Delta Group Denies Ned Nwoko’s Igbo Identity Claim
A prominent socio-cultural organisation in Delta State, the Ndokwa Professional Network (NPN), has strongly faulted remarks credited to Senator Ned Nwoko, in which he reportedly claimed that the Ndokwa-Ukwuani people belong to the Igbo ethnic group.
In a detailed reaction obtained by PulseNets, the group maintained that the Ndokwa-Ukwuani have their distinct ethnic identity, heritage, and ancestry, separate from Igboland or any other ethnic bloc.
According to the NPN, Senator Nwoko’s alleged statement suggesting that Ndokwa-Ukwuani people “speak Igbo and share Igbo ancestry” is historically inaccurate and culturally misleading.
In a statement made available to PulseNets and jointly signed by its President, Mr. Nigel Ojji; General Secretary, Dr. Great Ijomah; and Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Edike Kaine, the organisation dismissed the senator’s remarks as “factually flawed and inconsistent with the lived realities of Ndokwa-Ukwuani people.”
“We hold Senator Nwoko in high regard as a distinguished legislator and advocate for Delta North,” the group stated.
“However, his recent comments are factually inaccurate, historically misleading, and culturally inconsistent with the well-documented origins of the Ndokwa-Ukwuani people of Delta State.”
PulseNets learnt that the NPN further clarified that Senator Nwoko, who hails from Idumuje-Ugboko in Aniocha North, is not an indigene of Ndokwa-Ukwuani, and therefore may not possess firsthand knowledge of the people’s ancestry and cultural systems.
“Senator Nwoko is from Idumuje-Ugboko, outside the Ndokwa axis. Having spent much of his early life abroad, his perspective on ethnolinguistic history may not fully align with the realities of our communities,” the statement noted.
The group acknowledged that while proximity to South-East states has created some linguistic and cultural overlaps, it does not translate to shared ancestry or ethnic identity.
“Ndokwa-Ukwuani are not Igbo,” NPN emphasized. “Geographical closeness has led to cultural similarities in expression, but our lineage, governance structures, and cultural systems are distinctly different.”
Speaking to PulseNets, one of the signatories underscored that language similarities should not be used as the sole determinant of ethnicity, pointing out that several Nigerian groups share linguistic traits while maintaining unique cultural and historical identities.
The NPN therefore urged researchers, historians, and public figures to exercise caution when making ethnic classifications, warning that careless remarks could distort history and undermine collective identity.
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“We must be sensitive when discussing ethnicity,” the statement warned. “Generalizations can erase the very essence of who we are as a people.”
Reaffirming its commitment to cultural preservation, the body pledged to continue promoting the Ndokwa-Ukwuani heritage, values, and unity, while sustaining peaceful coexistence with neighbouring ethnic groups.
