Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that he supports the agitation of the IPOB. He made the statement while recalling that the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanun, had praised him. However, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the group’s violent approach, which he said was against the spirit of the agitation.
Wike, who is a presidential aspirant, however, urged the federal government to talk to the IPOB and find a solution to the nation's problems. He stated that the group's agitation was not a threat to him, as it was caused by the division in the country.
Wike stated that there was nothing wrong with the people agitating, as long as the government listened to and talked to them. He said that his own state had been affected by the activities of the IPOB, adding that he had warned them not to carry out their activities in the state.
Although he supports the agitation, Wike noted that it was important that the government and the people of the Southeast sit down and talk about the issues affecting the region. He said that he would not allow anyone to carry out violence in his state.