N’ Delta Activist Defends Wike Slams Biafra Group

Elder statesman and renowned activist in the Niger Delta region, Rev(Dr) Sokari Soberekon, has risen stoutly in defence of Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and debunked recent claims by a Biafra group that the Governor does not know his tribe and origin.
Contrary to insinuations by the group, Soberekon said in Port Harcourt that Governor Wike knows his tribe and origin, as he has remained focused as a leader, who is passionate about the truth, justice and good governance, essentially to improve the wellbeing of Rivers people.
The elder statesman said the Biafra group was only envious of the rising political profile of Governor Wike who, he said is teaching some valuable lessons to other governors and leaders across the country on what it takes to be a performing Governor.
He cited as a case in point the recent flag-off for construction of the 11th and 12th flyover projects by the Wike administration, barely few months to exit office, a record, he said would be difficult to be broken by any government in the country.
While reiterating that Governor Wike, who is a true Rivers son, knows his origin, Soberekon clarified that the Governor is an Aborigene of Biafra.
“Speaking Igbo does not make anyone an Igboman just like speaking English does not make anyone an Englishman”, he said.
On why he said that Governor Wike is an Aborigene of Biafra, the Senior Advocate of Niger Delta(SAND) explained that the word, ‘Biafra’ came from the Bight of Biafra, where the Europeans signed a commercial treaty with Rivers chiefs and the people of Calabar and Ogoja in 1775 before the existence of Nigeria.
“History is so stubborn that it can not be erased. Seafarers are the Europeans who came through the sea to buy slaves while Bayfarers are the residents of the villages, towns and cities at the sea coast or at the shore of the sea who often confronted the slave traders”, he said.
According to him, “ the Igbos are people from the hinterland and so have nothing to do with Biafra. They are not Biafrans but Governor Wike is from Rivers State. So, he is a Biafran. They should stop saying that he does not know where he is from. “If they are still claiming to be Biafrans, he said, by implication that they are the ones who do not know where they come from.
According to him, they can not come from the hinterland to claim what is from the coastal area.
Soberekon said he loves the Igbos because they are hard working people but cautioned them to respect others. “Allowing them to do business in Rivers State does not give them the right to insult our hard working Governor who is known all over the country as Mr Project”, he said.