By: Felix Ikpotor
Reactions are now trailing the emergence of Senator Sam Mbata as the President- General of Ohanaeze- Ndigbo. This is as a political pressure group, the Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM), has given him seven days to resign.
The group said that Ikwerres are not part of Igbo and as such cannot lead a group whose primary objective is to represent the interest of the Igbo people within and outside Nigeria.
RRM in a joint statement by its Director General, Johnson George and Secretary, Sarima Akpata, described the emergence Senator Mbata as the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo as “unfortunate”, adding that the development is a surreptitious attempt by the Igbos to annex Rivers State.
The group also took a swipe on the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for congratulating Mbata, threatening to organise a protests in Rivers, Abuja and all United Nations facilities to show their anger over the development.
RRM, alleged that the emergence of an Ikwerre person as the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo is a sinister plan for the Igbos to annex Rivers through the Ikwerre ethnic group.
They emphasised that the battle for the soul of Rivers State through the Ikwerres has been a raging battle since the creation of Rivers State, adding that Rivers people have since been opposed to being part of the Igbos.
The the group said, “The attention of the leadership of Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) has been drawn to a disturbing, annoying, unfortunate and disgraceful report of Sen John Mbata emerging as the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo whose primary objective is to represent the interest of all Igbo people within and outside Nigeria.
“The big question now lies, are Ikwerres Igbos? The answer is a big no and this irritating battle for the soul of Rivers State through the Ikwerres has been on since the creation of Rivers State from the defunct Eastern Nigeria by General Yakubu Gowon and Rivers people have opposed the Igbo claim since then.
“One begins to wonder what wrong has Rivers people done to deserve this humiliation from Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s administration. Was it a crime that in the interest of equity Fairness and Justice, former Governor Wike and leader of Rivers State politics on the premise of the political bond and love that spans over 50yrs between the Ijaws and Ikwerres chose His Excellency Siminialayi Fubara’ as Governor to represent the Riverine interest?
“RRM as a group has vowed to resist this shame within the law that intends to see Rivers State fall under slavery through the capture of the Ikwerres that are not IGBOS. RRM wishes to make the following declaration;
“RRM is giving Sen John Azuta Mbata seven days to resign as Ohaneze Ndigbo President General. We are also calling on the Governor of Rivers State to withdraw his congratulatory message to Sen Mbata because the Ikwerres has never been and will not be IGBOS in our lifetime, considering the fact that even in the United Kingdom the Welsh and Scots have never been English even though they speak English.
“RRM is calling on our dear President that congratulated Sen Mbata, the Nigerian Police, DSS and selected national leaders to look inwards on this issue that has caused hate and animosity among neighboring states before the unfortunate civil war because we all know President Tinubu means well for Nigerians.
“As a group and people, we are promising to stage the largest and most peaceful protest in Rivers State, Abuja and all United Nations facilities to express our anger over this injustice the Governor Siminialayi Fubara”s Administration is aiding through Sen Mbata’s annoying ambition that is purely political and shameful
“Finally, RRM knows the spirit of our founding fathers like Late Senator Melford Okilo, Sen Obi Wali, Chief Nwaobidike Wonodi and other great Ikwerre leaders will be turning in their graves just knowing what is happening in Rivers State. As a people, this injustice to the Ikwerres goes beyond APC vs PDP, Who is Speaker Of the Rivers State House of Assembly or The FCT Minister H.E Nyesom Wike vs Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
“It is about the people of Rivers State and their independence within the Nigerian State. RRM is calling on all true sons and daughters of Rivers State to Rise up within the law of the land and speak up against the injustice meted on Rivers people by the Rivers State Government and it’s leaders, so the world will know that Ikwerres are not Igbos and will never be.”
