The dust around the fight against illegal oil bunkering activities, seems to be swirling out of control, as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and a stakeholder of the All Progressives Congress, APC, engage in a war of words on the nitty-gritty surrounding Government stance on the illegal oil activities.
A statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Tambari Sydney Gbara, reads: PDP, Condemns Attempts By Tonye Princewill To Mislead The Public On Wike’s War Against illegal Refinery The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Rivers State has been drawn to an interview granted by one Prince Tonye Princewill an APC starlwart to the media, claiming that operators of illegal refineries otherwise known as “Kpofire” in Rivers State are been wooed by the present administration to either join the PDP to continue in the illegal business or be prosecuted if they refuse to decamp.
PDP, would have ignored this vituperation because it is coming from an interested party in the illegal business, but we are persuaded to make this statement so as to keep the records straight. Firstly, the Peoples Democratic Party is not so desperate for membership, that the party will deliberately admit in people with questionable character as it is the case of the APC, where criminals are given amnesty for joining them no matter how corrupt or grievous your sins are, you automatically become a saint.
PDP admits only credible individuals with high moral standing and impeccable character. All men of good conscience and judgement will agree with us that the fight against illegal oil refineries and bunkering in Rivers State is a just course which should be wholeheartedly supported by all, after all it is the responsibility the Federal Government to do so.
It is also instructive to know that Black soot is caused by incomplete combustion of hydro-carbon as a result of illegally refined petroleum products, the health hazards associated with this activity does not only affect PDP members, but every one living and doing business here. Medical reports have shown these activity has contributed largely to an increase in respiratory health cases in the State, especially among under aged children.
Therefore the war against illegal bunkering (Kpofire) does not need any political coloration going by the intention of the government, which is seeing to the wellbeing of the people. More so, Apart from its health implications, kpofire operators are economic saboteurs whose operation is inimical to the economy and must be discouraged by all means no matter whose ox is gored, because no one is above the law, what ever is wrong in the eyes of the law should be condemned in it’s totality.
Illegal refining of petroleum products is hazardous to our health and environment, it takes away the lively hood of our people, therefore anyone including the likes of Tonye Princewill who instead of applauding His Excellency’s who has decided to take the bull by the horns to confront this menace in order to rescue our environment and secure the health of the people, but is rather making irrational and baseless statements to misinform the people and frustrate Government efforts, has in the process exposed himself as a collaborator and a beneficiary of this heinous crime against humanity going on in the State.
He should therefore be declared an enemy of the State, treated as such and made to face the full wrath of the law. The good works of Governor Wike has made our Party more popular and accepted at the grass root in the State ,resulting in the influx of notable politicians from other political parties into PDP, especially from the APC, having noticed the ideological difference of both parties. So it is laughable to imagine that any body will insinuate that our party is so desperate for members to a point of compromising its ethics.
For the records, of recent, precisely on the 7th of February, 2022 the State Chairman of PDP Amb. Desmond Akawor played host to some leaders of the APC from Obio/ Akpor LGA, at the State Party Secretariat, led by hon. Friday Kinikanwo Owhor, the former State Treasurer of APC, who visited to announce their desire to resign membership of APC to PDP. These have been the trend in the State, including close associates of Rotimi Amaechi like Dr. Sampson Parker his former personal physician, just to mention a few.
Tonye Princewill is an attention seeker obviously playing to the gallery to attract the attention and blessing of his principal for a Governorship ticket in his drowning party. He should be sincere enough to furnish the public with answers to these pertinent questions, why is he crying wolves that Governor Wike is stopping illegal refineries (Kpofire) if the action of the Governor is not affect his line of business?
Since he is in touch with those in the business, why has he not submitted their names to the security outfits in the State as directive by the Governor? finally, can he also make public the name of those he claimed were wooed by the present administration to join PDP and remain in business or otherwise and face prosecution.
One would have thought that as the son of a revered Monarch, he should have been guided by morality and good sense of judgement, by standing on the side of truth due to his well known background, doing away with avarice, petty jealousy, blackmail, making flippant and unguarded utterances that is not befitting of him and capable of misleading the people just to score cheap political points.
Whipping political sentiments in a matter of great health concern that has terminated a lot of live, is a gross act of irresponsibility on his part, because at a time like this, the Peoples will look up to State’s men like him to join force with the Governor to come to their rescue.
Tonye Princewill should bury his head in shame for failing on his responsibility as a State’s man, learn to grow up, because we have had enough of this political brigandish and senseless shenanigans. As a matter fact, he should tender an unreserved apology to Rivers people for his un-statesman like utterances knowing fully well that the fight against Illegal oil refineries and bunkering is well intended, in good faith for the good interest of the people.
No act of sabotage or seeming attempts. in any guise to either mislead the people or frustrate the effort of Governor Wike will succeed. We all know false alarm to be the hallmark of detractors like Tonye Princewill who has nothing to offer. We, therefore call on all good people of the State to disregard Princewill’s ignorable, offensive and highly provocative rantings and continue to support the present administration in their fight to put an end to the menace of illegal oil refineries in the State, that is posing serious health threat to us all, which His Excellency, is leaving no stone unturned to tackle in other to give us a healthier and happier life.
On his part, Prince Tonye Princewill, wrote: PDP Press Release – My Reply (Part 1) Most people who know me, know that I am hands on. I prefer to lead by example. That’s why I want to show Rivers people and interested parties how to respond to smear tactics. The first thing is to set the tone. It’s like trying to speak English to Philistines, but you have to try.
The state is far bigger than all of us, so we must put ego aside and argue beyond artificial boundaries like party, tribe, religion and social standing. So what is the tone to set, I hear you ask? The tone is PEACE. That is what I intend to set here as a tone. Peace. In my very brief statement on the 5th of February, that my detractors took over a week to scramble to respond to, I commended the Governor for his stance against illegal refining but did two other things in addition.
I asked one, that he also addresses the root causes of illegal refining. And two, that he desists from playing politics with it. Not sure which of the salient points I raised, irked my detractors, but the fact that they called me, both a nobody and a statesman in the same paragraph, suggests enough to their frame of mind. Whenever you cannot recognize advice, you need leadership glasses.
We all woke up to the black soot this morning, including the Governor and there is still no end in sight. A lot of motion, no movement. Let me repeat my advice, at the risk of yet another press release. “Be tough on illegal refining, but also be tough on the causes of the illegal refining, of which number 1 is the lack of jobs for the youth. People can not stand in water and soap will be entering their eyes.
How many new industries have we brought in, how many businesses? Is it better to be loyal to jeeps and give them flyovers or be loyal to our many youths and women and give them a means of livelihood? These are the questions. I suggest we do all of the above and more, but give priority to the women and youths and spread development.
Not everything is about politics. Let me assure the PDP people listening that the next government will not discriminate against you. No matter your leanings, you will be safe. What I expect of you is to love your state far more than you love your party. Think about your children and the children they will have to face. I’ve refused to abuse Wike, not because I cannot.
All the angels know Wike has plenty of faults. I refuse to abuse him because that’s all we hear in the news. APC abuses PDP, etc. Princewill tackles Wike and vice versa. Meanwhile our children are dying. This is the wrong message to send. After Wike has gone, nobody should touch him. I won’t support it. We have to move on. This season of bitterness has to end. People who want to bring in their money to invest in Rivers, need to feel welcome.
They need to know that we are jolly good fellows. They need to know that we are all brothers and sisters here. Not political zealots, always on the attack, looking for who to smear. I know we can not change overnight, but I can play my part. It was Tonye Cole who taught me that it is not only physical violence that we should be avoiding, we should be avoiding the verbal violence as well.
If we want to keep on getting what we have been getting, we should keep on doing what we have been doing. But if we here want a more prosperous Rivers state, we really really really need peace. A word is enough for the wise. Not that we can not wage war. Nobody loves war more than me, when the cause is just. But will we govern over dead people? Egberi fa. Thank you for your time. Where there is a will, there is a way. And my name is Princewill.
