The leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) on Saturday congratulated Senator John Azuta-Mbata on his emergence as the new President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

It stated that his emergence has proved Igbo critics wrong.

It reaffirmed its loyalty to the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, just as it urged Ndigbo to bury their differences and throw their weight behind Mbata.

MASSOB in a statement by its leader, Uchenna Madu, said the group had always aligned and worked with Ohanaeze Ndigbo with utmost respect to her leadership and members of Imeobi.

“MASSOB will continue in our loyalty to Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership,” he said.

“The emergence of Chief John Azuta Mbata as the new President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo have justified the under-carpet truth about the founding fathers of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 1976 when it was formed as Igbo Union before changing to Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 1979.

“Among these founding fathers of Ohaneze Ndigbo with Dr. Akanu Ibiam as the first chairman are Dr. Obi Nwali,
Sen. Francis Ella, Eze Nwonodi, Eze Nwoluchem, Chief Aguma, and Chief Nwuche (father of Chibudom Nwuche) former deputy Speaker, all are indigenous Igbo-speaking people of Rivers state.”

Madu added that for decades, there have been systematic sponsored falsehoods to deny and scrap the Igboism of Ndigbo in Rivers state, adding however “but the emergence of Chief Senator John Azuta Mbata, an Ikwerre man as the newly elected president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has proved the Igbo critics wrong.”

He reminded Mbata that his leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is unique and special because his emergence has exposed the aged long hypocritical, falsehood and camouflaged make-believe that Ikwerre people are not Igbos.

“Your administration as president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo will forever silence the merchants of destruction and division of Igbo land. Ndigbo are solidly behind your leadership”, the MASSOB leader said.