By Okechinyere Nwankwoala
At the All Progressives Congress (APC) zonal congress in Asaba, a decisive statement by Godswill Akpabio fundamentally shifted the trajectory of the long-standing agitation for the creation of Anioma State.
For years, the demand, centered on Delta North, had fluctuated between optimism and skepticism, with many critics dismissing it as politically unrealistic.
However, Akpabio’s clear and assertive declaration that Anioma State will be created, and crucially zoned to the South East, has transformed the conversation from speculation to structured political possibility.
By explicitly linking Anioma State to the South East geopolitical zone, Akpabio introduced a powerful national dimension to what critics had often framed as a purely regional demand.
The South East has long remained the only geopolitical zone in Nigeria with five states, compared to six in other zones, a disparity that has fueled persistent claims of marginalization.
Positioning Anioma as a South East state directly addresses this imbalance while leveraging the cultural and linguistic affinity between Anioma people and the broader South East.
This strategic alignment reframes the state creation effort as a constitutional and political solution to a national structural concern, rather than a narrow regional aspiration.
Akpabio went beyond general assurances by outlining administrative specifics, stating that Asaba would serve as the capital of Anioma State, while Warri would become the capital of the remaining Delta State.
This level of detail is significant because it eliminates the ambiguity that often weakens state creation proposals.
It signals that the concept is not merely theoretical but is being considered within a practical governance framework, thereby reinforcing its credibility and seriousness.
The impact of Akpabio’s statement lies in how effectively it neutralizes the core arguments of critics. The long-held belief that Anioma State creation is improbable has been challenged by the weight of his office and influence within national politics.
His position signals that the proposal has entered mainstream legislative consideration rather than remaining on the fringes.
Similarly, doubts about political will have been addressed through the context of his declaration, made at a major ruling party platform, indicating alignment within influential political structures.
Perhaps most importantly, the argument that the creation lacks national relevance has been dismantled by tying it directly to the issue of South East marginalisation, thereby elevating it into a matter of national equity and federal balance.
Reactions among the people of Delta North reflect the significance of this shift. Many received the announcement with enthusiasm, seeing it as long-overdue validation of their aspirations.
Others were taken by surprise, having assumed that the movement for Anioma State had lost momentum or become politically dormant.
This mixture of excitement and disbelief underscores how dramatically the narrative has changed, from one of uncertainty to one of renewed inevitability.
In practical terms, Akpabio’s intervention marks the transition of Anioma State creation from agitation to policy direction.
It demonstrates how political authority, when combined with strategic framing, can redefine the viability of longstanding demands.
By aligning the proposal with national interests, providing administrative clarity, and leveraging institutional influence, he has effectively repositioned Anioma State as a credible and actionable project within Nigeria’s federal system.
While constitutional procedures, such as legislative approval and stakeholder consensus, remain necessary steps, the underlying dynamics have clearly shifted.
In Nigeria’s political environment, once a proposal gains elite endorsement and is anchored in broader national objectives, its realisation becomes increasingly a matter of process rather than possibility.
The creation of Anioma State, as articulated by Godswill Akpabio, has therefore moved beyond the realm of conjecture. It now stands as an emerging political reality, one that has not only revived the aspirations of its proponents but also effectively silenced critics who once doubted its feasibility.
