A socio-cultural organisation, the Ndokwa Professional Network (NPN), has expressed strong disagreement with the senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Ned Nwoko, over his recent remark describing the Ndokwa-Ukwuani people as Igbo who speak the Igbo language.
In a statement jointly signed by the group’s President, Mr. Nigel Ojji, General Secretary, Dr. Great Ijomah, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Edike Kaine, the NPN faulted the lawmaker’s position, insisting that it does not reflect the true cultural or historical identity of the Ndokwa-Ukwuani people.
“While we hold Senator Nwoko in high esteem as a respected legislator and advocate of Delta North interests, his recent comments are factually inaccurate, historically misleading, and culturally inconsistent with the established realities of the Ndokwa-Ukwuani people of Delta State.”
According to the NPN, the Ndokwa-Ukwuani ethnic group possesses a distinct cultural and linguistic heritage that sets it apart from the Igbo-speaking communities, despite existing inter-ethnic interactions and shared boundaries.
The group emphasised that the Ukwuani language is unique to the Ndokwa people and cannot be classified as a dialect of Igbo, adding that their traditions, social systems, and historical development are rooted in their own independent identity.
The NPN urged public figures, especially political leaders, to be cautious when making pronouncements on sensitive issues of ethnicity and identity, noting that such statements could distort historical facts and fuel unnecessary tensions.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the unity of Delta North and the broader Delta State community while safeguarding the cultural integrity of the Ndokwa-Ukwuani people.
