Paschal Emeka, Abuja / Posted 20 January 2024
An Ohanaeze Chieftain and Kaduna based legal practitioner Chief Austine Amaechi has condemned the purported expulsion of Senator John Azuta Mbata, the newly elected President General (PG) of the Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, by a group, Ogbakor Ikwerre.
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Chief Amaechi who is the Coordinator, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in the 19 Northern States and FCT, in an interview with our Correspondent, over the weekend, dismissed the move as unserious and divisive.
Chief Amaechi noted that the expulsion letter was signed and published by only a few individuals, whereas the majority of Ikwere people identify themselves as Ndigbo.
This according to him, this raises questions about the legitimacy and representation of the Ogbakor Ikwerre group’s actions.
He recalled that that in line with the constitution of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, an Ikwerre man, Livingstone Wechie, was in the recent past, elected to the position of the Igbo socio cultural organisation President in Rivers State, a norm in other Igbo dominated states of South-South and Southeast.
The Ikwerre people’s relationship with the Igbo community has been a subject of public debate and controversy.
While few claim that Ikwere is not Igbo, majority argue that they share a common heritage and identity with Ndigbo.
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The recent protest in Ikwere land, where few individuals denounced their Igbo roots, has further fueled the controversy.
It is also worthy of note that the FCT minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, an Ikwerre man, over the weekend, publicly declared that he is not an Igbo man.
But before the election of Senator Mbata, an Ikwerre socio-cultural group, Ikwerre Youths Progressive Initiative (IYPI), has urged former Rivers State Governor and Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, to run for the PG of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
The group believed that Amaechi’s leadership qualities and experience made him an ideal candidate for the position.
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As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the Ikwerre people will navigate this complex issue. One thing is certain – the election of a new PG was held on the 10th January 2025, and Senator John Mbata, an Igbo man from Rivers State emerged as the PG and the outcome of his election is likely to have significant implications for the Igbo community and their relationships with other ethnic groups.