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General News of Tuesday, 1 June 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

IPOB cannot order a sit-at-home in Rivers – Governor Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike

• Governor Wike refuses to comply with IPOB's sit-at-home order

• Wike believes Rivers is part of South-South and not South-East

• Other states such as Abia, Delta and Anambra observed the order


Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Monday rejected IPOB's sit-at-home directive for natives of the South-East to observe the 54th anniversary of Biafra.

According to the Governor, IPOB's sit-at-home order does not apply to Rivers state which belongs to the South-South and not South-East.

He made this known in an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today.

Nandi Kanu, Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) through his spokesperson, Emma Powerful ordered for a restriction of movement in the South-East to commemorate the 54th anniversary of Biafra.

Some states complied with the directive as commercial activities came to a standstill in the South-East.

However, Wike refused to comply justifying his decision that although he is not against the motive of IPOB's directive to the eastern region, his state is not an eastern state but part of the Niger Delta.

“IPOB cannot make an order to say sit at home in Rivers State. I have said so clearly before because it does not exist in Rivers State,” he said.

“Rivers State is not part of South-East. Rivers State is South-South, we are in the Niger Delta. I am not saying whether the people in the South-East should not obey what IPOB has said or not. But they cannot give order to Rivers people to sit at home.”

Meanwhile, streets in Owerri, Imo State capital, Abia state and Asaba capital of Delta state were empty.

These states complied with the directive as businesses, schools, and other major economic hubs were closed.

Also vehicles were off the roads as residents chose to observe the anniversary of Biafra.

Security operatives were present in major parts of the states to ensure law and order.