Every Igbo town has their dialect,same in Yoruba,Hausa etc Having a different dialect doesn't make you less of Igbo.

They are the ones that deny being igbos at every opportunity and claim to be from benin. They now see themselves as minorities and their igbo dialects seperate languages.

I sincerely apologise to our brothers and sisters about the mistakes of the past....Let's fashion the way forward. Igbo bu ofu.

Wabali, you are being economical with the truth. Ikwerre have always denied being Igbo since after the war that ogbako ikwerre went and registered ikwerre as a separate language. I know that any group that denies their igboness must one day beg for it.Think of the psychological trauma ikwerre have been going denying being Igbo for years in the eyes of Nigerians who had known ikwerre as Igbo. No body will leave the fold and be happy.

My brother my name is chukwuebuka obi I am from agbor in delta state I am a proudly igbo stop this thing you are saying there is nothing like minority igbo ok we all are one Gowan just joined us with minority in south south

They are Igbos QED, do you hear of Kwara Yoruba? or Kogi yoruba?. Igbo is Igbo no matter the geographical location. Igbo is a language and not geographical features

I have met a lot of people from ikwere, kwali, Asaba, Agbo whose names are Chukwuemeka, Chidi, and Ifeoma but will vehemently tell you that they're not Igbo. The truth is that they are not totally guilty of this. We at the other side of the river even shows a lot of discrimination. I'm from Enugu but there are people from other states in Southeast who believe that their own state is more Igbo than others and also that your dialect is useless because it doesn't sound like theirs. I'm happy we are discussing this. Nobody is a greater stakeholder in Igbo than others. That your people is more educated, wealthier or more technocratic does not make you more Igbo than others.

I'm from Ngwa in Aba my elders used to sing music about lkwere people that they're our brothers.

You have spoken well I new that Ohaneze have not done much to integrate other igbo,just look the president of Ohaneze have he visited rivers state since he took over or igbos benue that have been crying on newspapers epidemic broke out in that place no one I see from Ohaneze that visited them,tomorrow if they decided to stay on their own we criticise them,our leader are the problem.

To be frank, it is Ikwerres who deny being Igbos, yes there are some arrogant Igbo people who make matters worst

Igbo is igbo...no minority and no majority. I'm sorry to disagree with the concept of emancipation towards our igboness. We are all one.

We are all igbos, lets unite and stand as one and forget the past.

My brother God bless you. The Ohaneze have to be strategic to fashion better understanding. My dear Andy also my Ikwerre brother also have some blame too. Some of them will never like to accept their igboness. How I wish majority of my ikwerre Igbo brothers share this view. This is where Zik is exemplary in mobilising all igbos.

Njenje media thank you a lot for such reunion. I have learnt a lot watching This, may God help us . I still thank MNK for taking bold step because if not him hmmmm. Not just on media please you guys need to meet face to face it will go along way and have more time...It have to be done early for our younger generation

Let's see all that happened as the act of 1966-1970. Everyone has waken up now, let's see how to reconnect and come back to round table and continue our Igbo activities, long live Igbo's my own people

Mr Andy Wabali, I thank you very much for bringing up this issue of Igboness in River State. First of all, over 80% of the Ikwerres are born of Igbo parents. Even Dr Obi Wali lived and died as an Igbo man. The Ikwerre people, deep down, know that they are Igbos. After the civil war, Nigeria used the likes of Diette Spiff to disunite and disintegrate the Ikwerres from their Igbo brothers and sisters from the Southeast. I suggest that we, the Igbos, from every nook and corner should come together , because Nigeria wants to disunite us. Please we are one. I am from Imo State, but my Godfather is from Ikwerre.

My advice to Andy Wabali and the rest of our brothers is to stand their ground to claim their position in Ohaneze as no one is minority in his or her family home. Thanks.

I'm deeply touched on this issue and I'm so sorry wholeheartedly for this brothers and sisters from Ikwere at large! 👏 Please my people, let's put aside whatever that has happened in the PAST and MOVE forward to achieve our common goals together.... In #ONENESS ☝we stand and DIVIDED we FALL!!! Peace ✌ Love❤ Strength 💪

We need to start a reunion of all Igbo ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, this division was created by those who want us permanently divided.

Nothing like Ikwere Igbo either Igbo or not because i came from Ohaozara area of Ala Igbo then i will begin to say i am Ohaozara Igbo does this make sense? This guys should go read their history well

This man made alot of sense, I shade tears listening to him.

It doesn't matter where the people may or may not have originated from as long as today we are igbo speaking we are all igbo!! United we stand divided we fall!

No body can deny your nationality. This unions has been compromised and has been terrified. Please uphold your identity. Time is coming when all children of God shall be united.

IN IMO WE SAY "IHUNANYA" BUT ANAMBRA SAY "IFUNANYA" WHAT OUR BROTHER IS SAYING ABOUT ABOUT R AND H, IS TRUE, WE ARE VERY DIVERSE.

Nothing like larger Igbo group. We only have: ikwere, onisha, Agbor, Igweocha, okpanam, Awka, Anioma, Enugu, Nsukka, Abakaliki, Umuahia, Mbaise, Owere, Effiom, Amuda, Ngbo, Ezza, etc. Stop counting yourselves out, all are Igbos with divers ascents.

Very good. I like this type of frank talk. When we were at the University of Portharcourt, we cooperated with our Ikwerre Brothers during Students Union elections to the annoyance of the far flung Ijaw majority.

How we say that ikwerre is part us, in igbo nation, there is nothing like majority or minority, igbo is igbo, regardless of the location. Ohaneze must do the right thing by bringing and unifying our brothers and sisters wherever they are because, we are one people. This task is very urgent and necessary pls.

Brother may God bless you sir for the courage to speak the truth, your throne is sure

I have being in port-hacourt before, n from my own experience ikwere people had brain washed by janjawee because of that, they never believed that they are ibo's, believe me ibo's are good n very kind, they love welcoming strangers around but I don't know the reason why other tribe have so much hatred on ibo's but for me, I love ibo's the more.

God bless my good brother, we are Igbo ndi Igbo

I salute Njenje TV for the expository programmes you usually anchor for the benefit of Ndigbo. I greet my brother Andy Wabali too for taking his time to speak exhaustively on this touchy issue. Before I write further, let me make my stance clear on this. My stance is that all Igbo clans both in the South South, South East and Middlebelt should be united into One Igbo nation for our own good. I agree with some point made by Andy but will respond in the areas where I disagree. Saying the truth makes reconciliation easier. I disagree that it was only the larger Igbo group of the SE that contributed to the present logjam in our wheel as a nation. The Ikwerres equally played their own bad role too. Our people need some education on this issue so that our transformation can be quicker. Most Ikwerres don't know much about the larger Igbo nation which they're suppose to know. Ndigbo are made up of plenty clans. All these clans sacrificed to become the large Igbo group you know today. I'm from Anambra and my clan say 'Ohor' instead of 'ofor'. The Ikwerre clan say 'owhor'. Today, we all bear names with 'ofor' just so we can be monolithic. What we should demand from one another in the Igbo nation is respect. The Ikwerre clan has failed in this regard. The denial, distortion of historical facts and even abuse of their fellow brothers just so they can appear different has done a lot of damage. This has made the younger Igbo generation from the SE be suspicious of them. I'm part of those who have always advocated for the union of our people. I've even visited both Ikwerre and Etche lands to see things first hand for myself before coming into conclusion. I believe that the essence of this union should not be just for an individual's political career but for the good of all Igbo clans and the glory of Igbo nation. We are a very blessed people. It's good how you called on Ohanaeze to lead the way in this union. I also agree with the idea of all the other apex groups of the various Igbo clans of Rivers to liaise with Ohanaeze in this regard. I'll want to also suggest that Ogbakor Ikwerre to organise a media conference after that meeting and declare publicly that Ikwerres are Igbos to put a stop to these back and forth. All Igbo clans should be respected. May Chukwu Okike bless Ndigbo nile. Iseee!

am crying watching this we need to unit

Very sensitive discussion. My brother it is very simple to say but difficult to implement if Ndi-Igbo does not have the courage to do the right thing. Ndi Ikwerre, Ndi Anioma and Ndi Igbo Benue, as well as Ndi Igbo Igbanke and other Igbos geographically located in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Cross Rivers states are no less Igbos than their brothers in present S.E. To start with, Ogbako Ikwerre, Ogbako Etche, Ekpeye and Ogba should collapse into one big Igbo socio-cultural family group known as Ohaneze Ndi Igbo. We are all Igbos (anyi bu ofu) irrespective of our geographical locations and different dialects. Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo and the leadership of those associations have a lot of work to do in this regard. Secondly, some of the communities in Anioma, Ali Ikwerre and even Etche and Ekpeye that deliberately distort their history to reflect Benin ancestry should revise their history and henceforth desist from this obnoxious behaviour. This is called self inflicted identity crisis. Finally if Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is contemplating running for presidency anytime in the future, What impact has he made in Igboland as a Minister? It is funny that tomorrow some people will accuse Ndi Igbo in S.E. for not voting for him when he has done virtually nothing in S.E as the current Minister for Transport. Andy Wabali please tell Amaechi that presidency is by merit. Now is the time for him to make his mark in Igboland.

No my brother, its the other way round, your the one that denied being an igbo, but now that you have recognised where your from, we open our arms to welcome you in. all hail Biafra.

my dear brother thank you for this eye opener about the ikwerres truth be told that our ikwerre brothers are the ones sidelining themselves, pick up an ikwerre man and tell him you are an igbo man he will tell you GOD forbid he don;t mind take up an arms against you so my brother the ikwerres are the ones to integrate themselves and i like it what is happening now means that we are all realizing ourselves that we are one this housa and fulani people have done us more harm than good thank GOD for mazi NNAMD I KANU the GOD sent all hail BIAFRA ,all hail Mazi Nnamdi Kanu

Great discussion. We need to be strategic moving forward as you said.

We need to embrace this our brother and find out from him in all honesty the way forward. He makes a lot of sense.

At the end of the war, Lt. Com. Diete Spiff, an Ijaw, was the Rivers state military governor then. It was the Ijaws that marginalized the Ikweres, not the Igbos. It was the Ijaws that largely benefited from the abandoned property of the Igbos. I'm from Isuochi and many of our female relatives were married to the Ikweres and the Ijaws in those days. That's why it baffles me that the Ijaws hate the Igbos so much.

Let's forge a way forward.we love u my ikwerre brothers.

Ohaneze have to form high power igbo integration group that will integrate every igbo were ever they reside.

My dear brother Mr. Wabali, I watched your video with tears rolling uncontrollably from my eyes, Plz kindly forgive any wrongdoing from our brothers knowing very well we’re one big ibo family. No ibo man is a minority and my ikwerre brethren can never be minority. No ibo man is greater than the other. What makes us great is unity not disunity. The point you’ve raised will get to the appropriate authority and reconciliation shall take place. It will be a thing of joy if this matter is addressed asap. May the good Lord destroy every shackles the devil may have used to divide the ibo family, bless our ikwerre brethren and unite us in Jesus Mighty Name Amen!

He has a point..politics has even made us see each other as different people because of geographical zone.south east see south south people as not real igbo even south south igbo see us as the same

This is very very important issue my brothers and sisters we must unit as one people

The last name "Wabali" in Anambra will be said as Nwabani. This is unbelievable stupidity. How can you depend on a constantly changing dynamism of State Creation as the basis of your identity? Your identity should remain the same no matter the manner of state or local government creation. All Igbos are not the same. There are unique identities among Igbos; Igbos from Kogi state have a unique identity from Igbos in Benue State, from Nsukka in Enugu State, from Izzi in Ebonyi State. We should all recognize our unique identities. In Nsukka; eggs in pronounced as ekwa, in Onitsha it is pronounced as akwa. These should not be a point of contention.

Ikwerre people pls forgive us, we are very sorry, praise be to the power that kept our Ikwerre people safe after the war, I'm from Ngwo. But I'm Igbo too

Our brother Andy Wabali we really appreciate your efforts and bringing this issue to the point of discussion 👏 But I have been a witness of this igboness among ikwere people that I have worked with as colleagues in fact they denied their igboness even without asking them. I have listened to someone like julius agwu denied igbos. It is not only a task for Ohaneze Ndigbo alone but people like you who identify with igbo should be at front of campaign because a lot needs to be done.

May the ALMIGHTY God bless you and your family for your education. Please keep up it up loud and continually so as for us and new generations then we will get there and really no our untold history and correct them now. We are one and brothers. Unity is power

Thank you my brother we all are ignos God bless you thank you sgain nwafor

U hv spoken well Ohaneze Ndi Igbo take note on this our brothers need our closeness

My brother, My God Almighty continue to bless you and every Ikwere and Igbo origin in River State and every other state in Nigeria. Brother you ve spoken very well. Pls continue to defend who you are. Like you have rightly said, you are a true igboman in blood. I'm from imo state but listening to you makes me carry. We are brothers and it's time to change any wrong perceptions. Pls forgive us.

Thank you brother for speaking up. We have started the journey back to who we"re. God bless you brother. The FULANIS systematically, divided IGBO LAND - in the name of State creation!

Thank so much for this enlightenment.

OUR BROTHER SPOKE WELL, AND WE MUST CORRECT THESE ISSUES BEFORE MOVING INTO THE NEW NATION

God bless you my brother you have spoken well, I know that River state is indeed Igbo land because after studying the history what you are saying is the truth, I think something will being done to address what has gone wrong in the past it's well there's hope for everyone in Igbo land by God's grace amen🙏shalom.

A house that is divided amongst itself cannot stand. "Count your teeth with your tongue "

I love his sincerity. He made valid points...

It is really sad to hear that the Ikweres feel neglected by their Igbo brothers. I would like to add that the political dispensation in Nigeria has created a very unfriendly ground for harnessing brotherly relationship in the eastern Nigeria. It is true that anybody that was Igbo or related to Igbo was severely persecuted during and after the Biafra/Nigeria war. In addition to the persecution of the igbos properties were confiscated in Port-Harcourt. Many tribes that were seen as Igbos by the aggressors were all persecuted. The point is that Igbos themselves were persecuted, so everyone has to run for safety. The situation then becomes the survival of the fittest. Those that seized Igbo properties, are their lives better-off than that of the Igbos today? It is a history that will never be forgotten. However, it is time to forge ahead and to build up relationships among the Igbo nation.

Great topic..we need to start to realign ourselves.

Thank you very much for your mentioning it that you are igbo. I am from delta but I was denied to come to OP because I am igbo.

There is nothing like minority igbo The problem of all this denial is the civil war. The Ikwerre's were the ones who denied the easterners because of the maltreatment of igbos after the civil war by the Nigerian Government. My brother leave that talk. You just said it right u were dealt with after the war. U said the ijaws said it that igbos are coming back. U imagine what u said justified that the ijaw were against ikwerre's after the war. Opobo is an igboland. We all need to come together and love ourselves Nothing like larger igbo group my brother.

Let us forgive and forget what happened those days and come together as one we all are one family.

My big brother, you have say it all maybe this new world bring us together as one blood and family... Please don't be angry with us cause the old full we send to represent us went and play fowl play, you are my father and my brother and uncle you are everything to me tank you for making this break before us

You are correct. But, the so called larger Ibo did not take a thing from Rivers people. It's the Nigerian government denied Ibo's everything till date.

Please let us come together and forget the past and move forward let us look into it and know what to do to stop those people that are out to intimidate us, Please we need to do something to be together peace peace peace is all we need.

A lot of things went wrong from FGN. Division of IGBOS into fragmentation, deny being an igbo you will get appointment. I wish i can reach out to these man. I could have told him something. You are not rejected but ohaneze presently is political affiliates of northern caliphate. That's why you should tell your youths to join the restoration of sovereign state of Biafra to bring sanity back. I understand your feelings.

Andy Wabali made it clear with reference that those who took non River Igbo property were not ikwerre, ogba, etche, etc Igbos and the fact the even River Igbos such as Ikwerre, etche, ogba, etc were marginalised after the war in Rivers and had no power and even denied plots in the GRA. So this is why Igbos from the SE should not hold anything against Rivers from rivers state because Nigeria marginalised all igbos from Anioma, Rivers, SE, etc. after the war.

Ohaneze should organize a "Truth and Reconciliation" commission similar to South Africa's or Oputa Panel with the Igbos in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Edo and Kogi States to dig up all hurts and misunderstandings and deep reconciliation done.

Sir you are absolutely correct and it's not to the Ikwerre,s alone, but other federating Igbo units. All should be in the past. We're all Igbo. Am from Asaba and Igbo person..

Our Leader have said it ,we are one.

My People, Blood is thicker than Water. Hon. Mr. Andy Wali may God bless you for bringing this issue to the open. Please this reintegration of Ikwerre and Anioma Igbo issue should be gazetted and communicated to all State Igbo Governors, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and to IPOB leadership. But first to Governor Nyesom Nwike who stood tall as a proud Igboman. As this is mind burgling, let us forget the past. We should not continue to live in the past. The reconciliation should start now and from everybody both home and in the diaspora. (ONYE AGHALA NWA NNE YA) We are all Igbos. No minority, no majority's and no division.

Do u know how many times ikwere people chided me and called me local for being Igbotic and told me to my face that they are not igbos and never will be. I grew up in portharcourt.

Thank your my brother

ANDY NWABALI Congrats to your presentation about the need for IGBOS INTEGRATION. As an IGBO with outreach relationships across CENTRAL / HINTERLAND IGBOS, EKA IGBOS, MINORITY and RIVER RHINE IGBOS I welcome your viewpoints and have a broader knowledge about these issues of contention raised by YOU. I welcome your leadership quality and knowledge of vital issues to be addressed beneficial to all IGBOS and IGBOLAND. Action these challenging issues mentioned atleast through OHANEZE NDIGBO.

Good point here, ohaneze please do the needful and do it fast, there's no doubt river's are Igbo,s king jaja of opobo was from amaigbo in imo state. My brother your presentation is pure kudos.

So this is all about Amechi coming out for Presidency. You peopke want igbo's support.

Infact I love this, its long expected...Ohaneze must go around and find our people..all the way to Igala, Benue, Delta, Rivers and cross river , we are every where.

Well said, Andy

We are one,let's come together and fight for our freedom I'm from Anambra state

This is welcome conversation. I think the Ikwerres are free to identify as Ikwerre-Igbo if that will bring peace drive away the mutual suspicion that currently exists.

Masi Wabale i agreed with you completely you are naturally fullborn Igbo man of ikwerre area.

See theres nothing like delta igbo or ikwerre igbo...its either you are igbo or nothing..

This man is saying a bitter truth.our forefathers did not play politics well,they did not coordinate our brothers well,this created room for divide and rule.we are brothers.

..just seeing this. I hope our Ohaneze has moved this discussions up. I hope they have come up with a robust, cohesive and progress working document to nurture and sustain the project. Igbos must stand together as one...

Bekee, please ,excerpt this man into your fold with open hands ,this is a gift on a platter of gold ,

Blood we are all Igbo brothers and sisters

Good to hear Ikwere are finally accepting they are Igbo, there is nothing wrong with Igbo, it is one the biggest tribes in Africa , high achievers, many Ikwere that I know deny they are Igbo, they speak Igbo with a different dialect, just like you have Igbos in the east with different dialects and Igbos in Delta and even Benue ,all with different dialects ,,still all Igbos , they have Igbo names , yet some say they are not Igbo, good to hear him finally claim his identity,Igbos everywhere must unite and accept being Igbo , a genuinely great tribe, this man speaks well, but he must educate his Ikwere Igbos about being Igbo

South South and South East must unite

Well spoken. Others are feeding well to an extent they their root.only smart people safe their people.

Thank you Njenja media

We are all brothers and sisters let us forget the things in the past and move forward please

We are one people

Doctor Onwu is from Afa town present day Udi L.G.A Enugu State u spoke well my brother I want to cheap something there's no minnority in Igbo speaking tribe we're one big family nothing.

You have spoken very well, We know how we are in Igboland, From Anioma to Ikwere are Igbos, we know the divide and rule by Nigerian government, we are coming together. It's part of the political division of Nigerian state, just make una chill we are in this together,we will get united for real in time soon.

Iam ezza ezekunna,am igbo, from ebonyi state

What does this man means by the larger Igbo group I believe that Is Igbo we are one but when you changed your villages and towns names umuokoro to umuokoro what does that mean brother we are one come to Abakeleke Nsukka you will find it difficulty to understand it nwanne Igbo is Igbo we don't know what you called Ikwere Igbo and we don't know what they called Ika Igbo what we know is that wherever you are you are Igbo stop putting another thing in it what we know is that we are all Igbos in culture attire foods language and so many other things thank you

My brother , how can igbo disown his own very self, I don't understand

Ikwerre people are pure Igbo people dey denied their igboness after the Biafran war because of d defeat

With this type of coming together and addressing sensitive issues in a frank manner, I am hopeful that all is not lost. Even most of the comments here are so friendly, contrary to my expectation. Most of the opinions here is that there is nothing like majority or minority Igbo.We are one and we have equal stakes in the Igbo project. There is time for everything and this is the time to forge a comprehensive unity.

All Igbos are one family. Let's leave the dialects apart. Whether Ikwere, Ibibio, etc. Time for us to start dialogue to unite all Igbos. Any doubt of our relationship can be verified by DNA test. For blood is thicker than water.

OUR BROTHERS FROM IKWERE WE ARE VERY SORRY IF SOME OF THE IGBO LARGER GROUPS TREAT YOU BAD. IGBO IS ONE, THERE IS NO IGBO THAT IS SUPERIOR THAN THE OTHER . I WILL ADVISE YOU TO REGISTER WITH THE CURRENT OHANEZE NDI IGBO . IGBOS ARE COMING BACK FROM DIFFERENT PLACES TO BECOME ONE. BEFORE 4 YEARS FROM NOW IGBOS FROM S.S AND S.E WILL BECOME ONE. BUT ROTIMI AMECHI SAID BEFORE THAT HE IS NOT IGBO .