Senator Ned Nwoko urges Anioma people to reclaim their Igbo identity, embrace unity with eastern brothers, and support the creation of Anioma State in Delta
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reparation and Repatriation, Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North), has once again urged the Anioma people of Delta State to fully embrace their Igbo heritage and unite with their eastern brothers for the advancement of cultural pride, political relevance, and national unity.
Nwoko made this passionate call in Asaba during a conference organised by the Igbo Unification Movement in collaboration with the Ndi na Asu Bia Socio-Cultural Organisation.
Themed “Igbo Bu Ofu” (Igbos are One), the event brought together cultural leaders, academics, political actors, and community stakeholders to deliberate on the collective destiny of the Igbo-speaking people within and outside the South-East.
In his address, Nwoko stressed that the Anioma people have always been Igbo by origin, culture, and history, dismissing narratives that sought to create artificial divisions.
“There is no controversy about who we are,” he affirmed.
“I know the story of our people, their migration, and their language.
“We, the Anioma, are Igbo. It is time to reject the distortions that disconnected us from our kith and kin across the Niger. Identity is truth, and truth must prevail.”
He explained that Anioma shares linguistic, cultural, and ancestral ties with other Igbo-speaking groups, including those in Imo, Abia, Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi States, as well as border communities such as Igbanke in Edo State.
The senator reiterated his consistent advocacy for the creation of Anioma State, with Asaba as its capital, arguing that the demand is rooted not in personal ambition but in fairness, justice, and historical correction.
“This is not about APC, PDP, or Labour Party. It is about identity, justice, and fairness.
“I am not interested in being governor, but I want Anioma to stand tall with its own state.
“This will not only correct decades of imbalance but also fulfill the dream of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which has always recognised Anioma as one of the Igbo states,” he said.
Nwoko stressed that statehood would give Anioma people a stronger political voice and ensure their rightful place within the Nigerian federation, while also consolidating the Igbo struggle for equity and representation.
Recalling his childhood experiences during the Nigerian Civil War, Nwoko described how Anioma communities were subjected to extreme violence, displacement, and identity denial.
He revealed that during the war, many Anioma families were forced to disassociate from their Igbo identity in order to avoid persecution and ethnic cleansing.
According to him, this survival tactic created an identity crisis that has persisted for decades and must now be confronted with truth and reconciliation.
The lawmaker also acknowledged the efforts of scholars and cultural activists in restoring Anioma’s Igbo consciousness.
He particularly commended Professor Abigail Ogwezzy of the University of Lagos, whose extensive research on Anioma linguistics and migration patterns has reinforced the historical and cultural ties of the people to the Igbo race.
Similarly, he praised organisations like the Igbo Unification Movement and Ndi na Asu Bia for their relentless campaigns in uniting Igbo-speaking populations across Nigeria.
These groups, he noted, have become important voices in preserving culture, strengthening identity, and demanding fairness in political representation.
Highlighting the symbolic importance of the conference, Nwoko stressed that identity transcends geography or politics.
“The Igbo man remains Igbo everywhere, whether in Delta, Imo, Abia, or beyond,” he said.
“Just as a Chinese man remains Chinese wherever he finds himself in the world, Anioma must rise to embrace its true identity.
“That is the path to unity, cultural revival, and political relevance.”
He urged the organisers and other cultural associations to sustain their efforts, stressing that only through collective determination can the dream of a united Igbo nation and the creation of Anioma State become reality.
Senator Nwoko’s speech in Asaba has once again placed the issue of Anioma identity at the heart of national discourse.
By calling for honesty about historical realities and pressing for state creation, he has reinforced the wider Igbo struggle for unity, equity, and recognition within the Nigerian federation.
For him, reclaiming Anioma’s Igbo identity is not merely a cultural exercise but a step toward correcting injustices of the past, building bridges of solidarity, and securing a fairer future for generations yet unborn.