Founding leader of the Movement for Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike on Tuesday took a swipe at those linking Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike to the ongoing military operations in Oyingbo Local Government Area of the state.
The pro-Biafran activist said it was unacceptable and irresponsible to claim that Wike was killing Igbos because the Army started a military operation to fish out hoodlums, who killed its operatives and took their rifles in the council.
According to him, the development in Oyingbo was a direct consequence of an order issued by the Leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, directing members of the outlawed group to kill soldiers, policemen and burn police stations.
He said the military was known for conducting operations in areas where soldiers were killed and in extreme cases burnt down communities in retaliation like in Odi and Zaki Biam.
Uwazuruike, however, said the operation in Oyingbo was still within the rules of engagement of the military, insisting it had nothing to do with the Igbos and commended the security commanders for their professional conduct.
He said: “Sometimes in 2001 and 2002, the youths of Odi killed some soldiers in Odi and Obasanjo sent the military. They wiped Odi out.
“They killed many people in Odi and burnt Odi down. The then President of IYC, Felix Tuodolor, invited me to Odi.
“I went to Odi as a MASSOB leader and saw the devastation there, I cried bitterly. Many people were killed.
“At the same time, the people of Zaki Biam killed some soldiers, Obasanjo also sent soldiers and Zaki Biam was brought down irrespective of the fact that many generals are from that place. So, calling what is happening in Rivers State an Igbo thing is rubbish.
“Nyesom Wike is not killing any Igbo man. It is not an Igbo thing. Nyesom Wike has no capacity to command the Army to kill anybody in Rivers State.
“It is only the Commander in Chief that can do so like Obasanjo did. It is not within the powers of Wike to stop the army from killing those who killed their own. Wike didn’t order the army in Odi and Zaki Biam.
” So, these people who go about on the internet talking rubbish and claiming that Wike is killing Igbo’s should stop speaking for us.
“The Army are killing those who killed their own. This thing has nothing to do with #EndSARS. The #EndSARS were doing their thing until some people went to tollgate and killed some people.
“Then someone in London (Kanu) started that minute to say kill army, kill police, burn houses. Then his supporters in Oyingbo started killing. He gave them the instruction. It was on tape. Prevention is better than cure.
“All these people who are talking, you should prevent. When someone is talking everybody is worried. This thing you are saying will bring cataclysm. It will bring destruction. Where is he now? Then you are bringing the issue of Wike there.
“Wike is an Igbo man. Forget about all these sentiments. We all knew what happened in Rivers state immediately after the war when Umuokoro was changed to Rumuokoro, Umuola was changed to Rumuola and Obigbo was changed to Oyingbo.
“It was not Wike that changed them. And it is not someone in London ranting on radio that will change them back to their normal forms now.
“You cannot come to Oyingbo now and say it must be named Obigbo. Who are you? You are trying to redefine the history of a people. Even if it should take place it is not you. You are bringing problems unnecessarily”.
This Post: Oyingbo military operation: Uwazurike defends Gov Wike was approved and published by Ancity Media Editor and may not be republished elsewhere without prior written permission from the Editor.
