By Ovasa Ogaga,
There are strong indications that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may approve the creation of only one additional state in the country after the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly conclude the constitutional and legislative processes, with Anioma State emerging as the leading contender.
Investigations in Abuja on Monday revealed that consultations on state creation have reached an advanced stage, particularly among key political actors and interest groups, amid debates over the appropriate geopolitical placement of the proposed Anioma State.
Sources close to the Presidency disclosed that Anioma State is the only proposal currently receiving serious consideration and is likely to be created as the sixth state in the South-East geopolitical zone, a move aimed at addressing long-standing concerns over imbalance and perceived marginalisation of Ndigbo.
This development comes amid renewed calls by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, for sustained and unified support from Ndigbo and other stakeholders for the creation of Anioma State.
The push, however, has continued to attract opposition from some groups within Delta State, who argue that Anioma should be created within the South-South geopolitical zone rather than the South-East. Such a move, they contend, would increase the number of states in the South-South to seven. The South-East currently has only five states, making it the zone with the least number of states in the federation.
According to presidential sources, the proposed creation of Anioma State is being driven by the need to achieve geopolitical balance, equity, fair representation and justice.
“Anioma State would be created to compensate the South-East region and Ndigbo in general,” a source said. “The President is fully aware of the arguments for and against the creation of the state, but he considers Anioma the most viable among the various requests for state creation.”
The source added that President Tinubu is particularly keen on addressing feelings of marginalisation expressed by the South-East, noting that the region’s current number of states places it at a structural disadvantage in national representation.
The source also dismissed ongoing agitation by some stakeholders for the creation of a proposed ‘Anim-Oma State’, which would merge parts of Anioma in Delta State, the old Orlu Zone of Imo State and Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, with Orlu suggested as capital.
Under the prevailing plan, Anioma State would be carved out of Delta State as the sixth state in the South-East, with Asaba as its capital, barring any last-minute change.
Although it is unclear when President Tinubu will meet with stakeholders on the matter, sources said such a meeting would come after further consultations with the leadership of the National Assembly, which is said to be favourably disposed to the proposal.
Reacting to the development, Senator Nwoko expressed optimism that the decades-long agitation would soon be realised.
“This is a historic clamour that has never enjoyed this level of national attention and support,” he said. “It is a golden opportunity for the Igbo people to reunite with their kith and kin across the Niger.”
He further noted that, “The Ohanaeze constitution recognises Anioma as the sixth Igbo state and Ikwerre as the seventh. It is therefore not a coincidence that over 90 senators have declared their total support for the creation of Anioma State.”
Vanguard News
