The Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike, has made it clear that he is not Igbo and will never change change his identity for whatever reason.

Governor Wike said that he belongs to the Ikwerre ethnic group from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor area of the state.

In an interview with Dele Momodu, the Governor said: “I’m not (an Igbo). You see, people must understand things. We are from the Eastern part of the country. Nobody can deny that fact. People interpret my name as ‘Weekay’. It means a new born baby. They said Wike means ‘a strong person’. I don’t care.

“My name is Ezebuwon. Now, nobody can deny the fact of our affinity with the Igbos. Nobody can. Take for example, in the Benin,. There is “Akpata” in Edo and “Apata” in Yoruba. Are you now saying the Akpata in Edo is the same with the one in Yoruba. No! They may have a relationship but that does not mean that you are them.”

“People, when they want to do something… Assuming I’m an Igbo (although no conceding), I’m now in Rivers state. So, because I’m an Igbo in Rivers state, I should allow criminals from my area – Igbo – like they say – to kill security agents. Is that what they say?”

“I’m not one politician who will change his identity. I will not change my identity. I will not! People should understand that there is a difference between the Akpata in Edo and Apata in the West. After all, there is no one that said they came (to this world) on their own.”

A former Majority Leader of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, has called on the federal government not to give much emphasis on the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members.

Ndume, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, who spoke today, November 13 during the budget defense session with the Nigerian Army, said that deradicalizing repentant Boko Haram members is a misplacement of priority.

According to him, government should focus on resettling the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) in various camps across the North.

This was even as he alleged that the recent terrorist attack in Damboa was orchestrated by a repentant Boko Haram member. Ndume said the repentant insurgent was feeding his former colleagues information regarding the movement of the army.

Senator Ndume said that it is unfair for the government to lavish its resources on ex-Boko Haam insurgents who threaten the peace of the nation and not those affected by the insurgency.

He also advised the federal government to keep arrested insurgents as prisoners of war, adding that in due time they can be profiled and tried in accordance with the law.

Senator Ndume, however, kicked against the Boko Haram bill aimed at creating an agency for repentant terrorists. According to the lawmaker, the bill will embolden the insurgents since they are sure of rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the huge population of youths has posed peculiar new challenge to his government and will do everything possible to frontally address it.

The President, who received letters of credence today, November 12, from the new Ambassadors of Belgium, Mauritania, Austria and Norway at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the huge number of youths “pose peculiar new challenges of their own. As Nigeria relates with your countries, it is our expectation that we should leverage on the advantages that can yield positive results in youth development in our country.”

President Buhari therefore appealed to international community and investors to take advantage of the country’s diversity in human and natural resources for investment.

According to him, youth development, integration and employment remain priority for his administration, saying: “Nigeria is ready to pursue broader dialogue, as well as enhance cooperation and collaboration on the basis of constructive mutual respect and a shared vision for our future.

“As you may know, Nigeria is an ethnic and culturally diverse society with various opportunities which we seek to creatively utilise for the benefit of our people.”

The Ambassadors who presented their Letters of Credence to the President are Daniel Bertrand, Ambassador of Belgium, Amedi Camara, Ambassador of Mauritania, Thomas Schlesinger, Ambassador of Austria and Knut Eiliv Lein, Ambassador of Norway.

President Buhari said that Nigeria enjoys very good bilateral relations with the respective countries and had collaborated at the multilateral level to achieve targets set by several international conventions and treaties.

“Allow me to offer you my sincere congratulations as you commence your diplomatic duties as defined by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. As we celebrate its 60th anniversary, next year, it is my hope that you will carry out your respective mandates to improve existing cordial relations between our countries consistent with the provisions of this time-honoured convention.”

The President told the ambassadors that there is a need to enhance the existing cordial relations in the interest of citizens and countries.

“Nigeria shares common problems of insecurity, impact of climate change and socio-economic challenges common among nations. Notwithstanding these challenges, efforts are being made to sustain our position to overcome these difficulties. I invite you to partner with us to address these challenges.

“As a global family, we are impacted by several other common challenges like terrorism, insurgency, climate change, population explosion, human trafficking, corruption, poverty, and now the global health pandemic which Coronavirus represents considering its mayhem across the world.”

The President said the challenges underscore the need for the international community to make concerted efforts at resolving them in the interest of common humanity.

“The survival of humanity depends on our efforts to enhance our cooperation to attain the goals of global peace and economic prosperity.’’

In his remark on behalf of others, Ambassador of Belgium thanked the President for making out time to receive the Letters of Credence in spite of the peculiar situation created by the COVID-19, assuring that all the ambassadors will make the most of the opportunity to enhance relations in economics, commerce and socio-cultural issues.

“Your Excellency, we are at your disposal to strengthen and narrow the ties, not only in economic and commercial issues, but also in cultural terms.”