20th August, 2022
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has directed security agencies to arrest Chinyere Igwe, federal lawmaker and owner of the sealed Petrol Station for alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering in Port Harcourt.
Igwe is one of those politicians loyal to the PDP’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Mega Tools Petrol station owned by Chinyere Igwe was among the business premises sealed and confiscated two days ago on the order of Wike.
Ordering his arrest, the governor said 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.
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, Senator Jonah Jang on Saturday.
In keeping with the fight against illegal oil bunkering, Wike said a filling station was sealed two days ago and that he has ordered the security agencies to identify the owner and arrest him for prosecution.
“If I hear of any filling station involved in oil bunkering, I will close that filling station. Therefore, I have directed the security agencies to identify who has that filling station in Diobu, arrest that person and we are going to prosecute the person. 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 the owner. Let him tell us why he is involved in oil bunkering,” he said.
Wike maintained that his administration has been spending huge resources to guarantee safety of lives and property, hence, would not hesitate to clamp down on any group of individuals who wanted to destabilise the State.
“If I hear anybody holding meeting, whether in the restaurant, whether in the hotel and I find out that cultists are there, we will invade that place. I will not give anybody breathing space to organise themselves to attack. I will not agree.”
The governor also said all 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.
“If anybody fights our system, we will fight the person back. The moment you claim to be working with us and tomorrow, you shift to our enemy, we will take every might we have, we will even leave our enemies and finish you first,” he added.
Wike urged Rivers electorate to be decisive in giving their votes to those who would work for the greatness of the State and deliver to them dividend of democracy.
“Our people should not allow politicians to deceive them. This time around, vote for those who will make the State to be great. Vote for those who will deliver the dividends of democracy, those who have the passion, who are committed to make sure that this State works.”
He told PDP National Assembly candidates in the State not to take the votes of the electorate for granted. He stressed that should they be found of doubtful stand, they could be denied electoral victory.
Wike, used the occasion to commend the Ikwerre Local Government Area chairman, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, for his steadfastness and support over the years.