The Obi of Ubulu-Uno and Vice Chairman of the Delta North Traditional Rulers Forum, His Royal Majesty, Obi Henry Afamefuna Kikachukwu, on Friday delivered a compelling and emotionally charged appeal for the creation of Anioma State during a public hearing organized by the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
Representing the collective voice of traditional rulers from the Anioma region in Delta State, the monarch described the demand for Anioma State as a long-standing and just cause, rooted in the pursuit of equity, cultural identity, and meaningful political inclusion.
Obi Kikachukwu reminded the committee that the agitation for Anioma State is not a recent initiative, but a 71-year-old pursuit that began during Nigeria’s pre-independence era.
He framed the continued exclusion of Anioma people from statehood as a form of systemic marginalization.
“This is not a new request. It is a 71-year-old cry for justice, for recognition, and for a rightful place within the Nigerian federation,” he declared.
“Our people are tired of existing without identity. Living without a distinct state is a form of modern slavery. It must end.”
The Anioma royal father stressed that the push for statehood is not driven by individual ambition but is a united and widely-supported movement among the Anioma people, with the traditional institutions taking the lead in advocacy.
“Our presence here is deliberate. We are not only monarchs; we are custodians of our people’s hopes and aspirations,” he said.
Obi Kikachukwu underscored that the creation of Anioma State is not merely an administrative adjustment, but a moral and symbolic act that would affirm the identity and dignity of the Anioma people, long overshadowed within the existing state framework.
“The denial of Anioma State is a denial of our heritage, our contribution to the Nigerian project, and our rightful place within it,” he asserted. “Our people will be free.”
He made a direct and heartfelt appeal to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and members of the Constitution Review Committee, urging them to respond to the will of the people and bring Anioma State into reality.
“We are making a passionate appeal that you oblige our request. Creating Anioma State is not just the right thing—it is long overdue,” the monarch said.
The hearing was marked by the strong presence of Anioma traditional rulers, signaling not only the seriousness of the demand but also the collective unity behind it.
As the session concluded, the gravity of their message echoed across the hall, clear, unflinching, and unwavering: for the Anioma people, the demand for statehood is no longer a plea, but a firm declaration of identity, justice, and belonging.
