IGBOZURUOKE MEDIA

The need to represent this article that was first published on February 25, 2025, with a slight infusion, is due to the headlines it is still enjoying on the social media

The case where some Igbo people, especially, the Igbo Gen z, who are attacking those who insist on being recognize as Ikwere and not Igbo, are disheartening even when the latter have unmistakable Igbo identities. This is worrisome,  when there are more serious problems confronting the Igbo nation and the aftermath of an Ikwere man Sen. John Mbata being elected as the President-General of Igbo apex body:  Ohaneze Ndi Igbo.

It is an indication that the Igbo, young and old, are unable to decipher what their real problems are and how to tackle them in Nigeria today.  How can one’s house be on fire and he keeps pursuing rodents, as the saying goes? If an Ikwere man or Igbo kinsmen found in adjoining enclaves elect to denial their Igbo descent, how does that become an issue? 

In journalism, a basic rule is to accord a person the identity he claims, unless a fundamental issue arises. In line with that norm, one is addressed by the name he wants to be known as and identify with the placed where he declares as his residence. Though journalistic ethos, state that in some cases, investigations be carried out to confirm claims,  the rule remains that what a man wants to answer is what he is called and where he point to as his house is where his location  must be sighted as his home by the press.

In life, certain things can make a man denounce his ancestry or change sides. In some cases, the issue of identification may depend on the individual’s pedigree or circumstances that are beyond or within his control. In Rivers State in particular, the question of who is Igbo or not is fuzzy and cannot be well calibrated without overlooking the obvious. Ultimately, the right thing to do is to place one where he wants to be, as long as he is an adult, sane and happy with his choice.  

If the population of Rivers and Bayelsa States is properly evaluated using the percent of Igbo blood that flows in each person’s vein, a majority of the people of these states and beyond may as well be calibrated as Igbo.

 In 1950, my mother who is a nonagenarian from Mbaise and her six cousins who are late, had to be forced back home to prevent them from getting married to men in Ijaw land where her anty who took them there and many Igbo women were already wives. Like she told me, there was hardly any Ijaw clan in Rivers State that did not have a preponderant of Igbo wives and mothers.

I have drawn this analogy to show how the Ijaw of Rivers State is diluted by the Igbo blood let alone Ikwere who by their attributes could be more Igbo than most clans in the so-called core-Igbo states. In some ways, the Ikwere, could be considered more Igbo than their kinsmen in Etche and other sub-Igbo groups of Rivers State based on the foregoing, therefore, these arguments of whether Ikwere are Igbo or not can only domicile on the mind of an ignorant or that of a lousy Igbo mind that has no better thing to dwell on.

 The continuous bickering about Ikwere being Igbo or not is a disservice to the Igbo, it demeans their enviable height in Africa and in Nigeria in particular. Especially, it fails to dignify personalities like Sen. John Mbata, President-General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, worldwide and other conscientious individuals who decide to be who they are and quit the shenanigans.

Perhaps, those on the so-called core Igbo side, who keep berating the Ikwere and the likes for denying their being Igbo should draw back and investigate why some of these kinsmen are rejecting the Igbo identity. This is imperative giving the fact that before the civil war, this case was not prevalent if it existed at all. Could it be that the Ikwere, were suffocating under Igbo hegemony or collaboration and found the opportunity to free themselves with the creation of Rivers State in 1967?

If that is the case, why don’t the Igbo investigate with a view to changing the narrative and see how the fears of their kinsmen can be erased, their trust and cooperation restored. One dereliction that will continue to dog the Igbo is their failure to institute an elaborate inquiry since the war ended to take stock and chart the best way forward. If they have done that, the imperative of acknowledging a collaborative environment as a sine qua non for an inclusive atmosphere that should exist between the Igbo, their kinsmen outside the main Igbo enclave and their neighbours for Ndi Igbo to properly actualize their potential.  

From all indication, what is playing out now seemed to be the mission of those who do not wish the Igbo nation well, by Balkanizing their territory and promoting divide-and- rule policy. Those who Balkanized Igbo territory, by creating Rivers State in May 1967, had what is happening to Ndi Igbo now in mind—to weaken them and sow seed of discord. Thus, the fuss over Ikwere being Igbo or not, amounts to giving credence to this scheme of Igbo enemies.

Rather than dissipating energies on juvenile augments like this, Ndi Igbo young and old, should focus on how our dissenting kinsmen like the Ikwere and others, who now look down on the Igbo, could resume the appreciation of Igbo greatness. As a people loaded with God-given talents, the clan can only get better and those denigrating then today will covet them tomorrow.

During and after the civil war, the schemes were to bury the Igbo permanently, those schemes failed, while Ndi Igbo have towered beyond every imagination. If despicable Igbo politicians and some of the elites would reign in their untrustworthiness and be responsible for a while, the Igbo will glow. No matter the situation Ndi Igbo can never be crushed. The lion roars, not by size but by attributes.    

The truth is that, since the war ended the Igbo have gone senile and become disorganize due mainly to self-inflicted wounds. With the Igbo character bastardized and the name: Igbo dragged into the cesspit. (In next articles, the reason for this will be highlighted.) Consequently, Ndi Igbo and Igbo, as a name have lost the glory and remain prostrate for every leprous leg to match on.  

Before the election of Sen. Mbata as President-General of Ohaneze, many prominent Ikwere people knew they were Igbo and had always identify with their kin in the hinterland. To buttress this point, more than three prominent Ikwere sons came out to vie for the post.  So if a few others chose not to be counted why should that be a serious issue?

In the same vein, one particular case must be mentioned; most Ikwere people today will not know that without Igbo intelligentsia, the rosy lives they are enjoying as River’s people would not have been possible. Before the creation of Bayelsa State, all the Igbo-speaking people of then Rivers were relegated to the background as second-class citizens. It was the empathy the Igbo had for their marginalized kinsmen that ignited the clamour and fervent support for the creation of Bayelsa State. Because the Igbo reasoned correctly, that once the Ijaw of Bayelsa State leave then, Rivers State, the Igbo in Rivers would no longer be in the minority or relegated. So, any Igbo, groveling on the need for an Ikwere to be Igbo, is ignorant, idle and harping on Igbo greatness with a misconceived intention.

Boniface Alanwoko