to reinforce the ban on Indigenous Peoples Organization of Biafra (IPOB)
and its activities in the State.
The Governor maintained that while Rivers State remains the home to all
tribes and ethnic nationalities, the State government is opposed to the
presence and activities of the legally proscribed and anarchic IPOB and
whatever it stands for in Rivers State.
Governor Wike, in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday night, said while
the Government acknowledges and appreciate the enormous contributions
from non-indigenes to the political, social, and economic development of
the State, it will neither accept nor allow any individual or group from
within and outside to violate the peace, endanger lives and property
under any guise in the State.
“And so, let it be understood that we have nothing against all or any
specific tribe and will continue to live in peace with people of all
other tribal extractions residing or doing business in Rivers State. But
we have everything against the presence and activities of the legally
proscribed and anarchic Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and whatever
that group stands for in Rivers State”
“This is clearly a terrorist group whose existence, creed, mission, and
activities are strongly denounced even by the Government and peoples of
the South-Eastern States of the country. I have therefore signed the
executive order to reinforce the total ban on IPOB and its activities in
Rivers State or any part thereof and nothing will stop us from enforcing
this ban in its entirety” he said.
Governor Wike said he has also directed security agencies and the
Chairmen of Local Government Areas to fish out and resolutely deal with
any member of IPOB found in any community in terms of the executive
order and other legal instruments.
With the restoration of normalcy in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, the
Governor announced the lifting of existing curfew on Mile 1, Mile 2,
Iloabuchi, Emenike, and Ikokwu areas of Port Harcourt as well as
Rumukurushi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
“However, the curfew in Oyigbo Local Government Area shall remain in
force until further notice while the entire Ikokwu motor spare market
shall remain closed, also, until further notice,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Governor has directed the Rivers State Civil Service
Commission to take immediate steps to employ 5000 youths into teaching
and other career positions in the State’s Civil Service as an immediate
measure to reduce the level of youth unemployment.
In the quest to restore sanity and enhance free traffic flow inroads in
the State, Governor Wike said he will soon set up a task force to
enforce the ban on illegal street trading and motor parks along public
roads. But, in the interim, he has approved the ban on the operations of
tricycles (popularly known as “Keke NAPEP”) on all major roads in Port
Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
The major roads are Aggrey road, Dame Patience Jonathan Road, Eastern
Bypass road, Ikwerre Road, Aba road, Agip road, Ada George Road, Olu
Obasanjo road, Rumuokwuta – Rumuola road, Rumuepirikom – Rumuolumeni
(leading to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education) road, Rumuokwuta –
Choba road, Chief G.U. Eke road, Peter Odili Road, Ken Saro-Wiwa road,
Nkpogu road, Trans-Amadi road, Elekahia – Rumuomasi road, Yakubu Gowon
road, and Woji – Elelenwo road.