Elder statesman and political analyst, Elder Amadi, has stated that the emergence of John Azuta Mbata as the President General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo is timely, especially now that some Ikwerres, motivated by personal political benefits, are denying their ancestral cultural heritage or association with the Igbos. He stressed that Mbata’s emergence as the President General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo will serve as a unifying factor for the two groups, who have been turned into adversaries due to the selfish political inclinations of some individuals.
Elder Amadi pointed out that certain individuals base their politics on a divide-and-rule strategy, particularly from his side, where unguarded statements and remarks are often made against the Igbos, who have endured such insults. “Being from Ikwerre does not mean I should support such individuals, knowing full well that this political discord was planted during the civil war and later germinated with the weapon of the abandoned property,” he remarked. “But all that is history now.” He opined that the critical task before Mbata as President General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo is to reunify the two parallel ethnic groups.
Amadi emphasized that every peace-loving indigene of Igbo and Ikwerre extractions will value and acknowledge this divine emergence of an Ikwerre son, recognizing the importance of unity. He cited the Yorubas (Afenifere) and the Arewa of the North as examples of great nations founded on unity, which is why they speak with one voice and wield significant political influence in the Nigerian polity.
His position contrasts with that of the Ogbako Ikwerre Cultural Organization in Rivers State, which announced that it had withdrawn John Azuta Mbata’s membership and banned him from the organization’s activities. The announcement was signed by its President General, Eze Barr. Godspower Onuekwa, Ph.D., and Secretary General, Nyebychi Philips.
Many other Ikwerres interviewed by our reporter dismissed this threat as mere baseless politics driven by personal interests.
Congratulating the President General-elect of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, John Azuta Mbata, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, described Mbata’s victory as “a people’s show of confidence” in his ability to deliver on their expectations for the Igbo socio-political group. The governor highlighted the trust reposed in Mbata and expressed optimism about his leadership.
