By Fred Odu
Senator Ned Nwoko has announced a Technical Committee to spearhead the fulfillment of constitutional and administrative requirements for state creation.
This underscores his commitment to a promise made during last year’s Anioma Stakeholders’ Summit in Asaba.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN, Senator Nwoko reiterated his legislative resolve.
He stated that while he would handle the National Assembly’s responsibilities, the Technical Committee, composed of key Anioma stakeholders, would ensure grassroots mobilization, documentation, and advocacy.
The diverse committee comprises traditional rulers, federal and state lawmakers from Delta North, civil society organizations, legal and professional bodies, and representatives of major ethnic and community unions, including the Yoruba and Arewa communities in Delta North.
Senator Nwoko, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), revealed that over 75 Senators currently support the Anioma State Bill, with expectations that the number will climb to 90.
He credited this growing support to prior consultations with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje.
A significant milestone, he announced, would be the public hearing scheduled for July 4 and 5 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, under the auspices of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.
He called on the Asagba and other traditional leaders to actively participate and lend their voices to the process.
Responding, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Azinge, SAN, commended Senator Nwoko for his proactive and visionary leadership, describing his pursuit of Anioma State as one imbued with “missionary zeal.”
He further praised the Senator’s efforts to upgrade the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba to a Federal University of Technology, despite it being outside his immediate constituency.
“Ordinarily, this would not be your concern. You’re already running a private university. Yet you’ve taken up this fight with uncommon passion. Asaba and the entire Anioma nation will remember this,” said the monarch.
Azinge, a constitutional law expert, assured the senator of the traditional institution’s support in mobilizing grassroots backing, emphasizing the timeliness of the initiative and linking it to his own recent discussions with President Tinubu.
“With the current political realignments and growing support in the National Assembly, the likelihood of Anioma State becoming a reality is stronger than ever.
“You are very close to securing the two-thirds majority constitutionally required. That momentum must not be lost,” the monarch stated.
The July public hearing in Uyo is expected to be a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional amendment process—one that could see Anioma State emerge as the country’s 37th state.
Additional reports from Senator Nwoko’s Media Directorate
