Anioma Leaders Reject Plan to Align Proposed State with South-East, Insist on South-South Identity

Leaders from Delta North Senatorial District—including lawmakers and nine local government chairmen—have firmly rejected proposals suggesting that the proposed Anioma State should be placed within the South-East geopolitical zone.

In a jointly issued statement released on Sunday in Asaba, the group reiterated their strong support for the creation of Anioma State but stressed that it must remain part of the South-South region, which they said reflects the people’s historical and administrative identity.

They explained that their position followed extensive discussions triggered by renewed national conversations on state creation.

The leaders described the push for Anioma State as a long-standing and historic quest championed by generations of Anioma stakeholders. According to them, the movement is rooted in the desire to strengthen political identity, preserve cultural heritage and drive development.

The statement read partly:
“Our demand for Anioma State is a just and historic aspiration passed down by our forebears.
Our quest for a distinct and autonomous Anioma State is not a fleeting political venture but a legitimate aspiration deeply rooted in history.”

They maintained that achieving statehood would enhance equity and support the wider developmental goals of the Anioma people.

The group reaffirmed its support for creating the state strictly from the nine Delta North Local Government Areas—Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North-East, Ika South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, and Ukwuani—with Asaba as the capital.

They rejected any proposal linking Anioma to the South-East, calling such suggestions “historically inaccurate” and insisting that Anioma’s identity in the South-South is both longstanding and non-negotiable.

The leaders also assured residents that they would continue to safeguard Anioma’s collective interest as national debates on state creation continue.

Meanwhile, Delta North members of the House of Representatives have dismissed rumours that Asaba might be replaced as the capital of the proposed state.

In a joint statement, Reps Ngozi Okolie, Victor Nwokolo and Nnamdi Ezechi described the speculation as “divisive, unpatriotic, and completely disconnected from the aspirations of the Anioma people.”

They emphasised that Asaba’s designation as the capital is the product of decades of cultural reasoning, historical agreement and broad political consensus.

They added that the agitation for Anioma State is not driven by personal ambition, cautioning that no individual can alter what has been collectively agreed upon across all Anioma communities—Aniocha, Oshimili, Ika and Ndokwa/Ukwuani.

The lawmakers condemned what they referred to as “opportunistic agitations” aimed at creating needless divisions, stressing that reopening the capital issue would undermine Anioma unity and cultural identity.

They reaffirmed that the boundaries and capital of the proposed state have long been settled, declaring that “Asaba stands—without controversy—as the historically agreed capital of Anioma State.”

The legislators urged residents to disregard misinformation and reassured them of their commitment to the realisation of Anioma State.

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