Eneka Indigenes Disown Igbo Identity, Reject Mbata as Ohaneze President General

Some indigenes of Eneka Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State have strongly rejected claims that they are of Igbo descent.

 Their stance follows recent statements linking Eneka to the Igbo ethnic group, a claim they describe as “misleading and mendacious.” 

In a press briefing on Thursday, February 6, 2025, some indigenes of Eneka Community under the aegis of Concerned Eminent Eneka Indigenes led by Fyneface Akah, condemned the remarks by certain individuals, who, in their words, are seeking validation as Igbos. 

“Receive this statement as a serious reaction to recent misleading, untrue and mendacious information to members of the public by certain persons in Eneka who in their self-seeking bid for validation as Igbos had made tendentious statement in the media conveying the impression that Eneka people of Apara Kingdom are Igbos”. 

“Consequently, the Concerned Eminent Eneka Indigenes at home and abroad here and now express our displeasure with the current unguarded utterances and acts of lawlessness being endorsed by Eneka main Chief and others following the personal resolve of our Distinguished Senator John Azuta Mbata’s exercise of his franchise to be a member of Ohaneze Ndigbo last month.” 

They further rejected John Azuta Mbata’s decision to accept the position of President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, describing it as an attempt to politically assimilate Ikwerre and other ethnic groups into an Igbo agenda.

 The concerned Eneka people also accused their paramount Chief, Rowland Woko, and his supporters of advancing a divisive agenda for personal gains. 

According to them, this move is a calculated political effort to influence Rivers State’s ethnic identity and territorial integrity, with far-reaching implications for other groups in the region, including the Ijaws, Ekpeyes, Ogonis, Etches, and Ogbas. 

They also said: “That as illustrious indigenes of Eneka, we frown at and do hereby disassociate ourselves from the Statement made by the Senator in his Television Spot Interview on Saturday, February 1, 2025, that there are different categories of Iwhuruohna, urging those who claim Bini ancestry to ‘go to Bini.’” 

The statement further urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara and security agencies to intervene and prevent what they termed an “expansionist tendency” that could destabilize the existing unity among Rivers ethnic groups. 

The Concerned Eneka People made it clear that they do not recognize Mbata’s position in Ohaneze and warned against any attempt to portray Eneka as an Igbo community.

They concluded with a stern warning that continued public statements linking Eneka to Ohaneze Ndigbo would be met with “appropriate civilized responses”.

Meanwhile, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, John Azuta-Mbata, has asserted 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.

He rejected the criticisms, claiming they were mere “noises” from those who did not understand his actions.