Dear Anioma brothers and sisters, it is wisdom that determines the outcomes of our life journey. In the same vein, it is discernment that aids us to find the right mix of leverage to actualize our mission in life, for it is our pathway and in sync with our goal in life that takes us to El Dorado.
The Anioma State project is on the front burner of our needs as a people with a common destiny. The pursuit for the state creation may not have started ab initio with Senator Nwoko, but in truth, he has given the vibe, fervour, verve and promise that pulls us all together in the hope that in the nearest future, we can come to its fruition.
Nigeria politics is a usual model. It seems an affront to true democracy and, therefore, defies all known paradigms of popular civil rule.
In a nutshell, the creation of states under the present dispensation is herculean and tugs at the very nadir of party patronage, strategic thinking, methodical planning, mass appeal and national convenience.
By the same token, a politician who is the driving force for such an all-important project must seek to weather the storm of all known requirements, whether by the rule or otherwise, just to arrive at the ultimate destination… giving us Anioma State.
Besides, Senator Ned Nwoko is most suited so far, going by his political stature at the centre and his inclination for robust lobbying, which, in all honesty, remains unparalleled.
He relates extremely well with the top echelon of the federal government. He manoeuvres his way through with a penetrative disposition and a clear understanding of the dynamics of power play.
I stand to be corrected; it is hard to find any of our sons living, who can command the influence, scruples, stature and imperial presence that oozes out of him.
It is significant to note that Senator Ned Nwoko, by his rumoured decamping, has deeply thought of the turbulence associated with playing minority politics under such a situation. The epicentre of real and critical policy matters is in Abuja.
The Senate plays more prime roles in the creation of States, and Senator Nwoko has decidedly opted for the prime cause of the Anioma people as his driving force.
Then, of course, any man, especially in politics and other power games equations, who seeks the oasis that will offer him more respectable and dignifying honour, not for personal gains but for altruistic benefits, needs not to flounder with his camp in disarray.
Senator Nwoko is not a man in search of material things because he has come a long way among the elites. He is not a man desperate for hedonism, and this is so because he has long before his rivals in the Delta State traversed the world among and with the Greats.
The colossus he has become today is out of personal efforts and hard work as well as intellectual depth in law practice.
Let us all rein him in for this profound purpose to get Anioma out of the ‘second fiddle’ role that has become our lot even among smaller tribes in Delta State.
On Senator Nwoko’s potential switch to APC, I can only say that for a journey to any great destination; the driver is more important than the vehicle. When all arrive at the destination safely, only the driver gets all the applause and not the vehicle.
The dream of Anioma State’s creation predates any present political party.
Just as it is easy to say that the two major political parties are like six and a half dozen. If you sell your stooping dog to go and buy a monkey, you have bought the same stooping pet, no difference.
Ex-Gov David Umahi decamped from PDP to APC and turned out to be the best governor among his colleagues, no doubt.
I stand for and with Senator Nwoko for what he represents as an individual politically, and not what party membership he comes with. Not at this decisive time in our search for that zone that will confound the rest of Nigeria with high-profile development. It is better to align with the King than to side with a chief who takes orders from the king.
For Anioma State creation, it is not about the Party but about our dream of a state of our own, however it comes about.
ANIOMA BU NKE ANYI. OFUOBI KA NMA.
IFUNANYA DUBE ANYI.
Comrade Citizen N. Chima,
Convener, Citizens Rights And Integrity In Public Service, (CRIPS).
