HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu, the esteemed Omu of Anioma, made a courtesy call on Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, the representative of Delta North senatorial district, at his residence in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, January 25.
The revered Queen Mother, who was in Abuja formerly for a one-day meeting with the Minister of Niger Delta to discuss the ongoing development of the Niger Delta regional peacebuilding strategy, emphasized that it would be imprudent to be in the Federal Capital Territory without visiting her distinguished son, who represents the people of Anioma in the hallowed chamber.
Addressing the Senator, Omu Dunkwu expressed admiration for his noteworthy achievements particularly highlighting his impactful role in the Paris Club loan refund.
“Distinguished Senator, a Prince from the royal family, representing us, the people of Anioma in the hallowed chamber, there is no way I will come to the Federal Capital of our nation and leave without paying you a visit. I congratulate you on your numerous achievements – your career, professional, and, of course, political accomplishments. Of note is what you have done in the Paris Club loan refund, and it is indelible. Anytime that history is written, your name will be inscribed in gold”, she expressed.
Urging the distinguished lawmaker to persevere in crafting legislation that propels the nation forward, Omu Anioma, renowned for her resolute spirit, believes that with time, the collective aspirations for a better Nigeria will materialize. She expressed her unwavering optimism for the future of Nigeria which she described as our only home.
In her words, “Prince, as Nigeria remains our sole home, my unyielding optimism assures me that one day, we will attain the Nigeria we collectively yearn for. I implore you, my esteemed Senator, to persist in enacting laws that propel our nation forward. I firmly believe that Nigeria can ascend to the status of a first-world nation, and your presence in the system is bound to expedite this process.
“Not only do you hail from a distinguished royal background, not only have you left an international imprint, but your exceptional intelligence and evident pedigree further underscore your contributions. Please ensure that by the conclusion of your tenure, your name stands proudly on the positive side of history. Having known you for years as a straightforward individual, I trust you will not compromise.”
In response, Senator Ned Nwoko expressed sincere appreciation for the commendation bestowed upon him by Omu Anioma. The Senator acknowledged the recognition of her efforts in promoting, preserving, and propagating the rich cultural heritage of Anioma. He further praised the revered Queen Mother for being an extraordinary cultural ambassador, attributing her success to her impressive level of education and exposure. He lauded her for infusing colour and prestige into the esteemed office of Omu, emphasizing that her contributions align with the essence and expectations of the position.
“I commend all that you do, especially in promoting, preserving, and propagating our culture. Your role as Omu has been truly extraordinary, and I attribute it to your impressive level of education and exposure. You have added so much colour and prestige to the office of Omu, and this is the way it should be”, the senator stated.
Addressing the population disparity in the nation, a concern mutually acknowledged by the Omu and the Senator as a significant impediment to the Southern region’s success in national leadership and, by extension, hindering development, the Queen mother remarked, “I commend your choice to embrace the traditions of our forefathers who found harmony in having multiple wives. I am a staunch advocate for reviving our old values, where the man is the head of the home with more than one wife. In my view, a man marrying just one wife falls short. We must deliberately consider our population growth if we are to keep pace with the northerners.”
In response, the Senator stated “You spoke the minds of anybody who cares about the Southern part of Nigeria. You raised points that the average person is often hesitant to discuss and reluctant to acknowledge. How can we effectively compete with the northerners on a national scale? The population disparity is exponentially widening.
“Just a simple illustration, consider one thousand men from the South and one thousand men from the North. If the Southern men marry one wife each and have four children, while the Northern men marry four wives each, with each wife having four children, the adult population in the North will surpass that of the South by a factor of four in less than two decades. This substantial population gap continues to expand.
“It is laughable when our people say Northerners count cows during elections, hence the massive amount of votes. That’s not true, and it is dumb to think so. No, they don’t count cows; they count real people. That is their actual population.
“Every national planning is dependent on population. The few numbers a region has, the fewer allocation they get, and vice versa. We must keep this in mind.”
Senator Ned Nwoko further added, “To stand a chance in competing with the northerners in national scale, we must consciously boost our population, even if it requires state governments to sponsor weddings and furnish couples with startup kits.”
