26/08/2024
*A Review Of Senator Ned Nwoko's Bill On The Creation Of Anioma State*.
By Frank Iroroh
Honestly, I want to say that most Anioma people have a wrong impression of the bill for the creation of the proposed Anioma State sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko.
Until I got hold of the original copy of the bill as presented before the floor of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the distinguished Senator, I had been reluctant to agree with folks that the bill contained clauses suggesting zoning the proposed Anioma State to the Southeast. But after going through the bill I realized that the bill had been misinterpreted and misrepresented all along. There is nothing in the bill indicating it be zoned to Southeast.
The bill as attached is titled "*A bill for an act to alter the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Cap. C23 law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 for the creation of Anioma state and for matters connected therewith*"
*sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, (Delta North)*.
The bill reads:
*Be it enacted by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as follows;*
1. *The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Cap. C23 Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 ( in the bill referred to as 'the principal act) is altered as set out hereunder*
2. *Section 3(1) of the principal act is altered by deleting the word 'thirty-six' in the first line of the subsection and replacing same with the word 'thirty-seven' and inserting the word 'ANIOMA' in the second line immediately after the word 'ANAMBRA' and before the word 'BAUCHI'*
3. *Therefore, the new section shall read thus: *Section 3(1). There shall be thirty-seven States in Nigeria, that is to say, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Anioma, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara*
4. *That the first schedule, part 1 of the states of the federation is hereby altered by inserting Anioma State, Local Government Areas, and the Capital City in the appropriate column in the first, second, and third columns immediately after Anambra State and before Bauchi State to read thus* *STATE; Anioma, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS; Anoicha North, Aniocha South, Ika North East, Ika South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ukwuani. CAPITAL CITY, Asaba*
5. *This bill shall be cited as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 alteration bill 2024*
A careful perusal of the letters of the bill shows that it does not contain any word, phrase, or clause suggesting zoning the proposed Anioma State to the Southeast Geopolitical Zone, rather Anioma State as outlined, can be seen standing shoulder to shoulder with other States of the Federation.
I doubt the notion that there is another way the bill could have been drafted to suggest zoning the proposed Anioma State to the Southeast Geopolitical Zone because geopolitical zones are not recognized by the supreme law of the land, hence it would not be possible to create something out of nothing.
Most of us have during the continuous debate on this crucial issue bothering our collective political future, posited that geopolitical zones that exist in Nigeria today are nothing but elaborate political gimmicks, words coined by politicians to achieve some political goals, mostly for rotation of political offices at the federal level and for sharing the spoils of presidential electoral victory.
There is nowhere, not a single reference is made to geopolitical zone(s) in the sacred book of Nigeria. A geopolitical zone has no power, neither executive, legislative, or judiciary powers. Geopolitical zones are nothing more than illegal political contraction, the term is of no effect whatever.
Therefore, all the insinuations emanating from some quarters claiming that the bill sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko for the creation of Anioma State was drafted in a way as to annex Aniomaland to Igboland, are hogwash and balderdash propagated by fake news purveyors.
Nothing is in the bill that suggests the zone it should be placed, as we can see clearly in the above attachment.
We should be praising Senator Ned Munir Nwoko and not vilifying him for his unalloyed patriotism to Anioma and dexterity toward the betterment of Anioma land,
His initiative to pick up the baton of the over 50 years of struggle for Anioma statehood, and bring it to the national limelight when he sees a window of opportunity to realize it, is worthy of commendation.
Sadly and unfortunately some folks are vehemently kicking against this lofty idea.
Thank God today we have a fearless man, bold in his gaiety, eloquent in his expressions, a man of clear vision, the enigmatic Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, who, fortunately for us belongs to the *elite Senate committee on restructuring and constitutional review* and who is using the position he occupies in the committee to pull the strings needed to get Anioma State created.
Many of us hold the view that States can not be created under civilian administration, however, such an assumption does not mean that we should not give it a shot when the opportunity beacons.
We should trust Senator Ned Nwoko to get the job done, he is a man with a knack for delivering the impossible. Remember the Paris Refund and the SPORTS UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA (SUN) at Idumuje Ugboko.
Senator Ned Nwoko is a goal-getter, he does not waver in getting results in whatever he sets his mind to achieve.
In this round of struggle for the creation of Anioma State, I trust him to deploy tenacity and relentless vigor to achieve results, there is no doubt about that.
Senator Ned Munir Nwoko is tough with an acute negotiating ability.
All he requires to pull this through is cooperation and cooperation from all. If we unite strongly behind him and join forces together, Anioma State will be achieved.
As he navigates ways to achieve this milestone, we should do our best by rallying around him and stop denigrating his efforts through negative publications, and sponsored protests, these negative actions are capable of sending a wrong signal which is likely to derail the struggle.
Those indulged in these unpatriotic activities should down tool. Anioma is our land and we all have a stake in Anioma. Anioma State is our common destiny and Anioma State will bring governance closer to the people
Finally, I want to add that the hue and cry of the annexation of Aniomaland to Igboland is poppycock, and absolute nonsense orchestrated by Senator Ned Nwoko's political adversaries and their cohorts who are not happy to see Senator Ned Nwoko sour as he is credited with the landmark achievement of the creation of Anioma State. Some politicians can fight dirty you know.
These politicians in the first place, have not been so keen on having Anioma State created, they want the status quo to remain because of personal culinary interests
My good people of Anioma land, our century-old yearning for a State we can proudly call our own is about to come through. Let's forget the antics of the naysayers and unite, our unity of purpose combined with the dogged resolve of Senator Ned Nwoko will make Anioma State a reality.
Anioma State, a land of beauty and brains will be achieved. THANK YOU, NED.
