recent months, with the All Progressives Congress showing support for the initiative. The proposed state, if created, would be carved out of Delta State and is expected to address issues of political representation and development in the region.
As the constitutional review process continues, Oganah’s call for unity reflects the critical need for cohesion among stakeholders to ensure the success of the state creation bid. The upcoming public hearing in July is expected to provide a crucial platform for further advancing the proposal through the legislative process.