Politics
RVHA Tasks Oil Firm On Egi Gas Eruption
Rivers State House of Assembly has directed Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited to sustain the zero fatality record maintained so far on the Egi gas eruption.
The directive was contained in the interim report submitted to the Assembly by the Joint Committee on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources on the disaster in four communities in Egi clan, Egita, Obiyebe, Obite and Ogbogu in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
Presenting the report to the House last Tuesday, Hon Victoria Nyeche, representing Port Harcourt constituency I, said the oil firm has not ascertained the actual cause of the gas eruption four weeks after the incident, but has completely ruled out sabotage.
The committee also directed Total (E&P) to provide and distribute adequate relief materials to the impacted communities to ameliorate the sufferings of the people, noting that the local government council and the member representing ONELGA constituency I, should be involved in supervising the distribution process.
According to the report, the most impacted community appears to be Egita which is surprisingly classified in the none landlord category of Total E&P.
The report noted that the surge point areas are mainly farm settlements which had been cordoned-off thereby denying the people access to their farm.
The committee explained that economic activities have been hampered in the affected communities as the environment has been severely impacted upon in both surface and underground water as well as air and soil by gas.
Hon Nyeche, who is the chairman, House Committee on Environment, said the company claimed to be giving free medical facilities, relief materials and alternative source of potable water, while air quality sampling is consistently carried out and water samples are taken twice from all known water wells to monitor contamination.
She disclosed that the firm has put in place short term, medium term and long term measures to mitigate the challenge by paying compensation to the impacted families and strictly monitoring the situation.
In the medium term, they would continue to contain, pay compensation to families and communities, launch a study on environmental impact, while the long term measures would include commencement of remediation work and monitoring following the result from the environmental post impact study.
It would be recalled that the House mandated the two committees to investigate the incident following a resolution on the motion brought by Hon Gift Wokocha in urgent public interest.
Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.
“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.
“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.
“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.
The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.
“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.
“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.
“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.
PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, January 10, Chief Sara-Igbe alleged that the minister had flouted regulations governing the commencement of electioneering campaigns by moving from one local government area to another to galvanise political support.
According to him, the action amounted to a clear breach of electoral guidelines being carried out with a troubling sense of impunity that could undermine the rule of law.
“Wike has violated the electoral laws of campaigning by going from local government to local government to talk to the people. He travelled from one local government to another. As a result of his visits to local government areas, he has broken election regulations and continues to do all these things without fear of repercussions”, Chief Sara-Igbe said.
The remarks came as Chief Wike was set to round off a state-wide “thank-you” tour that covered all 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Although the minister had described the tour as an appreciation visit following support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections, critics say the engagements have assumed an overtly political character.
Observers note that during several stops, including recent visits to Andoni and Bonny local government areas, the minister rallied supporters across party lines under what he termed a “Rainbow Coalition,” a move widely interpreted as part of a broader political strategy.
During these engagements, Chief Wike was also reported to have made remarks perceived as a veiled challenge to the authority of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while repeatedly referencing the 2027 elections and urging supporters to prepare to “correct the mistake” of 2023.
Chief Sara-Igbe warned that allowing such activities to continue unchecked could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and called on relevant authorities to enforce existing laws without fear or favour.
The Commission, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that there were plans by the same group to escalate a smear campaign against its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to frustrate ongoing investigations and prosecutions involving prominent individuals.
The statement endorsed by the agency’s spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale, claimed that the action was intended to distract the Commission through unfounded allegations of political bias in the discharge of its duties.
The EFCC warned that it would not stand by and watch “those recruited into this ignoble enterprise” or allow any attempt to derail it from “the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.”
The Commission made it clear that those recruited into this venture were under close watch, adding that it would not tolerate any attempt to distract it from the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.
“The EFCC reiterates its non-political stance in all its activities. Facts on the ground clearly show that any political actor belonging to the ruling party or opposition party, with corruption baggage, has no hiding place from the operational radar and dynamics of the Commission.
“As a matter of fact, several strong members of the ruling and opposition parties are either facing trial before the courts or being investigated by the Commission.
“It is needful that Nigerians appreciate the fact that the Commission is keeping faith with its Establishment Act in all its operations.
“Therefore, the Commission reiterates its commitment to justice, without fear or favour, in the fulfilment of its mandate,” the statement pointed out.
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