The chief of staff to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Emeka Woke, on Saturday, reportedly invaded Rhythm 93. 7 FM in Port Harcourt and assaulted a guest of the station.
The guest of the Viewpoint program, Gani Topba, an Ogoni activist was responding to questions over the failed intervention of the Rivers State Government in OML 25 crisis in Kula, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area when Mr Woke invaded the studio with police officers.
It was also gathered that the chief of staff used unprintable names on chief Toba, referring to Toba as a 419.
The reason for the invasion of the studio was the protracted crisis between Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and Kula community over the shutting down of the OML 25 operated by Shell in the area.
The community said they preferred an indigenous company, Belema Oil to take over the operatorship of the OML. But Shell said they had renewed the licence for another 20 years.
The community had through series of meetings said that they had the right of first refusal, stressing that they do not want Shell in their community anymore.
The OML 25 was shut down by the women of the community on August 2017 and all efforts by the state government to solve the problem have resulted in a stalemate as it has taken a political dimension.
Toba had a week ago, indicated Ogoni’s support for the people of Kula in the crises, threatening to mobilize 7000 Ogoni women to Kula women to sustain the shutdown.
The activist who was a guest on the program had attacked the state government for its involvement in the matter, prompting the chief of staff to invade the station during the program.
Following the invasion of the studio by Mr Woke, the anchor, Segun Owolabi, shut the program down.
