Wike Reads Riot Act on IPOB,Says Enough is Enough

By Cecillia Obed

Rivers State Governor,Barr. Nyesom Wike, has giving the matching order to the 23 local government chairmen in the state and youths to fish out members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples Organization of Biafra wherever they may be hiding in the State.

The Governor warned that any council chairman that allows IPOB to hold processions and hoist its flag within their jurisdiction in Rivers State, risks sacking.

In his words:“If I hear any procession of IPOB of any kind in your local government areas consider yourself gone,adding that enough is enough”.

Wike handed down the warning during a meeting with the council chairmen, Community Development Committees, and youths leaders at the Government House, in Port Harcourt on Monday.

The Governor in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, described Rivers 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 has been 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 Edo people. Everybody that comes to this state we have lived in harmony with. So Nigerians must commend Rivers State as a place where you have never had a problem between this group and that group,” he said.

Wike, however, maintained that while the people of Rivers State believed 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 a terrorist group, the court declared them a terrorist group, not me. The federal government declared them a terrorist group. IPOB cannot use Rivers State to be a place where they will be launching attacks. If you allow that, your future, your children’s future is gone,” he told the gathering.

He expressed annoyance that IPOB planned to hoist its flag in Oyigbo and the governor directed the council chairman to ensure there will not be another occurrence of this treasonous act which was perpetrated there.

“Go to Oyigbo LGA and see what they have done. They 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?”

While calling for vigilance, he warned the IPOB members not to delude themselves because Rivers state cannot be colonised or annexed by any group, particularly, while he is still the governor of the State.