“We Were Not Benin, We Are Igbos, and There’s Nothing Benin About Us” — Senator Ned Nwoko Reaffirms Anyoma Identity, Pushes for Creation of Southeast’s Sixth State

Senator Ned Nwoko has reignited a profound historical and cultural debate by boldly challenging long-held narratives surrounding the ethnic identity of the Anyoma people. The Delta North lawmaker firmly declared that the Anyoma people are “culturally and historically Igbo,” dismissing the notion that they are an offshoot of the Benin Kingdom.

This powerful assertion came during his renewed advocacy for the creation of Anyoma State, where he argued that the confusion surrounding the people’s true origin was the result of historical circumstances and survival strategies developed during turbulent periods in Nigeria’s history.

Nwoko’s statement underscores the cultural depth and emotional significance of his legislative push to have the proposed state officially placed within the Southeast geopolitical zone.

In a video published on the official YouTube channel of Channels Television, Senator Nwoko passionately addressed the issue, explaining why some Anyoma people had, at certain times, distanced themselves from their Igbo heritage. Rejecting external interpretations of history, he stated emphatically: “We were not Benin, we are Igbos, and there’s nothing Benin about us.”

He traced the misrepresentation of identity to two key historical moments, first, the territorial expansion of the Benin Empire, and later, the Nigerian Civil War. During the war, Nwoko said, many people were forced to hide or renounce their Igbo identity as a matter of survival amid widespread violence and ethnic targeting.

The Senator emphasized that the authentic heritage of the Anyoma people is reflected unmistakably in their dialect, names, traditions, and cuisine.

According to him, the movement for Anyoma State is not merely a political ambition but a restoration of identity, justice, and historical truth that has long been suppressed by war, fear, and political misrepresentation.

Nwoko argued that recognizing Anyoma’s rightful place as part of the Southeast and establishing it as the sixth state in the zone would be a symbolic and corrective act, acknowledging the cultural truth of the people and addressing long-standing political imbalance.

He described the creation of the new state as a vital step toward correcting the systematic structural and political marginalization of the Southeast, which currently remains the only geopolitical zone in Nigeria with just five states. This, he said, has contributed to a sense of exclusion, youth agitation, and insecurity.

“The agitation you see among our youths is born out of deep-seated feelings of injustice.

“Recognizing Anyoma’s rightful place in the Southeast will go a long way in restoring equity, respect, and a sense of belonging, ultimately fostering national unity and healing,” Nwoko said.

The Senator confirmed that the legislative process for Anyoma State has reached an advanced stage, with growing support among federal lawmakers who agree on the need for a sixth Southeast state.

He also announced that a referendum, a constitutional requirement is being planned before the end of the year. The exercise will include participation from all five Southeast states to obtain their collective approval for Anyoma’s formal integration into the zone.

As the campaign gathers momentum, Nwoko’s declaration has reignited conversations about historical truth, cultural identity, and fair representation giving new energy to a movement that aims to reshape Nigeria’s federal structure and restore a long-lost sense of belonging to the Anyoma people.