Repent, Renounce Crime Or… Wike Warns Criminals, Cultists …Promises Changed Cultists Amnesty

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has announced that the state will grant  amnesty to criminals  and cultists who lay down their arms and embrace peace.
He gave the hint when members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) paid  him a courtesy visit yesterday in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Wike also said the state government  was working  with  relevant security  agencies  to  ensure that Rivers State  remained  safe for investors. He noted that strategies have been put in place to root out criminals from the  state.
Consequently, Wike  advised  labour  unions to use strike only as the last option in trade disputes to stem the tide of development  challenges  witnessed  as a result of  the  frequency  of  strikes.
Speaking against the backdrop of the suspended NUPENG strike, the governor emphasised  that  workers should be allowed to unionise so that companies  and organisations  will be encouraged  to  always  consider  their welfare.
He said: “I believe  that  strikes should  serve as a last option  for unions during trade disputes. The strikes in Nigeria  are getting too many and efforts should be  targeted  at  reducing  them.”
The governor further declared  that  the  state  government  will collaborate with NUPENG  as it develops  a Tankers Village  in Eleme with a view to taking tankers off the highways and generating revenue.
He commended  the  leaders of NUPENG for calling off their strike following  government intervention, noting that  the  state  government  has already  called on oil companies  to reciprocate by recalling the sacked  workers.
The  governor  urged unions to always  work towards the development of money  spinning ventures,  to reduce their dependence  on check  off dues for survival.
While expressing happiness that NUPENG  is developing  a tankers village/Tank farm in Rivers State,  he directed the State Commissioner  for  Energy and the Special  Adviser on Lands to work  with  the  union to bring the project to fruition  and ensure the release of certificate of occupancy for the project site.
Earlier,  President of NUPENG,  Comrade Igwe Achese commended the  governor for his development  strides in the areas of infrastructure  and  welfare of  workers.
He thanked the governor for intervening in the conflict between  the unions and oil  companies  in the state over the sack of their  members.
Achese informed the governor  of the tank farm being constructed  by NUPENG  in Eleme. He appealed  to the  Governor  to facilitate  the  release of the certificate of occupancy  for the project site.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike says the State Government is not relenting in its effort to crush criminal elements as it has mandated security agencies to rout cultists and other miscreants in their hideouts.
Speaking while playing host to the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Institute of Architects(NIA) in Government House, yesterday, Wike assured that the state is safe to host international events, citing the successful hosting of the Africa Movies Academy Award (AMAA) Awards and other international football events.
He said, “We are taking the war to the criminals who thought it’s difficult to totally eliminate them”.
Describing insecurity as a global phenomenon Wike added, “ the world today is not safe but we must do everything to protect our people.”
The governor noted that most of the negative media reports about the state were mere propaganda, as he called on the institute to use the visit to confirm the hospitality and peaceful nature of the state.
On the planned West Africa Architects Festival billed for September, the governor assured of the state support to the event and commended NIA for selecting Rivers State as its host.
He reiterated that the state is safe to host international events, disclosing that in the past months, Rivers State has become an investors haven, citing the new Indorama mega fertilizer plant worth over $5billion as a testament of a booming economy.
Wike congratulated National President of NIA, Architect Tonye Oliver Braide, who is the first Rivers indigene to occupy the seat in the 56 years old institute.
On his part, Architect Braide commended Chief Wike for his visionary leadership, noting that the planned West Africa Architect Festival, “ is our statement of support to your enigmatic administration.”
Braide says the festival would help showcase potentials of the state as building professionals from different parts of Africa would attend.
He hinted of plans to partner with the state government to establish a new manufacturing hub for building materials and a new industrial estate to boost the construction industry.