-describes his acceptance as an affront to his Ikwerre heritage
January 16, 2025
By Adedoja Adesoji
The Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide has disowned Senator John Azuta Mbata, citing his acceptance of the Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo presidency as a betrayal of his Ikwerre identity.
According to the organisation, Mbata’s decision to become the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, an exclusive organisation of Igbo people, amounts to a renunciation of his Ikwerre identity.
“By becoming the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, an exclusive organisation of Igbo people, he has willingly and freely renounced his membership and identity of Ikwerre people,” the organisation stated.
The organisation maintained that Mbata’s actions do not reflect the collective views of the Ikwerre people, adding that he has been declared a stranger in Ikwerre land.
“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,” the organisation said.
The organisation’s President, Eze Barr. Godspower Onuekwa, and General Secretary, Barrister Nyebuchi Philip, signed the statement.
The development is reportedly due to the long-standing rift between the Ikwerre ethnic group and the Igbo ethnic group, with the Ikwerre people maintaining that they are not Igbo and do not fall under any Igbo ethnic group.
“We call on the international community, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and all lovers of Iwhuruohna that Senator John Azuta Mbata has ceased to represent, speak and act on behalf of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality,” the organisation said.
The organisation warned that heavy sanctions await those who betray their Ikwerre identity for political gain, saying, “We will not hesitate to sanction anyone who betrays our identity for political expediency.”
