Anioma State creation is Constitutional Issue - Sen. Nwaoboshi

Most Distinguished Sen. Nwaoboshi has great follower-ship in Delta North and it doesn’t look likely to be otherwise in distant future. Political advantages are a product of long term relationship with the people especially at the grassroots. It is intentional and a consciously developed plan that has the interest and welfare of the people at hearts, and leadership that is based on the cultural values of the people and takes a Bottom-top approach holds the key to unlocking the goodwill a political leader enjoys.
Despite the setback experienced during his re-election bid to the National Assembly in the last general election, Ike Philip Abiagom writes that Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, has been their voice and stands for them when they are seemingly oppressed and When he played host to some Community Newspaper Publishers and journalist’s at his country home in Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area, the fearless and courageous Nwaoboshi spoke on the CONTROVERSY FACING THE CREATION OF ANIOMA STATE:

ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL STRIDES OF THE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE

“In the area of developmental strides of the present Governor of Delta State His Excellency,Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, I may not be in the position to say much about him because I have not had time to observe much and won’t want to speak without facts. I have been indoors trying to fix myself, business and children. But I know Gov. Sheriff as a humble man, fearless and respectful young man who does not fall for pressure, infact he is a strong man .I won’t run down someone because we are not of the same party. Some of us in APC today trace our roots from PDP.

ON THE CONTROVERSY FACING THE CREATION OF ANIOMA STATE:

In his words again ” When people jump into things they do not know the genesis they fall apart. I had the privilege in 1979 serving under Chief Nosike Ikpu, the first leader of Anioma State creation movement andbwas championed by Chief Denis Osadebe of the Mid-West State. Not long he died, Senator Zik ikpu now emerged as Senator Representing Bendel North Senatorial District and so he was the Chairman and was his Personal Assistant. so I followed him round all the movement of creation of Anioma State”
He continued, ” The principle of the creation of Anioma state was the issue of identity and goodness of our people. But then, the issue that came was Ogbaru and others proposing to join us but our people rejected that idea. insisting Anioma State must constitute the nine Local Government that make up the Delta North.

He added, ” With all modesty I don’t want to call some names but some persons were pushing that we most accept the ogbaru people to join Anioma State but Arewa and others were saying otherwise. So the issue then was not whether creation of Anioma State was visible or if it should be created but the issue was if we are going to accept the Onitsha and Ogbaru people in creation of Anioma State.

That was the issue then, I was there” He continued ” The battle was on until Toga led National Assembly Committee visited all the areas that were agitating for state creation at Agbor Town hall and our people, led by Senator Ikpo, Orewa, leaders from Ndokwa to hear directly from them until the end of Second Republic. When I went to the Senate by the grace of God,having had the privilege to follow up the Anioma movement from the time of Chief Denis Osadebe, I knew that the consensus of our people is that it must be the nine Local Government Areas that constitute the Delta North should be Anioma State, so I went to senate to propose the bill of creation of Anioma State with these nine Local Government Areas without. any controversy or argument; it was seamless and It went through first and second reading in the Senate and was shortlisted for approval because it was a consensus option.”

Furthermore, “to create a state is a Constitutional issue and for you to create a state you must amend that section of the Constitution and to amend it, you need two-third and that is the problem in the state creation. When we got to that stage our brothers across where looking for their own state even North and West were all looking for their own State. So where do we start from, if you stop mine I stop yours everybody wants same goal. So, it is not a question of running round and making noise, it is a pure political issue and must be identified.

Therefore anybody using State creation as a medium of deceiving the people is wasting his time, we are too civilized because we know the constitutional position. You have to carry all the geopolitical zones along because it’s a Constitutional issue.
I advise people should focus on what they have been sent to do in the National Assembly and tell us what you have done within the period you have been there” your report card.