By Charles Ude
“You cannot tie a goat at the edge of a cliff and blame it for falling.”, Igbo Proverb
I. INTRODUCTION: A FEDERAL BALANCE TILTED
As a proud son of the Southeast, my submission on the creation of Anioma State is rooted not in ethnic sentiment but in the call for federal equity, geopolitical balance, and historical redress.
The Southeast geopolitical zone remains the only region with five states, while all others boast six or more. This structural imbalance is not just a statistical curiosity; it translates to political underrepresentation, less federal revenue allocation, and a reduced voice in Nigeria’s decision-making machinery.
We must not continue to sail a ship of unity with one side listing. The Southeast must be brought into equal standing, and among all options, the creation of Anioma State is the most politically viable, culturally authentic, and legally justifiable solution.
II. ANIOMA’S PLACE IN IGBO HERITAGE: A PEOPLE UNBROKEN BY BORDERS
Contrary to modern geopolitical divisions, the Anioma people are unmistakably Igbo in language, culture, kinship, and ancestral origin.
a) Cultural and Linguistic Unity
Anioma comprises nine Local Government Areas in Delta North Senatorial District. Communities such as Asaba, Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Aboh, and Issele-Uku share linguistic and cultural practices with Igbo counterparts across the Niger. They celebrate the same festivals, observe Igbo traditional titles, speak dialects intelligible across Igboland, and historically belonged to the old Eastern Region before state creations sliced through ethnic contiguity. This alignment is not incidental; it is a historical truth distorted by colonial convenience, not cultural divergence.
b) Historical Bond
From the pre-colonial era through the Nigerian Civil War, Anioma’s destiny has been tied with the broader Igbo nation. The infamous Asaba Massacre of 1967, one of the darkest chapters of the civil war, demonstrates how the Nigerian state viewed Anioma as part of Biafra, regardless of administrative labels.
Their suffering, their identity, and their solidarity all testify to a shared fate.
III. SENATOR NED NWOKO: A COURAGEOUS PATHFINDER
“It is the one who walks ahead that clears the thorns for those behind.”
Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, the distinguished Senator representing Delta North, deserves commendation and support for courageously spearheading the constitutional agitation for the creation of Anioma State.
Rather than posture or grandstand, Senator Nwoko has adopted a legislative, strategic, and constitutional approach, submitting a bill that aligns with Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the process for state creation.
While many politicians avoid bold ideas for fear of backlash, Senator Nwoko has chosen vision over vacillation. He has engaged stakeholders across party lines, met with traditional institutions, and continues to enlighten the public with data-driven, historically grounded advocacy.
His pursuit is not parochial but principled. He recognises that Anioma’s inclusion in the Southeast would not divide the nation but heal a constitutional imbalance that has persisted since 1996.
To stifle his efforts is to stifle a just cause. His advocacy should be supported, amplified, and institutionalised across Igbo land and Nigeria at large.
IV. THE LEGAL PATH: ANIOMA STATE AS A CONSTITUTIONAL CORRECTION, NOT ETHNIC FAVOURITISM
Under Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution, a state can be created when: A request is supported by two-thirds of members of the National Assembly, a referendum is held in the affected area with majority approval, State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly ratify the change.
Anioma’s bid ticks many of these boxes: The people are culturally unified, the region is economically viable, it is geographically defined (Delta North), and crucially, they have a leading Senator championing their cause in Abuja.
Moreover, creating Anioma avoids the messy consequences of dividing existing states (such as Anambra or Enugu), which would: Generate intra-regional conflict, invite legal disputes over boundaries, and potentially weaken unity within the Southeast.
Anioma is a low-hanging fruit, a ready-made state already functioning as a senatorial district with the institutional structure and cultural coherence to thrive independently.
V. AVOIDING THE PITFALLS OF DIVISION: A LESSON FROM HISTORY
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Abraham Lincoln.
Calls to divide existing Southeastern states for parity may seem attractive, but they are a Pandora’s box. Anambra splitting into Anambra North and South could awaken latent tribal tensions between Anam, Omambala, and Nnewi blocs. Enugu or Imo splitting would spark political rivalries and lawsuits, further eroding trust in regional leadership. Who gets the capital? What happens to assets? What becomes of senatorial seats? This is not the time for internal fracture but strategic cohesion. And Anioma offers just that, a new state without a new wound.
VI. TRADITIONAL RULERS AND THE LIMITS OF CUSTOMARY PRONOUNCEMENT
“The king rules by the people’s will; the people are not ruled by the king’s whim.” Legal maxim adapted from Igbo customary law. While the voices of traditional rulers must be respected, they do not override constitutional democracy. Recent statements by some traditional rulers opposing Anioma’s inclusion in the Southeast, and insisting that it remains in the South-South, lack legal authority and popular mandate. The Constitution recognises the people, not the palace, as the final arbiters of their political future. Section 14(2)(c) of the Constitution enshrines participatory democracy. Anioma’s people must be consulted through a referendum, not merely instructed by their traditional elite. Culture is sacred, but democracy is sovereign.
VII. THE WAY FORWARD: UNITY THROUGH JUSTICE
The creation of Anioma State as the sixth state of the Southeast is a surgical correction to Nigeria’s asymmetrical federalism. It offers: Equity for the Southeast, Opportunity for Anioma, and stability for the Nigerian federation. This is not a new grievance; it is an old injustice asking for new courage. Let us support Senator Ned Nwoko. Let Anioma speak. Let Nigeria listen.
VIII. CONCLUSION: THE MOMENT IS NOW
“The drumbeat of justice cannot be silenced by the fear of noise.” In the journey of nations, there comes a time when silence is betrayal. The Southeast has waited long enough. Anioma has sacrificed long enough. Nigeria has delayed fairness long enough. Let the sixth state of the Southeast emerge not from division, but from inclusion. Let it not be forced from old borders but formed from new vision. Let it not be won in violence but earned through constitutional means.
Anioma State is not just a request; it is a remedy.
Let justice roll down like waters.
Let Anioma rise.
Let Nigeria be made whole.
– Charles Ude, Esq.
Abuja-based legal practitioner, public opinion analyst.
