(DDM) – Senator Ned Nwoko has urged the Anioma people of Delta State to fully embrace their Igbo heritage and unite with their eastern kinsmen for a stronger Nigeria.
Speaking in Asaba at a conference themed “Igbo Bu Ofu” (Igbos are One), the Delta North lawmaker said Anioma’s history, culture, and experiences prove beyond doubt that they are an integral part of the Igbo nation.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the event was organised by the Igbo Unification Movement in collaboration with the Ndi na Asu Bia socio-cultural organisation.
Senator Nwoko, who chairs the Senate Committee on Reparation and Repatriation, described the gathering as a bold step towards truth, reconciliation, and unity.
He commended the organisers for their courage, stressing that their efforts align with his long-standing advocacy for Anioma identity and the creation of Anioma State out of Delta North.
The senator explained that reclaiming the collective Igbo identity was crucial not only for cultural revival but also for political strength.
He said the time had come to reverse decades of distortion and marginalisation that separated Anioma communities from their brothers across the Niger.
Nwoko emphasised that his agitation was not about partisan politics or personal ambition, but about fairness, justice, and correcting historical imbalances.
He clarified that his advocacy had no link to APC, PDP, or Labour Party interests, but stemmed from the need to restore dignity to Anioma people.
The lawmaker reiterated his call for the creation of Anioma State with Asaba as its capital, noting that such a move would fulfill the long-standing recognition by Ohanaeze Ndigbo that Anioma is one of the Igbo states.
Nwoko revealed that Anioma communities endured ethnic cleansing during the Nigerian Civil War, where many were forced to deny their Igbo identity to survive.
He said this painful memory shaped his resolve to fight against the identity crisis that lingered long after the war.
According to him, the time had come for Anioma to stand tall, proudly identifying as Igbo without fear or compromise.
The senator also praised academics and cultural researchers whose work has reinforced Anioma’s Igbo roots.
He specifically mentioned Professor Abigail Ogwezzy of the University of Lagos, whose research into Anioma linguistics and history has helped provide academic validation of their heritage.
Nwoko added that the Igbo identity transcended state boundaries, comparing it to the universality of Chinese identity which remains constant regardless of location.
He urged Anioma to embrace this reality as the path to unity and political relevance in Nigeria’s evolving democracy.
The lawmaker, who also chairs the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, encouraged cultural organisations like the Igbo Unification Movement and Ndi na Asu Bia to continue advocacy, education, and grassroots mobilisation.
He said only through sustained effort could the dream of a united Igbo nation and the creation of Anioma State be achieved.
Observers note that the Igbo Unification Movement and Ndi na Asu Bia have emerged in recent years as influential voices in reviving Igbo cultural and political identity.
Their campaigns extend beyond Delta North to Igbo-speaking border communities in Edo and other states.
Analysts say the renewed calls for Igbo unity reflect a generational shift, where younger activists are determined to bridge historical divisions.
The Asaba conference highlighted Anioma’s growing role in these discussions, underscoring the region’s desire for recognition and justice within the Igbo framework.
For many participants, Nwoko’s testimony about the civil war and its impact on Anioma underscored the urgency of the cause.
The senator’s call to action comes at a time when debates over restructuring, state creation, and ethnic reconciliation remain dominant in Nigeria’s national discourse.
His insistence on unity over politics signals a broader appeal to transcend party lines in pursuit of identity and fairness.
The conference ended with a resolution to strengthen collaboration among cultural groups and to mobilise Anioma communities toward asserting their rightful place in Igbo history and Nigeria’s future.