Ikwerre group denounces Azuta-Mbata for accepting Ohanaeze’s PG position, says ‘they’re not Igbo’

The Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide has disowned Senator John Azuta-Mbata, accusing him of assuming the role of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo without consulting his kinsmen, community, or the Apara Kingdom in Rivers State.

The organisation alleged that by accepting the position, Azuta-Mbata effectively renounced his identity as an Ikwerre man in favour of aligning with an Igbo socio-cultural group.

In a statement released in Port Harcourt on Friday, the group’s President-General, Godspower Onuekwa, and Secretary-General, Nyebuchi Philip, condemned Azuta-Mbata’s decision, describing it as a private move made without the backing of his community or ethnic group.

The statement read: “The Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, on behalf of the Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality in Rivers State, Nigeria, after a passionate and exhaustive review of the sacrilegious action of Senator John Azuta-Mbata becoming the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, a socio-cultural organisation of Igbo people of Nigeria, wishes to state in clear and unequivocal terms as follows:

“That Senator John Azuta-Mbata has the inalienable right to belong to any association of his choice in Nigeria, as enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“That 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 as an Ikwerre man (Iwhuruohna).

“That his action does not represent the collective view, will, position, or thinking of the Eneka community, Apara Kingdom, or the entire Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality.

“That having freely chosen to identify as an Igbo man and to occupy the position of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, the Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide unequivocally disclaims and denounces his action as a personal decision taken without the consent of his community, kingdom, or Iwhuruohna.”

The group further declared Azuta-Mbata’s decision a sacrilege and announced that he would henceforth be considered a stranger in Ikwerre land. They also stated that all honours and titles previously conferred on him by any Ikwerre organisation have been withdrawn.