The Ikwerre people of Rivers State are angry with their kinsman, Senator John Mbata, for agreeing to lead the pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo.

Mbata was elected to the position last week, but some Ikwerre who object to their classification as Igbo are now denouncing the new Ohanaeze leader for allegedly trying to change their identity.

Ogbakor Ikwerre (the Ikwerre Assembly), which is the umbrella body of Ikwerre people, in a furious reaction, withdrew Mbata’s membership, stripped him of all awards, honours and titles bestowed on him by any organisation in Ikwerre, and declared him a stranger in Ikwerreland .

The group in a statement jointly signed by its President-General Dr. Godspower Onuekwa and Secretary-General Nyebuchi Philips said Mbata, by exercising his fundamental human right to join Ohaneze, had renounced his membership of Ikwerre ethnic group (Iwhuruohna).

The organisation, whose membership cuts across all prominent people in Ikwerre land, said: “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.

“Having freely accepted the position of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, an exclusive organisation of Igbo people, he has willingly and freely renounced his membership and identity with the Ikwerre (Iwhuruohna).

“His action is not the collective view, will, position or thinking of Eneka Community, Apara Kingdom, and the entire Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality.

“Having freely accepted to assume the position of President-General of OhanaezeNdi Igbo, the Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide wishes to make it abundantly and unequivocally clear that he has no permission, authority or consent of Ikwerre people to assume such position.

“As President-General of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, he ceases to claim all rights and privileges of an Ikwerre man.

“As President-General of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, whatever decision he may take there shall not in any way affect or taken to mean a decision for Ikwerre people or by Ikwerre people.

“Heavy sanctions await any son or daughter of Ikwerre who may take any actions that would be inimical to Ikwerre ethnic nationality.

“All awards, honours and titles bestowed on him by any organisation in Ikwerre are hereby withdrawn.”

The group asked the international community, President Bola Tinubu, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara; HRM Eze A. A. Worlu-Wodo, Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and all lovers of Iwhuruohna to note that Mbata “has ceased to represent, speak or act on behalf of the Ikwerre ethnic nationality.”

But a counter statement by the Ikwerre Peoples Congress (IPC) Worldwide said the Ogbakor Ikwerre leadership as currently constituted might be working for those bent on destroying all windows for Ikwerre development, particularly with their hinterland Igbo brothers.

Secretary-General of IPC Stanley Worlu and the Director of IPC Diaspora Nyedike Douglas insisted that Ikwerre are riverine Igbo.

“We are Riverine Igbos and our relationship with hinterland Igbo cannot be disputed. Those who feel their own version of Ikwerre is Binirelated should feel free and let other Ikwerres to live their lives,” they said.

Continuing, the IPC said: “In the overall, Senator John Azuta Mbata, a freeborn Ikwerre son, and Livingstone Wechie, who are both illustrious Ikwerre sons, will not be bothered about these failed pull-down campaigns because the picture ahead is too large, and that’s what these myopians are afraid of.

“They have and are still making Ikwerre proud by their emergence as President-General and President of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo respectively.

“Very importantly, may we state unequivocally that Ogbakor Ikwerre under any guise lacks all capacities known to mankind to suspend or expel any Ikwerre son, including Senator John Azuta Mbata and Livingstone Wechie, because they did not give them the Ikwerre identity or Igbo heritage which Ikwerre possess from nature.

“Just as the saying, you cannot give what you don’t have; neither can you revoke what you did not give.”

The IPC said it was concerned that an Ikwerre group should denigrate Ikwerre sons, particularly Mbata, saying his emergence as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo had been greeted with global celebration including congratulations from President Bola Tinubu.

IPC said: “We are not an irresponsible tribe, we do not have identity crisis, so we maintain as the apex Socio-political Ikwerre Organisation that IPC Worldwide will stop at nothing within lawful means to protect every Ikwerre son or daughter irrespective of their views on identity.

“We fully embrace Senator John Mbata and state that Ogbakor Ikwerre leadership is not speaking for Ikwerre people but for themselves, and Ikwerres must be on guard not to fall for their antics and unpatriotic stance.

“The IPC warns those who are spreading falsehood about Ikwerre Igbo heritage to stop forthwith. Whereas we are not surprised about these flying falsehood and delusion from Ogbakor Ikwerre purported leadership and their awful attitude towards Ndi-Igbo, they must be very objective in whatever they are doing.”

When contacted, Livingstone Wechie, who emerged the President, Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Rivers State chapter, dismissed the position of Ogbakor Ikwerre, saying Mbata remained the tallest Ikwerre son both in height and attainment in life.

Mbata said none of those speaking for Ogbakor Ikwerre “were ever involved in both Ikwerre and the Igbo struggle which our progenitors such as Senator Dr. Obi-Wali, Chief OkogbuleWonodi, Chief Oriji, Chief Jackson Mpi, Eze S.N Woluchem among others, embarked on to give Ikwerre a face.

“What you see is not the real Ogbakor Ikwerre leadership because the larger Ikwerre nation is not party to their questionable emergence. This is because they are not manifesting the statesmanship that Ogbakor Ikwerre leadership is known for.

“I am a full-fledged Ikwerre son of Igbo ancestry just like Distinguished Senator John Azuta Mbata who has become President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo without any question.”

Wechie insisted that Ikwerre people are Igbo, adding that the action of Ogbakor Ikwerre was in fulfillment of a colonial script to diminish Ikwerre before their neighbours.

He said: “The position that Ikwerres are Igbo is both a scientific, historic, and natural fact. Nobody owns Igbo. Ikwerre is the largest Igbo group. There is neither mainstream, superior or inferior Igbo.

“Everything about us is Igbo. Igbo is a race with multiple language groups. Ikwerre being Igbo does not reduce us but rather enlarges us. All the boasts that Ikwerre is the largest in Rivers state is mainly anchored on the strength of our hinterland Igbo brethren who populate Rivers State.

“The economy of Rivers State depends on Igbo investment to survive just as it applies to the politics of our state. Arguably, all Ikwerre patriots who gained prominence had the free sail on account of the support of our hinterland Igbo patriots and brethren.

“Senator Obi-Wali became Minority Leader of the Nigerian Senate, an Igbo slot because of Igbo support. When Sir. Dr. Peter Odili contested to become Governor of Rivers state in 1999, these same individuals ganged up within their rights to deny him support because according to them, Dr. Odili being an Igbo man must not govern Rivers State.

“When Dr. Odili emerged, these same people gathered and coronated Odili a king in Ikwerre land. The same Odili, an Igbo man, made an Ikwerre man Governor in Rivers state without which Ikwerre will be nowhere.”

Wechie said it was only insensitive for a group of individuals to constitute themselves to seek to run down a freeborn Ikwerre son like Senator John Mbata, whom he said had been given the statutory opportunity to lead more than 100 million Igbos around the world.

“It is my charge to the acclaimed Ogbakor Ikwerre leadership to do a soul search and rethink their approach. They cannot turn blind eyes to the avalanche of opportunities that abound in this invaluable gesture by the Igbo race.

“This is most unfortunate particularly at a time that Nations are forging alliances for their development, protection and future. Indeed what is Bini about Ikwerre? It is unfounded that we are from Bini.”

The action of the Ogbakor Ikwerre also drew flak from the President General of Ogbakor Igbo Nile, Ambassador Akpelu Azunna who said the position of Ogbakor Ikwerre was uncalled for.

“Their action is high level of cowardice. It is well understood because anything in Nigeria is politics,” Azunna said.

He accused the leadership of Ogbakor Ikwerre of “showing allegiance to some people who put them in positions.

Continuing, he said: “They are twisting their origin because if they accept it, they become endangered species. We are not perturbed; they are our people. We will keep trying to look out for them and we’ll unite all Igbo.

“Ikwerre people are full -fledged Igbo, because they observe the four market days of Eke, Orientation, Afor and Nkwo as observed in other Southeastern states.

“Somebody who is not your brother is observing all your culture and tradition. Many people may not know that Igweoche is the original name of Port Harcourt. So for anybody to deny his origin because of political interest is a shame.

“However, we liken them to the prodigal son. We will not throw them away because of anger. The duty of all Igbo leaders is to identify where these prodigal sons are and bring them back. My only advice is for them to embrace their Igbo nature so that they will not attract the wrath of God.”

The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth, Comrade Chukwuma Okpalaezukwu, described the action of Ogbakorikwerreas unfortunate and said they did not mean well for the generality of Ikwerre people.

National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Igboayaka O. Igboayaka said: “This is the worst conspiracy I’ve ever heard – people denying their origin. What is Ogbakor Ikwerre? Isn’t it an Igbo language? They’re simply being deceived.”

The President General, Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders (COSYL), Comrade Goodluck Ibem, advised the Ikwerre ethnic group to withdraw from the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

“My advice is for them to withdraw from the Igbo apex Cultural Organisation. We don’t need them.”