By: Felix Ikpotor
Mr. Stanley Mgbere, an indigene and youth leader in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State who was declared wanted by the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, has come out to say he is not a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Wike had in a statewide broadcast on Friday posted an N50 million bounty on the head of Mgbere whom he accused him of being the leader of IPOB, in Onne Community that masterminded the destruction of the palace of the king.
He said that a ransom of N50,000,000.00 will be given to any person with useful information that would lead to his arrest and prosecution.
Wike also announced the outlawing of the separatist group in the state, adding that no form of procession and or agitation by IPOB or any of its affiliates are allowed to take place in Rivers State or any part thereof, henceforth.
“Mr. Stanley Mgbere from Onne is hereby declared wanted for leading members of the banned IPOB to cause the recent violence and destruction of lives and property in Onne in Eleme Local Government Area; and
“A ransom of N50,000,000.00 will be given to any person with useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the said Mr. Stanley Mgbere”.
The decision by the state government to declare Mgbere wanted has been met with anger in the local government as sources say that labelling the activist the leader of IPOB was based on false information and an attempt to frame him up for standing up to the powers that be.
Mgbere who spoke from his hide out in a video that has now gone viral said, he was being framed up by bad leadership in the area just to shut the mouth of Onne and Eleme youths from demanding their rights.
He said the deliberate misinformation about him to the governor would not deter him from fighting for justice for his people despite the attacks on him.
While nothing the suffering he is currently going through where he is, Mgbere said the governor should discountenance any information of him being a member of IPOB.
Another source in the community also declared that Mgbere is not an IPOB member, and so cannot be the leader of the group.
The source added that Mbgere is an activist who fights against the nefarious ills of the society and suffering of the poor youths in his community.
He was said to have led hundreds of youths in the community to block the entrance of the Federal Ocean Terminal on Monday in a bid to demand inclusiveness and employment from hundreds of companies operating in that area.
One of the sources said Mgbere’s crime was saying no to the conspiracy of the ruling class of his community and multinational companies operating on their land.
According to the source, “Onne is housing more than 400 companies, industries and firms on its land yet 89% of the youths are out jobs and 60% has never worked in their entire lives. Rather employment opportunities meant for the suffering youths are sold out.
“The frame-up against Mr. Stanley Mgbere is nothing but simply to cow the youths of Eleme from asking for what rightfully belong to them”.
PHSpectator recall that this is the second time Governor Wike is acting on false information to declare a youth from Eleme wanted.
On May 9th, Wike declared Princewill Osaroejiji, a PDP youth leader in Eleme wanted for what the government described as ” various criminal activities”
A Five Million Naira bounty was also placed on him.
The next day, Wike led a team that demolished Prudest hotel alleged to be owned by Osaroejiji. He alleged that the hotel’s staff beat up the LGAs COVID-19 monitoring team.
However, Osaroejiji went on radio and declared his innocence and fingered Wike’s commissioner for misinforming the government due to a political disagreement.
He said he was only mediating for peace before his name was sent to Brick House.
The hotel owner, a Lagos-based businessman from Gokana LGA, Promise Gogorobari, also disputed the government’s account and denied that the hotel breached any COVID-19 protocols.
