Ned Nwoko: I’ll sponsor bill to create Anioma state to correct historical oversight in south-east

Ned Nwoko, senator representing Delta north, says he will sponsor a constitutional bill to create “Anioma”, a new state in the south-east.

The south-east geo-political zone currently has five states.

In a post on X on Monday, Nwoko said the creation of the new state is “urgent and compelling”.

The senator said the creation of a new state would address the “longstanding imbalance in the geopolitical distribution of states in Nigeria”.

“The South East geopolitical zone currently has five states, unlike its counterparts, except for the North West, which has seven states,” he wrote.

“This disparity results in an imbalance of representation and resources, with the South East having only 15 lawmakers compared to the 18 lawmakers of other zones in the senate.

“This inequity affects legislative representation and the distribution of national resources, perpetuating a longstanding injustice.

“I am presenting a bill for the creation of Anioma state to correct this historical oversight. Anioma is composed of nine local government areas, six of which are rich in oil and gas resources.

“The region also boasts significant human capital, making it a viable and sustainable candidate for statehood. Creating Anioma state is not just about increasing the number of states; it is about ensuring fair representation and resource allocation for the South East.”

Nwoko said the call for the creation of the new state has widespread support from various stakeholders.

“The political class in Anioma, including traditional rulers led by the late Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien, have also consistently supported the creation of Anioma state,” he said.

“They have held numerous meetings, including discussions with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to voice their consensus.

“The creation of Anioma state is a crucial step towards achieving justice and equity for the South East.”