22/07/2025
15th July, 2025
The Executive Sole Administrator of
Rivers State, Government House,
Port Harcourt,
Rivers State, Nigeria.
PROTEST LETTER ON THE PLANNED HOSTING OF IGBO CULTURAL FESTIVAL IN IKWERRE LAND: A DIRECT ASSAULT ON THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, PEACE AND CULTURAL DIGNITY OF IKWERRE PEOPLE OF RIVERS STATE.
Sir,
We, the members of the Iwhnurohna Progressive Organization (IPO), a duly incorporated socio-cultural and development advocacy body of the Ikwerre people of Rivers State, hereby express our total rejection and outright condemnation of the planned Igbo cultural festival tagged “Nchekewa Odinala Festival” scheduled to hold on 27th July, 2025, at Model Secondary School, GRA, Port Harcourt.
Sir, permit us to reiterate that Ikwerre is not Igbo and therefore no part of Ikwerre land (which includes Port Harcourt) is Igboland. The historical and political autonomy of Ikwerre can not be redefined or overridden by subtle cultural annexation by the Igbo.
Sir, we are not happy that the Igbo had consistently embarrassed us by saying that Ikwerre is Igbo.
1. Misrepresentation and Cultural Trespass
The use of public property in Port Harcourt for an Igbo-exclusive cultural activity is an act of misrepresentation, disrespect and disregard for the indigenous people of Ikwerre. This kind of cultural event, when hosted outside the homelands of the people concerned (in this case, the five states of the South-East), amounts to efforts at ethno-cultural colonization.
We ask:
Was the Eze Epara Rebisi, the Paramount Tradituonal Ruler of Port Harcourt or the Sole Administrator of the Port Harcourt Local Government Council consulted to give approval for the usage of that public space in Port Harcourt?
On whose authority did these organizers presume the liberty to project a non-indigenous culture in our territory?
2. Civic and Security Implications
Sir, this development poses grave risks to public order and inter-ethnic harmony in Rivers State.
We strongly caution that:
Hosting this festival may provoke community outrage, especially among youth groups who perceive it as a deliberate challenge to their territorial and heritage rights.
It could lead to physical confrontation, spontaneous protests, and even civil disturbances if not addressed promptly.
It represents an escalation of a broader pattern of unchecked territorial encroachment, covert cultural aggression, which must be stopped to maintain harmony.
The Igbos had been making these efforts in recent years. One of such events was cancelled last year by the previous Commissioner of police in protection of public peace.
3. Precedent: Ghana’s Ga Community Protest
This situation is eerily similar to the recent protest lodged by the Ga Traditional Council in Accra, Ghana, on 9th July 2025, against attempts by some Igbos in Ghana to install an Igbo traditional ruler and impose cultural festivals on Ga land. The Ghanaian government swiftly intervened to prevent a cultural and community crisis. Also, the Lagos state government stopped a similar event where the Igbos wanted to display the Ajofia Nnewi(the Nnewi Evil Forest) cultural dance on Yoruba land in the guise of "Cultural Festival". A similar masquerade is planned to display in Port Harcourt on 27th July, 2025.
In Abuja where they succeeded in hosting the Igbo Festival few days ago, they wantonly displayed on billboards and banners, the pictures of Sen. Dr Obi Wali and Capt. Elechi Amadi as IGBO LITERARY ICONS. These are revered Ikwerre sons, not Igbos.
Are we to wait until tension explodes in Rivers State before action is taken?
4. IPO’s Demands
As concerned Ikwerre sons and daughters, we make the following demands:
a) For the sake of security, peace and order, the Rivers State Government should stop the planned Igbo festival in any part of Ikwerre land and indeed, Rivers State.
b) Withdrawal of any permission(s), granted.
c) A ban on future external ethnocentric cultural celebrations in Ikwerre territory without express permission from local authorities.
5. We declare that Ikwerreland is not available for any unapproved external cultural event in our land.
We therefore call upon the Rivers State Government and all relevant agencies to act swiftly, fairly, and decisively in the interest of peace and justice. We remain committed to law and order, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence but not at the expense of our identity or our land.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Okachikwu Dibia
President.
Engr. Nneogazinu Iwedi,
Secretary.
Mr. Onyeche Wofurum Igwe
Director of Publicity, Youth and Welfare
Cc:
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State
The Sole Administrator, Port Harcourt Local Government Area
The Sole Administrator Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area
The Sole Administrator, Ikwerre Local Government Area
The Sole Administrator, Emohua Local Government Area
The State Director, Department of State Security Services, Port Harcourt
Eze Epara Rebisi, The Paramount Ruler of Port Harcourt, Rivers State
The Media
