Chief Rich Enuenwosu, a key figure in the movement for the creation of Anioma State, has called on the people of Delta North to remain calm, saying recent statements by some local legislators and council chairmen should not cause alarm.
The statements from Delta North leaders suggested that any future Anioma State must remain within the South-South geopolitical zone.
However, Enuenwosu argued that Delta North has closer historical and geographical ties with the South-East than with the deeper parts of the South-South.
“The recent press release attributed to Delta North legislators and local government chairmen presents positions that require calm and careful analysis,” Enuenwosu said on Monday.
“State creation is a constitutional and multi-layered process. Clarity is essential, and public discussion should be guided by facts rather than alarmist interpretations.”
He noted that while the legislators’ statement acknowledged the historical roots of the Anioma movement, it prematurely limited the discussion to nine Local Government Areas of Delta North and insisted on strict placement within the South-South zone.
Enuenwosu explained:
Historical ties: Anioma identity involves linguistic, cultural, and ancestral connections that extend beyond South-South boundaries.
Geographical links: Delta North shares closer contiguity with the South-East than with deeper South-South areas.
Administrative factors: The region’s placement in the South-South stems from past boundary arrangements (1963 and 1996), not an unchangeable identity.
He emphasized that state creation is a national process, requiring broad consensus, not the opinion of a few legislators or local council leaders.
“The Nigerian Constitution requires approval from two-thirds of all State Houses of Assembly, two-thirds of National Assembly members, backing across all LGAs in the affected area, a national referendum, and presidential assent. The recent statements may overstate the influence of their signatories,” he said.
Enuenwosu urged the public to approach the Anioma state debate with measured attention and patience, stressing that one group’s view does not dictate the outcome of the constitutionally mandated process.
