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Ogbakor Ikwerre Rebukes Kanu, IPOB Over Threat On Wike
Members of Ogbakor Ikwerre, USA/Canada (OIUSA), Inc., a socio-cultural organization of Iwhuruohna indigenes in the United States of America and Canada, have strongly rebuked the self-styled leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, for calling on members of the public to murder the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Members of the organization rose from their North America continent-wide meeting, yesterday, and chastised Kanu for making a statement that is not only “unguarded,” but “dangerous, inciting and provocative.”
They advised Kanu to cease and desist from making inciting statements in the future.
In a press statement made available to members of the international media, the President of the organization, Mr. Eric Worlu Welle, rebuked the leader of the renegade IPOB for making such “a foul and dangerous utterance,” adding that, “it is capable of producing imminent lawlessness, bitterness and ethnic recrimination”, especially at a time Nigeria needs to heal from the deaths that occurred during the #EndSARS protests in the country.
“How dangerous can anyone who puts a bounty on a sitting state governor be,” Welle asked.
According to Welle, members of OIUSA/Canada said that Governor Wike ought to have been congratulated for his timely intervention in the Oyigbo crisis that helped nip in the bud, a potential ethnic conflict between Hausa/Fulani on one hand and Igbo residents in Oyigbo on the other.
“If Governor Wike had not intervened timely in the Oyigbo crisis which was a fallout of the #EndSARS protest, it would have led to bloodletting between Hausa and Igbo communities in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state,” said members of OIUSA/Canada through their president, adding: “That could have also escalated and spread to parts of Northern and South Eastern states, potentially turning to a bloody inter-ethnic conflict.
“These types of unguarded provocative statements underpinned the roots of the 30-month fratricidal Civil War that claimed over a million lives of Nigerians, mostly Igbos.”
Members of OIUSA/Canada noted that the so-called IPOB, now dubbed a terrorist organization, should have applauded Governor Wike for showing effective leadership, and nipping a potential Hausa-Igbo conflict in the bud rather than calling for his murder.
The North America-based Iwhuruohna indigenes passionately called on the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, and traditional rulers in the Southeastern states, to call Kanu, their son, to order as well as immediately condemn in unequivocal terms, his placement of a bounty — an incentive and reward — for the murder of a sitting state governor of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Diaspora Iwhuruohna group said: “We are also calling on the governors of the Southeastern States – Hons. Willie Obiano, Hope Uzodinma, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Dave Umahi – to collectively and individually come out and publicly denounce the infuriating and inflaming statement made by the leader of the outlawed IPOB.
“Bounty has never been placed on a sitting governor in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and no governor in the country would like a bounty to be placed on him or her,” OIUSA members said, adding: “Members of IPOB should not forget that most of their loved ones live and make their daily living in Port Harcourt, home of Iwhuruohna people.
“One begins to ask if IPOB indeed have the love of their people at heart. For its leader to call for the murder of the governor of Rivers State is like biting the finger that feeds you. Earlier this year, one Ralph Uwazurike injected himself into Rivers State matter, threatening the state governor, and now, Nnamdi Kanu is calling for the murder of the governor, and offering an incentive and reward for anyone who commits the crime. Enough is enough!”
The North America-based indigenes of River State also call on the Governor’s Forum of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to publicly denounce the dangerous statement made by the IPOB leader as he cannot continue to threaten the life of a sitting governor of a state and the existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from a foreign land where he seeks refuge.
OIUSA/Canada, Inc said it has alerted relevant international organizations and agencies about the IPOB leader’s threat to Governor Wike’s life.
It said it has notified the British High Commission in Nigeria, the United Nation Security Council, the American Embassy in Abuja and Lagos, the European Union Security Organization, the Nigerian Senate and Security organizations, the Inspector-General of Nigeria Police, the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria; National and international Media Houses; of the IPOB leader’s treacherous statement.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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