Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has disclosed that nobody can rename any part of Rivers State.
Wike spoke while making reference to the nefarious activities of the disbanded Indigeneous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
The governor spoke on Friday when he received a delegation of Tiv people living in Rivers State under the aegis of Mdzough U. Tiv led by Mr. Caleb Yashi to Government House, Port Harcourt.
The leadership of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation worldwide also accompanied the delegation of the TiV people.
The governor noted that the Tiv people had not caused any problem for the state government and urged them to continue to live peacefully with people of their host communities.
He said: “In this state, you have not made any problem here. We know that the Tiv people are warriors, and very strong. But this is not the period of war. It is time of peace when everybody has to live together.
“Rivers State is a place that is very accommodating. We accept everybody to stay with us peacefully. It is only those who want to rename Rivers State that I have said, I will not agree.
“Nobody can rename Rivers State. As per living peacefully, we have good relationship with all ethnic nationalities that live in Rivers State.”
He said the age-long relationship between the people of Tiv ethnic nationality and the state emboldened them to support each other when the Benue massacre happened.
The governor said he visited the area to offer goodwill and supports to the Benue State Government during massacre of Tiv farmers by herdsmen in that State.
Wike said people of both states also bear similar weight of marginalisation meted against minority tribes in the country, harping on the need for restructuring.
He said: “I felt that what affects you also affects us. So, when that massacre took place in TiV land, we believed that anybody in TiV land that dies, an Ikwerre person will have to commiserate with that particular family.