The President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, has firmly stated that he will not deny his Igbo identity, describing recent criticisms against him as a result of misunderstanding.
He made this assertion while reaffirming his commitment to supporting Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and showing respect for the office of the governor.
Mbata’s comments came during a courtesy visit from the Opobo Elder Statesmen-4-Sim group in Port Harcourt on Monday.
He rejected the criticisms, claiming they were mere “noises” from those who did not understand his actions.
Following Azuta-Mbata’s emergence as Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s leader, his Ikwerre kinsmen in Rivers State had condemned him with thee Ogbakor Ikwerre (the Ikwerre Assembly) stripping him of all traditional titles in protest.
But Mbata, on Tuesday, emphasised his role in building bridges and fostering unity among ethnic groups.
He said, “I see my responsibility as building bridges. We must connect our people to a much larger platform for development.
“Some people say they are from Benin, that their ancestry is Benin.
And I say, ‘that’s fine. Let’s go there’. We say that we have a relationship with the Igbo. I’m not going to deny my Igbo identity. Anyhow you like, talk from now till tomorrow, I’m not going to deny my ancestry.”
He assured that the controversy would eventually subside and emphasised the importance of unity within Nigeria.
Mbata stated, “We must operate at the highest stage of this Nigerian project… Politics is played from Abuja and not here.”
Earlier, the Chairman of Opobo Elder Statesmen-4-Sim, Edwin Cockeye-Brown, congratulated Mbata on his election as Ohaneze President-General and praised him for his unwavering support for Governor Fubara, especially during the impeachment attempt.
He also traced the longstanding relationship between the Mbata family and the Opobo people, crediting Mbata’s political success to his father’s legacy.
In his remarks, the Rivers State Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Livingstone Wechie, described the visit as historic and prophetic, celebrating Mbata’s leadership for over 100 million Ndigbo worldwide.
He also expressed his confidence in Mbata’s ability to lead and pledged continued support for Governor Fubara.
Chief Lawrence Oko-Jaja (SAN), who introduced the delegation, highlighted Mbata’s integrity and his dedication to advancing the interests of the Ikwerre people, both locally and internationally.
The delegation expressed eagerness to work together to promote peace, development, and cultural heritage.
