COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF ANΙΟΜΑ STAKEHOLDERS’ SUMMIT CONVENED BY SENATOR NED MUNIR NWOKO ON THE RENEWED QUEST FOR THE CREATION OF ANIOMA STATE, HELD ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 31st, 2024 AT GRAND HOTEL ASABA, DELTA STATE

The Anioma Stakeholders’ Summit was attended by thousands of participants including traditional rulers, elders, President Generals of Anioma communities, serving and former national and state house of Assembly members, youth organizations, women groups, socio-cultural Interests, religious associations, academia and opinion leaders.

We the people of ANIOMA known as DELTA NORTH Senatorial district in the present day Delta state of NIGERIA having met and discussed extensively, hereby irrevocably resolve as follows:

1/ That we are one people from the nine local government areas of Delta North (Anioma) namely Aniocha north, Aniocha south, Oshimili north, Oshimili south, Ika north east, Ika south, Ndokwa east, Ndokwa west and Ukwuani all united and bound by common destiny.

2/ That we have long agreed to seek a separate state of our own since the 1950s. Other Anioma communities (including but not limited to Igbanke and Ekpon in present day Edo state) have always expressed a strong desire to join us in the proposed Anioma state, thus necessitating state boundary adjustments which we wholly agree to.

3/ That the Bill on the creation of Anioma state sponsored by SENATOR PRINCE NED MUNIR NWOKO, representing Delta North Senatorial District is desirable and timely.

4/ That the renewed quest for Anioma state aligns with historical agitation as pioneered by Anioma state creation movement led by late Sir Dennis Osadebay, first premier of Mid Western Region, the late Asagba of Asaba, Obi Professor Chike Edozien, Obi of Owa, His Royal Majesty, Emmanuel Efeizomor 11, among others.

5/ We note that the Anioma state creation request stands as the oldest agitation in the political history of Nigeria.

6/ Express the deepest conviction that the creation of Anioma state will provide the much needed vista of healing and restitution for Anioma people, years after the 1967 Asaba genocide during the Nigerian civil war and British colonial oppression of Anioma as fiercely resisted in the revolutionary 1883 Ekumeku movement.

7/ Observe with pride the political and economic potentials of Anioma as the proverbial good land rich in natural resources and blessed with hospitable, creative and enterprising people.

8/ We note that Anioma state will consummate the noble vision of Anioma forebears and gratify the aggregate aspirations of the present and future generations.

9/ That our support for the creation of Anioma state is irrespective of political party affiliation or religious differences so long as the general progress of Anioma land and people come first and remain foremost at all times.

10/ That our primary objective is to belong to one strong, indivisible, fair, equitable and prosperous nation where we are better positioned to contribute to the peace, progress,unity and prosperity of Nigeria.

11/ That we pledge our loyalty to the federal government of Nigeria as currently constituted with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President.

12/ That we urge all aborigines of Anioma at home and in the diaspora to maintain bonds of unity and brotherhood in working collectively for the creation of Anioma state.

13/ We seek the cooperation and understanding of various stakeholders at the local, state and national levels across the Nigerian federation in the quest for the creation of Anioma state,for the sake of equity, true federalism, justice and fairness.

14/ Endorse the establishment of a TECHNICAL COMMITTEE to drive the process for the creation of Anioma state.

15/ Extol the foresight of our son Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North senatorial district for his sterling role in reigniting the glow on the age-old Anioma state creation movement, having devoted his time, energy and considerable financial resources to see to the success of the quest.

16/ That we hereby and accordingly pass a vote of confidence on SENATOR PRINCE NED MUNIR NWOKO for effectively representing our interests as a people!

Signed:

1.HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, OBI HENRY AFAMEFUNE KIKACHUKWU, OBI OF UBULU-UNOR & 2ND VICE CHAIRMAN, DELTA STATE TRADITIONAL RULERS COUNCIL

2. PASTOR DR. KINGSLEY OJIE, NATIONAL PRESIDENT, IZU – ANIOMA WORLD WIDE

3. GENERAL MIKE NDUBISI (RTD.), PRESIDENT – GENERAL NDOKWA NEKU, (NNU)

4. ELDER DANIEL USIFOR, HEAD, COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP (HCL) ONU – IKA NIGERIA

5. PRINCE IGWE NZEKWE, (JP) CHAIRMAN OF PRESIDENT GENERALS (PGs), DELTA NORTH COMMUNITIES

6. PROFESSOR MRS. NWABUOGOR JULIE UMUKORO

7. ENGR.YOBO IDEH. NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (NYCN) DELTA NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT