The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has actually accused Governor Nyesom Wike of motivating unlawful oil bunkering, describing it as the major cause of the soot shortening the lives of residents of the State.

Wike had last Sunday, in a state-wide broadcast, declared those he described as kingpins of oil bunkering activities desired.

Bunkering and unlawful petroleum refining activities are on the high rise in different riverine communities in and around Port Harcourt.

Wike pledged to publish the names of those behind prohibited bunkering activities in Okrika neighborhoods, Rivers South-East and Rivers South-West Senatorial Districts and state them wanted if they fail to hand themselves over to the cops.

Responding, the APC said it was baffled that the Governor had actually kept mute previously before taking such action despite the overwhelming criticism by citizens and other concerned Nigerians.

According to the opposition party, “From 2015 to date, most major jobs by the Rivers State Government since its inauguration are being performed by Julius Berger Nigeria Ltd,” the APC stated in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone.

“At today peak of Julius Berger activities in Rivers State, the business consumes on the average about 300,000 litres of AGO daily. This has unquestionably turned into one single most significant AGO consumption volume in Rivers State.

“Sadly, the whole volume of AGO is sourced from unlawful refiners of the item in your area called ‘kpofire’ and the reason is that Julius Berger in Rivers State buys AGO at in between N220 and N240 per litre, whereas, the main ex-depot rate of AGO from NIPCO and other significant importers range from N315 to N350 per litre.

“With Julius Berger buying the item from prohibited refiners below market minimum prices, a huge need has actually been produced for the kpofire (unlawfully improved) products.

“This naturally has motivated so many people (young and old) to sign up with the unlawful refining business since of a growing and prepared market.

“The result is a burgeoning prohibited refining organization which has, in turn, increased the level of soot descending on citizens of Port Harcourt and environments, causing all way of health issue for both the young and old, in the present and for the future.

“We have seen Gov Nyesom Wike, in his overzealous effort to protect Julius Berger and their common service interests, brazenly sack his Cabinet Commissioner for Environment without replacement to this day.”

APC said that this particular action revealed that the Governor was not willing to take the needed action towards efficiently and holistically safeguarding the lives of residents but was safeguarding some individuals due to fear or self-interest.

The opposition party questioned who the guv hesitated of “in declaring all suspects associated with this life threatening hazard wanted in all the Local Government Areas, particularly those adjoining to Port Harcourt.”

DailyPost