Senator to sponsor bill for creation of new state in S’East, says move to address geopolitical imbalance
Senator Ned Nwoko has called for the urgent creation of Anioma state to address the longstanding imbalance in Nigeria’s geopolitical distribution of states.
“The South East geopolitical zone currently has five states, unlike its counterparts, except for the North West, which has seven states,” Nwoko stated in a post on X.
This disparity results in the South East having only 15 senators, compared to the 18 senators from other zones, affecting legislative representation and resource allocation, he said.
Nwoko announced his intention to present a bill for the creation of Anioma state, comprising nine local government areas, six of which are rich in oil and gas resources.
He emphasized that Anioma’s significant human capital makes it a viable candidate for statehood, aiming to ensure fair representation and resource allocation for the South East.
The proposal, he said, has garnered support from various stakeholders, including the Anioma socio-cultural group Izu Anioma and the Pan Igbo cultural organization Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Traditional rulers and political leaders in Anioma, including the late Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien, have consistently backed the creation of Anioma state.
“The creation of Anioma state is a crucial step towards achieving justice and equity for the South East,” Nwoko stated, urging for immediate action to correct past imbalances and ensure fair representation in national affairs.
