Rivers Is Not Part Of ‘Biafra’-RSG

Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike (left), exchanging pleasantries with his Sokoto State counterpart, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal at the Body of Benchers meeting at the Supreme Court Complex, Abuja, on Monday.

The Rivers State Government has dissociated itself from the protest in parts of Port Harcourt by some persons allegedly motivated by opposition politicians in the state with the failed aim of creating unnecessary political tension.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, the state government said Rivers State is one of the federating units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stressing that it is, therefore, not part of Any separatist movement and would never be.
It further indicated that the government and people of Rivers State remain committed to a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
“It is unfortunate that unpopular opposition elements are willing to go to any length to score cheap political points”, the statement said.
Meanwhile, there have been rising tensions on the streets of Port Harcourt, as a group of people claiming to be sympathetic to the liberation of Biafra staged a protest march around the Rivers State capital.
The Tide  correspondent reports that the demonstration by the pro-Biafra agitators took off from the ever-busy Ikoku Market, through Aba Road, down to Mile One, before heading towards Rumuokoro on Ikwerre Road.
The protesters also carried placards laden with inciting inscriptions like, “it is either Biafra or death.”
Security agencies also responded to the demonstration, with the deployment of personnel and equipment along the route of the protesters.
Armoured Personnel Carriers have also been mobilized to strategic locations across Port Harcourt to forestall a breakdown of law and order in the city.
The pro-Biafra protesters were motivated by media reports of the detention of the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu by operatives of the Department of State Security Service.
Reports say Kanu has already been granted bail but the pro-Biafran protesters said they want a country of their own.
The pro-Biafran protest was peaceful, except for Ikoku roundabout where passersby were forced to raise their hands by security operatives.
There was also an incident when some of the protesters tried to pull down the Nigerian Flag at the premises of a commercial bank, which was resisted by the police, during which gunshots were fired.