The Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, has vehemently debunked the assertions that Ikwerre is Igbo and Biafra.
The organisation insisted that Ikwerre ethnic nationality is not and has never been a subset or subgroup of any other tribe in Nigeria, including the Igbos.
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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, onbehalf 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.”
