The pan-Ndokwa socio-cultural organisation, Ndokwa Neku Union, NNU led by General Mike Ndubisi, has in clear terms distanced the Ndokwa nation from the rumoured moves by the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ned Nwoko to sponsor a bill for the creation of Anioma State.

The position of the umbrella body of Ndokwa/Ukwani Federal Constituency is contained in a statement issued, Wednesday, June 26, 2024 jointly signed by the President General of the apex body General Ndubisi(Rtd.) and the Secretary General, Chukwuemeka Ojione. The group noted that the consensus is borne out of a wide range of consultations among all the clans in Ndokwa nation, including the President Generals of those clans who brought rejection verdicts from their respective clans.

The creation of Anioma State according to the sponsor of the generally rejected proposal by the people of Ndokwaland, Mr Nwoko is purportedly to make up for the deficit in the number of states in the South-East a position the NNU vehemently rejected arguing that it will never be part of such arrangement.

Concerns have been raised by elite groups in the past weeks across Ndokwa land in regard to what they described as insult on the collective sensibility of Ndokwa people wondering why a supposed respected Senator never deemed it right to consult the leaders and elders of Ndokwa nation particularly it's umbrella body in his ‘solo efforts' which they argue does not represent the yearnings and aspirations of Ndokwa nation.

The apex body of the Ndosumili and Ukwani speaking people of the oil-rich Delta State, South-South Nigeria, reputed to be the second largest homogenous entity in the state further averred that:

“Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), the apex socio-cultural organization of the Ndosumili and Ukwuani people, jointly referred to administratively, as NDOKWA and constitute the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State, wishes to make the following statements regarding the proposed Anioma State Bill, being canvassed by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. The said Anioma State, according to the Senator, is required to become the 6th State of the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, so as to “Balance Representation” in the South East.

“He claims that the “call for Anioma State has widespread support from various stakeholders” which obviously include the Ndokwa who are part of a contiguous geographical territory in Delta State represented by the acronym ANIOMA – derived majorly from the names of the composite Local Government Areas, viz. Aniocha/Oshimili, Ndokwa, and Ika. This claim beats the imagination of our people who have viewed it with consternation.

“There is no gain saying the fact that the furore which the current Anioma State proposal has generated among the people of Ndokwaland is due to lack of consultation with the people.

“Notwithstanding, it behoves on us to put it in correct historical perspective, Ndokwa's position on the Anioma discourse since the current democratic dispensation. This is not the first time Ndokwa nation would be interrogating and, in fact, rejecting the idea of an Anioma State that would be in the southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria. There was an action in this regard in the year 2021 – some twenty-four months before the emergence of Prince Ned Munir Nwoko as our Senator. The narrative runs thus. A document, captioned “Nigeria Restructuring Bill Concluded Ready For Ratification”, which had gone viral on social media, had generated some “frenzy” within the polity. The document, among other issues, proposed an Anioma State that would include Ndokwa to be created and lodged in the Southeast geopolitical zone, just as currently being taunted by Sen Nwoko.

Ndokwa, like other Nigerians, were shocked by this rather social media frenzy that had no verifiable source nor government authority to the authorship of the said document. But not wanting to be caught napping, we went into action. The NNU set up a high-powered committee on the subject.

“After extensive consultation with our people and diligent consideration of the pros and cons of Ndokwa in an Anioma State in South East, Nigeria, the committee rejected Ndokwa being included in an Anioma State in the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria; electing rather, to remain in the present Delta State of the South-South geopolitical zone or as a last option, have an Ndokwa State.

“In the light of the above, it only follows that under the present circumstance, Sen. Nwoko's proposal is grossly deficient in consultation, lacking in respect for the people of Nation. It's an effort in futility as far as Ndokwa nation is concerned. You don't agitate on behalf of a people, let alone a nation of three densely populated local government areas of well-meaning Nigerians.

“Like the 2021 episode, Nwoko's bill lacks the acceptance, support, and the goodwill of Ndokwa people. Proper consultations would have been a veritable opportunity to appraise the distinguished Senator of Ndokwa long-standing position on the Anioma State discourse,” the statement reads in part.

The General Ndubisi-led group said, “the Senator is on his own” since he sees himself too big to consult Ndokwa political establishment on an issue bothering on the very foundation of Ndokwa nation stressing that:

“To this end, we, the Ndosumili and Ukwuani people, administratively called Ndokwa, who constitute the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State, Nigeria, and inhabit part of the contiguous geographical sphere of Delta State, Nigeria, often called ANIOMA, in an affirmation by the President Generals of the thirty-eight (38) Ndokwa Clans and under the authority of Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), our apex socio-cultural organization, hereby vehemently and totally, reject to be included in the creation of an Anioma State as part of the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, whether as proposed by the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate – Senator Ned Munir Nwoko or by any other arrangement or contraption, whatsoever.

“We elect to remain in our present Delta State of the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria if inevitably, an Anioma State in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria is not feasible.

We declare to, in the long run, settle for Ndokwa State in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria or any regional arrangement; an ambition, we, as a people, do not consider impossible nor a tall order. We have the resources, both human and material, to thrive.

“In conclusion therefore, Ndokwa rejects the present agitation for Anioma State as a part of the South East geopolitical zone and as canvassed by Senator Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, in the Nigerian Senate.”

Last updated on June 28th, 2024 at 04:11 am