By Kenneth Orusi
The momentum behind the creation of Anioma State has grown beyond a regional demand into a calculated national movement, backed by key political heavyweights, and Senator Ned Nwoko is emerging as the central architect of its advancement.
Speaking at a recent gathering, Senator Nwoko offered rare insight into the behind-the-scenes negotiations that have placed Anioma State creation squarely on the national agenda.
His comments shed light on the critical role played by Nigeria’s top political leaders in endorsing the long-standing aspiration, while also revealing the political compromises required to push it forward.
“When I began serious advocacy for Anioma State, I held private meetings with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other leaders in the National Assembly,” Nwoko disclosed.
“I made them understand this wasn’t just about me, it was about justice and opportunity for my people.”
According to Nwoko, the message was well received. “They all told me they understand the rationale. They support it in principle.
“But they also made it clear: for Anioma State to become their own project, one they could champion, it required political alignment.”
That alignment came at a cost. As a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the time, Nwoko said the clear message from the highest echelons of power was that meaningful progress could only be achieved through collaboration within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“That’s one of the major reasons I left the PDP,” he stated frankly. “The president, the vice president, and others made it clear: if this dream is to be realized, it has to be through the APC platform. That’s the reality of Nigeria’s political structure.”
Nwoko confirmed that his decision was not made lightly. He held multiple high-level consultations, including a private meeting with President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima at the president’s Lagos residence on January 1st. It was there, he said, that the final understanding was reached.
“This isn’t just between me and the president. It’s a pact among all of us, President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, Senate President Akpabio, and myself,” he said.
“Anioma State is no longer a personal ambition. It’s a shared commitment.”
Nwoko made it clear that the creation of Anioma State is now intrinsically tied to national unity and strategic development.
He stressed that only the APC has the political infrastructure to actualize it.
“I say this to my mothers, sisters, and friends here today: the only party that can make Anioma State happen in Nigeria is the APC. Not because of political slogans, but because they control the machinery of government.”
As Nwoko prepares to take the message to every local government in Anioma land, he remains focused on development, not just politics.
“This isn’t about winning elections. It’s about giving our people a voice, a future, and a rightful place in the Nigerian federation,” he concluded.
The creation of Anioma State may still lie ahead, but the groundwork, political, legislative, and strategic, is firmly in place, thanks to an alliance of some of Nigeria’s most powerful figures, with Nwoko at its core.
Kenneth Orusi is the Publisher and Editor-in-chief of The Story and Chairman of ICC, Delta NUJ.
