Senator Ned Nwoko (APC–Delta North) has called on the Anioma people of Delta State to affirm their Igbo heritage and unite with fellow Eastern Nigerians to strengthen the nation’s unity and political relevance.
Nwoko delivered his remarks during the “Igbo Bu Ofu” (Igbos are One) conference organized by the Unification Movement in partnership with the Igbo Unification Movement, Ndi na Asu Bia, and other advocacy groups. The gathering emphasized cultural revival and identity cohesion across Igbo-speaking communities, including the Anioma region in Delta, Igbanke in Edo, and other border areas.
The lawmaker, who previously sponsored a motion for the creation of an Anioma State in the National Assembly, said the movement transcends political partisanship and is rooted in historical justice and identity correction. “I have a degree in history… I know clearly that we, the Anioma, are Igbo,” he affirmed, emphasizing the need to reverse narratives that have historically separated them from their Eastern brethren.
Nwoko envisioned a future where Anioma State has Asaba as its capital and Anioma people play a central role in the governance and development of this region—potentially with the first governor being someone of Ndokwa origin. He stressed that this aspiration aligns with the broader objectives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which recognizes Anioma as an integral Igbo zone.
Reflecting on his personal history during the civil war, Nwoko urged the community to move beyond identity crises of the past and embrace restoration and collective identity. He commended research efforts by scholars such as Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy of the University of Lagos, whose work sheds light on the linguistic and historical roots of the Anioma people.
He concluded with a powerful call to unity: “The Igbo man is Igbo everywhere… Anioma must rise to embrace its identity. That is the only way we can achieve unity and political relevance.”
