Equity Algorithm Favours Anioma State Creation

By Louis Achi

To the credit of her people and leaders, Nigeria, the world’s largest black democracy and the fifth largest federation, remains one entity despite powerful forces that have challenged its growth and severely tested its resilience. But still, significant historical challenges subsist. Her leaders and statesmen could benefit from a former French leader’s compelling counsel.

Peering into the future of humanity, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, former French president had counseled statesmen and world leaders that, “There can be no response to history without effort.” D’Estaing’s sage counsel was clearly inspired by the environment of the human crisis that defined his era. He was born during the First World War and fought in the second bloody, global conflagration.

Against this backdrop, it is fairly deducible that the Nigerian story has significantly suffered from the seeming unwillingness or inability of her political leadership to make the necessary efforts to respond to the challenges encapsulated in her peculiar history.

But the good news is that significant signals indicate this unenviable scenario is about to change. And the messenger of change is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Bringing his peculiar political sagacity to the table, he has clearly activated or birthed several initiatives indicative of a leader with a sense of history who is determined to make the needful efforts to respond to the nation’s troubled history.

One specific example here is the president’s buy-in into the equity-powered quest for the creation of Anioma State to birth a more politically balanced national entity – even against the backdrop of shrill campaigns by several interest groups – and even clans – for the creation of a state for them to embellish their playbooks with.

Incidentally, a kindred spirit and current arrowhead of this project is UK-tutored Senator Ned Nwoko – that tenacious, consummate South-South political strategist, historian and lawyer. Not given to idle prattle or wishful thinking, Senator Nwoko who represents Delta North Senatorial District realised early that to actualize this momentous project, mere hope was not a plan.

Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution firmly establishes a democratic procedure of state creation in Nigeria. It is achievable, involves a multi-step process with various stakeholders and requires a high level of consensus. Nwoko correctly believes this is achievable. The quirky sing-song that it’s only the military that can create new states cuts little ice with him.

After putting his cards on the table in a bracing, candid engagement with an empathetic Mr. President, Senator Nwoko, astutely schooled in history and law, nimbly expanded his quest, needfully interfacing with the Senate, an imperative constitutional pathway, even as he plots a sophisticated strategy to woo state parliaments and royal fathers.

In a letter dated May 27, 2025, and addressed to the Senate President and all Distinguished members of the senate, Senator Nwoko who incidentally is a member of the Senate’s 1999 Constitution Review Committee sought their endorsement and support for the creation of Anioma State – a constitutional proposal captured under the Senate Bill 481, currently undergoing legislative consideration as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process. He laid out his political quest, clearly stressing the equity dimension of the constitutional project.

Senator Nwoko boldly challenged his colleagues to rise to the occasion with courage, vision, and a commitment to justice. “Let us be remembered as the Senate that brought balance to Nigeria’s state structure and healed a longstanding national wound,” he appealed. In the letter titled – “Anioma as Equity State” – Nwoko emphasized the creation of Anioma State is not merely about redrawing boundaries or political convenience – it is a matter of equity, fair representation, and justice.

He pointed out that the Southeast currently has five states, while other geopolitical zones have six or seven states. “Anioma State, to be carved out of Delta State, is a just and logical solution to this imbalance,” he asserted, describing Anioma as a region with deep cultural and historical ties to the Southeast.

Further according to Senator Nwoko, “Its creation will not only bring balance to Nigeria’s geopolitical structure but also promote national unity by addressing a longstanding grievance of the Igbo nation.” What’s more – this historic quest continues to gain momentum and is already yielding fruits.

At press time, the support base and campaign for the creation of Anioma State continues to gain momentum nationwide. Meanwhile, this crucial senatorial support came ahead of zonal public hearings which held on July 4 and 5, 2025 where the Senate Committee on the Review of 1999 Constitution considered proposals for state creation as part of a fresh bid to amend Nigeria’s constitution.

The hearings took place simultaneously in Lagos (South-West), Enugu (South-East), IkotEkpene (South-South), Jos (North-Central), Maiduguri (North-East), and Kano (North-West). But in another development, the Senate postponed the North-West Zonal Public Hearing following the death in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at the age of 94, of renowned businessman and philanthropist, AlhajiAminuDantata.

Strong indications suggest that more Senators are poised to join in the coming weeks to shore up the new mantra of equity driving the push for the state’s creation. Additionally, traditional rulers from the Southeast, especially, the Ndigbo Progressive Traditional Rulers Forum, who have declared their backing, adds significant moral authority to this campaign and further solidifies the growing national consensus for the creation of Anioma State.

Indisputably, state creation is an emotional issue that requires the Constitution Review Committee, the National and State Parliaments, the President and indeed the political class to act in the national interest. But cut to the bone, equity algorithm favours the creation of Anioma State. Here’s why.

Parading five states, in contrast with the other five geopolitical zone of the federation which boast six and even seven states, the Southeast’s deficit mirrors the most glaring injustice in Nigeria’s federal structure, measured by any objective metrics.

This five-state reality has fueled feelings of marginalization and exclusion among the Igbo-speaking population. This contrived deficit represents a significant disadvantage in the Southeast and has far-reaching implications beyond mere representation. It negatively affects the zones’s voting strength in the National Assembly, critical resource distribution through federal allocation formulas, and appointments to key federal positions.

For instance, when federal character principles are applied, the Southeast’s five states are automatically underrepresented in contrast with other zones. This structural imbalance impacts everything from ministerial appointments to recruitment in the police and armed services, birthing a cycle of perceived marginalisation that undermines national unity. Understandably, the Igbo speaking component of Nigeria feel excluded.

What’s more – the proposed Anioma State to be delineated from Delta State would include the nine local government areas of Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North-East, Ika South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Oshimili North, Oshimili South and Uwuani with Asaba as its capital. Its creation will ensure that Anioma people receive adequate representation and benefits from its resources.

Anioma is economically viable with proven vast oil and gas deposits which empowers it to contribute substantially to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Importantly, Anioma’s excision from Delta State exit will not negatively impact the latter’s development which is also bountifully endowed.

The creation of AniomaState which will represent a powerful, healing political move is no longer or merely a pious wish. It is an imperative, deliberate action to ensure both equity and civilized survival for Ndigbo. The 10th National Assembly has the opportunity to write its name in gold as the legislature that chose equity and justice over political expediency and unity over contrived division.