Why I Fought IPOB In Rivers — Wike Opens Up

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike said he had no regret fighting and reinforcing the prescription of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in Rivers following his belief in the unity of Nigeria.

He said the people must rise to protect and defend the interest of the country and not allow parochial, sentimental politics to destroy the country.

The Governor spoke when a delegation of Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Wike said 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 said he could 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: “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.”

Wike reiterated he had never been against any particular ethnic group living in the state, including every law abiding Igbos.

He, however, 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.

He explained 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 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.