By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA — The International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISSJHR) is calling on the National Assembly to make the creation of Anioma State a top priority. In an open letter to the Senate President and House Speaker, the group argued that the move would end over four decades of political marginalization and systemic exclusion for the Anioma people, who are spread across nine local government areas in Delta State.
The Chancellor of the ISSJHR, Dr. Omenazu Jackson, stated that the creation of the state is not a political favor but a constitutional and moral obligation. The organization noted that the demand for Anioma State has been ignored for too long, despite repeated pleas and memoranda presented during various state creation exercises and constitutional conferences since the Murtala/Obasanjo administration.
According to the ISSJHR, the Anioma people have been pursuing statehood without success, even as other regions have had their requests for new states granted. Jackson commended Senator Ned Nwoko for courageously reviving the agitation and emphasized that the Anioma people are not asking for privilege, but for justice.
The proposed state, which would be carved out of Delta State, would include local government areas such as Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika South, Ika North East, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, and Ukwuani. The ISSJHR believes that the creation of Anioma State would not only heal long-standing wounds but also strengthen Nigeria’s federal structure and serve as a beacon of hope for fairness in nation-building.