Constituents in Delta North have rejected a supposed resolution by some local lawmakers, which stated that the proposed Anioma State should not be included in the South-East geopolitical zone.
DAILY POST reported on a statement allegedly signed by all lawmakers representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Delta State House of Assembly and the chairmen of the nine local government areas of the district, which opposed the move to make Anioma State part of the South-East upon its creation.
The statement reportedly stressed that Anioma State must remain within the South-South region, asserting that the Anioma people are historically from that region.
However, a statement released on Monday by Gloria Okolugbo, Consultant for Communications in the Office of Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, claimed that the lawmakers’ statement was “issued without any consultation with the constituents” they represent.
Okolugbo questioned why a long-standing generational goal would be dismissed without input from the people demanding it. She described the lawmakers as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are falsely presenting themselves as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement reads: “There is no evidence that they held any meeting whatsoever with the people they claim to represent to justify such an expansive action against a popular demand that has become a goal passed down through generations, now close to being achieved.
“They neither consulted nor considered the overwhelming demands and expectations of the people. It is therefore crucial to state clearly that the APC Senatorial Zone leadership does not agree with their stance. Their position is at odds with the aspirations of the people.
“There has been no history of consultation. What we observe is a familiar pattern where a family’s position is forced upon handpicked individuals whose priorities have never matched the genuine interests of our communities. It is the same state-backed approach, using public resources to work against the collective interest in order to safeguard family dominance over community progress.
“This pattern reflects the lack of cooperation that Senator Ned experienced within the PDP, which led to his departure, only for the same individuals to later leave the party and continue to take over structures within the APC without any true dedication to the people or to strengthening the party’s framework.
“The creation of a sixth state for the South-East is not merely a political suggestion. It is a necessity. It exists alongside other necessary measures to ensure fairness and equality for the South-East within the Nigerian federation. The APC has adopted this as a national goal, and it requires a doctrine of necessity to move it from a dream to a reality.
“It is unrealistic thinking to assume that Anioma will simply come into existence without negotiation or active legislative involvement.
“Signing away the people’s interests without waiting for a referendum is premature and reflects the same tendencies that have historically weakened the Igbo position through the refusal to participate in elections and the census, ultimately leading to political disadvantage.
“If the process clearly supports the creation of a state, refusing to negotiate or rejecting the momentum gives an unfair advantage to others. This action will not stop the process because it is already firmly in motion.
“Let all sons and daughters of Delta North be aware that their interests appear to be the least considered by these individuals. It is ironic that politicians who previously asserted their Igbo identity for personal gain now put forward arguments that contravene constitutional rules and undermine our long-standing call for unity as Nigerian citizens.
“Ethnic sentiment cannot be used by one group within a political entity to override the truth, the law, or the legitimate aspirations of the people.
“The National Assembly remains the primary force behind this project, working with clarity and intention. What we are observing is a calculated attempt to discourage people by hastily announcing a refusal based on ethnic bias. APC members should not be distracted.
“This is a project that serves the people’s interest and is founded on fairness and national equilibrium. For now, this is a National Assembly project. State Assembly members should await the referendum, which will ultimately determine the will of the people.”
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