“We Are Igbo”: Senator Ned Nwoko Urges Anioma People to Embrace Their Heritage

Reported by Amos Dachung – Sele Media Africa
www.selemedia.org | August 31, 2025

Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has called on the Anioma people of Delta State to fully embrace their Igbo identity and unite with their eastern counterparts to build a stronger and more cohesive Nigeria.

Speaking at a conference organized by the Igbo Unification Movement in collaboration with the Ndi na Asu Bia Socio-Cultural Organisation in Asaba, Senator Nwoko emphasized the importance of cultural unity and historical recognition.

“There is no argument about our Igbo-ness. I understand history very well. I have a degree in history. I know the migration of the Igbo people, and I know clearly that we, the Anioma, are Igbo. Time has come for us to reverse the old narratives that separated us from our brothers across the Niger,” Nwoko declared.
He commended the organizers for their efforts in promoting Igbo unity and highlighted the need for Anioma to reclaim its cultural identity, which he believes is crucial for political strength and correcting decades of identity distortion.

Senator Nwoko also addressed the ongoing advocacy for the creation of Anioma State, stating that the movement is not about political ambition but about correcting historical imbalances and achieving justice and equity for the Igbo people.

“This is not about APC, PDP, or Labour Party. It is about identity, justice, and fairness. I have no interest in being governor, but I want Anioma to stand tall with its own state, with Asaba as its capital. That way, we also fulfill the dream of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which has always recognized Anioma as one of the Igbo states,” he said.

The senator recounted his childhood experiences during the Nigerian Civil War, noting that Anioma communities faced ethnic cleansing and were compelled to deny their Igbo identity to survive. He emphasized that the lingering identity crisis from that era must now give way to truth and reconciliation.