Nigeria: Okowa: Delta north wants Anioma state in south-south with Asaba as capital

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

Former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has faulted Senator Ned Nwoko’s push for Anioma State, accusing him of seeking to cede the proposed state to the South-East and drop Asaba as its capital.

Speaking to All Progressives Congress stakeholders in Oshimili South LGA on Monday during consultations for his 2027 Delta North Senate bid, Okowa said Delta North residents want Anioma State created within the South-South geopolitical zone, not as part of the South-East.

“There’s been a lot of misconceptions, a lot of misrepresentation in the media concerning Anioma state,” Okowa said. “I don’t believe there is any Anioma son opposed to the creation of Anioma state. And the Anioma that we seek, that the people collectively wish for, is that they want the Anioma made up of the nine local governments that will be resident in the South South geopolitical zone with Asaba as headquarters.”

Taking aim at Nwoko, whom he hopes to unseat in 2027, Okowa added: “An Asaba daughter fought for us and today we have Asaba as headquarters. Somebody who doesn’t even understand how it came suddenly wants to wish away that headquarters. It’s terrible. It’s unwise. Commonsense should have told him that what he’s doing is wrong.”

He stressed that Asaba’s growth should not be halted: “We know the borders of the headquarters. And Asaba is growing beyond bounds. Nothing will stop the growth of Asaba.”

Okowa criticized Nwoko for pursuing state creation without broad consultation. “It’s important that when we’re pursuing something, you must be in touch with your people. You must know what the majority want. When you believe you know it all, you go the wrong path,” he said.

He noted the legislative calendar makes state creation unlikely now: “If you know the timetable of the legislature, you know we’re already quarter to go. Who is talking about state creation now? Obviously he’s trying to deceive his people.”

Okowa insisted any Anioma State must reflect a collective decision of Delta North people and the sitting governor. “We will continue to desire Anioma state. And when it will come, it will be the collective decision of our people,” he said.

“It shall be a state that those of us in Anioma and the sitting governor will collectively stand up and say we want this and it is possible.”