Ikwerrre in Rivers deny Igbo ethnicity, strip Mbata of all traditional titles for emerging Ohanaeze president general
Ogbakor Ikwerre, a community in Rivers, has stripped John Azuta-Mbata of all chieftaincy titles bestowed on him for becoming the president general of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo worldwide, with the group insisting “we’re not Igbo.”
Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation said it would continue to maintain its unique identity and history separate from others and as such would not want to be identified with Igbo ethnic nationality and culture.
A statement issued in Port Harcourt by Godspower Onuekwain, president general of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, said stripping Azuta-Mbata of all recognitions and chieftaincy titles is the consequence of him contesting for and emerging as Ohanaeze president, which contradicts the position of Eneka community, Apara Kingdom, and the entire Ikwerre ethnic nationality.
The statement proclaimed that “The Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organization Worldwide, on behalf of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality in Rivers State, Nigeria, after a passionate and exhaustive review of the sacrilegious action of Senator John Azuta-Mbata, becoming the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, a socio-cultural organization of Igbo People of Nigeria, wish to state in no unambiguous and uncertain terms that:
“Senator John Azuta-Mbata has the inalienable right to belong to any association of his choice in Nigeria as enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but by becoming the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, an exclusive organization of Igbo people, he has willingly and freely renounced his membership and identity of Ikwerre people (Iwhuruohna).
“Having freely taken a position to be an Igbo man and to occupy the position of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, the Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide unreservedly and unequivocally disclaims and denounces his action; as such action is his private decision taken without the consent of his community, kingdom, and Iwhuruohna.
“As an Igbo man, he (Azuta-Mbata) is now seen, regarded, and declared as a stranger living in Ikwerre land. Therefore, he has been barred from participating in any Iwhuruohna gathering, meetings, or political representation starting from his Eneka Community, Apara Kingdom, and Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide.
“All awards, honours, and titles bestowed on him by any organization in Ikwerre are hereby withdrawn.”
However, another group called Committee of Rivers Patriots (CRP) countered in a statement signed by its President, Datubo Georgewill, that membership of Ogbakor Ikwerre is voluntary and as such “no room for the banishment, not even the local communities can attempt to do that.”
The statement explained that the position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is zoned to Rivers, not any ethnic nationality, and “Senator Azuta John Mbata contested as a Rivers indigene.:
It added that “Senator John Mbata didn’t run for the presidency of Ohanaeze Ndigbo world-wide on the nomination or on the platform of any cultural organization and therefore not answerable to any cultural body or group.”
An Ikwerre elder and former Chief of Staff in the state, Emeh Glory Emeh, stressed that Ikwerre people have nothing to lose for Azuta-Mbata being Ohanaeze president.
He said the development is beneficial to Ikwerre and Rivers people and should therefore be commended, and not condemned.
Emeh, former Commissioner for Transport and Aviation recounted other prominent people from Ikwerre and Rivers – including Obi Wali, Emma Aguma, and C.C. Nwuche – who had served as Ohanaeze president general or secretary general or treasurer, and that records show their association with Ohaneze was beneficial.
His words: “Senator Mbata, being President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo has not changed anything, and does not make Ikwerre Igbo. We are not losing anything because an Ikwerre man is the President-General of Ohaneze.
“Those who served [in Ohanaeze) in the past did so for one good reason or the other, and the objectives were achieved.
“Let us therefore support the Ikwerre president-general of Ohaneze Ndigbo so that the dividends of that decision can come to Ikwerre land and the entire Rivers State.
“In this connection, I wish to commend the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, for demonstrating a good understanding of the dynamics of Nigerian politics in the 21st century, and for taking the right steps at the right times to protect the interest of Rivers State.
“I am proud that Senator Azuta Mbata took this decision. I call on Ikwerre and entire Rivers people to appreciate the importance of this bold step, and support him to succeed.”
