Ikwerre People Rejects Ohaneze’s Claim, Says They Are Not Igbo

The Iwhnurohna Progressive Organisation (IPO), a socio-cultural group representing the Ikwerre people, has rejected the claim by Ohaneze Ndigbo and its President, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, that Ikwerre is part of Igbo. The group described the claim as “offensive, insulting, shameful, disgusting, insensitive, careless, and uncivilized.”

According to Dr. Okahchukwu Dibia, the leader of IPO, “To us at IPO, Ikwerre is Igbo means that all the ancestral communities in Ikwerre originated from Igbo. This is not true and can never be true, hence our reply to him and indeed Ohaneze.”

Dibia emphasized that the Ikwerre people are a distinct ethnic nation recognized in Nigeria and the United Nations, with their own language, which is one of the recognized languages in Nigeria and the UN. He also clarified that while Ikwerre is their political name, Iwhnurohna is their native name, and both refer to the same people: Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality.

Citing the works of renowned scholars like Prof. Otonti Nduka, Dibia explained that the Ikwerre remained distinct from the Igbo despite similarities in their language. He stated, “Consequently, IPO’s reply to Iwuanyanwu is that language, name, dances, songs, dressing cannot be and should not be used as determinants of who Ikwerre is.”

Dibia emphasized that the Ikwerre history has been well written and documented, and it is clear that Ikwerre is not Igbo. He warned that such offensive claims should not be uttered by Ohaneze or any other group or individuals, and IPO will not tolerate it anymore.

Instead, Dibia suggested that Ohaneze should maintain good neighborliness and respect the Ikwerre people as a distinct ethnic nation. He said, “Ohaneze should recognize the need to change its antagonistic attitude towards Ikwerre. Igbo should stay and develop their five states and let Ikwerre be. Ikwerre is not Igbo.”

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