You Can’t Annex Rivers, Lawmakers Dare IPOB

Members of the National Assembly from Rivers State, comprising lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives, have expressed their support for Governor Nyesom Wike over measures so far taken to checkmate the activities of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples Organization of Biafra,(IPOB) in the state, warning the group that it can’t annex Rivers State

The lawmakers also said they were unequivocal in their position and support for every action the Governor has taken to secure the state and preserve the lives and properties of all residents in the state irrespective of tribe and religion

Leader of the group, Senator George Sekibo, stated when he led other lawmakers from the state in a solidarity visit to the Governor at the weekend, that they were impressed with the way and manner, especially the maturity, dexterity with which his Excellency managed the #EndSARS protests in the state.

“We also want to unequivocally state that Rivers State cannot and will never be annexed by any group, organisaiton or person(s) whatsoever, as we are Niger Delta people and will always stand for the course of the Niger Delta, her people, dreams and aspirations”, he said.

“As a caucus, we want to affirm our unalloyed support for your re-affirmation of the proscription of the Indigenous Peoples Organization of Biafra (IPOB)in line with the categorisation of the group as a terrorist organisation by the Federal Government”

They ,however expressed sadness over the ignoble role of IPOB in masterminding killings and destruction of public and private properties, especially in Oyigbo, Obio Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas in the state, in spite of concerted effort of the Governor to ensure the protest was peaceful .

Sekibo emphasised that if the powers that be had listened when in 2016 the Governor called the attention of the world to the atrocious activities of the default Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SAR) in Rivers State, the nation will not have suffered the colossal loss of lives and properties during and after the protest.

Responding, Governor Wike lauded the caucus for the solidarity visit and reaffirmed that he will continue to do all that is required to protect and defend the State.

He explained that members of IPOB capitalised on the contiguousness of Oyigbo to Abia State to invade the community and unleash violence, resulting in the death of six soldiers and four policemen.