Ipob warns Wike not to set foot in Igboland as he commences his presidential campaign

SECESSIONIST group the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) has warned Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to stop seeking Igbo votes during his presidential campaigns as he has always disassociated himself from their cause since being elected.

Governor Wike, who was first elected into office in 2015 and then re-elected in 2019, is seeking the presidential ticket of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As part of his presidential bid, Governor Wike is seeking to woo voters from across the southeast but Ipob has warned him to steer clear of the southeast geo-political zone.

Ipob spokesman Emma Powerful, who condemned Governor Wike’s recent visit to the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, recalled the killings of Igbos in Obigbo, Rivers State. Criticising Governor Wike, Mr Powerful, said the governor should be ashamed of himself for begging Igbos for votes and vowed that Ipob will go all out against anybody who hosts him in the southeast.

Mr Powerful said: “We, the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu condemn the recent visit by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to the Obi of Onitsha Igwe Alfred Achebe in Anambra State. The visit is part of the reasons the youths are not happy with Igbo leaders.

“Ipob will not take it lightly on any person who intends to host Nyesom Wike in the hinterland after the genocide he committed in Obigbo, and he declared that he is not an Igboman. Wike is a genocidist and should not be forgiven.

"His father took over Igbo property in the name of abandoned property and he trained Wike with the money he accumulated from abandoned property he collected from Igbo people in Igweocha after the war of genocide against the Igbo people in 1970, which moved Wike to hate anything associated with Igbo but he should not come for Igbo vote. We are warning him.

“Governor Nyesom Wike committed genocide against the people in his state claiming he is not Igbo man and today he became an Igbo man because of political interest and votes he needs from Igboland. Wike refused to understand that a time like this will come in his life. Wike should be ashamed of himself because he could openly beg Igbo people for one vote in the election.”

“Is Wike coming to urinate on the graves of the Igbo youths he slaughtered in Obigbo during the #EndSARS protests? His visit to any Igbo state is highly provocative because some of the Igbo youths taken into several security cells in the northern states are yet to return. Wike and his advisers should stop daring Ipob and Igbo youths."

Ipob warned the Obi of Onitsha and other Igbo traditional rulers not to grant Governor Wike audience again. In addition, Ipob accused Governor Wike of arresting and handing over to the federal government, several Igbo youths, who are still languishing in detention up until today.

Mr Powerful added: “Considering all his wickedness to the Igbo youths at Obigbo in Rivers State, we declare that Wike has no moral ground to even contemplate not of the temerity to want to visit any part of Igbo land. He is, therefore, not welcome to any Igbo State.  Wike cannot be coming to Igbo land to spit and dance on the graves of those he unjustly slaughtered and we all know that he is a demented fellow.”