The leadership of the Eneka Clan in the Obio-Akpor Council of Rivers State has reaffirmed its unwavering support for Senator John Azuta Mbata as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide.
This declaration was made during a grand homecoming ceremony hosted in honour of Mbata, who was described as an “illustrious son” who has brought immense honour to Eneka land.
The ceremony, which was attended by various groups within the clan, served as a testament to the clan’s solidarity with Mbata.
The show of support comes after Mbata’s successful tour and his recent return to his homeland.
Mbata, a former senator representing Rivers East constituency, was unanimously elected as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide on January 10, 2025.
His emergence has been met with widespread support, including congratulations from President Bola Tinubu.
Consequently, the clan leadership issued a press statement clarifying their stance on the emergence of Mbata as the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide, saying that as a true citizen of Nigeria, he reserves the right to belong to any peaceful organisation or association of his choice.
The statement, signed by prominent leaders of the clan, including Chima Wosu, Chairman Eneka Community Development Committee (CDC) and Paramount Ruler/Nye WE-Eli Eneka Clan, Prof. R.O. Woko, reaffirmed their support for Mbata.
They emphasised that Mbata does not need to seek approval from any individual or group, including Ogbakor Ikwerre, before exercising his franchise as a Nigerian citizen and member of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
While condemning the declarations of sanctions made by Ogbakor Ikwerre against Mbata and other Ikwerre sons who are members of peaceful organisations such as Ohaneze Ndigbo, they described the sanctions as a contradiction to the Nigerian Constitution and an attempt to promote disunity and chaos within the Ikwerre ethnic nationality.
The clan leadership also perceived the actions and decisions of Ogbakor Ikwerre’s leadership as being sponsored for unknown political gratification, which they deemed insignificant.
They emphasised that the Eneka Clan, as a peace-loving and keeping clan, does not have functional leadership, and therefore, the administrative heads of the clan, including the CDC Chairman, Youth Congress President, and Women Council President, were mandated to pilot the affairs of the clan.
The statement reiterated that Sen. Mbata notified his kinsmen and the leadership of the Eneka Clan about his decision to run for the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo before the election date, contrary to claims by some individuals and groups.
However, the clan leadership affirmed their support for Mbata, stating that they did not see any evil in him running for the election and emerging as President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
The statement reads: “Our stand is that Ohaneze Ndigbo is a socio-cultural organisation which our son and other Ikwerre sons belong to and as members we do not see any evil in Sen. John A. Mbata running for an election and emerging as president general of the organisation.”
They called on the legal adviser to Ogbakor Ikwerre, as well as the state and federal governments, to caution against the excesses of the current administration of Ogbakor Ikwerre’s ethnic nationality and others’ abuse of power.
“Ogbakor Ikwerre or any democratically orientated organisation a citizen of Nigeria should belong to or not belong to. In view of the above, we therefore call
on the legal adviser to the Ogbakor Ikwerre as well as the state and federal government to caution the excess of the current administration of Ogbakor Ikwerre ethnic nationality and the likes on the abuse of power.
The clan leadership commended the presidency, the government of Rivers State, and other well-meaning personalities for their goodwill messages and prayers for Mbata. They expressed optimism that God will use him to inspire unity, development, and progress in the region and Nigeria at large.
“We further commend the presidency and the government of Rivers State, as well as other well-meaning personalities of our dear nation for their goodwill messages and prayers for our beloved son, most Distinguished Senator John A. Mbata. We are very optimistic
and confident that God will use him to inspire unity, development and progress in the region and Nigeria at large.
They advised those against him to desist from peddling false information and sponsoring social media attacks instead of craving for unity, peace, and development.
