The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has announced that security agencies have arrested 22 staff of ExxonMobil who entered the State from Akwa Ibom
The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has announced that security agencies have arrested 22 staff of ExxonMobil who entered the State from Akwa Ibom in violation of the State Executive Order, Vanguard is reporting.
Addressing a Press Conference in Port Harcourt on Friday, Governor Wike stated that the ExxonMobil matter will be a test case in legal jurisprudence in the country. He said, “We do not know the coronavirus status of these individuals. Even though security agencies advised that they be allowed to go back to Akwa Ibom State, I insisted that the law must take its course. This is because nobody is above the law. As a responsive government, we have quarantined them in line with the relevant health protocols and they will be charged to court.”
The Rivers State Governor regretted that Federal Authorities are working dangerously to compromise the health protection system of Rivers State and thereby make vulnerable to coronavirus
“We are doing what we can within the available resources to fight coronavirus. You can fly, but as you fly and land, don’t enter our territory. We will fight this matter legally. ExxonMobil does not operate in Rivers State. That they have a point at the Onne seaport does not mean that they operate in Rivers State.
“People in Abuja are not happy. They want Rivers State to be infected. They want to kill Rivers people and I will not allow it. I was elected to protect Rivers people. Rivers State is not a pariah State. Nigerians shake when they hear oil companies they shake because they have compromised. Imagine an appointed Minister issuing an order to an elected Governor. They wanted to rig us out and lost. We are talking about something that is killing people. They want coronavirus to escalate in Rivers State. The law must be tested. Nobody will use Rivers State as a toy. This Federal Government does not like us, but a government will come that likes Rivers State.”
The Governor said that the law will take its course. He said: “People selling Akara are being charged to Court in Lagos. But they want us to allow oil companies to flout the law. I am a boy to Rivers people, not to anybody outside Rivers State. You have been fighting Rivers State since 2015. They challenged me in 2015, I defeated them. In 2019, I defeated them. There is no third term. I don’t take order from Abuja but from Rivers people.”
Meanwhile, the governor announced that Caverton Helicopters have apologised to the State Government over the conduct that led to the arrest of their pilots and passengers who violated the restriction orders of the state.
Governor Wike noted that his administration established the right legal framework to assist it effectively fight against the spread of coronavirus. Governor Wike said that the second case in Rivers State has been discharged. He thanked God for his blessing to the State.
