IGBOZURUOKE MEDIA

A crisis of confidence is now rocking Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide, a socio-cultural ethnic group of Ikwerre people within and outside the country, following reactions that trailed the purported banishment of the newly elected President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuka Mbata.
Senator Mbata, an Ikwerre man in Rivers State, was elected the Presidents-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, a socio-cultural umbrella organisation of all Igbos within and in the Diaspora. The election took place in the old Government House, Enugu, on January 10, 2025.
Mbata’s election by a consensus was overwhelmingly applauded and attended by the governors of Imo, Enugu, Abia, and Anambra with the Ebonyi State deputy governor, Senators Ben Obi, Chris Ngige, and Victor Umeh.
About 48 hours after news of Senator Mbata’s election went viral; the leadership of Ogbakor Ikwerre made truth to its earlier threat and announced the immediate banishment of the Senator for disobeying the directives of their socio-cultural group. The body also barred him from attending any of their organised political gatherings on any Ikwerre land.
Twenty-two days after the controversial Ndigbo polls, the people of Eneka clan, comprising the chiefs, elders, and youths, including men and women, came together to formally welcome their son, Senator John Azuka Mbata. Eneka is one of the clans that made up Ikwerre ethnic nationality.
The traditional ruler of Eneka clan, Eze Nwoko led representatives of Eneka Youth Congress, EYC, the Community Development Committee, CDC, the elders and Chiefs the community to visit Mbata in his country home in the Obio-Akpor local government area.
In their address, which was a prelude to a formal reception and thanksgiving in honour of the Senator, the Eneka people said Mbata was a worthy son who has made them proud by his election as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
From his antecedents as a patriotic son of Eneka and Ikwerre, who had represented Rivers East effectively in the Senaye, the people are optimistic that he would bring his wealth of experience in diverse fields to take the Igbos to their promised land.
In their words, ” Your election is a milestone victory for us as a people and signifies a new chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide where your wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to a purposeful leadership will take the Igbos to greater heights.”
The position of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide became vacant following the death on September 21, 2024, of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and the expiration of the tenure of Nze Ozichukwu to complete the turn of Imo state.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide first started as Igbo Lagos Union, ILU, in the early 1930s to foster unity amongst the Igbos within and outside Nigeria. And late Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Owele of Onitsha changed the name to Igbo Federal Union, IFU, in 1943.
And, about 18 years after its formation, the body continued still as Igbo Federal Union in 1948 with Nnamdi Azikiwe as its pioneer, President-General, while it transformed to the present name, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in 1979.
Mr. Bernard Miklo, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives who headed the committee that zoned the next President-General’s position to their kith and kin in Rivers state, particularly the Ikwerres, explained that the zoning was carefully done aftet certain factors were taken into consideration.
On the claim that Ikwerres were not Igbos, Miklo dismissed it with a wave of the hand, saying that everyone, like Senator Mbata, was free to belong to any group or association of his or her choice.
The former lawmaker listed some Ikwerre persons, including late Dr. Obi Wali, Chief Emmanuel Aguma, and Dr. Francis Ellah, all of whom played prominent roles in the socio-cultural organisation.
Mikko revealed that Dr. Obi Wali, a revered Ikwerre leader, was once the chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and wondered the reason for all the negative reactions by Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide which many described as politically motivated.
He called for cooperation and support to the Senator Mbata’s led President-General to enable him to carry out the herculean tasks of bringing unity and cohesion amongst Igbos extractions.

The Southernexaminer