From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has directed security agencies to arrest the owner of a filling station involved in illegal oil bunkering in Port Harcourt.
The governor said the government would ensure the prosecution of the owner of the filling station to demonstrate the resolve to reduce illegal oil bunkering activities in the state to the barest minimum.
Governor Wike made this known at the flag-off of the construction of internal roads in Omagwa, which was performed by former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, on Saturday.
In keeping with the fight against illegal oil bunkering, Governor Wike said a filling station was sealed two days ago, and he had ordered security agencies to identify the owner and arrest him for prosecution.
He said: “If I hear of any filling station involved in oil bunkering, I will close that filling station. Therefore, I have directed security agencies to identify who has that filling station in Diobu, arrest that person and we are going to prosecute him. It doesn’t matter how highly placed that person is.
“Some of you should be used to teach a lesson. We cannot allow oil bunkering. We will reduce it to the barest minimum. So, I have ordered the security agencies to identify who owns that filling station that was sealed up two days ago and arrest him. Let him tell us why he is involved in oil bunkering.”
Rivers State governor maintained that his administration had been spending huge resources to guarantee safety of lives and property. Hence, government would not hesitate to clamp down on any group of individuals who wanted to destabilise the state.
The governor also said those who had been patronised by his administration with one contract or the other, and had now severed camp with him should stay clear from his interest or be ready to face his fireworks.
He urged Rivers electorate to be decisive in giving their votes to those who will work for the greatness of the state and deliver to them dividends of democracy.
He told the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly candidates in the state not to take the votes of the electorate for granted.
The governor stressed that should they (NASS candidates) play double standard, they could be denied electoral victory.
Governor Wike used the occasion to commend the Ikwerre Local Government Area chairman, Dr Samuel Nwanosike, for his steadfastness and support over the years.
Performing the flag-off, former governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang, noted that the unprecedented massive infrastructural contributions of Governor Wike had changed the landscape of the state.
Jang, who lamented the mismanagement of the national economy, said even in the twilight of his administration, Governor Wike had continued to keep faith with Rivers people by commissioning and flagging off new projects.
He urged the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to close ranks with Governor Wike’s formidable supporters in order to guarantee the electoral victory of the party in the 2023 general elections.