The Ndokwa Professional Network (NPN) has faulted remarks by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, claiming that the Ndokwa-Ukwuani people are Igbo and speak the Igbo language.
In a statement jointly signed by the group’s President, Mr. Nigel Ojji, General Secretary, Dr. Great Ijomah, and Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Edike Kaine, the NPN described the senator’s statement as “factually inaccurate, historically misleading, and culturally inconsistent” with the true identity of the Ndokwa-Ukwuani people.
“While we hold Senator Nwoko in high regard, his recent comment does not represent the authentic heritage of the Ndokwa-Ukwuani people,” the group said.
The NPN noted that Senator Nwoko, who hails from Idumuje-Ugboko in Aniocha North Local Government Area, is not an indigene of the Ndokwa-Ukwuani region and therefore may not have firsthand knowledge of the people’s history and traditions.
According to the statement, Ndokwa-Ukwuani and Igbo are distinct ethnic groups within Nigeria’s diverse cultural landscape. Although there are linguistic and cultural similarities due to geographic proximity, the NPN stressed that such overlaps do not equate to shared ancestry or ethnic identity.
“Ethnic identity is deeper than language. It is rooted in ancestry, traditions, and collective self-identification. To conflate language affinity with ethnicity is an anthropological error that risks erasing the heritage of an entire people,” the group stated.
The NPN emphasized that the Ndokwa-Ukwuani people have independent ancestral roots, traditional governance systems, and indigenous institutions that predate colonial times. Their history and culture, the group said, have been well-documented by scholars who recognize Ndokwa-Ukwuani as a distinct ethnic identity within Delta State.
The statement further explained that the Ndokwa-Ukwuani language has unique phonetic and semantic features, distinguishing it from Igbo, much like the similarities between Yoruba and Benin or German and Austrian do not erase their separate identities.
“Our traditions, chieftaincy titles, and ancestral deities are unique to the Ndokwa-Ukwuani experience and not borrowed from any other group,” NPN said.
The group concluded by reaffirming its commitment to preserving Ndokwa-Ukwuani heritage, urging Nigerians, scholars, and the media to treat discussions about ethnic identities with intellectual diligence and cultural sensitivity.
“Senator Nwoko’s statement represents his personal opinion and not the lived experience of the Ndokwa-Ukwuani people,” the statement added.
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