Anioma State debate deepens as Prof. Sandra Duru criticises Okowa’s position

By Okpashi Odama

Professor Sandra Duru has sharply criticised former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s resistance to aligning the proposed Anioma State with the South East geopolitical zone, describing his stance as “shallow for the level of leadership it is coming from.”

In a strongly worded commentary, Duru insisted that the debate should be rooted in equity, representation, and intelligent restructuring rather than personal rivalries. “Dragging this issue into petty political warfare against Ned Nwoko only exposes a lack of depth. This is bigger than personalities, and reducing it to that level is both disappointing and intellectually weak,” she said.

She further noted that Okowa’s own name reflects Igbo heritage, questioning why identity should suddenly become inconvenient when it does not serve a political narrative. Duru dismissed claims that Senator Ned Nwoko was responsible for Okowa’s political struggles, framing them instead as personal outcomes of his career trajectory.

Supporters of Anioma’s alignment with the South East argue that the move would enhance fairness in state distribution across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, while critics warn against politicising the issue.

The controversy stems from sharp disagreements between Okowa and Nwoko over whether Anioma should be aligned with the South East or remain within the South South. Observers say the debate reflects broader tensions over Nigeria’s federal structure, identity politics, and the quest for equitable representation.

Critics of Okowa’s position argue that Nigeria’s state boundaries have always been administrative arrangements rather than rigid inheritances. They point out that Delta was carved out of the old Western Region, while Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River all emerged from the old Eastern Region. Against this backdrop, they contend that Anioma’s predominantly Igbo-speaking population and cultural ties make alignment with the South East neither unusual nor controversial.