Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has turned the heat of the ongoing illegal refineries war in the state on the Police Commissioner, Eboka Friday, and its 23 Local Government Chairmen. The development explains why a governor like Wike is reluctant to see local government councils operate autonomously.
While he has brashly issued the third-tier of governance a 48-hour ultimatum to provide a comprehensive list of illegal refineries and their operators within their jurisdiction, the governor bluntly accused some top police chiefs in the state of operating illegal refineries
He is frowning seriously at security agencies for the role some of their personnel are playing in aiding and providing cover to the operators of illegal refineries in the state. He is, therefore, urging the Police Commissioner to redeploy out of the state a particular DPO in Emohua Local Government Area who allegedly operates an illegal refinery in the area.
“It’s unfortunate for this country how security people will be involved in illegal bunkering. I can’t believe it. Mr. CP, I thank you for transferring the DPO in Rumuji, who owns a refinery. But the man must leave here, not transferred.
‘’He must leave this state. I can’t be governor here and a security man owns an illegal refinery. No, it is not possible…the man has to go. Take him to wherever they allow bunkering.”
Governor Wike also directed the police big boss in the state to immediately arrest one Chief W. J. Wocha, Fubara Ohaka, and chief Promise Ezekwe, who have been allegedly fingered for operating illegal refineries deep inside the forest of Ibaa community in Emohua Local Government Area.
The governor equally urged the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Rivers State Command, to immediately transfer its personnel in charge of vandalisation of pipelines in the state.
“Transfer the man, and tell him to leave. He is a complete saboteur. I mean, how can security men be the one involved in this. What kind of country are we?”
Wike however gave the ultimatum at a meeting with the chairmen and heads of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police, the Directorate of State Service and the Civil Defence Corps at Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday.
The governor challenged the council chairmen to prove that they are not complicit in the noxious business that has continued to threaten the health of Rivers people and the national economy.
Wike stated that as a responsible government, it will be unwise for them to fold their hands and do nothing to safeguard residents of the state from the death that is forced upon them by criminal-minded operators of artisanal refineries.
“Now, every council chairman must go and identify where illegal refineries are taking place. If you identify one, you get N2 million. So, go and identify as many as you can. I will pay N2m for each one. And I am going to fight against this. Our people are dying and we owe our people the responsibility to protect them, to save them from death they never caused.
“So, you must, and you’re given 48 hours to go and identify all illegal refineries sites, and those who are in charge of them’’, he said, emphasising that any of the council chairmen who is afraid to join in the fight against these criminals operating the illegal refineries should be ready to resign.
According to the governor, part of their social contract with their people is also to protect them and stop any illegal economic practices in their domains.
“I’ve called you here to tell you that it’s a total war. It is either we do it or we don’t do it. We cannot allow what is going on to continue. Two things; our people are dying, two, it’s shortening our own revenue.
“You check from Federation Account, Akwa Ibom and the Delta States are getting more, why? This is because the boys of the cartel are causing problems for us. So we will not allow it.”
Governor Wike then urged the Department of State Service (DSS) to profile persons involved in the heinous illegal refining business and make the list available to him. He assured of acting on the list.
