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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government deliberately plans to eliminate a greater percentage of the state’s population by its failure to act on environmental situation in the State
Governor Wike also disclosed that the Honourable Attorney General of Rivers State has been directed to sue the Federal Government and International Oil Companies operating in the state over the soot in the area.
The Governor said this while addressing a delegation of the United Nations at the Government House Port Harcourt during a meeting to tackle the soot.
Governor Wike called on the United Nations to prevail on the Federal Government to act on the soot.
The governor said that the Federal Government and her agencies were practically damaging the environment by their illegal activities.
According to him, “Thank God that the United Nations has come in view of the issues we have raised. We thank the United Nations for their concern on the Rivers Environment as it relates to the soot.
“If we must move on, we must situate the cause of the soot and the fact that the Federal Government has decided to make sure that a greater percentage of the state dies.
“The Federal Government wants to eliminate a greater percentage of the state. The problem of soot is not caused by the Rivers State Government. It is caused by Federal Agencies.
“The Rivers State Government do not own companies that refine crude. We have made representations to the Federal Government and her agencies on the issue of soot, to no avail.”
“We have called on the security agencies to find more refined ways of destroying the illegal refineries. We have informed the National Council of Environment, the military and all Federal Regulatory Agencies, but they are not interested in intervening”, Governor Wike said.
“We want the international community to come to our aid and pressure the Federal Government not to politicise environmental issues. We are ready to work with the international community to address this challenge.
“All the Federal Government is doing is to chase shadows, organising people to protest. Until they stop politicizing very serious issues and focus on governance, we will head nowhere.
“I have directed the Honourable Attorney General to brief an environmental lawyer to sue the Federal Government and the international oil companies over the issue of soot”, he added.
Leader of the United Nations Delegation to Rivers State, Charles Ekong appreciated the steps already taken by the Rivers State Government .
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