A former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori on Sunday warned all those displaying his images during pro-Biafra protest to desist from such, stressing that he is a strong believer of united Nigeria where the rights of every citizen is held sacrosanct.

This is as the ex-Governor’s photographs, embossed on banners, were been reportedly held aloft by some of the demonstrators, as they marched for Biafra through several cities in many states of the South-East and South-South parts of the country.

Sounding this warning in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Tony Eluemunor, Ibori also stated that the peace enjoyed by the country for forty-five years after the civil war should not be broken by residues being dug up by some people to further divide the nation and betray efforts at national reconciliation and development. He maintained that this must not be allowed.

According to the statement, “Chief James Onanefe Ibori’s attention has been drawn to the way and manner his picture has been misused by some people who are involved in street demonstrations to drum up support for the establishment of the  state of Biafra.

“Ibori wants to make it clear that he is absolutely, completely and entirely committed to the indissolubility of the Nigerian State, as stipulated unambiguously in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“He said that all through his life, he has believed in a strong, united Nigeria where the rights of every citizen is held sacrosanct, where no region of state or even Local Government Area, is neglected or is made to feel alienated in whatever way, no matter how infinitesimal.

“He therefore calls on those who have been misusing his name and picture – indeed his personality – in furtherance of a project he has never believed in at any time and in any way, to desist forthwith from using his picture and/or name during their demonstrations.”

The former Governor advised everyone who is in any way involved in the Biafran demonstrations to remember that “The world hailed Nigeria for the peaceful way the rather fierce Nigerian Civil War ended in 1970. It is worrisome that 45
clear years after the end of that war, its residues are being dug up to further divide us and betray our efforts at national reconciliation and development. This must not be allowed to continue.

“Nigeria has lived in peace in the past 45 years, and whatever challenges, disagreements even, that may have re-surfaced, are not beyond our collective ability to resolve. “I therefore call on all concerned, the
demonstrators and the leaders of the different strata of government
to identify the problems, determine the solutions, and turn the stumbling blocks into genuine building blocks for real nation building.

“Ibori pointed out that many other
countries including Canada, the United Kingdom and Spain, have sections agitating for various kinds of autonomy.

“But if those countries have managed to
keep such agitations at the level of peaceful discussions, Nigeria’s case should by no means lead to another national tragedy. Nigeria has split enough blood in internecine squabbles, he said, now is the time for genuine peace, national unity, and thorough-going, all-inclusive fast-paced development,” the statement concluded.