06/12/2025
Who should be supported? Senator Abaribe’s Call for ANIM-OMA State With Orlu As It's Capital Instead of Ned Nwoko’s Anioma State Proposal
The renewed agitation for a sixth state in the Southeast has brought forward two major models:
1. Senator Ned Nwoko’s long-standing “Anioma State” proposal, focused on Delta North, and
2. Senator Abaribe’s emerging “Anim-Oma State” model, which seeks a more inclusive, Southeast-anchored state drawn from Imo, Anambra, and culturally aligned communities.
After assessing both proposals and with the recent statement from Obi of Asaba and others, I personally support Senator Abaribe’s ANIM-OMA model, and the reasons are clear, factual, and rooted in present realities.
1. The additional state creation Slot is for the Southeast — Not for Those Distancing Themselves from Igbo Identity or confusion
For years, many people of Delta North (Western Niger Igbo) openly affirmed their Igbo identity. But recently, a noticeable group within that region has:
claimed they are not Igbo and does want to be associated with Igbos across the niger,
aligned more with South-South politics,
rejected cultural Igbo identity when it suits political convenience.
This creates a contradiction.
You cannot reject being Igbo publicly,
then claim the Southeast’s constitutional slot when state creation talks start
The Southeast is struggling with under-representation.
We cannot hand over our only available state slot to a region where some leaders now deny being Igbo .
Senator Abaribe’s Anim-Oma model solves this immediately.
2. ANIM-OMA State Is Built Fully From the Southeast, For the Southeast
Abaribe’s approach focuses on:
Orlu Zone (Imo State),
Border LGAs of Anambra,
Communities that openly affirm Igbo identity,
And areas with strong cultural, linguistic, and historical ties to the core Southeast.
This ensures the sixth state remains 100% Southeastern,
which is the original purpose of the constitutional demand.
Ned Nwoko’s version of Anioma State places the Southeast’s future inside a politically uncertain region that might swing back to the South-South as the call maybe tomorrow.
That risk is too high.
3. Why the Capital Must Be in Orlu
If this state is truly meant to serve the Southeast, then its capital must also be located within the Southeast.
Orlu offers:
central access between Anambra and Imo,
large landmass for a planned modern capital, existing road networks and population base,
a neutral and unifying location that does not give any side excessive dominance.
Choosing Orlu ensures the new state remains politically stable and culturally anchored.
4. The Name “ANIM-OMA” Reflects Unity, Not Division
The name Ani-M-Oma (or Anim-Oma):
carries Igbo meaning,
unites the different contributing areas,
removes the confusion tied to “Anioma” which already identifies with Delta North,
prevents future boundary and identity disputes.
It is a name that belongs fully to the Igbo nation, not to a politically mixed region.
5. This Model Avoids Future Betrayal and Identity Politics
Let us be honest:
If Delta North eventually joins the Southeast as Anioma State—but later resumes claiming “we are not Igbo”—the entire region will suffer a political ambush and the Igbo identity crises will naturally be addressed in a couple of years.
We must avoid a repeat of past betrayals caused by identity confusion.
Abaribe’s Anim-Oma State avoids this entirely by rooting the new state in communities with undiluted Igbo identity and loyalty.
6. My Conclusion
I respect Senator Ned Nwoko’s advocacy.
He has been consistent for years.
But in today’s political climate, with the strong anti-Igbo sentiment coming from some Western Niger circles, handing the Southeast’s only remaining state slot to Delta North is too risky.
Therefore:
**I support Senator Abaribe’s call for ANIM-OMA State —
a Southeastern, identity-secure, politically stable state with Orlu as its capital.**
This model protects:
Igbo identity,
Southeast unity,
political representation,
and regional balance.
It is the safest, smartest, and most culturally accurate direction for the Southeast.
