Governor Nyeson Wike of River State“Without any apology, I am a true Nigerian. I believe that things must be done properly in a way that every component part of this country will be satisfied.”
Governor Nyeson Wike of Rivers State made this point known today, November 17 when a delegation of Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Wike reiterated he had never been against any particular ethnic group living in the state, including every law abiding Igbos.
He maintained that as a governor, he could not tolerate a situation where some misguided persons under the guise of IPOB would unleash attack on innocent Nigerians in Rivers State.
Speaking against the background of the trouble caused in the State by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Bianfra (IPBO), Governor Wike stressed that he had no regret fighting and reinforcing the prescription of the outlawed IPOB in the State because of his belief in the unity of Nigeria.
He called on the people to rise to protect and defend the interest of the country and not allow parochial, sentimental politics to destroy the country.
Wike recalled that the #EndSARS protest was peaceful in the state until IPOB hijacked it and committed arson by killing six army officers, four police officers, burnt police stations and courts.
He made it clear that he would not sit as Governor and watch such lawless acts perpetrated by a people that had been proscribed by the federal government to cause ethnic war.
He said that if the State Security Council had not proactively imposed curfew in the entire Oyigbo Local Government Area, the situation would have degenerated to war between Igbo and Hausa community residing in the area.
He said that the decision forestalled ethnic reprisal that would have led to total breakdown of law and order in Oyigbo local government area and parts of Diobu axis of the state capital.
