The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that the state would continue to be home to people of the Igbo Ethnic Nationality.
Wike gave the assurance during a meeting with South-East Governors, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo and the Igbo community in the state at Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The governor said in the wake of the Oyigbo crisis, people peddled the rumour that he was chasing Igbos out of Rivers State, which was not true because the state has an enduring relationship with the Igbos.
“Tell your people, Rivers people will continue to live together with Igbos. Don’t allow your sons to tell you lies. Igbos are innovative and hardworking. There can’t be Nigeria without Igbos. Nobody should take them for granted. But that doesn’t mean you must allow criminals to spoil your name.
“If I hate Igbos, I won’t appoint your son into my state cabinet two times. But you have to obey rules. Don’t allow criminals to dictate to you”.
The Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Dave Umahi, warned Igbos to be wary of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) because the group was trying to instigate another civil war.
He said they were in Rivers State to ascertain the veracity of the news circulating in the social media over alleged killing of Igbo people living in the state.
According to him, their findings have proved otherwise.
Umahi, after listening to Wike’s narration of the atrocious activities of IPOB in Oyigbo that culminated in the imposition of curfew in the entire local government, warned Igbos to be wary of IPOB as the group was bent on instigating another civil war that would result in the murder of Igbo people.
The governor said he finds it nauseating that IPOB could go to Benue and Rivers states to foist its flag and claim the territories belong to the Igbo people.
According to him, Igbo leadership was opposed to the stance by IPOB.
Umahi, who revealed that he has huge investment in Rivers State, urged Igbos living in the state to respect the Government and people of Rivers State in order for them to continue to live and do business in the state peacefully, stressing that Ndi-Igbos cannot support any form of criminality.
Also speaking, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, said the meeting has reinforced the existing affinity between Igbos and the people of Niger Delta.
Nwodo described Governor Wike as a champion of restructuring of Nigeria and a man who loves justice.
He explained that the leadership of Igbos cannot remain aloof while some misguided few who did not experience the brutal reality of the last civil war continue to fan the embers of disunity.
Nwodo said he was elated to hear from Igbo leaders that under the leadership of Governor Wike, Igbo businesses have continued to thrive.
The former Rivers State governor, Dr Peter Odili, lauded the Igbo leaders for the peace initiative and the decision to visit Governor Wike.
He stated that every governor desires peace to govern, adding that Governor Wike was no exception.
Odili stressed that the people of the state endorse every measure taken by Governor Wike to ensure lasting peace in the state.
Present at the meeting were the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke, and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
Other dignitaries are: Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo; former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia; the Chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas-Jaja, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, among others.