If IPOB holds procession, hoists flag in your council, you're gone

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has threatened to sack any council chairman that allows the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to hold processions or hoist its flag in his council.

He also charged the 23 council chairmen and youths to fish out members of the group in the state.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Special Assistant (Media) to the Governor, Kelvin Ebiri.

According to the statement, Wike spoke during a meeting with all the 23 chairmen, Community Development Committees and youth leaders at the Government House, in Port Harcourt on Monday.

He described Rivers state as the most accommodating state for all Nigerians, noting that there has never been any historical incident of different ethnic groups clashing in the state as witnessed in other parts of the country.

“We can never be against any ethnic group. We can never do that. We have lived in harmony with the Ibos, the Hausas, and with Edo people.

“Everybody that comes to this state we have lived in harmony with. And so Nigerians must commend Rivers State as a place where you have never had problem between this group and that group,” he said.

Wike, however, maintained that while the people of Rivers State believe in the unity of the country, they will not allow criminals under the aegis of a terrorist group called IPOB to continue to threaten the stability of the state.

“There is one terrorist group they call IPOB. I did not declare them terrorist group; the court declared them terrorist group. Not me. The federal government declared them a terrorist group. IPOB cannot use Rivers state to be place where they will be launching attack. If you allow that, your future, your children’s future is gone,” he said.

Infuriated by IPOB’s effrontery to hoist its flag in Oyigbo LGA, the governor directed the council chairman to ensure there was no recurrence of such “treasonous act”.

“Go to Oyigbo and see what they have done. Destroyed the court. What did the court do? See the soldiers they killed and burnt them. See the policemen they killed and burnt them and then you said people will sit and fold their arms,” Wike fumed.

The governor, while calling for vigilance on the part of Rivers people, warned that IPOB members should not delude themselves because Rivers state cannot be colonised or annexed by any group, particularly while he is still governor of the state.

He asserted that Rivers state can never be annexed to any state or any zone.

According to him, Rivers state is Niger Delta and will remain in Niger Delta.

He explained that while every Nigerian is allowed to reside in Rivers State, but those who wish to do so must live in peace with the people of the state.

“Ibos are living and doing their business here and they will continue to live and do their business here. We support that.

“But that terrorist group call IPOB, cannot determine what happens in our state, to tell us where they own. It will never happen and we must not allow it to happen.”