“Peace will return’: Ned Nwoko links south-east stability to Nnamdi Kanu’s release, new state

Ned Nwoko, the senator representing Delta north, says releasing Nnamdi Kanu and creating Anioma state would resolve the long-standing unrest in the south-east.

Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’, Nwoko said the crisis in the region stems from “perceived injustice by successive governments”.

He said the creation of a new state for the south-east and the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) would restore stability.

“The problem in the south-east has to do with perceived injustice by successive governments,” Nwoko said.

“So what needs to be done… is the creation of a new state to make up the number to six, and then the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

“By the time you do these two things, I am almost certain that peace will return to the south-east,” he added.

The south-east currently has five states, one less than other geopolitical zones.

On Kanu, who has been in DSS custody since June 2021, Nwoko said his continued detention is unjust and a major trigger of instability. He argued that a political resolution would help calm tensions.

Nwoko, who is leading the campaign for the creation of Anioma state from the present Delta state, said the joint committee of the senate and house of representatives on constitutional review has endorsed adding one more state to the south-east.

“Now, what has happened is that the national assembly has put together a committee to decide which state to choose.

There are about seven states from the south-east, and we are one of them. At the public hearing in Enugu, we also presented our case, so I am almost certain that we will be chosen,” he said.

The senator said he is confident that President Bola Tinubu will approve the new state if recommended, describing it as “the best gift” the president could offer the Igbo people.