Stop The Sabotage …It ‘ll Hurt N’ Delta Economy …Wike Advises Militants

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike (right), his Deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo and National Deputy Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, casting their votes during the PDP South-South Zonal Congress in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has warned that the recent upsurge in oil pipeline sabotage by militants will affect the Niger Delta economy negatively.
Speaking while playing host to the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province and former Dean of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, Most Rev. Ignatius Kattey in Government House, Port Harcourt, at the weekend, Wike charged militants who have been attacking pipelines recently to have a rethink.
In his words: “No governor will be happy that militants are blowing up pipelines. Our people should understand the implications. They should not make the place unsafe, because they are driving investors away.”
With the dwindling revenue and economic crunch in the county, Wike asserted that it would be counterproductive for those agitating for the region’s rights to destroy the revenue source of the country, maintaining that, “they are causing more hardship and nobody would be happy.”
The Rivers State governor observed that there are other legitimate ways of agitating for one’s rights rather than destroying pipelines, which at the end will affect the welfare and resources of the common people.
Similarly, Governor Nyesom Wike has assured that soon cultism, kidnapping and armed robbery would be reduced to its barest minimum in the state.
He said, “though we cannot totally eliminate crime and social vices, I assure you that within the next two months, there will be drastic changes”.
Wike cautioned all parties to avoid politicising crime and security as such would not help the state to develop.
Currently, he said government has equipped and ordered security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone caught, irrespective of party affiliation, emphasising that, “enough is enough, we cannot continue like this.”
The governor assured Kattey of his administration’s resolve to always partner with the church, since according to him, “that is where we draw our strength and courage.”
Earlier, Bishop Ignatius Kattey had congratulated Wike over his triumph at the country’s apex court for the guber elections.
Kattey lauded Wike for his visionary leadership and quest to transform the state despite the marathon guber tussle which ended in January, this year.
The Anglican bishop urged the governor not to relent in his drive to move the state forward, while enjoining the opposition to join hands in governance for the betterment of all.
He promised that the church would always pray and support the Wike administration to ensure it fulfills its vision for the state.