Ned Nwoko urges urgent action to calm major insecurity affecting residents in the South East.
He says releasing Nnamdi Kanu and creating Anioma State will rebuild trust and regional peace.
Senator Ned Nwoko has called for urgent steps to end the growing tension and insecurity in the South East. He said the people of the region feel neglected and treated unfairly by different governments in the past, which has fueled anger and violence. Nwoko believes that the Federal Government can calm the situation if it listens to the major concerns of the people.
Speaking during a political program on Channels Television, the Senator from Delta North stressed that peace will remain difficult if the Federal Government continues to ignore complaints from the region. He pointed to two important demands. The first is the creation of Anioma State to bring the South East to six states like all other geopolitical zones except the North West. The second is the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021. According to Nwoko, these actions would give the people a sense of justice and fairness.
He argued that the political structure of the country is currently unbalanced. The South East has five states while other zones have more, making the region feel sidelined in federal appointments and development plans. Nwoko has been a leading voice in the campaign to create Anioma State from the present Delta State. He said this move would not only address a long standing demand of his people but also correct the inequality that affects the entire region.
The Senator also said Kanu’s continued detention has been a major cause of unrest. In his words, “Nnamdi Kanu is being held unjustly. His incarceration is the main reason for the continued unrest in the South East.” He explained that releasing him through a political process would help reduce anger and restore trust between the government and the citizens. Many traditional rulers, political leaders and community groups in the South East have also asked the government to consider a political settlement.
Nwoko said efforts to create Anioma State are already moving forward at the National Assembly. He noted that several proposals have been submitted and reviewed, and he is confident that Anioma has strong support. He stated that a committee is currently studying the requests and that public hearings have been held where his team clearly presented their arguments.
Nwoko expressed hope that President Bola Tinubu will approve the creation of the new state. He said such approval would give the people of Anioma and the wider Igbo nation a renewed feeling of belonging in Nigeria. He believes that when these two major concerns are addressed, the region can finally enjoy peace and focus on development.
