The Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide in Rivers State has distanced itself from Senator John Azuta-Mbata, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, accusing him of taking on the role without consulting his kinsmen, community, or the Apara Kingdom.
The organisation asserted that by accepting the position, Azuta-Mbata effectively renounced his identity as an Ikwerre man and aligned himself with an organisation exclusively meant for the Igbo people.
This stance was outlined in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Friday, signed by Godspower Onuekwa and Nyebuchi Philip, the organisation’s President-General and Secretary-General, respectively, and shared with the media.
The statement reads, “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.”
