₦airaland Forum

Worried by the misconceptions over the origin of the Ikwerre people, the Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, has explained that Ikwerre ethnic nationality is not and has never been a subset or subgroup of any other tribe in Nigeria, including the Igbos.

The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre, HRM King Godspower W. Onuekwa, gave this explanation in a press conference held on Thursday, at the Conventional Secretariat, Obiri Ikwerre, Port Harcourt, on behalf of Ikwerre sons and daughters.

Present at the conference were, distinguished Senator Andrew Uchendu, Prof. Wami Emenike, Chief Stephen Oparantu, Chief Paul Woke Nwonodi, Eze Gideon, Vincent Nyeche, among several others.

In his address, Onuekwa vehemently debunked the claims that Ikwerre is Igbo and warned Ikwerre people from contesting or accepting the position of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, stressing that there would be consequences.

He noted that Ikwerre ethnic nationality is a distinct and unique ethnic group, one of the ethnic blocks which constitute present day Nigeria, adding that Ikwerre remains a homogeneous ethnic group with a common ancestry and paternity, whose people are found in four local government areas, namely Ikwerre, Emohua, Obio/Akpor, and Port Harcourt City lgas, in present day Rivers State.

The leader of the apex and umbrella body of the Ikwerre people said, “in many cases, some rumours can be fact. It is now rumoured that Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo intends to make an Ikwerre man the president general of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo. However, any person, no matter how highly placed who may decide to accept this offer, eventually becomes any enemy to Ikwerre people. “Ikwerre ethnic nationality has their modus operandi of punishment, they will be punished and sanctioned, we may even disclaim them but until the due date.

“The advantage of this press conference is to dissuade those aspiring, we urge them to denounce their intention.”

In his declaratory statements, Onuekwa emphasized that, “Ikwerre people are from Rivers State and the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The people have their unique culture and traditions. The declaration of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation during the Chukwudifu Oputa human rights violation panel 2001 that: “Ikwerre ethnic nationality is not and has never been a subgroup of any other tribe in Nigeria, including Ndi-Igbo…” would suffice here.

“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(2010) as amended recognizes Ikwerre ethnic 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 subset or subgroup of any other ethnic group in Nigeria or elsewhere.

“We acknowledge some shared similarities between Ikwerre and her neighbours including the Igbo in terms of aspects of culture and traditions. This does not in any way, validate the bogus and unverified claims that Ikwerre is Igbo as being peddled by Igbo expansionists.

“The Ikwerre ethnic nationality wishes to inform that Ogbakor Ikwerre has not mandated any person or group to speak on her behalf or label us as part of any ethnic group in Nigeria. Ogbakor Ikwerre remains the apex and umbrella body of the Ikwerre people, home and in diaspora. It is the only authentic voice to speak on behalf of Ikwerre ethnic nationality.

“Ogbakor Ikwerre remains loyal to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we are not part of Biafra in any circumstance or its agitators. We are peace loving and hospitable people and would not want the peaceful disposition to be taken for granted or as a weakness or cowardice.

“Finally, we are calling on the Federal Government, Government of Rivers State, the State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to act swiftly against individuals or any group of persons who are creating maps, including Ikwerre as part of Biafra with derogatory and inflammatory statements against the Ikwerre people.”

Nlfpmod

Slytiger:
https://tnnonline.info/were-neither-igbo-nor-biafra-ogbakor-ikwerre/

MadamVanessa:



Laughable , so laughable.

Claiming that Ikwerre is not Igbo might be understandable, but stating that they're not Biafrans is absurd and stupid. No single individual can speak on behalf of the entire Ikwerre people without consulting them. In reality, the majority of Ikwerre people proudly identify as Biafrans. Let that sink.

kestolove95:
Why is everybody avoiding that people?

Kreesxxx:
You are the stupid one here. Ikwerre is not Igbo as well as not being Biafra.
Lastly this man should allow an ikwerre son to head Igbo. It is a mark of superiority as the ikwerres have always claimed.

He noted that Ikwerre ethnic nationality is a distinct and unique ethnic group, one of the ethnic blocks which constitute present day Nigeria

DatNiggaDaz:
They are no longer from Benin .

They are now "seperate" distincz" & stand alone"

Paraman:
Ikwerre no b Igbo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0WshxKKvXg?si=1QCz9LK4OP84atbK

waternogatenemy:
THE JOKE IS ON YOU.

TODAY AFTER ELECTION, ONE MAN HAVE RELEASE NONSENSE FOR YOU.


ARE THEY DEAF AND DUMB ALL THIS WHILE?


MAKE UNA TRY DEY GET SENSE, U LOT ARE LOOKING VERY STUPID.

waternogatenemy:
NA YORUBA BRAIN HIM COME TAKE PLAY.


ME SEF WONDER Y I NO HEAR BINI AGAIN.

DatNiggaDaz:
no be juju be dat

chopnaira:
Ikwerre is not Igbo by identity because they do not share the same progenitor. They have neighbors and share cultural similarities with their neighbors including ndi Igbo. However, due to some similarities in language, which is referred to as proto-igboid, they can be called cousin tribes, given that they are part of the Igboid cluster with many other minority tribes with shared similarities.

There are many tribes like that in Nigeria and globally. Example is the Efik, Ibibio and Annang. They share similarities and therefore belonged to the Ibibioid cluster but they are identified differently. There are many of them like that. Another example is the yorubiod cluster.

The bini migration is similar to other migrations to the Ikwerre land and not that Ikwerre is bini. There was an existing Ikwerre population that accepted the visitors. The migrations came from Aros, Ngwa, Bini, Abua, Efik/Ibibio and lately Hausa. They met and co-joined with the existing population. Therefore it is normal to see the transformation in culture to tilt to the most influential especially when the migrator is a nearby neighbor with trade and marriage factors combined.

After the independence of Nigeria, and the introduction of the regional government, the Igbo language was introduced to all the towns and villages under the eastern government. It is also not surprising that the older population and after understood and spoke the Igbo language. This is a major reason why other Nigerians erroneously see Ikwerre as Igbo, without knowing the difference, just like we in the south see the kanuri man as Hausa without knowing the difference.

Now, as an individual, looking at the saga between the ndi Igbo and the Ikwerre people without bias. You can not cry more than the bereaved. If the Ikwerre people wants their identity in a particular way I think it should be respected, just like saying, if someone wants to be identified in a certain way, that itself isn't a crime, right?

For me, the manner in which the ndi Igbo is going about this, is clearly a case of subjugation. You want to completely wipe out cherished memories of a group of people to achieve a goal. If the ndi Igbo wants cooperation from the Ikwerre people, why can't they approach them as Ikwerre or iwhorunha people? Why do you want to approach them as Igbo people? This is where the problem lies.

Copied.

waternogatenemy:
ANY PERSON WEY NO GET SENSE CAN NEVER GET SENSE AGAIN.

TODAY OHANAEZE HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT WHICH RIVERS PEOPLE WENT TO ELECT IN ENUGU.

DatNiggaDaz:
All these grand men tha collected money to deny our brothers from the East have been left behind by the New Generation who are confused about their origin.

The New Generation of Ikwerre has long since ended their their confusion after the election of an Ikwerre man from Rivers

This news has brought so much pains for lower breeds.

I am happy & proud for our neigbours from the East for doing the right thing

Slytiger:
https://tnnonline.info/were-neither-igbo-nor-biafra-ogbakor-ikwerre/

Paraman:
Ikwerre no b Igbo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0WshxKKvXg?si=1QCz9LK4OP84atbK

Ojiofor:
They will make noise online and go behind the camera to congratulate Sen John Mbata a prominent Ikwerre son who just emerged today as president general of Ohanaeze ndi Igbo worldwide

waternogatenemy:
LOL

WHO ARE THOSE IN ENUGU VOTING FROM RIVERS STATE AND WHO IS THE NEW OHANAEZE PRESIDENT?

DEM MUTE SINCE.

AFTER ELECTION COMPLTETED AND PRESIDENT EMEREGE, ONE MAN COME PLAY POLITICS WITH YORUBA BRAIN.


PLAYING CLEVER BY HALF A PENNY.

chopnaira:
We won't be seeing the end of this anytime soon

Xisnin:
It is a lucrative position.
And as we all know, an average Nigerian will claim to be a Russian or even Chinese if there is money involved.

waternogatenemy:
OHANAEZE NDIIGBO PRESIDENT AZUTA MBATA


Azuta-Mbata, the first Ikwerre native to serve as Rivers East Senator under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, assumes leadership at a pivotal moment for the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.



The election, held on 10 January 2025 at the Old Government Lodge in Enugu, saw delegates from Rivers State unanimously nominating Azuta-Mbata for the position. His emergence follows the zoning of the role to Rivers State after the passing of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who represented Imo State.

kestolove95:
Why is everybody avoiding that people?

waternogatenemy:
LET THEM PLAY WITH YORUBA BRAIN, AFTERALL, OHANAEZE IS NOT NIGERIA PRESIDENT, WHAT ARE THEY ALL LOOKING FOR HERE?

WILL IGBO PEOPLE NOT REST FOR THEM?

Kreesxxx:
They know what they are doing. The ikwerres call them all Isoma. It has a meaning. All they want is to call the ikwerres isoma as well by ceding the president of the Isoma people to a blue blood Ikwerre son. That is the the consequence the president general is talking about.. anybody who accepts that position automatically becomes Isoma.