The agitation for the creation of Anioma State has received a significant boost as Professor Dozie Chukwuokolo, National Secretary of the Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), has called on proponents of other proposed Igbo states to suspend their separate campaigns and rally behind Anioma as the rightful sixth state of the South-East.
Professor Chukwuokolo made the call during a courtesy visit to Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, sponsor of the Anioma State Creation Bill (SB. 481), on Tuesday.
He described Anioma as the most logical and unifying choice to achieve the long-standing demand for parity between the South-East and other geopolitical zones.
“I am excited that the sixth state is finally coming for Ndi Igbo, and that state is Anioma. Igbo is one and will continue to be one. Other Igbo groups should understand the need to support Anioma as the sixth Igbo state,” Chukwuokolo stated.
In his response, Senator Ned Nwoko reaffirmed his belief that Anioma represents the most equitable and pragmatic solution to address the imbalance in Nigeria’s geopolitical structure.
He noted that Professor Chukwuokolo’s position reflects the sentiment of fair-minded Nigerians who view the creation of Anioma not merely as an ethnic pursuit, but as a constitutional correction.
“While we appreciate other voices advocating for justice and equity, fragmenting existing South-East states to create a sixth one is counterproductive.
“We should be pursuing integration, not division. Anioma is the natural and historical sixth state of Ndi Igbo. Its creation will heal wounds and strengthen the Igbo position on restructuring the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Nwoko emphasized.
Supporting this view, veteran columnist and political analyst Amanze Obi recently wrote in his Vanguard column that the Presidency and National Assembly should prioritize Anioma as the most viable and well-defined proposal among all current state creation agitations.
According to Obi, unlike other proposals such as Orlu or Njaba states, whose proponents have yet to clearly delineate their boundaries, Anioma’s territorial definition and organization make it a credible and mature case for consideration.
“The Presidency and the legislature have a duty to take the least rancorous route to balancing Nigeria’s geopolitical structure by granting the South-East its sixth state.
“Those behind Anioma have done a thorough job of their agitation, making it the most credible and unifying option. Its creation would heal wounds, calm frayed nerves, and correct historical injustices,” Obi asserted.
He concluded that while other agitations appear fragmented and self-serving, Anioma stands out as a model of unity, structure, and purpose, a cause that embodies the collective aspiration of Ndi Igbo for fairness and inclusion within Nigeria’s federation.
