By Charles Igbo
Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor, Monday night, explained why he descended on the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB.
Wike had, in the wake of the #ENDSARS protest by thousands of youths nationwide, proscribed all the activities of the group, which had, a couple of years ago, been proscribed by the Federal Government, with the alleged support of South-East Governors.
A number of people were surprised over the, now, sour relationship between Wike and IPOB, as it had been variously alleged that Wike was an IPOB sympathiser.
Trouble started between the two when, in the wake of the #EndSARS protest, scores of youths killed four soldiers, two policemen, and burnt down Police Stations and Courts in Oyingbo.
Both the Governor and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Gobin Mukan, identified the youths as IPOB members. The youths, allegedly, acted on the instructions of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who had in a video message, allegedly, asked his boys to burn and kill.
But Kanu had, in subsequent pronouncements and releases, said the message he sent out was corrupted. He said he had, on the contrary, asked that Oyingbo be protected from any incidents arising from the #EndSARS protest.
But the battle line had been drawn by Wike who was shocked by the level of destruction, arson, and the killing of soldiers and policemen.
He subsequently proscribed all activities of IPOB in the state, citing the FG’s earlier proscription.
Since the killings, and arson, and Wike’s stand on the group, soldiers have moved in and are, allegedly, on an arrest and killing spree. This has pitched Wike against a number of people who are now accusing him of ordering soldiers to indiscriminately label all youths in Oyingbo IPOB members.
But it turns out that Wike has been having problems with the group before the instant incident.
In the broadcast to the State Monday evening where he denied ever ordering soldiers to kill the Igbo, Wike said IPOB could over-run the State, if not checked. He accused the group of invading Oyingbo all the time from nearby Abia State, on a mission to over-run the state.
Evidence?
Wike said IPOB attempted to rename a Local Government in the State. He also accused them of hoisting their flag in a public school in Komkom Community. This magazine gathered that the group attempted to rename Oyingbo LGA to Obigbo LGA.
Obviously, the soldiers were deployed to Oyingbo mainly because of their murdered colleagues, a deployment outside Wike’s authority.
But the Governor is, also, being accused of punishing the people since two weeks ago,now, by deliberately imposing a 24-hour curfew on the LGA. Since then, they allege, nobody has been allowed to leave or enter the LGA, meaning they cannot go out to buy foodstuff or attend to other businesses. They are asking for the relaxation of the curfew.
For now, Wike is said to have become worried over the alleged activities of the soldiers, which was why he quickly distanced himself from them.
Sadly, the Governor does not have the power to ask the soldiers to withdraw, just as he has no powers to deploy them to Oyingbo. He can only appeal.
