BEVERLY HILLS, June 08, (THEWILL) – Regretting that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has abandoned the clean-up of Ogoniland it flagged off about a year ago, the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike has called on the United Nations to prevail on the Federal Government to stop playing politics with the clean-up exercise.
The governor, who spoke on Thursday while receiving the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Edward Kallon, at the Government House in Port Harcourt, said nothing has been done about the proposed programme, expressing readiness to provide helicopter for his guest to go round and see things for himself.
Noting that the large-scale environmental pollution in different parts of the state has led to environmental degradation, he maintained that the clean-up of Ogoniland should not be politicised as it dwells directly on the development of the area.
Wike said, “Yesterday, in the Senate, somebody said the Federal Government has not done anything as far as Ogoni clean-up is concerned.
“When we were saying it, they said we were playing politics. But, now, it has dawned on them that nothing is being done. So, we urge you to intervene.
“Part of the problem we are having today is because of the lack of attention by the federal government when it has to do with Rivers State. We will provide you with helicopter, to see what we are talking about. Don’t only read it on papers. You will really pity us.
“The federal government has taken our oil and our environment has been degraded. Nothing seems to be done.
“We urge you, on your own part, as the UN, to impress it on the federal government that this clean-up is serious.
“Let it not be a political issue. We should not play politics with the lives of the people.”
The governor further called on the UN to partner with the state government, in the area of commercial agriculture, stating that this will help create jobs for unemployed youths because of the volatile nature of oil prices.
He urged the United Nations to provide a link for investors in commercial agriculture to come to the state, adding that his administration will provide incentives such as access to land and certificate of occupancy.
In an earlier remark, Kallon commended Wike for his infrastructural strides in Rivers, which, he said, has improved the living condition of the people.
He assured that the UN will mobilise support for the development of Rivers state and added that the world body will partner the state government in the area of agriculture, as a tool of employment generation and empowerment.
