Elder statesmen and leaders of Rivers State have declared that the people of the state are not Biafrans even as they asked Igbos from neighbouring states to stop protesting in Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers state. This was even as they declared their support for the ban on street protests by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike.
The elders, under the aegis of Rivers Elders and Leaders Council (RELEC ), were reacting to recent protests on the streets of Port Harcourt by the Indigenous People of Biafra.
A statement issued in Port Harcourt today by the Chairman of RELEC, Albert Horsfall, and the Secretary, Lawrence Ibiayemie, warned that people of the state might be forced to confront the protesters if they continued to disturb the peace of the state.
The statement read: “The Rivers Elders and Leaders Council has been rather disturbed over the recent developments concerning the feelings of some youths and their political elements for the resurgence of the issue of Biafra and entrap the peace loving people of Rivers state and in their sentiment have chosen to transport trailer and bus loads of demonstrators from neighbouring states into Port Harcourt. To say the least, this amounts to the display of bad political fate across our neighbouring borders.
“The attempt by these elements to focus on Port Harcourt for their political rascality is totally unacceptable and is hereby condemned by Rivers Elders and Leaders Council. The action so far taken by the Biafra protesters in Port Harcourt is highly provocative to all genuine sons and daughters of Rivers state who have so far restrained themselves from confronting the demonstrators in Port Harcourt. We ask that the choice of Port Harcourt may be adeliberate ploy to make Port Harcourt the battle ground for any fracas that may follow their rascality. We reject these moves in its entirety and hereby repeat our warnings of those concerned to desist forthwith.” [myad]
