Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has said the oil-rich state believes in the unity of Nigeria.
He made the declaration when he welcomed representatives of the Northern Governors Forum to Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Monday.
He told the governors that he was committed to the continuous protection of all Nigerians and foreigners living in the state.
The governor said: ”Rivers state believes in the unity of this country. Rivers state will not be a part of those calling for the disintegration of Nigeria. We owe it a duty to protect every Nigerian living in the state.
”I will not allow any group to intimidate, harass or attack other Nigerians living in the state. We are Rivers people and we belong to the Niger Delta.
”I am not against anyone who wants to protest any grievance but, there are channels for such protests.”
The northern governors had earlier expressed their happiness over Wike’s handling of the recent violence that broke out in some parts of the state.
”We are proud of you. We are associating ourselves with you. Nigeria is greater than political differences.
”We belong to one political family and that is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. No interest should be bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You believe in the Nigerian Project,” Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state said.
