Obi of Obulu-Uno and Vice Chairman of the Delta North Traditional Rulers Forum, His Royal Majesty Obi Henry Afamefuna Kikachukwu, on Friday made a fervent and impassioned case for the creation of Anioma State at a public hearing organized by the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers of the Anioma region in Delta State, Obi Kikachukwu described the call for Anioma State as a long-overdue demand rooted in justice, cultural identity, and political inclusion.
He reminded the committee that the agitation for statehood dates back 71 years, reflecting decades of persistent advocacy and what he termed “systematic marginalization” of the Anioma people within Nigeria’s federal structure.
“This is not a new request. It is a 71-year-old cry for justice, for recognition, and for a rightful place within the Nigerian federation,” he declared. “Our people are tired of existing without identity. Living without a distinct state is a form of modern slavery. It must end.”
Obi Kikachukwu emphasized that the demand is not a personal or isolated pursuit, but a united front endorsed by traditional rulers and stakeholders across Anioma land. He said their physical presence at the hearing was both deliberate and symbolic of their shared commitment to constitutional reform.
“Now, the agitation is getting stronger. That is why we consider it necessary to be physically present at this hearing—not just as monarchs, but as custodians of our people’s hope,” he stated.
The monarch stressed that the quest for Anioma State transcends political ambition; it is a call for cultural affirmation and dignity for a people who have long felt sidelined within the current Delta State configuration.
“Our people will be free,” Obi Kikachukwu asserted. “The denial of statehood is not just administrative. It is a denial of our heritage, our identity, and our contribution to Nigeria.”
In a direct appeal to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and other members of the Constitution Review Committee, the monarch said:
“We are making a passionate appeal that you oblige our request to create Anioma State. This is the will of our people.”
The hearing drew a significant delegation of Anioma traditional rulers, whose presence underscored the unity, urgency, and unwavering commitment behind the statehood demand.
As the session concluded, the message left behind was unmistakable: for the Anioma people, the call for statehood is no longer a plea—it is a declaration of their rightful place in the Nigerian federation.
