Biafra Rejected In Rivers State

A warning has gone out to the pro-Biafran agitators that Port Harcourt, Rivers State should not be converted to a war front.Dishing out the warning, Chairman, Rivers Elders and Leaders Council (RELEC), Chief Albert Horsfall alongside the Secretary, Lawrence Ibiayenie, rejected Biafra, just as they insisted that the protests staged by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) remained unwarranted.It was the contention of RELEC that, “The attempt by these elements (IPOB members) to focus on Port Harcourt for their political rascality is totally unacceptable and is hereby condemned by Rivers Elders and Leaders Council. The action so far taken by the Biafran protesters in Port Harcourt is highly provocative to all genuine sons and daughters of Rivers State, who have so far restrained themselves from confronting the demonstrators in Port Harcourt.“The choice of Port Harcourt (for IPOB’s protests) may be a deliberate ploy to make the Rivers State capital the battle ground for any fracas that may follow their rascality. We reject these moves in its entirety and hereby repeat our warning that they (Biafran protesters) must desist forthwith.“Rivers State people are not Biafrans and had never been and will never be. The RELEC wishes to call on all elders and leaders of the states from which these youths have been pouring into Port Harcourt, for this unwelcome and unwholesome political rascality, to call their youths to order and forbid them from forever staging further demonstrations and protests in Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State.“RELEC wishes to observe the good neighbourly relationship which has always existed between Rivers people and their neighbours. We wish that the cordial and mutually beneficial relationship should continue to exist. Persons responsible for the pro-Biafra protests must immediately halt the unfriendly activities forthwith.”It would be recalled that the state Governor, Nyesom Wike had in a state wide broadcast directed an immediate ban on protests by those associated with IPOB and by any other group.