BY AUSTIN OYIBODE
Senator Ned Nwoko has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding the selection of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as the venue for the South-South public hearing on the proposed creation of Anioma State, prompting renewed scrutiny from constituents and fellow stakeholders.
In a formal statement released on Wednesday, Senator Nwoko affirmed his intention to attend and actively engage in the hearing set for next week in Uyo.
However, he acknowledged growing unease among Anioma residents regarding the decision to host the event outside Asaba, the region’s cultural and administrative hub.
“I share the concerns of my people,” Nwoko said. “It would have been more fitting to hold the hearing in Asaba, our home and the very cradle of the Anioma State movement.
“But the decision came from the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. They chose one city per geopolitical zone to streamline logistics and ensure security.”
The decision aligns with the nationally coordinated approach adopted by the Committee, which designated:
Uyo for South‑South,
Enugu for South‑East,
Lagos for South‑West,
Bauchi for North‑East,
Minna for North‑Central,
Kaduna for North‑West.
Senator Nwoko defended this zonal model as indispensable for practical administration, yet acknowledged its shortcomings in addressing local sensitivities.
“It’s a technocratic solution that, unfortunately, doesn’t fully recognize regional sentiment or symbolism,” he remarked.
Regardless of location, Nwoko emphasized that the mission remains unchanged. “My presence in Uyo will be forceful and unequivocal,” he pledged.
“Our demand for Anioma State is anchored in equity, historical identity, and fair representation within the Nigerian federation.”
In a call to unity across the Anioma landscape, the Senator urged traditional rulers, civic associations, professional bodies, youth cohorts, and ordinary citizens to mobilize en masse for Uyo.
“Our collective show of strength in Uyo can help shift national opinion on the legitimacy of our cause,” he said.
The campaign for Anioma State, which would stem from Delta North Senatorial District, has a decades-long history rooted in charges of political marginalization.
Advocates argue that statehood would bring improved governance, amplify local voices in national affairs, and realign the federal structure with regional priorities.
Observers say the uproar over venue selection reflects wider questions about the federal government’s approach to inclusivity in constitutional reform.
The Anioma case could set a precedent for how agitations for state creation, especially from minority groups, are handled moving forward.
As D-Day draws near, onlookers will be watching closely, not just for the outcome of the hearing itself, but for what this process says about equity, symbolism, and access in Nigeria’s evolving democratic fabric.
