The Rivers State government has said that it is determined to arrest and prosecute owners of petrol stations accused of selling illegally refined petroleum products in the state.
It said that no amount of blackmail will deter it from prosecuting Chinyere Igwe, member representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives, whose filling station was sealed for allegedly selling illegally refined products.
Speaking during a Permanent Voters Card (PVC) sensitisation and mobilisation rally organised by the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) in Gokana local government area of the State, Emeka Woke, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, said the Wike-led administration has constitutional obligation to decisively deal with anyone involved in acts inimical to the Nigerian economy.
He said, “Anybody who allows his business premises to be used for illegal oil bunkering, that premises will be shut down. Whoever, allows his hotel to harbour criminals bent on destabilizing the State, we will deal with you according to the law.”
Woke urged the indicted federal lawmaker to submit himself to security agencies for interrogation, and warned him to desist from misleading the unsuspecting members of the public with spurious claims that he was being politically victimised.
The chief of staff, who further lambasted Igwe for his derogatory comments against Governor Nyesom Wike, said but for the governor’s benevolence, the lawmaker would have gone into political extinction.
He said, “I listen to Chinyere Igwe yesterday talking about ingratitude. A man who had been retired politically. This is the man who spent only one term in the House of Representatives and came back home.
“The immediate-past governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, chased him out of Port Harcourt and he ran to Abuja. He even contested on the platform of ACN then, and lost woefully.
“When we had mobilized GDI and had strengthened the party (Peoples Democratic Party), we brought him back and those of them whom he said he is speaking for now. None of them were foundation members of GDI.
“And His Excellency, the governor gave him platform, first as a Commissioner and then to the National Assembly, even though he didn’t win the primary. And today, he is talking about ingratitude.”
