Nigerians React As Igbo Women Support Anioma State Creation For Balanced Southeast-Representation...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
Igbo women under the auspices of the Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) have thrown their support behind the proposal to establish Anioma State from the current Delta State, to firm a sixth state in the Southeast region.
The women insisted that Anioma State would correct the inequity in the geopolitical distribution of states in Southeast geopolitical zone.
The President of IWA, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, who spoke to reporters in Enugu on Thursday, said rather than creating a new state from the current Southeast region, the creation of Anioma State would increase the size and population of the region.
According to Chimezie, the creation of Anioma State is not just an administrative adjustment but a necessary correction of historical oversight, emphasizing that the proposed state would bring about equitable representation and enhance the distribution of national resources.
She said: “Some people want Orlu State, Etiti state, Adada State, Anim state and so on. I am from Orlu by birth. But I don’t think it is a right agitation for a new state to be created from the existing Southeast. Rather, we should support the agitation for the creation of Anioma State to make for a sixth state in Southeast.
“We all know the disparity that has left the Southeast with only five states, compared to six in other zones, except the Northwest, which has seven. This has led to a perpetual disadvantage in legislative representation and resource distribution, with the Southeast having fewer senators than other zones.
“We as IWA believe that this Anioma State creation should not be an issue for debate.
“There has been this argument that the Igbo in the Delta have rejected their Igbo identity. Now we have them talking about reuniting with their brothers East of the Niger. We need to support them. It is in our collective interest that we support them to have a new state and join the Southeast.
“This will enlarge the coast of the Southeast and erase that dot in a circle the former president tagged us.
“Now there is a push for regional government. If this becomes successful, it will be an unfortunate thing that these our people would now become a minority in any other region outside the Southeast.
“If this regional government comes in place, the Southeast will benefit more because of the human resources that Anioma State would bring if they are joined in the Southeast.
“This again will certainly end the divide and rule system which the federal government had used in the past to create disaffection among the Igbo.
“We, in the IWA, therefore, are calling on our politicians and our apex sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to look into this, caution our people from seeking the creation of a new state from the existing Southeast zone and support the move for a creation of Anioma State to join the Southeast as they have said”….READ FULL ARTICLE
