It is time to call Wike to order – Eastern Union

Governor Wike

By EJIKEME OMENAZU, Lagos

Following the recent killing of Igbos in Rivers State, the Eastern Union (EU), a pressure group of the people of the Old Eastern Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government, Southern Governors and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo to call Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to order.

The EU, in a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Charles Anike, on Friday lamented the recent killing of several Igbos during a house-to-house ‘search’, allegedly ordered by Governor Wike against members of the proscribed Indiginous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.

The group stated: “We are alarmed that this recent stand of the governor of Rivers State has led to house-to-house search and subsequent killings, arrests and harassment of young Igbo youths, particularly those from the South East extraction by the Nigerian Army and the Police in Rivers State following the instruction of the state governor.”

Lamenting the intimidation of the people of South East extraction in recent times, EU stated that about 28 Igbo sons and daughters were killed in Rivers State in four days, while about 33 people were still missing, including women and children.

It said that it was disheartening that with the slightest provocation and flimsy excuses, some people would find reasons to instigate the shedding and waste innocent Igbo blood.

“The Eastern Union, therefore, frowns and condemns in strong terms this unwarranted victimisation of Ndigbo in Nigeria and this time by its own supposed leaders.”

“We have also observed the heavy presence of the military in Anambra and Ebonyi states, respectively, at the request of the state governors.

“It is shameful that most of our governors like those of Rivers, Ebonyi and Anambra states have resorted to the use of our peoples’ blood as their bargaining power for their 2023 presidential ambitions.”

“This is the reason they do everything to please their political allies from other zones. Ndigbo have always been at the receiving end.”

“Is it not enough that the Igbo is being threatened by the people from other ethnic groups, even in protests they did not start or spearhead?” EU asked.

It added: “For Governor Wike to claim that the protest in Rivers State was hijacked by Ndigbo under the aegis of IPOB was just to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

“The fact is that the #EndSARS protests were neither started, nor spearheaded by the Igbos, but by Nigerian youths from different tribe.”

“The EU therefore calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Army to order as regards the killings currently going on in Rivers State.”

“We also call on all National Assembly members, especially those from South East and South South, to rise and condemn this unwarranted attack on the Igbos in Rivers State.”

“We also call on the River State governor to retrace his feet and stop these acts of wickedness.” (Daily Independent)