Abuja — Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has reaffirmed his support for the creation of an additional state in Nigeria’s South-East zone, urging stakeholders to embrace unity and compromise in the process.
Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, made this known while hosting traditional rulers from the Anioma region alongside key promoters of the proposed Anioma State at his office in Abuja.
He stressed that the creation of any new state cannot be pursued in isolation, noting that collaboration with governors and stakeholders across both the South-East and South-South regions is critical to success.
“You cannot do this without the governors of the South-East and the South-South. It is our duty to pass bills, but critical stakeholders must be involved,” Kalu said.
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In a bid to foster consensus, the deputy speaker suggested a possible merger of proposals, advocating for a unified “Animoma State” instead of separate agitations such as Anioma or Anim State.
“If you ask me between having Anioma State and Anim State, I would prefer a fusion, to have Animoma State so that the two brothers can come together as one,” he added.
Kalu warned that any push lacking broad agreement would be futile, emphasizing that both regions must align to move the proposal forward.
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“Anything outside this approach is a waste of time. There must be agreement—South-East accepting, South-South accepting—to move forward,” he said.
He further urged proponents of state creation to make necessary concessions in the interest of unity, assuring that he would continue to prioritise the push for an additional state in the South-East.
Earlier, the delegation, led by Senator Ned Nwoko, said their visit was to express appreciation for Kalu’s continued support for the Anioma State movement.
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the King of Ubulu-Uno in Delta State, Henry Kikachukwu, said the agitation for Anioma State dates back decades and is rooted in identity and inclusion.
“We are Igbos and we want to be fully identified as Ndi Igbo. We need Anioma State to be created as the sixth state in the South-East,” he said.
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The renewed call highlights ongoing debates over equity, identity, and representation within Nigeria’s federal structure, as stakeholders continue to push for constitutional reforms to address regional imbalances.
