MEET MOST INFLUENTIAL IKWERRE PERSONALITIES THAT YOU MAY KNOW
The hardworking people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality like their major Igbo tribe group usually display common traits of resilience and never -say-die spirit in the pursuit of any goal they set their eyes upon. They are enterprising, goal-getters and share common attributes in cultural affinity with the Igbos as they share boundaries in the two political regions of South East and South-South of Nigeria.
THE EAR WITNESS News Publisher/Editor-In- Chief, Emeka Amaefula(+234(0)8111813069), here unveils 50 most influential Ikwerre personalities that you may know and why they are making waves in their chosen careers. READ ON…
JOHN AZUTA MBATA
He is currently President General of Ohaneze ndi Igbo Worldwide having been born in Eneka town in ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state. His late father Samuel Azuta Mbata was a successful businessman and a renowned Clergyman who brought Full Gospel Busineesmen Fellowship to Port Harcourt, Rivers state. Senator John Azuta Mbata early in 1999 was voted into Senate as he represented Rivers East senatorial District in the national Assembly where he performed creditably as he acted as the Senate President at the verge of avalanche of impeachments of the Senate Presidents of his 8 years stay at the Red Chamber at Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja. This calm, tall and well focused elegnat businessman took over Monier Construction Company MCC which till today handles serious Civil Engineering jobs in Rivers state including the reconstruction of New Rivers state House of Assembly that was gutted by fire at the beginning of the political fued between former Rivers sttae Governopr Nyesom Wike and incumbent Governor Sir Siminaalayi Fubara. Among the Abandoned Property allottees, his father got one of the Ikwerre road multi-storey complexes at the heart of Port Harcourt housing several offices. Today, Distinguished Senator John Azuta Mbata carries a burden of unitying his Ikwerre kinsmen and women into the mainstream Igbo tribe where they are part of. Although some of his kinsmen have come out to denounce that they are not of Igbo tribe to which he has never come out to respond as his immediate Eneka Community had stripped him of all chieftaincy titles bestowed on him at the wake of his election as President General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo worldwide .
NYESOM EZENWO WIKE
The former governor of Rivers state and now Minister of Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja, Barrister Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike severally had come out to denounce his connection with Igbo tribe claiming that Ikwerre ethnic group are not Igbos. However, his connection with the igbos may not be disaasociated with his fluency in use of the Igbo language in his daily conversations and from his Rumuepirikom town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state majority of the dwellers in a close neighbourhood Rumueme people do trace their origin to Aro people of Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia state. For the vibrant political sauve Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, his meterioc rise to political stardom may not be short of his inherited traits of resillience and never-say-die spirit which usually associated with the Igbos. By his name Nyesom Ezebunwu which root in Igbo etymology fortifies his closeness to Igbo tribe. Elsewhere in his everyday life, Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike is a man who is fearless another trait associated with the Igbos as he is known to be focused in attaining to his set out goals having prepared himself academically with a Degree in Political and Administrative studies BSc. from University of Port Harcourt and Bachelors in Law LLB degree from Rivers state University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Orowurokwo now Rivers state University Port Harcourt. His work experience is traced to his political career only having been elected into Obio/Akpor Local Government Area as Chairman in 1999 to 2005. He was Chief of Staff to the then Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi now a Barrister At-Law BL, graduate and a two term Minister of Transportation during President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
LOIS OSARUCHI AHIAKWO
In the heat of the administration of Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara the Local Government Council election was gearing up, here comes Honourable lady Lios Osaruchi Ahiakwo, among all loyalists, is one lady who stood firm in supporting the administration of His Excellency Governor Fubara. She represented Port Harcourt City Council PHALGA Ward 4, which covers the precincts around Rivers state Government House and its environs a testament of the high profile of Honourable Lady Lois Osaruchi Ahiakwo who before her hard won election has been Chief Executive Officer of Lois Realtor, a successful Real estate management outfit. Her vibrant contributions to the Legislative business of Port Harcourt Local Government Area administration has led to her election as Vice President of South-South Female Councilors Forum of Nigeria. An office that has taken her to take charge of the implementation of the several sub-terms in Sustainable Development Goals SDGs as enshrined in the United Nations and world Bank stated objectives for developing nations. For Honourable Lady Lois Osaruch Ahiakwo now is her glowing moment in the service of her people of WARD 4 in the metropolitan city of Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
AUSTIN ADIELE OPARA
This astute adminsitartor and businesman, turned politician, Sir Austin Adiele Opara currently holds a doctoral degree PhD in Political Marketing from Rivers state University Port Harcourt after leaving office from 1999 to 2007 as Deputy Speaker Federal House of Representatives where he represented Port Harcourt Constituency II, FCT Abuja in the 4th and 5th National Assembly. He was born on 29th of August, 1963 as he was appointed by the then Governor Nyesom Wike as Chairman of the Board of Rivers state Microfinance Agency-RIMA but sacked few days to his birthday on 23rd of August 2016. He has been in the Peoples Democratic Party-PDP and a pro-Alhaji Atiku Abubakar loyalist in the last 2023 Presidential election.
CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI
Take him as one of Nigeria’s most straightforward politicians as he says things the way he sees them without political considerations. The two terms Speaker of Rivers state House of Assembly 1999 to 2007, two terms Governor of Rivers state 2007 to 2015 and 7-years Minister of Transportation, Federal Republic of Nigeria and emerged first runner-up best Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress APC in 2022 leading to the 2023 Presidential election that was by his party’s presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Rt. Honourable Barrister Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is one of the Ikwerre ethnic group most influential personalities who has openly admitted that he is of igbo tribe extraction although in Rivers state. He challenged most Igbomen and women to tell him who among them is more Igboman than himself. To them he queried that by his name Chibuike Amaechi he is more qualified to be a true Igboman than most of any other Igboman or woman. This thoroughbred politician is currently living at FCT Abuja where he obtained a Law degree and Bachelors At-Law BL…professional training in Advanced Legal Education setting his eyes in earning a doctoral degree in Law from United Kingdom where had already studied for a Master’s degree in Law LLM from Kings College University of London, United Kingdom. He is the leader of All Progressives congress in Rivers state with Chief Emeka Beke as Chairman of the party in Rivers state.
TONY OKOCHA
Rising from a very humble beginning in his political career, Chief Tony Okocha first was close to major political figures in Rivers state from Chief Eric Aso, and former Rivers state Deputy Governor GTG Toby until, he was Assistant to Nyesom Ezenwo Wike at the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council where Wike was Chairman then. Being a graduate of Philosophy from University of Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha was later in 2012 was appointed Chief Of Staff COS by the then Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as a replacement to Nyesom Wike who was nominated as Minister of state for Education by President Goodluck Jonathan. today, he leads a factional set of Rivers state chapter of All Progressives Congress-APC and Deputy to Nyesom Wike of RENEWED HOPE Family, a political pressure group of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Chief Tony Okocha also represents Rivers state at the 7th Management Board of Niger Delta Development Commission-NDDC. where he is giving the sitting Governor a serious challenge in terms of rivalry in political opposition and in project implementation spread across the 2 LGAs of Rivers state under his coverage mandate.
CELESTINE OMEHIA
He earned a Master’s degree in Law LLM from United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria as he took up lecturing job with Rivers State University of Science and Technology Law Faculty until upon recommendation by his cousin Rt. Honourable Barrister Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi he was appointed as Commissioner for Education under the then Governor Rufus Ada George as Amaechi was a Personal Assistant to the then Deputy Governor Sir Dr. Peter Odili before the 1993 Interim Government led by Ernest Shoneken truncated the 3rd Republic. Then, in 1999, Celestine Omehia found himself around the Corridors not political power as he was appointed as Senior Special Assistant SSA to Dr. Peter Odili who emerged as elected Governor of Rivers state from May 29th, 1999 to May 29th, 2007.By May 29th 2007 Sir Celestine Omehia was sworn in as Governor of Rivers state from may 29th 2007 to October 25th 2007 when Supreme Court of Nigeria removed as not been duly nominated during the PDP Governorship Primary election as Candidate of his political party but his cousin Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was validly ruled as the rightful candidate who was elected as Governorship candidate in December 2006 ahead of the April 2007 Governorship election in Rivers state.
In 2015 when Governor Nyesom Wike won the Governorship position he in defiance to Supreme Court of Nigeria Judgement, restated Celestine Omehia as duly elected former Governor of Rivers state using the Rivers state House of Assembly, which qualified Omehia to earn Pension and gratuity as a former Governor of Rivers state. However, when in July, 2022 in the run-up for the 2023 Presidential election which saw Nyesom Wike contesting against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar during the PDP Presidential Primary election held at Abuja, Barrister Celestine Omehia and Sir Austin Opara and others lined up for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar a situation that angered Wike who used the Rivers state House of assembly to repeal the enactment that announced Celestine Omehia as former Governor of Rivers state. Both Barrister Celestine Omehia and Nyesom Wike are not seeing each other eye- to -eye politically.
EMMA OKAH
He has been a very bright Ikwerre born lawyer turned politician as he graduated from University of Calabar, Cross river state with Law Degree and worked briefly at Lagos. He became a national Newspaper columnist a situation that earned him Chief Press Secretary CPS, political appointment by the then Governor Sir, Dr. Peter Odili until he left office in 2007. Subsequently Barrister Emma Okah was appointed as Commissioner for Housing during Sir Celestine Omehia administration and when Nyesom Ezenwo Wike took over as Governor he was appointed as Commissioner for Information and Communications until he left Wike’s cabinet in a reshuflement as he returned to his legal practice at Lagos where he went back to school and earned a Doctoral degree in Law LLD. Today, Emma Okah PhD is Law scholar lecturing at different institutions both in Nigeria and outside Nigeria. He is currently an ardent follower of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
CHIDI LLOYD
In Ikwerre land Dr. Chidi Lloyd hails from Emohua Local Government Area . He was first elected as member Rivers State House of Assembly where he represented Emohua state Constituency until he engaged in a hallowed Chamber brawl that saw him lifting Mace and hit Honourable Michael Chinda in an attempt to prevent the planned impeachment of Rt. Honourable Barrister Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by the loyalist of the then Supervisory Minister of Education Nyesom Wike in 2013 leading to the 2014 Governorship primaries of PDP. Chidi Lloyd later earned Doctoral Degree in Law having earlier earned a Nigerian Certificate in Education, NCE in French Language from Rivers state College of Education Rumuorlumeni , Port Harcourt. He got adjunct lecturing appointment University of Nigeria Enugu Campus . Dr. Chidi Lloyd was brought back to Politics when Wike returned for a second term in office as Governor as he nominated Chidi Lloyd as a candidate for PDP Local Government Council election for Emohua LGA. However upon the expiration of Wike’s 8-years tenure in office Chidi Lloyd and other elected LGA Chairmen claimed that their tenure in office had been extended by 6-months by the Rt. Honourable Martins Chike Amaewhule led Rivers state House of Assembly as Supreme Court Judgment averred non extension of tenure of Local Government Area Chairmen in Nigeria. Honourable Dr. Chidi Lloyd is a topmost loyalist of Nyesom Wike in his political structure in the state.
SERGEANT CHIDI AWUSE
Old political figure in Rivers state dating back in 1998 when he began aspiring to be Governor of Rivers state against notable politicians like Sir Dr. Peter Odili especially in 1999 Governorship primaries which saw Dr. Marshall Harry lifting the hands of Dr. Peter Odili as duly nominated Governorship candidate and eventual winner of the 1999 Governorship election in Rivers state. In 2003, Chief Sergeant Awuse went over to All Peoples Party APP later All Nigerian Peoples Party ANPP, before returning to PDP. He was nominated and crowned as Ohna Eze of Emohua Kingdom by Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and immediately made Chairman of Rivers state Council of Traditional Rulers a position which the incumbent Governor Sir Siminalyi Fubara upturned when Sergeant Awuse vehemently sang On Your Mandate We stand at the Rumuepirikom cum Rukpani palatial premises of Nyesom Wike. Chief sergeant Chidi Awuse now a Survivor of Prostrate cancer treatment is the Founder of Sergeant Awuse Cancer Foundation being a Chartered Accountant and top businessman of repute.
PROF. OKECHUKWU ONUCHUKU
This is a rare gem in the academic field as he earned a doctoral Degree PhD in Econometrics/Mathematical Economics in 2009 from University of Port Harcourt. On 18th of November, 2021 he made history as the then Governor Nyesom Wike appointed him the Vice Chancellor Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuorlumeni, Port Harcourt Rivers state. This Emohua LGA born scholar studied at York University Canada and at Sculich School of Business Executive Education center where he earned a Certificate in Performance Indicator in Government measurement and Management. This gentleman started his working career as a Clerk at National Population Commission NPC from 1992 to 1995 and Assistant Lecturer Rivers state College of Arts and Science Rumuola Road Port Harcourt from where he moved over to University of Port Harcourt as a Senior Lecturer and now a Life member of Nigerian Economic Society and National Vice President of NES, in 2015. Professor Okechukwu Onuchuku is a Professor of Qualitative and Public Sector Economics.
DAISY WOTUBE OKOCHA
Retired Justice Daisy Wotube Okocha is from royal family in Rukpulosi community in Obio/Akpor Local government Area of Rivers state with OCJ Okocha SAN as her sibling. While she held sway in the Rivers state judiciary, her Court sessions used to be most feared by litigants of all shades as she never tolerated dull lawyers and their time wasting gimmicks. Justice Daisy W. Okocha in 2013 during the administration of Rt. Hon. Barrister Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as Governor, narrowly was marked for announcement as Chief Judge of Rivers state but it was marred with almost 2 years closure of Rivers state High Courts where Justice Daisy Okocha was to preside as C.J of Rivers state until Nyesom Wike took over Brick House and got her sworn in as Chief Judge 0f Rivers state before she retired from active service.
ALERUCHI COOKEY-GAM
Being born in affluence from the family of High Chief Wachukwu, the OROSI VI of Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area. Dame Honourable Aleruchi Cookey-Gam got married to Opobo born Architect Rowland COOKEY-GAM who died in the ill-fated Sosolisso plane crash of 5th December 2005 at Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa, Rivers state.
She became Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General during the administration of Sir Dr, Peter Odili. later she was appointed as Sole Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority Port Harcourt. During the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as she was appointed a member of Federal Housing Authority. Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam loves playing Golf and dancing.
OCJ OKOCHA
Among Ikwerre ethnic nationality prominent personalities, Chief OCJ Okocha ranks top in the list given his being a legal luminary and once elected as National President Nigerian Bar Association NBA. His Legal Chamber Munachim Chamber is a beehive of activities as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN. He commands both social and political influence in Rivers state as any sitting Governor he gives his support usually gets large followership.
EMEH GLORY EMEH
You may not understand how Barrister Emeh Glory Emeh came into political limelight in Rivers state immediately Sir Dr. Peter Odili emerged victorious as duly elected executive Governor of Rivers state in 1999. He took a Senior Special Assistant SSA position on Media and Special Duties. Barrister Emeh Glory Emeh floated a community Newspaper known Popular View in canvassing support for the Government of Sir Dr. Peter Odili. When in 2007 Sir Celestine Omehia nominated him as Commissioner for Transportation where the two Aircraft purchased by Governor Peter Odili’s Government were under his control. He later became Chief of Staff to the Governor.
Today, Barrister Emeh Glory Emeh is playing big time in high profile Corporate Real Estate with First Link Properties with outlets at Ikoyi Lagos and Nigeria’s major cities.
SUNNY WOKEKORO
When it comes to political organization in Rivers State, Chief Sunny Wokekoro is not a new hand as in 1998 he was the first Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party PDP Rivers state chapter. He has remained a clever politician until in 2024 when he sprang up surprises with the Action Peoples Party APP which participated in the 5th October, 2024 Rivers state Local Government Councils election with 22 duly elected Council Chairmen and majority of the 319 Councilors. His father was among the Ikwerre Chiefs who signed the ceding of Port Harcourt to the Crown Colony.
If all goes well for APP in 2027 there’s every probability that it firm the next incoming Government in Rivers state.
KINGSLEY O. CHINDA
He is the current Minority Leader in the Green Chamber of 10th National Assembly. This longest serving ranking Member of Federal House of Representatives representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency…As one of the founding members of PDP in Rives state, he is a close political ally of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
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