Back off from Igbanke people, they are Igbos! Ohanaeze youths warn Benin Traditional Council

Ohanaeze youth spearheads Igbo unification as an Igbanke son is elected National Organizing Secretary

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), under the leadership of its National President General, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, has warned the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) to desist from its “desperate moves to annex Igbanke” people, saying they are Igbos from origin.

Comrade Igboayaka made the remarks in a press release made available to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) entitled “Ohanaeze Youth Council warns Oba Ewaure II of Benin Kingdom against desperate moves to annex Igbanke”.

The statement was co-signed by OYC Secretary General, Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Nweke, and its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ukpabi Michael Authority.

OYC noted that it is currently spearheading an Igbo unification project, electing an Igbanke son as National Organizing Secretary.

According to OYC, it has broadened its search for Igbos in the South South, South East and North Central (Kogi and Benue).

The statement said: “It’s a well-established fact that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide limited membership to seven states, including Imo, Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Delta, and Rivers.

“However, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) led by Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka has transcended the narrow boundaries of Ndigbo in the South East to encompass the South South and North Central regions of Igbo indigenous people.

“OYC is intensively promoting the unity of Ndigbo in Nigeria, who are scattered across different states.

“A remarkable demonstration of this unity is the recent pronouncement by the Akiko Uwa Sociocultural group, reaffirming that the Igbanke people are bona fide Igbo, and proudly acknowledging their Igbo roots despite being administratively part of Edo state.

“The Akiko Uwa Sociocultural group’s declaration on 23rd April 2025, stating that the Igbanke are the original Igbo tribe with no ancestral connection to Benin, is noteworthy. (Watch video clip below)

“Notably, Comrade Azuka Oka Etumudon was elected National Organizing Secretary of Ohanaeze Youth Council OYC on 8th February 2025 at Owerri Imo State, marking a significant milestone in Igbo unification.

“Furthermore, Comrade Maryann Obu from Cross River was elected Treasurer, Comrade Ayogu Friday, Welfare Secretary, and Comrade Ushene LuckFavour, Ex-Officio from Kogi, including Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Nweke from Benue won Secretary General during the National Convention of Ohanaeze Youth Council.

“The election of Comrade Azuka Oka Etumudon into Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) as National Organizing Secretary is a historical landmark, as he becomes the first Igbanke son to occupy an elective position in Ohanaeze, thus realizing the unification of other Igbo origin in Edo State.”

OYC, thereby, urged Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, under the leadership of Senator Azuta John Mbata, to promote unity and inclusivity.

It urged Senator Mbata to follow the example set by the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) and amend Ohanaeze Ndigbo constitution to adopt indigenous Igbos from Edo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Kogi, and Benue States into the Igbo sociocultural group.

It also categorically condemned the Benin Traditional Council’s attempt, under the leadership of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewaure II, to impose Benin origin on the Igbo people of Igbanke Clan in Edo state.

Oba of Benin, Oba Ewaure II

“It is astonishing that Oba Ewaure II, disregarding historical context, after the traditional rulers of Igbo origin in Igbanke through Akiko Uwa Sociocultural group acknowledged their Igbo identity, issued a suspension letter on 30th April 2025 to the six most noble Traditional Rulers in Igbanke Clan,” OYC regretted.

Read details of the letter below:

We are Igbos, not Benins! Igbanke people fire back at Benin Traditional Council

The group condemned the “deliberate confrontational provocative letter” by Benin Traditional Council led by Oba Ewaure II of Benin and associates against Igbo traditional institutions.

The move, it emphasised, “requires immediate attention”.

It, therefore, advise Oba Ewaure II of Benin to refrain from interfering in the traditional and cultural affairs of Igbanke people.

OYC further noted that remarkably, Igbanke have their traditional rulers’ titles, such as Eze/Obi, whereas elderly men hold titles like “OGELE“, “OKPARA-UKU“, “NDI-ICHIE”, and “NDI-NZE”, all Igbo lexicons.

It also remarked that Igbanke has a traditional priestly system headed by “EZE NWA-OBU” and “NDI-EZE DIBIA“.

It remarked: “These factors provide significant proof and evidence that Igbanke people are a pure Igbo tribe.

“The Igbanke people have historically spoken the Ika language, which has no similarities with the language spoken by the people of Benin, who do not speak or understand Ika.

“Igbanke is surrounded by Ika communities, including Ekpon in Igueben LGA of Edo state to the north, Agbor and Alisimie in Ika South LGA of Delta state to the south, Mbiri in Ika North East LGA of Delta State to the east, and a natural water boundary to the west that separates it from Oghada, a Benin community in Uhunmwonde LGA of Edo state,” it added.

OYC, therefore, called on the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to warn Oba Ewaure II of Benin to stop imposing Benin ancestry on Igbanke people or “changing the narrative of their origin with lies and conspiracy”.

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