Anioma State: Onwubiko Hails Akpabio’s Signal as Historic Breakthrough

A prominent civil rights advocate, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, has described recent indications about the creation of Anioma State as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s political and historical landscape.

In a statement, Onwubiko; founder of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, said remarks by Senate President Godswill Akpabio suggesting that Anioma State may soon be created represent “a defining moment” for the South-East.

According to him, the long-standing agitation for Anioma State is not just about administrative restructuring but also about addressing deep-rooted identity concerns among Igbo-speaking communities in Delta State and correcting regional imbalance in Nigeria’s federal structure.

Onwubiko also credited Senator Ned Nwoko for playing a key role in advancing the cause, noting that sustained advocacy has helped bring the issue to the forefront of national discourse.

He further linked the demand for Anioma State to historical grievances, including the 1967 Asaba killings during the Nigerian Civil War, which he described as a painful episode that continues to shape the region’s collective memory.

The rights activist added that the proposed state could also serve as a unifying platform for other Igbo-speaking communities outside the South-East, particularly those in Edo State who have expressed interest in being included.

While acknowledging that the creation process is still subject to legislative procedures, Onwubiko maintained that recent developments signal growing political will at the federal level