₦airaland Forum

Kreesxxx:
#FOR_THE_RECORDS

IWHURUOHNA (IKWERRE) ETHNIC NATIONALITY IS NEVER A SUBGROUP OF ANY ETHNIC NATION IN NIGERIA OR ELSEWHERE

Preamble:

Iwhuruohna ethnicity is one of the ethnic blocs which constitutes present day Nigeria and the people are found in four local government areas in present day Rivers State. The local government areas (LGAs ) include: Ikwerre ( Kelga), Emohua (Emolga), Obio-Akpor (Obalga), and Port Harcourt City (Phalga). Iwhuruohna remains a homogeneous ethnic group with a common ancestry and paternity. In this stead, we make the following declaratory statements:
Iwhuruohna people are from Rivers State and the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The people have their unique culture and traditions.

Iwhuruohna share the same ancestry with the Ekpeye and the Ogba people of Rivers State.

Iwhuruohna people migrated from the Ancient Benin Kingdom during the reigns of Oba Ewuare (Ogwaro) . Our paternity is traceable to a great grand ancestor - AKALAKA who left the Ancient Benin Kingdom in company of his sons which included IHRUOHA ( IWHURUOHNA).

The name, Ikwerre, was an " Igbonised" version of " Akwerulem" - ' we have agreed or consented ' ( a response of a Rebisi Monarch to an Igbo translator and a Briton during the negotiations for acquisition of acres of land for Port Harcourt wharf).

The theory of origins linking Iwhuruohna ethnicity to Igbo ancestry was ill- conceived as a result of the balkanization and " Igbonisation" of Iwhuruohna by Igbo merchants from Aro, Nkwere and Awka who oppressed and suppressed the aborigines in their place.

The declaration of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organization 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 regionalization of Nigeria during the colonial era placed Ndi-Igbo on an advantageous position against other minority groups in the defunct Eastern Regional Government including Iwhuruohna people.
Till date, there are still pockets of Igbo ( Aro) settlements in such Iwhuruohna Communities at Elele, Igwuruta, Isiokpo. They are evidently Aro compounds like Aro-Omuodu, Aro-Omuodukwu, Aro-Omuma, Aro-Ogbogbu in Igwuruta and Nmgbu Oyo at Isiokpo.
8. The earliest incursion into Ikwerre hinterland by the Igbo emboldened the proponents of Igbo expansionist theory to erroneously think or link Iwhuruohna to an Igbo ancestry.
9. During colonial era, some Igbo merchants such as Nwocha Amefula, Osondu Oyo, Amakiri Nwocha, Nwosu Okorie Ebika held positions of trust and represented Iwhuruohna people as warrant chiefs at Isiokpo, Omagwa, Ozuaha, Omademe and Ipo for seven years at the Choba division
10. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(2010) as amended recognizes Iwhuruohna ( Ikwerre) ethnic nationality as a distinct and unique ethnic group in Nigeria. The people of Iwhuruohna frown at any attempt by some Igbo expansionists to incorporate Iwhuruohna as a subset or subgroup of any other in Nigeria or elsewhere.
11. We acknowledge some shared similarities between Iwhuruohna and her neighbours including the Igbo in terms of aspects of culture and traditions. This does not, in anyway, validate the bogus and unverified claims that Iwhuruohna is Igbo as being peddled by Igbo expansionists.
12. We call on the general public and the Governor and Government of Rivers State to be wary of the tricks and pranks of the Igbo expansionists in the nomenclature of " Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo" and their activities in Rivers State.
13. We would continue to associate with and reverence our paternity or genealogy to the Ancient Benin Kingdom in honours of our ancestors - AKALAKA & IHRUOHA (IWHURUOHNA).
14. Thanks for your rapt attention and be properly guided as we pray "CHIOKIKE" to strengthen and embolden us to always speak the truth and nothing but the truth! We do not also support any expansionist meeting(s) in Rivers State as it will cause agitation among the people of the State.

Signed:

His Majesty, King Amb. Sir. Leslie Nyebuchi Eke, JP, Ph.D. DCF.
Eze Gbakagbaka
Nyerisi Eli Woji (EzeWoji XII),
Nyerisi Mbam Oro-Evo
Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom
Chairman, Supreme Council of Ikwerre Govt Recognized Traditional Rulers
Date:6/1/2025

HRH Eze Engr. Ben O. Ugo, JP
Elumoha VIII, Nyenweala Omerelu
Kelga Rivers State
Secretary, Supreme Council of Ikwerre Govt. Recognized Traditional Rulers
6/1/2025

#ikwerre
#ikwerretv
#ikwerretotheworld
@seun, myndd44, lalasticlala, Dominique

Kreesxxx:
Answer this question with all sincerity: If a Bini man marries an Igbo woman and migrates to an unknown land with the Igbos wife which of their languages would their offsprings likely speak -Bini or Igbo?

Gajagojo:
Language is not what makes a people

People may speak a common language as lingua franca for all kinds of reasons e.g English , Arabic , Swahili, Spanish, Hausa. It does not mean they are the same
Your first error

Ikwerre is not a dialect of Igbo. Your second error

This has been an established fact FOR decades

Many of you do not know the origin of the word Igboid

It does not refer to a people but a family of languages repeated languages not dialects of which Igbo is one and has the greatest population hence the word Igboid

Ikwerre is a member of the Igboid family of languages

Just like Latin Spanish , Italian, Portuguese belong to the same family and share many similarities but none is a dialect of the other


You make your assertions out of emotions rather than facts, knowledge or research

Take 15 minutes to research what you have just read here

The foremost authority on Igboid languages is a lady called K Williamson who wrote the Igbo dictionary

STOP making ignorant claims

Real Igbos are those who WANT to be Igbos

oceania100:
My question was specific: Among the groups mentioned or not mentioned, which exactly is the Igbo you referred to? The general Igbo language spoken in all these areas was only adopted, but not their main dialects, and each have it's unique ways of life. All the groups don't behave alike, same way siblings behave differently. Interestingly, asides language, every other things that bind all these groups together like culture, name, deity, market days, food are all found in Ikwerre land. So, if any of the group came up tomorrow and said, they are not Igbo, automatically, they aren't Igbo anymore?
By your logic, should we remove the term' 'Igbo or Bia' for 'Igboid people' so it can be accepted to you?

If Ikwerre land had no boundary whatsoever with other Igbo groups, perhaps your argument would have made a lot sens, but it does and almost interwoven..How come, your forbearers from the whole wide-world chose to come close to the same people if indeed you have no relationship in anyway? Many questions begging for answers.

If you go to Abia State especially in Ohafia LG, some clans speak the ekoi dialect found in Cross River State. The people still recognise that those people are not Igbo, and are not forced to be Igbo, even though they are encircled by Igbo communities.

What am saying, the average Igbo is not too keen as to whether Ikwerre is Igbo or not. However, the problem here is Emeka or Chijioke meeting someone bearing Emeka or Chijioke his neighbour. When they speak, they understands each other clearly. Only for one of the Emeka to turn round and accused the other of trying to force him to become his brother. Here lies the issue.

oceania100:
Language alone does not make a people. Yes, I agreed. In my submission you referred to, each group that make up the Igbo nation today have their unique dialect and way of life, just as siblings behave differently. Interestingly, other things that bind them together like name, culture, deity, market days are all present in Ikwerre land. What do you have to say about that?

You said Ikwerre is 'Igboid' and not 'Igbo' You are right. Who then is 'Igbo' among the various groups? Asides Ikwerre, which other group(s) are classified as 'Igboid'?

In the language classification you referred to, other Nigerian groups are also classified. Eg. Urhobo, Isoko etc are classified as Edoid,even with their unique differences, but you won't see them vehemently attacking the grouping the way the Ikwerre attacks the Igbo. They even agreed to be one people.

The average Igbo is not too keen as to whether Ikwerre is Igbo or not. The issue here is Emeka seeing another man bearing Emeka his neighbour. When they speak, they understands each other clearly, practice the same culture, worship in the same way and eat the same food. Only for one of the Emeka to turn round and accused the other Emeka of trying to force him to become his brother. But in the eyes of other people, these people are viewed as same people. Here lies the issue!!!

Kreesxxx:
There is a thing you Igbo expansionist are not getting in this whole argument. The ikwerres are saying that from Adam they have got nothing to do with you people. There is no igbo history telling you people about the relationship Igbos have with the ikwerres. We met by chance and we came to realise that we share some similarities. Instead of you to say we are brothers the next thing came up with that I am you. Would you accept that if Ikwerres had got the numbers you have? Even the Etche close to us we haven't claimed them. Althoff Etche claims to be related to the Ikwerres but the same we tell Igbos we don't have connections with them that is also what we tell the Etches. Good enough they recognise this. We might be related perhaps as people having common ancestry. Ikwerres see Igbo as an ethnic group just as they see themselves as an ethnic group. They can never give up their ethnicity to accept yours.
Let me also throw light on those Ikwerres who are members of Ohaneze. Some of them are truly Igbos by ancestry. In those those their forebears were brought in as slaves. Till today the stigma is still there. They are never made the head of the family due to this stigma. The people who have this stigma are those who have no issues identifying with being Igbo. They are truly Igbos by blood.

Ojiofor:
Ekwerulem and Ikwerre is same thing in Igbo.
Btw why did British colonizers bring Igbo translator to Ikwerreland if they were not Igbo speakers?
They should stop disgracing themselves any further.

Gajagojo:
You are the one disgracing yourself
So speaking Igbo makes them Igbo?

Why not claim to be English because you speak English

Is every Hausa speaker a Hausa person??

Igbo was a Lingua Franca during and after the slave trade because of population of Igbo slaves who were the most in those parts

Just like Hausa in Northern Nigeria.

eagleu:
While the real Ikwerre people know the truth, some are pushing for Ohaneze leadership, it's Yoruba folks who are energized, crazed, and obsessed with this Ikwerre is not Igbo argument.
The average Igboman really doesn't care about Ikwerre, but na yoruba man go carry am for head.

oceania100:
There are many ethic groups found in Niger Delta Area of 'Nigeria. Is it only the Igbo that were brought as 'slaves' in your land? What about other people, were there fully integrated as full Ikwerre 's except the 'Igbo slaves'? Igbo do not have single history, that you know. Some said they came from Israel. Some claim Benin migration, Akwa- Cross etc. By providence, they see themselves as one people today. It may also be true that providence brought Ikwerre to meet with other Bia people.

You said those Ikwerres who belongs to Ohaneze are truly Igbos, therefore there is no qualms electing then to head the organisation. That's fine. But why is Ogbako Ikwerre threatening them? Don't they have right to express their Ignoness?

My Brother (hope you're happy now), Igbo are not expansionist as you wrongly claim. The Nigerian system is what is forcing them to embrace their brothers at least within the Nigerian enclave. You know, by nature the Bia people are individualistic people each minding his business and perhaps his clans or community. Baring the Nigerian system, I can tell you that each group will just allow the others to do their thing . You know it was like that in the past, until the consciousness to unite came due to Nigerian factor. Even if you accept to be Igbo today, tell me will a man from Owerri or Edda come to your place and become your chief or rule you. You know that is not possible. Or will the man from Ohafia come to your place to dictate for you on how to live your life or start exploiting your resources for himself? Will your acceptance bring food to the other Igbo clans? If the answer to the above questions is no, where then is the expansion you are talking about?

That Igbos want each group to relate or see themselves as brothers, is that what you called expansion? Even among brothers, some have large families and richer than others. But they relate peacefully without interfering on each others privacy or resources. Each continue to work hard to better his lot and that of his family. When the need arise, they work together to face a common enemy.

Kreesxxx:
Do you have a patent on the name?
Your name might be John, are you from the UK?

Gajagojo:
You are the one disgracing yourself
So speaking Igbo makes them Igbo?

Why not claim to be English because you speak English

Is every Hausa speaker a Hausa person??

Igbo was a Lingua Franca during and after the slave trade because of population of Igbo slaves who were the most in those parts

Just like Hausa in Northern Nigeria.

Kreesxxx:
Answer this question with all sincerity: If a Bini man marries an Igbo woman and migrates to an unknown land with the Igbos wife which of their languages would their offsprings likely speak -Bini or Igbo?

UKEMY:
Are Americans British?
Igbo's will be better with 5 states.

Kreesxxx:
#FOR_THE_RECORDS

IWHURUOHNA (IKWERRE) ETHNIC NATIONALITY IS NEVER A SUBGROUP OF ANY ETHNIC NATION IN NIGERIA OR ELSEWHERE

Preamble:

Iwhuruohna ethnicity is one of the ethnic blocs which constitutes present day Nigeria and the people are found in four local government areas in present day Rivers State. The local government areas (LGAs ) include: Ikwerre ( Kelga), Emohua (Emolga), Obio-Akpor (Obalga), and Port Harcourt City (Phalga). Iwhuruohna remains a homogeneous ethnic group with a common ancestry and paternity. In this stead, we make the following declaratory statements:
Iwhuruohna people are from Rivers State and the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The people have their unique culture and traditions.

Iwhuruohna share the same ancestry with the Ekpeye and the Ogba people of Rivers State.

Iwhuruohna people migrated from the Ancient Benin Kingdom during the reigns of Oba Ewuare (Ogwaro) . Our paternity is traceable to a great grand ancestor - AKALAKA who left the Ancient Benin Kingdom in company of his sons which included IHRUOHA ( IWHURUOHNA).

The name, Ikwerre, was an " Igbonised" version of " Akwerulem" - ' we have agreed or consented ' ( a response of a Rebisi Monarch to an Igbo translator and a Briton during the negotiations for acquisition of acres of land for Port Harcourt wharf).

The theory of origins linking Iwhuruohna ethnicity to Igbo ancestry was ill- conceived as a result of the balkanization and " Igbonisation" of Iwhuruohna by Igbo merchants from Aro, Nkwere and Awka who oppressed and suppressed the aborigines in their place.

The declaration of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organization 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 regionalization of Nigeria during the colonial era placed Ndi-Igbo on an advantageous position against other minority groups in the defunct Eastern Regional Government including Iwhuruohna people.
Till date, there are still pockets of Igbo ( Aro) settlements in such Iwhuruohna Communities at Elele, Igwuruta, Isiokpo. They are evidently Aro compounds like Aro-Omuodu, Aro-Omuodukwu, Aro-Omuma, Aro-Ogbogbu in Igwuruta and Nmgbu Oyo at Isiokpo.
8. The earliest incursion into Ikwerre hinterland by the Igbo emboldened the proponents of Igbo expansionist theory to erroneously think or link Iwhuruohna to an Igbo ancestry.
9. During colonial era, some Igbo merchants such as Nwocha Amefula, Osondu Oyo, Amakiri Nwocha, Nwosu Okorie Ebika held positions of trust and represented Iwhuruohna people as warrant chiefs at Isiokpo, Omagwa, Ozuaha, Omademe and Ipo for seven years at the Choba division
10. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(2010) as amended recognizes Iwhuruohna ( Ikwerre) ethnic nationality as a distinct and unique ethnic group in Nigeria. The people of Iwhuruohna frown at any attempt by some Igbo expansionists to incorporate Iwhuruohna as a subset or subgroup of any other in Nigeria or elsewhere.
11. We acknowledge some shared similarities between Iwhuruohna and her neighbours including the Igbo in terms of aspects of culture and traditions. This does not, in anyway, validate the bogus and unverified claims that Iwhuruohna is Igbo as being peddled by Igbo expansionists.
12. We call on the general public and the Governor and Government of Rivers State to be wary of the tricks and pranks of the Igbo expansionists in the nomenclature of " Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo" and their activities in Rivers State.
13. We would continue to associate with and reverence our paternity or genealogy to the Ancient Benin Kingdom in honours of our ancestors - AKALAKA & IHRUOHA (IWHURUOHNA).
14. Thanks for your rapt attention and be properly guided as we pray "CHIOKIKE" to strengthen and embolden us to always speak the truth and nothing but the truth! We do not also support any expansionist meeting(s) in Rivers State as it will cause agitation among the people of the State.

Signed:

His Majesty, King Amb. Sir. Leslie Nyebuchi Eke, JP, Ph.D. DCF.
Eze Gbakagbaka
Nyerisi Eli Woji (EzeWoji XII),
Nyerisi Mbam Oro-Evo
Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom
Chairman, Supreme Council of Ikwerre Govt Recognized Traditional Rulers
Date:6/1/2025

HRH Eze Engr. Ben O. Ugo, JP
Elumoha VIII, Nyenweala Omerelu
Kelga Rivers State
Secretary, Supreme Council of Ikwerre Govt. Recognized Traditional Rulers
6/1/2025

#ikwerre
#ikwerretv
#ikwerretotheworld
@seun, myndd44, lalasticlala, Dominique

Kreesxxx:
Answer this question with all sincerity: If a Bini man marries an Igbo woman and migrates to an unknown land with the Igbos wife which of their languages would their offsprings likely speak -Bini or Igbo?

franchasofficia:
So the Igbo wife also made sure she changed the Bini man's culture, changed the name the Bini people call their kings to Igbo name, changed the Bini man's Bini market days to Igbo market day style lol, changed their tradition to Igbo, changed the Bini man's name to Igbo name, and also made sure all their kids bore Igbo names and no Bini name? It's shameful such elders are lying, all people from this part of Nigeria are patriarchy in nature and will never allow a woman to introduce culture, language and tradition to them and even change their names, ready all history pre colonial and u will see that truth



This Igbo wife must be a god



The power of crude oil politics, let's not worry, the era of crude oil will phase out and we all will face reality and accept who we are, we understand, na Naija wicked crude oil politics cause am

o42austino:
Lies, the Portuguese came here 1400AD and recorded that their are people in that land called ikwerre and they said they are Igbos, the Oba u guys mentioned start after 1430, so their is no way ndi Ikwerre is from Benin or can trace their original to the mentioned king erra

ZombieDredd:
No problem naa

But why are ikwerre people in ohaneze ndigbo group?

Someone should help us answer

chiagozien:
dumb logic.


Even if my name is John,I still have my Igbo name included in my names,I still speak my native Igbo language.

My name is not Joseph Jones Paul.

ElevationD:
Ah.

Please take your time to read history. Read how America became a nation. Read about those who migrated there to meet who were called the aboriginal people. Read about the American war of independence and give us the answer to your question.

UKEMY:
America was Occupied by Britain and the Brits were driven out.
Igbo's are better with their 5 states

9japride:
[color=#006600][/color]

The way you guys reason dey shame person.
So you believe a boundary created by humans like you is the final stay concerning one's identity?
With this kind of your mindset, I am very sure if given political power you will cut of majority of the Igbo community.
I keep using Gbaji tribe as an example, they are found in majority of the north central states same way Igbos are found in southern parts of Nigeria.
I only blame ignorant Igbo speaking groups that will deny their identity.
I believe a time will come when the Igbos will have a country of their own and all those who deny their identity will be cut off.
Everything boils down to deep rooted envy and jealousy amongst people who are scared of Igbos.
It's a black man thing, that's why most of the communities in Africa still looks like a jungle.
Wickedness won't allow them to think, they will rather let an rot because it's not their state of origin.
So if Benin empire conquer an area that was already existing with their own culture and language, so in your logic they then automatically become Benin?
Even the with the 5 states, is still bigger than a lot of countries in the world.
The eastern region is so rich in human capital, natural resources, etc.
The tribe Igbos will live forever and stronger, so focus on their own tribe.

UKEMY:
The ikwerre's have distinctly said that they are not igbo's
Igbo's should be contented with the 5 states
Abakaliki people are even been discriminated against

Gajagojo:
Can any of you jokers tell us that Ezaa language is an Igbo dialect

PaellaPaella:
No, it’s a Yoruba dialect, omo ofo🖕😆

UKEMY:
America was Occupied by Britain and the Brits were driven out.
Igbo's are better with their 5 states

Alphanancy:
And the persons that signed off this document all bear the Igbo title EZE.
Why not Oba or Onogie? Hmmm.
Even AKALAKA is an Igbo name. Maybe Igbos actually own bini. Or some folks are just Stoopid..