From: TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared that the Federal Government was not serious about the clean-up of Ogoniland.
Governor Wike stated this, on Monday, when he granted audience to the Senate Committee on Environment on investigative visit to Ogoniland.
He said that the people of Rivers State were tired of procrastination in relation to the execution of the cleanup, noting that the Ogoni cleanup programme has remained a political project aimed at attaining political mileage.
Governor Wike’s words, “The Federal Government is not serious about the cleanup of Ogoniland. We are tired of telling our people that the project will start next year.
“Let it not be a political project. Look at the North East, a commission was established and $1Billion released”.
The governor said that the devastation of Ogoniland had impoverished the people by destroying their farmlands and fishing waters.
He regretted that, as a State that produces the wealth of the nation, Rivers has no single motorable Federal road.
Commenting on the soot, Governor Wike stated that it was a fallout of oil pollution, stressing that Rivers people have suffered the health hazards.
Earlier, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, had said that the committee was on an oversight visit to ascertain the level of environmental degradation in Ogoniland.
She said that the committee would draw attention to the environmental challenges facing the Ogoni people.
Sen. Tinubu said, “We are concerned about these issues. We will use face masks when we get to the location. Face masks will draw attention to the message to the world on the essence of the clean up.”