Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Chimenu Amadi, a prominent Ikwerre man, has publicly challenged Akachukwu Dibia, an individual who has been making rounds in various media outlets, spreading the claim that the Ikwerre people are not Igbo. Amadi responded firmly, stating that Dibia is only entitled to speak for himself and not for the entire Ikwerre population.
Amadi emphasized that a single individual cannot represent the collective identity of the Ikwerre people. He accused Dibia and his backers of attempting to sow confusion within the Ikwerre community by leveraging certain media platforms, particularly those sympathetic to non-Igbo narratives. “It’s time for us to speak up and continue affirming our Igbo heritage as Ikwerre people,” Amadi declared. “We’ve had enough of the lies. I represent the greater population of Ikwerre who proudly acknowledge their Igbo roots, tracing back to ancient times.”
Amadi also refuted Dibia’s claim that a group named IPO exists in Ikwerre land, calling it a disrespect to the Ikwerre people, whose forefathers were active members of Ohanaeze Ndígbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization. He criticized Dibia for bearing an Igbo name while simultaneously denying his Igbo heritage. “It’s ironic and disrespectful for someone with an Igbo name to run from one media house to another, claiming not to be Igbo,” Amadi stated.
Furthermore, Amadi called out the media outlets that have been promoting Dibia’s views, questioning why they fail to report on the significant portion of Ikwerre people who proudly identify as Igbo. He also acknowledged that while there may be some people who migrated to Ikwerre land from elsewhere, the majority of Ikwerre people trace their origins to Igbo groups, particularly from Arochukwu and Ngwa.
In closing, Amadi urged the general public to disregard Dibia’s claims, asserting that the truth will eventually come to light, and those backing the false narrative will be exposed.
This unfolding debate on ethnic identity highlights the ongoing discussions surrounding the cultural and historical ties between the Ikwerre and Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria
By Igbo History, Reporting from Port Harcourt, Nigeria
