Prevail On FG To Clean-Up Ogoniland, Wike Tells UN …Receives Barako,Nwiebara Boundary Report …Warns Communities Against Threats To Peace

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has called on the leadership of the United Nations to prevail on the Federal Government  to implement the clean up  of Ogoni-land, which was flagged off, last year.
Speaking at  Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday, when  he granted audience  to the United Nations Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon, the governor regretted that nothing has so far been done on the Ogoni clean up.
He said that large scale environmental pollution in different parts of the state leads to  environmental degradation, which negatively  affects the sources of livelihood  of the people.
He said the clean up of Ogoni land should not be politicised, as it dwells directly on the development of the area.
The governor said, “yesterday in the Senate, somebody said that the Federal Government has not done anything as far as Ogoni clean up is concerned. When we were saying it, they said we were playing  politics.  But now, it has dawned on them that nothing is being done.  So, we urge you to intervene.
“Part of the problem we are having today is because of the lack of attention by the Federal Government when it  has to do with Rivers State.  We will  provide you with helicopter to see what we are talking about.  Don’t only read it on papers. You will really pity us. “
Speaking further, Wike said, “the Federal Government has taken our oil and our environment has been degraded.  Nothing seems to be done.
“We urge you on your own part as the United Nations to impress on the Federal Government that this clean up is very serious.  Let it not be a political issue. We should not play politics with the lives of the people”.
The governor also called on the United Nations to partner with the Rivers State Government  in the area of commercial agriculture.
He said because of the volatile nature of oil prices, investments in  commercial agriculture will help create jobs for unemployed youths.
Wike urged the United Nations  to provide a link for investors  in  commercial agriculture to come to the state, adding that his administration  will provide incentives  such as access to land and certificate of occupancy.
While soliciting for partnership  in the area of environmental sanitation, Wike declared that his administration places premium on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
He informed the United Nations  that his administration has improved security through the diligent implementation of the state amnesty programme.
Wike said that the state government  was working with relevant agencies to improve  human rights and decongest the prisons.
Earlier, the United Nations Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon, had lauded the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for his infrastructural  development, which has improved  the living condition of the people.
He said the United Nations  will continue to mobilise support for the development of Rivers State.  He assured that the United Nations will partner with the Rivers State Government in the area of agriculture as a tool of employment generation and empowerment.
The UN chief added that partnership will be developed  with the Rivers State Government in the areas of Sustainable Development Goals, improvement of security, environmental sanitation, promotion of human rights and prisons decongestion.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has advised the people of Barako and Nwebiara in Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State, to sheathe their swords and maintain the peace at all times.
The deputy governor stated this while receiving the summary/recap of report on Barako/Nwebiara boundary demarcation in her office in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Banigo frowned at a situation where people take laws into their hands and destroy lives and properties because of land disputes, stressing that there are better options to resolve issues no matter how thorny they are.
“We must eschew violence because violence begets violence,” she said.
This, according to her, underscores the reason for the setting up of the Barako/Nwebara Boundary Dispute Technical Committee made up of critical stakeholders to wade into the matter.
She expressed satisfaction with the work done by the committee, noting that the report will be forwarded to the State Chief Executive, Chief Nyesom Wike, for his approval and necessary action.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Technical Committee, Engr Gloria Dans, who spoke through Mrs. Mercy Agetue, said the committee employed peace resolution processes such as negotiation and caucusing in hearing parties, and thanked the Chairman of the Rivers State Boundary Commission, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, for the opportunity to serve.
Earlier, the Surveyor General of the state, Noel Chikezie Elenwo, said issues of boundary disputes were not only peculiar to Rivers State alone, noting that the State Boundary Commission headed by the deputy governor is working within the confines  of the law in addressing  issues related to boundary disputes in the state.
He commended the efforts of the Wike-led administration in tackling boundary disputes, while advising members of the public to desist from employing the services of quacks in the survey profession.
It would be recalled that the Barako and Nwebiara communities in Gokana Local Government Area of the state have been locked up in a long battle over a piece of land for more than 80 years.