Ohanaeze Presidency: Rivers State Ndigbo Asks Ijaw National Congress Not To Meddle In Affairs

The Rivers State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, otherwise known as (Ogbakor Ndi Igbo Na Rivers) has asked the Ijaw National Congress (INC) not to meddle n affairs of the organisation.

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) had reacted to the communique issued by the convener of Ogbakor Ndi-Igbo na Rivers State, Livingstone Wechie.

Recall that Uechie had issued a communique from a stakeholders meeting held on Monday 18th November 2024 in Port-Harcourt, in which he announced the preparedness of Rivers Ndi-Igbo to produce the Ohanaeze Ndigbo's President-General.

INC in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha had warned the Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo to steer clear of Rivers State.

The INC had declared that the Ijaws believe in one Nigeria but stated that, if the need arises to part, the Ijaws will not cede to any ethnic group, whether the Ohanaeze Ndigbo or the Afenifere, but will remain on their own.

However, reacting to INC's statement, a ranking member of Ọgbakọr Ndigbo na Rivers, Livingstone Wechie said, "We believe the Ijaw National Congress when they say their intent is to foster peaceful coexistence, and we share the same commitment to harmony. However, we must respectfully clarify that our demand for the presidency of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not a matter that concerns the Ijaw nation.

"Ndigbo have no interest in encroaching on territories belonging to other groups. We have been neighbours and friends to the ijaw for centuries. They know our lands and our people as well as we know their lands and their people. Anyone who seeks to blur these clear lines is either uninformed or engaged in mischief."

"We must always remember that Rivers State is a multicultural and multi-ethnic state, with various indigenous groups, distinct identities and kindred ties. Our historical and biological connections run deep and are not barriers to peaceful co-existence, but rather propellants for the practise of mutual respect.

"Ultimately our efforts will ensure inclusivity and shared prosperity among all ethnic nationalities in Rivers State and beyond. We believe there is indeed a brighter future for all Nigerians when we practise restraint, mutual respect and tolerance."

Meanwhile, the former Deputy Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Uche Okwukwu, said; "The Rivers State Igbos' aspiration to produce the next President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, come January 10, 2025, has received a major boost, thanks to the backing of key stakeholders who insist on upholding the constitution.

"Notable traditional rulers and members of Ime Obi Ohanaeze, including ex-Secretary Generals from Anambra, Enugu, Delta, and Ebonyi, have all lined up to confirm that Rivers will be given its constitutional right in accordance with Article 11 of Ohanaeze's constitution, which ensures that the position of President-General is rotated amongst the seven member states, namely: Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Igbo-speaking areas of Rivers and Delta States.

"There should be an intellectual discourse, a robust one, to first make it clear, and after that, a communique will be issued , establishing the right of Rivers Igbo to produce the next President-General."

"The call for Rivers State to produce the next President-General follows the demise of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, the the 11th President-General of Ohanaeze NdiIgbo, on July 25, 2024 at 81," the statement added.

D1official:
IKWERRES must not be allowed to lead Ohanaeze else we will all become wikes stooge.

They said they are not igbos and must stay out.

Sultanofpiglets:
This thing go pain Dem eeee..

Where those we the SS mizcreants sef.

Armaggedon:
A minority group from another state feeling they have the right to dictate to another group what to do.

MadPolitician:
I don't blame the Ijaws. I blame the Igbos for allowing the Ijaws to get away with so much evil against the Igbos. For a very long time since the end of the war, the Ijaws have been antagonizing the igbos. Non stop. All these inspite of being a very tiny insignificant minority. Egged on by outsiders, their sons have joined the greater Nigeria to seize Igbo properties in Port Harcourt, confiscate thousands of Igbo lands and claim endless Igbo oil wells.

Bayelsa state was actually created to help the Ijaws have their own state. There are smaller "minorities" too in bayelsa, but the majority group there which is the Ijaws, have managed to subjugate those minorities in a way that you will never know they exist. The whole ijaws do all these while claiming the igbos subjugated them in the former Eastern Nigeria. Having succeeded in hijacking the whole bayelsa, they have now come back to Rivers state.

What is their problem with the Ohanaeze leadership elections. Why are they always trying to subjugate the Igbos in Rivers state? Has there been any time that Igbos tried imposing leaders for them in their warped ijaw organisations? Why would an insignificant minority group be continuouly poking her tiny fingers into the eyes of the majority ethnic group, if not because no one fights back? So I think the greater Igbo assembly should fashion out a master plan to cage the excesses of these minorities, whose desperation to redefine the Igbo identity and boundaries has increasingly become very dangerous.

Forkthiefnubu:

And we have backed them since GEJ era with no rewards, they are quick to side with our enemies inspite of all the flakes we have taken on their behalf

Bendeco02:


Don't talk like that.

All Ikwerre don't have same ancestral belief.

Some say they are Igbo while some says otherwise.

For wike matter, even his Ikwerre brothers detest him. Both Ijaw, Ikwerre, Ogoni and other minority tribes in Rivers dislike wike due to his selfish behaviour.

Rivers don't play tribal politics. We all saw how Ikwerre youths came out in large number and take over Ikwerre Local government from wike's thugs.

The only people that accepted wike as their hero are yoruba people.

richmond500:
As an ijaw man I think I fully support this.
Ohaneze or whatever is an Igbo thing, the ijaw shouldn't be involved.

Stolen:
ACTUALLY, IJAW SHOULD KNOW BAYELSA WAS CREATED AS A FINAL SETTLEMENT.



RIVERS IS AN IGBO STATE DOWN TO THE RIVERINE AREA WHERE EVEN THE SO CALLED IJAWS ARE MIXED IGBO PEOPLE.




BY NOW IJAW PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM AND DAT SQUATING ON SEVERAL COAST DONT MEAN THEY ARE NOW FROM THAT AREA.



RIVERS STATE IS VERY CLEAR THAT EVEN THE BLIND CAN SEE.



IJAW CRY MARGINALISATION, CLAIM FUBARA IS NOT IJAW BUT YET STILL CLAIMING RIVERS.


HOW?

Bendeco02:


Don't talk like that.

All Ikwerre don't have same ancestral belief.

Some say they are Igbo while some says otherwise.

For wike matter, even his Ikwerre brothers detest him. Both Ijaw, Ikwerre, Ogoni and other minority tribes in Rivers dislike wike due to his selfish behaviour.

Rivers don't play tribal politics. We all saw how Ikwerre youths came out in large number and take over Ikwerre Local government from wike's thugs.

The only people that accepted wike as their hero are yoruba people.

gidgiddy:


But its the Ijaws that are involving themselves in what doesn't concern them

MadPolitician:
I don't blame the Ijaws. I blame the Igbos for allowing the Ijaws to get away with so much evil against the Igbos. For a very long time since the end of the war, the Ijaws have been antagonizing the igbos. Non stop. All these inspite of being a very tiny insignificant minority. Egged on by outsiders, their sons have joined the greater Nigeria to seize Igbo properties in Port Harcourt, confiscate thousands of Igbo lands and claim endless Igbo oil wells.

Bayelsa state was actually created to help the Ijaws have their own state. There are smaller "minorities" too in bayelsa, but the majority group there which is the Ijaws, have managed to subjugate those minorities in a way that you will never know they exist. The whole ijaws do all these while claiming the igbos subjugated them in the former Eastern Nigeria. Having succeeded in hijacking the whole bayelsa, they have now come back to Rivers state.

What is their problem with the Ohanaeze leadership elections. Why are they always trying to subjugate the Igbos in Rivers state? Has there been any time that Igbos tried imposing leaders for them in their warped ijaw organisations? Why would an insignificant minority group be continuouly poking her tiny fingers into the eyes of the majority ethnic group, if not because no one fights back? So I think the greater Igbo assembly should fashion out a master plan to cage the excesses of these minorities, whose desperation to redefine the Igbo identity and boundaries has increasingly become very dangerous.

Stolen:
ACTUALLY, IJAW SHOULD KNOW BAYELSA WAS CREATED AS A FINAL SETTLEMENT.



RIVERS IS AN IGBO STATE DOWN TO THE RIVERINE AREA WHERE EVEN THE SO CALLED IJAWS ARE MIXED IGBO PEOPLE.




BY NOW IJAW PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM AND DAT SQUATING ON SEVERAL COAST DONT MEAN THEY ARE NOW FROM THAT AREA.



RIVERS STATE IS VERY CLEAR THAT EVEN THE BLIND CAN SEE.



IJAW CRY MARGINALISATION, CLAIM FUBARA IS NOT IJAW BUT YET STILL CLAIMING RIVERS.


HOW?

Stolen:
ACTUALLY, IJAW SHOULD KNOW BAYELSA WAS CREATED AS A FINAL SETTLEMENT.



RIVERS IS AN IGBO STATE DOWN TO THE RIVERINE AREA WHERE EVEN THE SO CALLED IJAWS ARE MIXED IGBO PEOPLE.




BY NOW IJAW PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM AND DAT SQUATING ON SEVERAL COAST DONT MEAN THEY ARE NOW FROM THAT AREA.



RIVERS STATE IS VERY CLEAR THAT EVEN THE BLIND CAN SEE.



IJAW CRY MARGINALISATION, CLAIM FUBARA IS NOT IJAW BUT YET STILL CLAIMING RIVERS.


HOW?

D1official:
IKWERRES must not be allowed to lead Ohanaeze else we will all become wikes stooge.

They said they are not igbos and must stay out.

Stolen:



Yenagoa Bayelsa is not even Ijaw Land. The EPIE AND ATISSA people are complainimng.

The said Bayelsa have many different tribes aside Ijaw.

Minority wanting to expand by claiming Igbo people.

Something that if reverse on them, they wil scream blue murder.