President General, Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation, Eze Godspower Onuekwa has stated that the Ikwerre ethnic nationality is not part of the Igbo ethnicity.
Onuekwa stated this in response to the emergence of a former Senator, John Azuta-Mbata, who is an Ikwerre man, as the President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organization.
Speaking during a press conference, Onuekwa stated that the Ikwerre people have their own cuiture and traditions, which makes the 1999 Nigerian Constitution recognise them as a distinct ethnic group.
He said “Ikwerre, as an ethnic nationality is not Igbo, it is never a sub-group of any ethnic nation in Nigeria or elsewhere. It is one of the ethnic blocks which constitute the present Nigeria and the people are found in four LGA in the present day Rivers State.
“Ikwerre people are from Rivers State and the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The people have their unique culture and traditions.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 recognises Ikwerre nationality as a distinct and unique ethnic group in Nigeria. The people of Ikwerre frown at any attempt by some Igbo expansionists to incorporate Ikwerre as a subsect of any other ethnic group.
“We acknowledged some shared similarities between Ikwerre and their neighbours, including the Igbos in the aspect of culture and traditions. However, this doesn’t in any way, validate the unverified claims that Ikwerre is Igbo, as being peddled by Igbo expansionists.
“We have not mandated any group to speak on our behalf or label us as part of any ethnic group in Nigeria.
“Ogbakor Ikwerre remains the apex and umbrella body of the Ikwerre people worldwide. We’ll continue to be loyal to the Federal Government of Nigeria and we are not part of Biafra at all. We are peace-loving people and will not want the peaceful disposition to be taken for granted or as a weakness or cowardice.
“We are calling on the Federal Government, Rivers State government, the commissioner of police in the state and other security agencies to act swiftly against individuals, no matter how highly they are placed or a group of persons who include Ikwerre as part of Biafra with derogatory statement the Ikwerre people.
“It is now rumoured that the Ohaneze Ndigbo intends to make an Ikwerre man the president general of its group. However, any person who may decide to accept this offer eventually becomes an enemy to the Ikwerre people.”
