Governor Nyesom Wike has signed an executive order to reinforce the federal ban on the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its activities in Rivers

Mr. Wike, in a broadcast Wednesday night in Port Harcourt, maintained that Rivers remains the home to all tribes and ethnic nationalities.

He said that the government acknowledges and appreciates the enormous contributions from non-indigenes to the political, social and economic development of the State. But will not allow any individual or group from within and outside to violate peace and endanger lives and property.

Mr. Wike said he remained “opposed to the presence and activities of the legally-proscribed and anarchic IPOB and whatever it stands for in Rivers State.’

“And so, let it be understood that we have nothing against all or any specific tribe and will continue to live in peace with people of all other tribal extractions residing or doing business in Rivers State.

“But we have everything against the presence and activities of the legally-proscribed IPOB and whatever that group stands for in Rivers State,” he added.

Mr. Wike described IPOB as a terrorist group whose existence, creed, mission and activities are strongly denounced even by the government and peoples of South-Eastern states of the country.

The proscription, which repeated a 2017 federal gazette banning IPOB separatist agitation in Nigeria, came after weeks of violence linked to IPOB members and their leader Nnamdi Kanu across communities in Rivers.

Communities like Mile 1, Mile 2, Iloabuchi, Emenike and Ikokwu, all in Port Harcourt, and places in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area saw stringent curfews imposed following widespread violence over the past two weeks.

But the curfew in Oyigbo Local Government Area, where police officers and other security forces were killed, will remain in force until further notice, the government said.

Read Governor Wike’s full statement below:

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has signed an executive order to reinforce the ban on Indigenous Peoples Organization of Biafra (IPOB) and its activities in the State.

The Governor maintained that while Rivers State remains the home to all tribes and ethnic nationalities, the State government is opposed to the presence and activities of the legally proscribed and anarchic IPOB and whatever it stands for in Rivers State.

Governor Wike, in a state wide broadcast on Wednesday night, said while the Government acknowledge and appreciate the enormous contributions from non-indigenes to the political, social and economic development of the State, it will neither accept nor allow any individual or group from within and outside to violate the peace, endanger lives and property under any guise in the State.

“And so, let it be understood that we have nothing against all or any specific tribe and will continue to live in peace with people of all other tribal extractions residing or doing business in Rivers State. But we have everything against the presence and activities of the legally proscribed and anarchic Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and whatever that group stands for in Rivers State.

“This is clearly terrorist group which existence, creed, mission and activities are strongly denounced even by the Government and peoples of South-Eastern States of the country. I have therefore signed the executive order to reinforce the total ban on IPOB and its activities in Rivers State or any part thereof and nothing will stop us from enforcing this ban in its entirety,” he said.

Governor Wike said he has also directed security agencies and the Chairmen of Local Government Areas to fish out and resolutely deal with any member of IPOB found in any community in terms with the executive order and other legal instruments.

With restoration of normalcy in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, the Governor announced the lifting of existing curfew on Mile 1, Mile 2, Iloabuchi, Emenike and Ikokwu areas of Port Harcourt as well as Rumukurushi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

“However, the curfew in Oyigbo Local Government Area shall remain in force until further notice while the entire Ikokwu motor spare market shall remain closed, also, until further notice” he said.

Meanwhile, the Governor has directed the Rivers State Civil Service Commission to take immediate steps to employ 5000 youths into teaching and other career positions in the State’s Civil Service as an immediate measure to reduce the level of youth unemployment.

In the quest to restore sanity and enhance free traffic flow in roads in the State, Governor Wike said he will soon set up a task force to enforce the ban on illegal street trading and motor parks along public roads. But, in the interim, he has approved the ban on the operations of tricycles (popularly known as “Keke NAPEP”) on all major roads in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

The major roads are: Aggrey road, Dame Patience Jonathan road, Eastern Bypass road, Ikwerre road, Aba road, Agip road, Ada George road, Olu Obasanjo road, Rumuokwuta – Rumuola road, Rumuepirikom – Rumuolumeni  (leading to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education) road, Rumuokwuta – Choba road, Chief G.U. Eke road, Peter Odili road, Ken Saro-Wiwa road, Nkpogu road, Trans-Amadi road, Elekahia – Rumuomasi road, Yakubu Gowon road, and Woji – Elelenwo road.

KELVIN EBIRI
Special Assistant Media to the Governor.
October 28, 2020.