Wike Urges Traditional Rulers to Tackle Artisanal Refinery Activities in Communities

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has urged traditional rulers in the state to join in the fight against illegal oil bunkering and artisanal refinery activities in their various communities.

The governor said the state government would not hesitate to depose any king who failed to discourage such illicit activities from happening in their domain.

Governor Wike reiterated his resolve to sustain the war against illegal oil bunkering and artisanal refining activities.

He warned the First Class King of Akpor in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and the King of Omerelu in Ikwerre council not to allow such activities to thrive anymore in their respective domains.

Wike gave the charge yesterday, when he presented staff of office and certificate of recognition to His Royal Majesty, Nne-Nwe-Eli Emohua XIII (OLO IV), Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse and His Royal Majesty, Nye Nwe Ali Akpor, Eze Ozuowuowu Levi Amos Orlu Oriebe at Government House, Port Harcourt.

He specifically warned the King of Akpor kingdom to discourage the continuous illegal oil bunkering in Rumuokparali He also frowned at the king of Omerelu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area where he said illegal oil bunkering activities were thriving.

According to the governor, aside from the soot problem and economic sabotage associated with the criminal activities, the internal roads being reconstructed by his administration in Omerelu are damaged.

“We are doing internal roads in Omerelu. This is a community that has been crying for roads and we have given them not less than 11/12 kilometers of internal roads, and now they’re spoiling it because of the conveying of the products. We can’t continue to accept that. I can’t understand why you just want to collect the chieftaincy title and do nothing.”

Wike told the two kings presented with their staff of office to come to terms with the responsibilities associated with their new status and discharge them effectively.

He said they are to ensure peace prevailed in their domain by attending to all shades of conflict so that they do not snowball into crisis.

He also charged them to stop partisan politics but to always be willing to work in synergy with the government in order to promote governance at the grassroots.

“This your certificate of recognition comes with a lot of responsibilities. Do what you’re expected to do. Relate with government to know what is going on.

“When once you alert government, you’ve done your own work. But if you don’t alert government, it’ll be considered that you’re part of it.”

Speaking further, the governor said the demolition of shanties would continue because hoodlums use such places as hideouts to perpetrate their criminal activities including those found in the Government Residential Areas in Port Harcourt.

He said the state has also recovered government properties fraudulently acquired by retired civil servants.

“Civil servants will retire and change documents and forge it that they had allocated twenty years ago for state government property. I am taking them back, all.”