The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rejected claims that he is Igbo following the election of his kinsman, ex-Senator John Azuta Mbata, as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Mbata, an Ikwerre native, was elected on January 10 to lead the apex Igbo socio-cultural group.
However, Wike insists that Mbata’s leadership of Ohanaeze does not make the Ikwerre people part of the Igbo ethnic group.
Despite the cultural and linguistic similarities between the two groups, he maintains that they remain distinct.
Speaking during a media chat with TVC, Wike stated that Mbata, like any Nigerian, has the freedom to associate with any group.
However, his involvement in Ohanaeze does not alter the identity of the Ikwerre people.
According to Daily Post, he likened the situation to the North, where not all Northerners are Hausa.
Similarly, he argues that not all groups living in the southeastern region should be classified as Igbo.
Wike’s remarks have reignited long-standing debates on the identity of the Ikwerre people, who share historical and cultural ties with the Igbo but also claim a distinct heritage.
His stance is expected to spark further discussions within political and cultural circles.
The controversy surrounding Mbata’s election highlights the complexities of ethnic identity in Nigeria, especially in regions where cultural overlaps exist.