Lawmakers from Delta North and nine council chairmen from the Senatorial District have kicked against the proposal that the proposed Anioma State be made part of the South-East region.
In a statement jointly issued in Asaba and made available to newsmen on Sunday, the group affirmed their push for Anioma State but insisted it must remain in the South-South region.
They contended that the Aouth-South region reflected the people’s historical and administrative roots.
They also said that their stance followed extensive discussions on renewed national debates surrounding the creation of new states across the country.
The leaders said the quest for Anioma State was a long-standing pursuit anchored in history and championed by past and present stakeholders.
They described the movement as a generational effort to secure political identity, protect cultural heritage, and accelerate development for the Anioma people.
The statement partly read: “Our demand for Anioma State is a just and historic aspiration passed down by our forebears.
“Our quest for a distinct and autonomous Anioma State is not a fleeting political venture but a legitimate aspiration deeply rooted in history, championed by our revered forebears.
“We are united in the belief that the creation of Anioma State is a matter of justice, equity, and a necessary step towards fulfilling the political and developmental destiny of the Anioma people.”
They added that achieving statehood would promote equity and support the wider developmental ambitions of the Anioma nation.
The group declared full support for creating the state strictly from the nine Delta North Local Government Areas that also constitute the nine state constituencies, with Asaba as its capital.
It listed the councils as Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North-East, Ika South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, and Ukwuani.
It pledged to use its political influence to support legitimate efforts aimed at securing Anioma State.
They, however, condemned suggestions linking Anioma to a merger with the South-East, calling such proposals historically inaccurate.
They insisted that Anioma’s identity was firmly rooted in the South-South and that any contrary idea was unacceptable.
The statement stressed that Anioma’s cultural and administrative alignment with the South-South was longstanding and non-negotiable.
The leaders assured residents that they would continue to defend Anioma’s collective interest as national discussions on state creation progresses.
