In this interview with EMMANUEL OBE and CLIFFORD CHRISTOPHER SOLOMON, the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government in Rivers State, Dr Samuel Nwanosike reveals how the local government is responding to illegal bunkering activities in the area.
How is Ikwerre Local Government responding to illegal bunkering activities, particularly where they have led to destructive fire incidents like it occurred at Ogbodo in Isiokpo last week?
I want to say clearly that it is common knowledge that Ikwerre Local Government is on zero tolerance to oil bunkering activities. All over the world, incidence of theft and crime you cannot say you have eliminated them hundred percent. There must be one or two cases that continue, especially because of the activities of oil bunkerers in our sister neighbouring local government areas.
And so, this incident that happened, is an unfortunate incident. But, we as local government have taken drastic steps. For security reasons I would not want to mention names because there are ongoing investigations that the security agents in collaboration with the council are working on. We have uncovered the syndicate that is masterminding the opening of all the pipelines in Rivers State. And that is a great achievement for us because my mathematics teacher told me that a problem identified is half solved. A lot of arrests have been made as pertaining those who are involved and they have also confessed to the crime before the security agents.
So, as a council chairman, I did not sleep on my job. We went to work. With the help of the community people, it has yielded results. So, I want to use this opportunity to commend men of the Nigeria Police Force and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for the support they have given to us. Without them we cannot be able to achieve this. And I thank the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Sim Fubara for the prompt action he took, when this incident happened.
This governor is God-sent. He is very proactive and that is the way to go. And that is why we are happy with the proverb that says a son should surpass his father. Governor Sim Fubara has come to show that capacity and that philosophy and we are happy with him.
How helpful have the communities through which these pipelines pass been to stop the illegal bunkering?
We want them to understand that, sabotaging the crude lines is the worst crime or the worst injustice that anybody can do to them because first of all, their groundwater is contaminated. They can’t plant, they can’t even eat from the things they plant there in case if they plant because the level of carbon monoxide that is in that environment is unacceptable for human consumption.
So, they will do themselves good in sharing tips of security information to people like us, the council and government agencies that work within that environment so that we would be able to nip this in the bud.
Orientation is an issue. A lot of reorientation also needs to be done by the Federal Government and the state government and even at the local government level so that, people will understand the dangers associated with this.
When people say they are chasing for crude to make peanuts (to eke out a living) they don’t check the overall hazards that would come as a repercussion to their actions. For us, the communities owe themselves a duty of survival.
If you go to that community; you said you visited that point, you will see clearly that nothing will be planted within the radius where that incident occurred in the next 30 years. Even when you do remediation, yet science says you cannot use that soil for the next 40 years. And so, I want to join other well-meaning Nigerians to tell them. It has nothing to do with whether it’s your family member, he is your son, he’s your friend, he’s your brother or not. A criminal is a criminal and whoever is touching the national asset of all of us Nigerians is a criminal and is against the growth of our economy; the growth of our nation.
You mentioned remediation. The oil company whose facilities were affected has sealed the place where the pipeline was broken but it has not done the clearing of the damage or remediation. Are they still going to do it?
Of course, it’s a step. They have taken the first step to save the community. When that incident happened, they came in promptly to stop that fire. And they are also aware of what is happening. Just as you visited, they visited. And so they will take all steps to make sure that these actions are taken for the good of the people.
Your colleague in a neighbouring local government had once accused security agencies and the oil companies of having a hand in some of these things that take place. Do you share that view?
Well, we are all different human beings. Everybody has his own opinion. I will keep my opinion to myself. What is important is that we must be partners in progress. I will keep working together to get the best for the Nigerian nation.
On security, Emohua Local Government recently stopped motorcycles from operating in the area and you toed the same step. What motivated that step?
Yes. Two things. One, the killing of the same motorbike operators; that was a new wave of crime that just emerged that okada riders who ride okada after 7 O’clock, maybe they are taking a passenger to a destination, people would just come out of the forest and attack them, take their bike. It became a problem to us because when an issue occurs more than twice, then as a government that understands the terrain, you must investigate.
Arrests have been made. Yes. But you must look at a solution to nip it in the bud permanently. And the best solution to nip it in the bud is to stop the operation of these Okada riders in the wee hours. And so, that’s why we are saying, operate between 6am and 7pm and let’s see how these guys would come and attack you in broad daylight so that we can understand. So, it’s for their own good.
Did you consider the inconveniences that it might cause to genuine persons who go about their motorcycle businesses?
The life of every Nigerian is bigger than the inconvenience that anybody can face.
…and the hardship that can come about being out of business…
The hardship cannot be equated to the life of every Nigerian, including you.
With a new government in place in Rivers State, would you be available to serve in a bigger capacity if invited at the state level?
I have nothing to react to that.
What are your expectations of the new government?
I have already said that to you. I am a sitting local government chairman. The governor is my supervisor by the laws of Nigeria. And I am here with other 22 colleagues to make sure we support him to get the best of results, as he has planned to achieve. Like I said, in our dialect, every father gives birth to a child for the child to be greater than him. And that is what he wants to achieve. And we as local government chairmen are here; don’t forget we belong to the same political party. It is the pride of our political party that we continue to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers State because Rivers State is traditionally a PDP state.
Just after the election tribunal started sitting, you were physically sighted to be playing some ritual performances in front of INEC office in Port Harcourt, an act for which you have been criticized by your political opponents in the media. How do you react to that?
First of all, I know you understand what they call theatre arts. So, I leave it at that.
