Success Nwanedo
Over the years, Nigeria has seen little or no improvement in its political environment because political leaders always fail to tackle issues until a camera is on them.
Although participation in Nigeria’s political environment demands being a member of a political platform as the constitution outlines, it is imperative to note that one is first a person saddled with a responsibility to uphold the powers of the office they have been elected into.
With less than a year to the 2023 general elections, political juggernauts have begun showcasing the skills they dumped in the deepest parts of their bags, why?, possibly to do the job or maybe to gain public ovation and possible votes during the elections.
A brief look into the soot issue in Rivers state, the executive governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, says he has unleashed a war against illegal bunkering and artisanal refining of crude oil products, a business that has led to the emission of the deadly “black soot” that has made residents in the state uncomfortable for years.
Health experts and concerned Nigerians had in past years complained about the emissions of the deadly substance and its dangers to the health of residents. However, these calls were met with deafening silence until 9th January 2022, when Governor Wike said he was ready to tackle the soot killing his “people” in a statewide broadcast.
The governor also declared 19 operators of illegal crude oil refining sites wanted.
A statement issued by Kelvin Ebiri, Wike’s special assistant on media after the broadcast, said, “Furthermore, the following persons who have been identified as kingpins of bunkering and illegal crude oil refining activities in their communities have been declared wanted and directed to report themselves to the State Police Command, to whom we have already passed their details to,” Wike was quoted as saying.
“Mr. Azubike Amadi, OSPAC Commander, Ogbogoro community and Chairman of Akpor Central OSPAC; Mr. India, of Rumuolumeni community and Chairman of Oil bunkering Association in Akpor kingdom; Mr. Okey who is in charge of Oil bunkering in Rumupareli; Mr. Anderson, who is in charge of oil bunkering activities in Ogbogoro community; Amadi Gift of Ogbogoro community; Azeruowa of Ogbogoro community; and Kingsley Egbula, also of Ogbogoro community.
“Also declared wanted are the following persons who are alleged to be in charge of oil bunkering activities in Isiokpo community: Mr. Kemkom Azubike, Mr. Mezu Wabali, Mr. Chigozi Amadi, Mr. Opurum Owhondah, Mr. Bakasi Obodo ,Mr. Opus, Mr. Galaxi Mas, Mr. Chioma, Mr. Ogondah, Mr. Soldier, Mr. Chefo, and Nkasi.
“We have also identified those behind illegal bunkering activities in Okrika communities, Port Harcourt Township, Rivers South-East and Rivers South-West Senatorial Districts and their names would be soon published and declared wanted if they fail to voluntarily report to the police.”
After the statewide broadcast by the Executive Governor of Rivers state, one begins to wonder why he waited till now to act?
Furthermore, the Governor on Friday, 14th January 2022, in a meeting with council chairmen and heads of the Army, Air Force, the Navy, the Police, the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Government House, Port Harcourt, told council chairmen to identify illegal refining sites in their area and walk away with 2 million naira, a duty they were already elected to discharge.
“Now, every council chairman must go and identify where illegal refineries are taking place. If you identify one, you get N2m (Two million Naira). So, go and identify as many as you can.
“I will pay N2m for each one. And I am going to fight against this. Our people are dying and we owe our people the responsibility to protect them, to save them from death they never caused.
“So, you must, and you’re given 48 hours to go and identify all illegal refineries sites, and those who are in charge of them,” he added.
Well, it is no longer news to the average Nigerian that things are not handled until they get out of hand as this is evident in the issue of the nation’s security and until our leaders rise up to do things without cameras in their faces, we would keep pushing instead of flying the nation to its glory.
