Anioma Belongs In The South-South: Inside The Political Pushback Against A Controversial Re-Zoning Proposal
A fresh wave of debates over Nigeria’s next round of state creation has revived old tensions in Delta North, where lawmakers and local government chairmen are now battling what they describe as a calculated attempt to “drag Anioma into the South-East.”
In a rare united front, all Delta North legislators in the State House of Assembly and the nine council chairmen from the district issued a joint declaration rejecting any proposal that would position a future Anioma State within the South-East geopolitical zone. Their statement — deliberate, firm, and unambiguous — reinforces a long-running struggle over identity, regional belonging, and political destiny.
A Generational Demand—And a New Threat
For decades, the aspiration for a distinct Anioma State has been a core political project in Delta North. Leaders often trace the agitation to early post-independence debates over minority rights, resource allocation, and cultural identity. The idea has survived multiple administrations, constitutional talks, and national conferences — a testament to its deep-rooted appeal among the people.
But the recent resurgence of proposals to place Anioma within the South-East has triggered alarm. Behind the scenes, influential political actors from outside the region are said to be lobbying to redraw boundaries in ways that could serve broader geopolitical interests. Delta North leaders argue that this manoeuvre risks undermining their historical and administrative alignment with the South-South — a region they insist is central to their identity.
A Unified Rejection
Their statement leaves no ambiguity:
“Anioma is, and must remain, in the South-South.”
The lawmakers and chairmen describe the push toward the South-East as not only misguided but fundamentally incompatible with established facts of geography, governance, and heritage. According to them, the Anioma people share deep social, cultural, and administrative ties with the South-South that cannot be rewritten to suit political convenience.
They insist that any state creation process must reflect the boundary lines that have shaped their lived reality, not speculative regional reclassification.
The Nine LGAs That Form the Heart of the Agitation
The leaders reaffirmed their position that Anioma State should be carved strictly from the nine local government areas of Delta North:
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Aniocha North
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Aniocha South
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Ika North-East
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Ika South
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Ndokwa East
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Ndokwa West
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Oshimili North
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Oshimili South
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Ukwuani
Asaba, the current state capital, remains the proposed capital of the envisioned Anioma State — a symbolic nod to continuity, identity, and political centrality.
What’s Driving the Resistance?
Investigations into political deliberations within the district reveal deeper concerns:
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Geopolitical identity: Delta North leaders fear losing their South-South status, which currently shapes their political alliances and resource entitlements.
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Cultural preservation: Many residents identify as Anioma within a Niger Delta context, not within the Igbo-majority South-East.
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Representation fears: A move to the South-East could diminish political influence in a zone already dominated by long-established blocs.
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Suspicion of external agendas: Some leaders believe the proposal benefits external power structures rather than the Anioma people themselves.
A Message to Constituents and the Nation
The group pledged to use its “full political weight and mandate” to champion the creation of Anioma State within the South-South. They cast themselves as custodians of the region’s heritage, assuring citizens that they will resist any political engineering that threatens Anioma’s identity.
Their stance signals a new phase in the state creation debate — one where regional identity is no longer a background issue but a defining battlefield.
The Bigger Picture
As Nigeria revisits long-standing demands for new states, Anioma’s case is emerging as a litmus test for whether state creation will be guided by historical truth or political expediency. The vehement pushback from Delta North underscores how sensitive and high-stakes these boundaries remain.
In the coming months, as legislative hearings and national negotiations intensify, the Anioma question will test not only federal policymaking but also the willingness of political actors to respect the identity of a people who say their place — unequivocally — is in the South-South.
