Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North, has urged the Anioma people of Delta State to fully embrace their Igbo heritage and work in unity with other Igbo-speaking communities across Nigeria.
Speaking at a conference in Asaba themed “Igbo Bu Ofu” (Igbos are One), organised by the Igbo Unification Movement in partnership with the Ndi na Asu Bia Socio-Cultural Organisation, Nwoko said the time had come to end decades of identity distortion and reclaim Anioma’s rightful place in the Igbo fold.
The senator commended the organisers for their vision, noting that their efforts aligned with his long-standing advocacy for Anioma identity and his push for the creation of Anioma State. He stressed that the agitation was not about politics or personal ambition, but about correcting historical imbalances.
“There is no argument about our Igbo identity. As someone with a background in history, I understand the migration of the Igbo people. We, the Anioma, are Igbo. The time has come to reverse the narratives that kept us apart from our brothers across the Niger,” he said.
Nwoko added that his dream was to see an Ndokwa son or daughter emerge as the first governor of Anioma State, with Asaba as its capital. “This is not about APC, PDP, or Labour Party. It is about identity, justice, and fairness. I have no interest in being governor, but I want Anioma to stand tall with its own state,” he explained.
Recalling his experiences during the Nigerian Civil War, the senator said past identity crises must now give way to truth, unity, and reconciliation. He also praised scholars such as Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy of the University of Lagos, whose research has reinforced Anioma’s Igbo roots.
Highlighting the broader significance of the gathering, Nwoko stated: “The Igbo person remains Igbo everywhere, whether from Delta, Imo, or Abia. Just like a Chinese man is Chinese anywhere in the world, Anioma must rise to embrace its identity. That is the only way we can achieve unity and political relevance.”
He further urged cultural groups and advocacy platforms to sustain their efforts in education, mobilisation, and enlightenment, insisting that only through collective action could the dream of a united Igbo nation and the realisation of Anioma State become a reality.