As discussions about the creation of an additional state in Nigeria’s South-East region continue to gain momentum, voices are rising in support of Anioma State as the ideal candidate. In a recent opinion piece, Nwanadile Ifunanya, also known as Ada Enugwu Agidi, argued that Anioma, comprising seven local government areas from Delta State, should be the South-East’s sixth state.
The South-East, currently made up of five states, is the least represented geopolitical zone in Nigeria. This imbalance has fueled calls for expansion, equity, and political recognition. Ifunanya stresses that Anioma, an area with long-standing linguistic, cultural, and historical ties to the Igbo, offers a strategic opportunity to strengthen the region rather than divide it.
“By embracing Anioma, we would be bringing in new members under the Igbo umbrella, expanding our cultural and political space, and giving voice to a people who, despite their identity, have long been administratively separated from their kin,” Ifunanya wrote.
Some have suggested an alternative, the so-called “Etiti State,” which would involve carving out portions from existing South-Eastern states. But Ifunanya argues this would weaken the region by splitting what is already limited. “Why should we break what we already have, when we can grow outward instead?” she asked.
The proposed Anioma State, according to Ifunanya, would not only restore political and economic balance but also unify the Igbo people across the Niger River. “This is not the time to build smaller villages within our political hamlet. It’s the time to widen our tentacles, to build bridges across the Niger, to unify and extend,” she emphasized.
Ifunanya concludes that the South-East deserves its sixth state, and when that happens, it should be through inclusion rather than division. “For the numbers, for the balance, for the future Anioma State should be it,” she wrote.
The debate over creating a new state in Nigeria is far from settled, but voices like Ifunanya’s highlight the importance of strategic inclusion and regional unity in the discussion.
