Mkpoikana Udoma
20 December 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to release funds from the Excess Crude Account, ECA, to tackle critical environmental issues including the Ogoni clean up in the Niger Delta.
Governor Wike also said that there will be no excess crude funds without the contributions of oil producing communities of the Niger Delta, urged the Federal Government to treat all geo-political zones of the country with fairness to enhance the unity of the country.
The Governor disclosed these when he granted audience to the House of Representatives Committee on Local Content, at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
While not condemning the recent release of funds from the Excess Crude Account to tackle Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, Wike stated that the Federal Government should mete same treatment to all sections of the country and particularly the Niger Delta region.
He advised the federal government to stop politicising the environmental and security concerns in the region to save lives, including fixing of Eleme portion of the East West Road where Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Limited, IEPL, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, OGFZA and Port Harcourt Refining Company, PHRC, are domiciled.
According to him, “There should be balance in the way the Federal Government handles issues affecting different parts of the country.
“We are not saying that the Federal Government should not tackle Boko Haram. But as they tackle Boko Haram with $1billion, they must remember that the environmental challenges facing the Niger Delta is the major security challenge.
“If something happens or there is a crisis in the Niger Delta, there will be no excess crude for anyone to draw from”.
The governor said issues of development and security should not be politicised, because political parties are mere vehicles that convey politicians to desired destinations.
“This country belongs to all of us. We must work to salvage Nigeria. We shall always talk about the interest of Nigeria”, he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Local Content, Mr Emmanuel Ekong, commended the governor for providing the quality leadership that has revived the nation’s main opposition party.
He said prior to the revival of the PDP, Nigeria was heading for a one-party state.
“Governor Wike by his contributions, provided an alternative for all politicians, even those in the APC,” the Lawmaker said
