Why Ikwerre Is Not Igbo – Eze Worlumanekwe

The Eze Oha-Omasi II and Paramount ruler of Rumuomasi Clan, HRH Eze Godwin Hope Worlumanekwe, has joined other Ikwerre traditional rulers and leaders in Ikwerre land to reject Senator Azuta Mbata’s election as the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo. Mbata was elected on January 10 this year in controversial circumstances.
Eze Worlumanekwe described Mbata’s acceptance of the position as unfortunate, unbelievable and a grievous mistake, saying the senator was on his own.
The traditional ruler, who is a member of Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention, told journalists in his palace that Senator Mbata’s action was unacceptable and was a slight on the Ikwerre ethnic nationality. According to the royal father, if Mbata’s mother was Igbo, it’s unfortunate that the PG Ndigbo did not trace his real ancestry, insisting that a man may marry an Igbo woman but that does not mean everybody is of that tribe.
He noted that Mbata’s acceptance of President -General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo was driven by his ambition to occupy such position.
The Nyenwe-Eli Rumuomasi Clan acknowledged the fact that he knew Senator John Mbata’s father many years ago, when they were members of Assemblies of God Church, and that he was a complete gentleman and a core Ikwerre man.
“Ikwerre is Iwhuruonha. We don’t have any affinity with the Igbo. We don’t have the same culture with them. The way we dress, tie our wrappers, and install our kings are different from that of the Igbo,” King Worlumanekwe pointed out.
He explained that the Ikwerre otherwise called Iwhuruonha, are not an offshoot of any tribe, having migrated by sea and settled in Port Harcourt.
He however could not confirm if they migrated from Benin. “I don’t know, but I heard that. If we are from Benin, are we Benin people?” the Rumuomasi king queried. “We are Iwhuruonha! Iwhuruonha is an aborigine.
“Our culture and tradition, language, dressing, and pattern of doing things are quite different from that of Benin people.”
On the controversy surrounding the indigenous ownership of Port Harcourt, Eze Worlumanekwe said Port Harcourt is Ikwerreland. He stressed that Rumuomasi owned and occupied the entire Port Harcourt but was relocated to its present abode after signing an agreement with the British for its acquisition 1912/1913.
He said the forefathers of Rumuomasi people were buried in Port Harcourt before the community was relocated. He maintained that Rumuomasi has six ‘onuobiri’ (Communities) viz: Anyaolu, Olukwu, Ezeolu, Inyanwa, Ndekpa, and Okpokwusi.
“Rumu-omasi has boundary with Abuloma, Rumuomasi owns Nkpogu and Ekekahia. It was Rumuomasi that left Port Harcourt, and signed agreement with Harcourt in 1912/1913.
Commenting on the Supreme Court judgment of February 28, 2025, which recognised Martins Amaewhule as speaker along with other 26 members of the State House of Assembly, and dissolved all the 23 LGAs, among others, King Worlumanekwe called for unity and peaceful resolution of the fallouts.
“Whatever you are doing for Opobo people, do it for Ikwerre people, do it for Etche, Ahoada, Ogoni, and Kalabari people, and others”, he said.
He hailed the Supreme Court judgment, saying there was no Local Government Election on 5th October, 2024. While describing the political crisis in Rivers State as unfortunate, he commended Governor Sim Fubara for implementing the judgment and setting a fresh date for the LG election.
“There was no LG election in Rivers State last year, and they just went ahead and announced results that people were elected Chairmen and Councillors, which was very wrong, it was a sham and disgrace to Rivers State,” he recalled.
“We have law, follow the constitution and campaign in accordance with the rule of the game”, he advised.
King Worlumanekwe lamented the high incidence of graduate unemployment, and the general suffering of Nigerians since the removal of fuel subsidy.