Wike To CDS: Southsouth Governors Will Fish Out Pipeline Bombers

Nigeria’s military high command, led by Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin visited the Rivers State Governor Image source: nkiruhomann.com

•Governors to meet with Osinbajo June 7

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike assured yesterday of the readiness of South-South governors to assist in fishing out pipeline bombers in the area.

The Nation report continues:
He promised that nobody will be shielded from the military operations against the Niger Delta militants sabotaging the nation’s economy.

He said Niger Delta governors were opposed to the use of violence to settle grievances, adding that the governors will be meeting with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on June 7 to proffer solutions to the security situation in the region.

Wike spoke yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when he received Nigeria’s military high command, led by Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin.

With Gen. Olonisakin were Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar. There were many GOCs, FOCs and AOCs, that accompanied them.

The Rivers governor said: “What is happening affects our state revenue. We shall help the military to fish out militants blowing up oil pipelines in the region.

“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 also stated that the Rivers government was worried about the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta, stressing that it had been negatively affecting development in the crude oil and gas-rich region.

While lauding the military officers for the sacrifice they had been making in providing security for most parts of Rivers state, Wike urged the military to work towards improving security in Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers state.

The chief of defence staff said the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta was of serious concern to the military.

Gen. Olonisakin said: “Recent activities of the militants have led to the sabotage of oil and gas infrastructure.”

The chief of defence staff also stated that the country’s economy was being threatened by the resurgent militancy, hence the need to stop the insecurity in the Niger Delta region.

He urged the Rivers governor to reach out to his colleagues in the Niger Delta to resolve the conflicts in the region.

Gen. Olonisakin said the top military officers were in the Niger Delta to interface with the leadership of the Operation Polo Shield and other service commanders, on how to put an end to criminality in the region and protect the nation’s economy from total collapse.

Governor Wike To Military High Command: We Will Not Shield Any Militant

Nigeria’s military high command, led by Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin visited the Rivers State Governor Image source: nkiruhomann.com

A Press Release from Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, (Electronic Media) published on Nkiru Homann Blog read: 
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that nobody will be shielded from the military operations against militants sabotaging the nation’s economy.

He stated that all Niger Delta governors oppose the use of violence to settle grievances, pointing out that the governors are billed to meet with the Vice President on 7th of June, 2016 to discuss and proffer solutions to the security situation in the region.
Speaking on Monday at the Government House, Port Harcourt when he granted audience to the Country’s Military High Command led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, Governor Wike said : “What’s happening affects our state revenue. We shall help the military to fish out militants blowing up oil pipelines in the region.” 

The Chief of Defence Staff was 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.

The governor said that the State Government is worried about the resurgence of militancy in the Niger-Delta as it negatively affects development in the area.

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.”

He assured the Military High Command that the Government and people of Rivers State will support efforts to secure the area.

While commending the military for the sacrifice they have made in providing security for most parts of the state, he urged them to work towards improving security in Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Areas of the state.

Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin said the recent resurgence of militancy in the Niger-Delta is of serious concern to the military.

“Recent activities of the militants have led to the sabotage of oil and gas infrastructure”, he said.

He said economy of the nation is threatened by the resurgent militancy, hence the need to stop the insecurity in the region.

General Olonisakin urged the Rivers State Governor to reach out to his colleagues in the Niger Delta to resolve the conflicts in the area.

He said that the Military High Command was in the region to interface with the leadership of the Operation Pulio Shield and other service commanders on how to put an end to criminality in the region and protect the nation’s economy from total collapse.

Simeon Nwakaudu,

Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.

23rd May, 2016.