The Ikwerre ethnic nationality in Rivers State has insisted that they have no ancestral link with the South-Eastern part of the country, as being erroneously portrayed in some quarters.

They maintained that they are a distinct ethnic group in Rivers State, South-South of Nigeria, and are by no means connected to the Igbos, who are located in the South-East geo-political zone of the country.

A prominent Ikwerre elder, Sir Mike Elechi, stated this at the launch of a book titled ‘Without Prejudice: An Exploration of Ikwerre History,’ written by the late Dick Azunda Hekerem Emejuru.

Represented by His Royal Highness Damian Ejiohuo, the Nye Nwe-Ali Ndele in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, Elechi, a member of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission, who was the chairman of the occasion, said in his address that the Ikwerres have a migration history from the ancient Benin kingdom, adding, “At about 1438 AD, there was a revolution in the Benin kingdom, which led to the assassination of the heir apparent to the throne of the Oba of Benin.”

He added, “The revolution was premised on human sacrifice during a particular festival. Some princes – namely, Asava, Oniche, Akalaka and Owiri – spearheaded the revolution. All of the princes involved in the skirmish ran eastwards for safety with their families.

“Akalaka moved down with his family of two wives and children to Elele (Okani-eli). His first wife begat two sons – Ekpeye and Ogba – and the second wife begat Iwhurohna, Etche and Ngwa…The same incident that led to the Benin revolution reared its ugly head again at Elele. It was to your tents oh Israel. Ekpeye, led by his first son Ehuda, crossed the Sombriero River with Ogba, and the latter moved towards the Orashi area.

“Iwhurohna and his barrage of three wives and many children decided to remain at Elele, ‘Akwerrile naa soh nii nowa’’ meaning ‘we have decided to remain here,’ and that was how the name Ikwerre came to be.”

Former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, who was represented by Senator Andrew Uchendu, urged the Ikwerre people to be proud of who they are, stressing the roles politicians can play in preserving the Ikwerre history.

The former Minister of Transportation said, “Ikwerre people should tell who they are and ignore all the stories being written about them. We will tell our story. Those who will play politics in Ikwerre land will project the image of the Ikwerre wherever they find themselves.”

Commenting on a statement allegedly made by Amaechi while canvassing support to become Nigeria’s President that he is an Igbo man, Uchendu said, “If he (Amaechi) were to be here, then he would have been in a better position to explain that.

“He didn’t tell me to come and defend what he has said and what he hasn’t said before I came in for this programme.”

The book reviewer, former General Manager of Atlantic Television, Port Harcourt, Bon Woke, described the book as a guide for Ikwerre people to know their roots, insisting that language is not all it takes to determine a people’s origin.

He enthused, “This book is a reminder that Ikwerre is a distinct ethnic group and Ikwerre has a root, an identity, and a history which is authenticated by its oral tradition, handed down from generation to generation.

“So no modern person can come today and begin to interpret Ikwerre history with modern mentality because of what they see today. Language is not the only yardstick for you to determine the ethnicity of a people, because anybody can speak any language he likes.”

Advising the youths against being influenced or swayed by self-seeking politicians, Woke called on Ikwerre leaders and elders to take steps to educate the younger generation on their history, culture and language.

South-South PUNCH reports that other dignitaries who graced the event were the President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organization, Worldwide, Eze Barr. Godspower Onuekwa; royal father of the day, Prof. Charles Obunwor,l; Chief Magistrate E. C Woke, Dr Sam Emejuru, Dr Stella Elechi, Chief Medical Director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Prof. Aaron Ojule, among others.

Paraman:
Attache by force people will start arguing now

Paraman:
Attache by force people will start arguing now

Fejoku:

The confusion in Ikwerreland is beyond belief. How can one claim to be siblings with other Igbo clans but deny "Ancestral link" with the same Igbo nation? Is Ngwa not Igbo? Is Etche not Igbo?
By this Punch publication, Ikwerre, Etche and Ngwa historically have the same father and mother. They have tied themselves to the Igbo nation by it. It's expected that they review this publication not long from now.

“Akalaka moved down with his family of two wives and children to Elele (Okani-eli). His first wife begat two sons – Ekpeye and Ogba – and the second wife begat Iwhurohna, Etche and Ngwa…

opamoses1:

You are reading it upside down.



Iwhurohna, Etche and Ngwa all have Bini ancestry through their father Akalaka (a Bini man).

LadyExcellency:


Sharap there, so Aba Ngwa is no more Igbo but Bini?

Paraman:
Attache by force people will start arguing now

opamoses1:

You are reading it upside down.



Iwhurohna, Etche and Ngwa all have Bini ancestry through their father Akalaka (a Bini man).

Remman:
Intermarriage happens everywhere, since we settled closer to the igbos, most of our ancestors married Igbo daughters to avoid marrying their siblings and somehow the Igbo daughters married into our land taught their children the Igbo language. And this practice happens till date where children found themselves speaking their mother's language. If the Igbos claim we came from them, let's hear their own Kanu and Ojukwu story about the ancestors of Ikwerres.

Fejoku:

Did you notice that all the people Ikwerres claim to be their siblings all speak different dialects of Igbo? Ekpeye, Ogba, Etche and Ngwa. Not even one speaks anything related to Bini. Are you now insinuating that they all also married Igbo daughters and those daughters changed their languages?
Make una dey think before una dey talk o.

LadyExcellency:


Did you even read the statement to see the foolishness of the author by claiming Aba Ngwa and Ikwerre are siblings? He claimed "His first wife begat two sons Ekpeye and Ogba - and the second wife begat Iwhurohna (Ikwerre), Etche (Igbo) and Ngwa (Igbo).

Remman:
Intermarriage happens everywhere, since we settled closer to the igbos, most of our ancestors married Igbo daughters to avoid marrying their siblings and somehow the Igbo daughters married into our land taught their children the Igbo language. And this practice happens till date where children found themselves speaking their mother's language. If the Igbos claim we came from them, let's hear their own Kanu and Ojukwu story about the ancestors of Ikwerres.

Tranquill:


You are the one calling Etche Igbo. Never seen an Etche person in real life who claims to be Igbo only online. Ngwa claim that they migrated from Ikwerre and if they decide they are Igbo that is their problem.

I remember one Ngwa fellow on nairaland here who was also talking about how they were misled to tag along with Igbo identity despite warning by Ikwerre.

Mek ona move on abeg

Slytiger:

I don't know much about the topic, but I just watched a video of "Nna Mhen TV"after reading the topic and going through the thread.

Everyone he interviewed in the Etche community in Rivers State told him they weren't ibos. Although he tried to convince them in saying that they were Ibos. Those ones even pointed out the difference in the languages to him.

Noneroone:
post the video

LadyExcellency:


Did you even read the statement to see the foolishness of the author by claiming Aba Ngwa and Ikwerre are siblings? He claimed "His first wife begat two sons Ekpeye and Ogba - and the second wife begat Iwhurohna (Ikwerre), Etche (Igbo) and Ngwa (Igbo).

Noneroone:
I have not read the book( don't care to read BTW) but I didn't see any quoted statement if Denys ancestral link with the South East. Seems made up by Punch.

Is it me or has ngwa stopped being southeast?