Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Friday accused members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) of killing six soldiers and four Policemen in the State during the antiSARS protests.
The Governor also chided Nigerian Editors of not living up to their responsibility of exposing corruption in government.
Speaking when he received members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) at Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike revealed that hoodlums burnt down police stations and a court building.
According to the Governor, “I don’t support criminality. IPOB killed six army officers, four policemen, burnt police stations and court buildings. This is Rivers State. Go to Oyigbo and see the level of destruction. Now the State Government will be rebuilding those facilities.
“Those who don’t understand our actions are saying we are fighting the Igbos. How will they allow criminals to speak for them when there are intelligent Igbo people to speak for them? If they (IPOB) are aggrieved, instead of channeling it to the right quarters, they go and kill innocent people and destroy public places.”
The Governor challenged members of the NGE to always hold public office holders accountable to the people, noting that in time past, the Nigerian Press was a strong voice and conscience of the society, but wondered what has whittled down their powers.
“What I have seen of you is that you praise us and give us award because of relationship or friendship. That’s not the way it should be. Challenge us -the people in authority and we will sit up to our responsibilities.
“We will have no choice than to perform and serve the people as it should be. My support for you has to do with the fact that you are supposed to tell the truth of what is happening in Nigeria.
“There was a time you were exposing the ills of society. If not for you, certain things will not be known. Assume your role, grow strong again and speak out,” he charged the editors.
Wike reminded his visitors that Nigeria was in a difficult period in its history and NGE cannot shy away from performing its duties without fear or favour.
“If when I castigated the operations of SARS, you added your voice, who knows what good that would have achieved? Now look at what has happened. There was EndSARS protest across the country. Nobody knows how the youths were able to organise themselves without a leader.
“Up until now, intelligence can’t even know how they did it and who’s behind them. Without good intelligence, how can Nigeria even defeat Boko Haram?”
Speaking, the National President of NGE, Mustapha Isha, said governor Wike had remained consistent in his support to the Guild.
The members of the guild later accompanied Governor Wike on project tour of the Rebisi Flyover, Real Madrid Football Academy and the Mother and Child Specialist Hospital.