Ned Nwoko reaffirms Anioma’s Igbo heritage

Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has firmly stated that the Anioma people of Delta State are Igbo, dismissing what he called decades of "misconception" about their identity. He asserted that the historical struggle for Anioma State is intrinsically linked to self-determination and inclusion within the broader Igbo nation.

"Let me state without equivocation that we are Igbos. Anioma people are Igbos," Nwoko declared to reporters in Calabar. He emphasized that the demand for Anioma recognition predates Nigeria's independence, tracing their heritage to Igbo roots. The senator, born in 1960, noted that the call for an "Igbo state" was present even before 1963.

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Let me state without equivocation that we are Igbos. Anioma people are Igbos. The quest for Anioma State is rooted in a historical struggle for self-determination and inclusion in the Igbo nation.

Nwoko pointed to historical evidence, including the advocacy by his grandfather, who was king of his locality, alongside the kings of Aboh and Asaba, to join the Igbo Union in 1949. He also referenced prominent Anioma leaders like the late Chief Dennis Osadebe, who championed the creation of a separate Igbo state. According to Nwoko, the push for Anioma State represents a long-standing historical quest for independence and self-determination as an Igbo nation.

Further solidifying his assertion, Nwoko referenced political events preceding 1967 as proof of Anioma's integral place within the Igbo identity. He also reaffirmed his commitment to his political journey, vowing to contest the Senate seat again in the 2027 election.

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I can take you back to 1949, when my grandfather, who was the king of my place, along with the other kings, the king of Aboh and the king of Asaba, pushed and advocated for our people to join the Igbo Union.