Rivers PDP Carpets Princewill Over ‘Kpo Fire’Fight

Rivers State spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned views expressed by All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Prince Tonye Princewill, on national television in which he claimed that operators of illegal refineries, otherwise known as ‘Kpo fire’ in Rivers State were being given the option to either join the PDP to continue in the illegal business or be prosecuted, if they refuse to decamp.
Reacting in a statement, yesterday, the state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Hon. Tambari Sydney, said the party would have ignored Princewill’s claims but because it was coming from an interested party, hence the need to keep the records straight.
The statement said, “Firstly, we wish to restate that the Peoples Democratic Party is not so desperate for membership that it will deliberately admit people with questionable character as it is the case with the APC where criminals are given amnesty for joining them”.
He recalled that one APC leader had once declared that the party has become shield for corrupt leaders and those being probed as they become exonerated once they join the party.
Sydney said, “No matter how corrupt or grievous your sins may be, the moment you join the APC you automatically become a saint because all your sins are forgotten”.
He explained that the PDP admits only credible individuals with high moral standing and impeccable character, adding that, “All men of good conscience and judgement will agree with us that the fight against illegal oil refineries and bunkering in Rivers State is a just course which should be wholeheartedly supported by all, after all it is the responsibility the Federal Government to have done so.”
The PDP spokesman noted that the soot is caused by incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon as a result of illegally refined petroleum products,as the health hazards associated with this activity does not only affect PDP members, but every one living and doing business in the state.
Besides that, he stressed that medical reports have shown that this activity has contributed largely to an increase in respiratory health cases in the state, especially among young children.
To this end, he warned that the war against illegal bunkering (Kpofire) does not need any political coloration going by the intension of the government, which is bent in improving the wellbeing of the people.
Berating Princewill for failing to applaud the efforts of the governor in confronting the menace in order to rescue the environment and health of the people, Sydney flaked the APC chieftain for exposing himself as a beneficiary of the heinous crime against humanity going on in the state.
He said, “He should, therefore, be declared an enemy of the state, treated as such and be made to face the full wrought of the law.”
So far, he reiterated that the good works of the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has made the party more popular and acceptable at the grassroots in the state giving rise to the influx of notable politicians from other political parties into the PDP, especially from the APC.
“Having noticed the ideological differences between both parties, it is laughable to imagine that anybody will insinuate that our party is so desperate for members to the point of compromising it’s ethics”, he added.

By: Kevin Nengia