A Coalition of Anioma People in Delta State, on Monday, threw their weight behind the Bill, sreking the creation of Anioma State, wanting to be zoned to the South-East Geopolitical zone of the Country.
Also supporting are Igbanke people, whom they said are Igbo and want to join their people in the South East.
In a solidarity rally held in Asaba, the Coalition, comprising people from the nine Local Government Areas that make up Anioma marched from Interbua- Roundabout to Government House, chanting slogans and displaying placards.
They passed a vote of confidence for Anioma State Creation and submitted two letters signed by their spokesmen representing the nine LGAs including Aniocha North, Ika South, Aniocha South, Ika North East, Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East, Oshimili North Oshimili South, and Ukwuani, as well as those from Igbanke.
The letters submitted by Ofochi Benjamin Atagana, a lawyer, (Ukwuani), to Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta State Governor through Johnson Erijo, the Chief of Staff, appealed to the governor to use his good office to support the creation of Anioma State. Kingsley Kainebi, Jude Ogbekile, and Ayo Ashiedu also called on all stakeholders to support the creation of Anioma State in the South East, affirming the Igbo identity of the Anioma people.
The coalition stated, “We are legitimate indigenes of Anioma known as Aniocha, Ndokwa, Ika, and Oshimili, the area called Delta North, and we are ancestrally, culturally and linguistically Igbo.
“That in the exercise of our rights as guaranteed by Article 20 (1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, we have decided to support the Bill for the creation of Anioma State in the Southeast, thereby, excising our people and land from the existing Delta State and the South South Geopolitical Zone.
“We believe that our political, economic and sociocultural interests will be more advanced and protected in the Southeast to which we have affinity.
“We believe that having coexisted with our good neighbours, the Urhobo, the Isoko, the Ijaw, and the Itsekiri from our days in Western Region, Mid-West Region, Bendel State, and Delta State, the time has now come for us to have a State of our own and reunite with our kith and kin in the Southeast, where we ancestrally, culturally and linguistically belong.
“We are confident that having Anioma State and Delta State as neighbours will not hinder the advancement of the peoples of both States, rather it will enable both states to exist independently but cooperatively, especially in the areas of their comparative advantages.
Responding, Governor Oborevwori represented by Johnson Erijo, reassured the people on the Bill, saying, the present administration remains open, attentive, and supportive of their aspirations, particularly on the ongoing agitation for the creation of Anioma State.
He explained that the matter is already well defined within the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, adding that the process requires due diligence and adherence to laid-down procedures, including the submission of petitions and memoranda to the National Assembly, followed by further constitutional steps.
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