Tina Amanda
Bille Kingdom’s Council of Chiefs has given Tonye Cole, the All Progressive Congress, APC, governorship aspirant in the state 48 hours ultimatum to publicly withdraw the statement he made during a radio program that Bille Community is the heart of oil bunkering in Rivers State.
Recall that the APC governorship candidate, while arguing during a Radio Political program on Rhythm FM, View Point, that insecurity has worsened in the state, said that Bille Community in Degema Local government area is the heart of illegal oil refining where everyone carries guns.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, the Vice Chairman, Bille Kingdom council of Chiefs, Alabo Ibitamino Minapakama, said it is disheartening for Bille kingdom and the entire Riverine areas to be portrayed in the manner which Tonye Cole did and thereby demanded that the guber candidate tenders an apology to the people of Bille kingdom.
According to him, Bille kingdom is yet to recover from similar accusation of proliferation of arms which led to army invasion on 2nd December 2015 and another threat and attack
from a neighbouring community on September -December 2018 which were false claims.
“Contrary to his claim, Bille is an anti-bunkering community with security agencies stationed to check bunkering activities.
” We feel disappointed that Pastor Architect Tonye Cole, a governorship candidate would resort to a display of grave bias and cheap blackmail against the ancient Bille kingdom.
“There exists a police station in Bille Town and beyond that, it is also public knowledge that the 29th Battalion Tactical Headquarters of the Nigerian Army is also stationed in Bille Town. It is, therefore, preposterous to hear Tonye Cole talk about persons having more arms and guns in Bille”
Alabo Minapakama stressed that Bille Kingdom is the most peaceful Ijaw and riverine kingdom in the state, free of cultism and sea piracy, adding that Bille should be developed and not victimized.
“It is totally unacceptable that the APC governorship candidate could maliciously portray the calm and peaceful Bille kingdom in such a bad and negative light.
” We wish to reiterate that in the whole Degema Local Government Area, Bille is the highest contributor to the national economy, being host to oil fields from Bille one (Krakama) and Bille two (Awoba), comprising of 23 oil wells with a total annual oil and gas production capacity of 6, 886, 984 barrels of crude and 6, 880, 757 of gas (NNPC Annual Statistical Bulletin 2010).
“Yet it is regrettable that despite the huge economic contributions of Bille to the local government, the state and the national economy, Bille has always been deprived and marginalised. Therefore, Bille ought to be developed and not victimized‘’
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