It’s Total War Against Rivers Artisanal Refinery Soot — Wike
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State says there is no holding back in the war against artisanal refineries operators and their illegal activities in the state, warning that there will be no sacred cows.
This is as he maintained that no reasonable and responsible administration would allow and tolerate such criminal enterprise popularly referred to as ‘Kpofire’, that induces hazardous soot across the state.
Speaking during a raid on ‘Kpofire’ sites in forests of Ogbodo in Ikwerre Local Government Area and Ibaa in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, accompanied by Rivers Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday, and other security chiefs, Governor Wike said no amount of blackmail or sentiment would stop his resolve to rid the state of illegal refineries.
“They can’t be doing this and be killing my people. No reasonable government will allow that. And I can tell you with all due respect, we will take this matter very seriously. Look at how, every day, in your house, you see the soot.
“I mean, how can you allow that? So, this one that we can solve, we will solve it. We have assured the people of Rivers State, we will fight this issue to the last until I leave office”, the governor assured.
Governor Wike also directed the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, to take over the case files of illegal crude oil refinery operators already arrested by the Police in the State.
He directed the Attorney-General thus; “All these matters with the Police, you have to retrieve the files so that you can prosecute the matters on your own. I don’t want any compromise anywhere. And then too, it will not be in the Ministry. You have to constitute a legal team.
“Go and get our friends all over the country, so that we can prosecute those cases. It is a serious matter. I’m going to take it head-on. It is a war. It is not poor people doing this, they’re a cartel.
“You must go and arrest these people; Chief W. J. Wocha, you must arrest Fubara Ohaka and Chief Promise Ezekwe. You must arrest them. It doesn’t matter how highly placed you are, be you a paramount ruler, in fact, any traditional ruler that is involved, pick him for me. Let him understand that the law does not respect anybody.”
Similarly, the Governor directed the Emohua Local Government Council Chairman, Dr Chidi Lloyd, to verify and locate residences where processed ‘kpofire’ are stored and let the people ascertain their sources, adding that confronting this havoc posed by ‘kpofire’ is to ensure the health of Rivers people was not further hampered by such activities.
Insisting that urgent measures must be taken by the government, Governor Wike said; “If not, our people will continue to die. Even you are not safe from related sicknesses like cancer.
“All the products in the houses, you must go after them, they must tell you where they got the products. Enough is enough. Look at what is happening. I want to live.”
“So, we must stop these illegal refinery activities. And I have told the Federal Government, if you’re not willing to do anything, don’t promise people anything”, the Rivers Chief Executive fumed
