Wike rejects Igbo lineage, slams Ohanaeze Ndigbo

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly rejected claims linking him to Igbo ethnicity, insisting he remains an Ikwerre man and not a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Wike made the clarification on Sunday while responding to comments attributed to the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Mbata, over political and ethnic affiliations in Rivers State.

“I have a good relationship with the Igbos, but I am not Igbo. I am not a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,” Wike said.

The former Rivers State governor criticised Mbata for declaring Ikwerre people as Igbos, describing the claim as unacceptable and self-serving.

According to Wike, Mbata believes that becoming President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo would grant him access to South-East governors for personal benefits, including contracts.

“John Mbata was declared persona non grata for saying Ikwerre people are Igbos,” he said.

Reacting to Mbata’s alleged support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s second-term ambition, Wike dismissed the endorsement, saying Mbata lacked the authority to speak for Ikwerre people.

“He does not speak for Ikwerre people. He may speak for Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and we have no problem with that,” Wike stated.

The FCT minister stressed that while Ikwerre people have long coexisted peacefully with the Igbo, identity must not be forced or distorted.

“We have related with the Igbos, but I won’t claim what I’m not. I won’t change my identity as an Ikwerre man,” he said.

Wike also launched a personal attack on Mbata, alleging that the Ohanaeze leader is embroiled in a property dispute so severe that he cannot bury his mother and only brother.