BEVERLY HILLS, May 23, (THEWILL) – Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that nobody will shield the militants who are sabotaging the nation’s economy from military operations against them.
Wike made this known on Monday, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when he granted audience to the military high command led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin.
He disclosed that Governors from the oil-rich Niger Delta region were fully opposed to the use of violence by the militants and declared that the governors were billed to meet with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on June 7, 2016, to discuss and proffer solutions to the security situation in the region.
“What is happening affects our state revenue. We shall help the military to fish out militants blowing up oil pipelines in the region,” he said.
“As a government, we cannot support economic sabotage. What is going on is economic sabotage. Production is being negatively affected, with the revenue of states dwindling.
“There are ways to channel grievances and it is wrong to do what will negatively affect the people of the region.”
Wike commended the military for the sacrifice they have made in providing security in the state but urged them to work towards improving security in Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Areas of the state.
In his speech, Olonisakin, accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, urged the governor to reach out to his colleagues in the Niger Delta to resolve the conflicts in the region.
Story by David Oputah
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