The choice of Uyo as the venue for the South-South public hearing on the proposed creation of Anioma State has stirred widespread concerns among constituents and stakeholders from the Anioma region in Delta State.
In response, Senator Prince Ned Nwoko has addressed the issue, offering clarity on why the hearing is not being held in Asaba — the administrative capital of Delta State and the cultural heartland of Anioma.
In a statement issued to his constituents and the general public, Senator Nwoko acknowledged the strong sentiments surrounding the decision and admitted that Asaba would have been a more fitting location for the public hearing, both symbolically and logistically.
“Let me begin by affirming that your concerns are completely valid. I, too, would have strongly preferred Asaba as the host city — not only for its symbolic significance but also to enable easier and fuller participation of our people in this critical constitutional process," he said.
However, the senator clarified that the venue was chosen not by local actors, but by the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. According to him, the committee adopted a zonal structure in which only one state per geopolitical zone was selected to host public hearings.
“Uyo was chosen to represent the South-South zone in the current round of public hearings, just as Lagos was selected for the South-West, Enugu for the South-East, Bauchi for the North-East, Minna for the North-Central, and Kaduna for the North-West.
“The decision was guided by logistical, security, and representational considerations — not by any intent to undermine Anioma’s," he explained.
