Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor, Wednesday said the politicisation of security matters by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is responsible for the insecurity across the country.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by
the Charge D’Affairs, Embassy of Netherlands, Mrs. Marian Van De Cappello, at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Wike said: “The problem we have is the politicisation of security. As an opposition state, once we have security challenges, politics is introduced.”
The governor then urged the government of Netherlands to support Rivers State in tackling insecurity in the state.
On the activities of some multinational companies in the state, Wike blamed some of these companies for encouraging insecurity by patronising cultists for surveillance jobs.
“Shell Petroleum is part of the major culprits. Shell divides communities to make sure that the people don’t work together. Shell doesn’t want to implement memorandum of understanding signed with communities.
“I sat in a meeting with Shell, Agip and Total. It was only Shell that refused to implement the memorandum of understanding. Despite the actions of Shell, we shall continue to protect our national assets,” the governor said.
On the Ogoni clean up, Wike said the Federal Government has not shown seriousness and commitment to the project, adding that the government is only interested in the political gain of the project.
The governor said he remains committed to all his campaign promises, noting that he would work towards fulfilling them during his second term.
“Every promise made, we will try to actualise them. Youths will have 40 per cent in the new cabinet. This 40 per cent will cover men and women. There will be another 20 per cent for women. This means that women will have more than 20 per cent in the next cabinet,” he said.
The governor called on the Embassy of Netherlands to attract agricultural investors to the state for the purpose of job creation.
In her remarks, Cappello congratulated Wike on his victory during the governorship election and commended the Rivers State government for initiating reconciliation between political gladiators in the state. She said with reconciliation, the state would experience peace and development.
The Charge D’Affairs praised the governor for pledging to increase women and youth participation in his next cabinet.
The envoy said she was in the state to participate in the clean-up of Ogoni.
Meanwhile, Rivers State government has said it would henceforth sanction any company that awards surveillance jobs to cultists in line with its commitment to improving security across the state.
Wike made this known during a courtesy visit by the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Jerome Pasquier, in Port Harcourt.
The governor said before such surveillance jobs are awarded, the companies should inform the state government for proper scrutiny of the beneficiaries.
“Companies encourage cultists by giving them surveillance jobs. We must know those doing these surveillance jobs.
“When you empower them, they have more money to acquire arms. Any company that gives surveillance jobs to cultists will be sanctioned,” Wike said.
He appealed to the French Ambassador to prevail on the authorities not to politicise the security of the country.
Wike called on the French Embassy to take steps to ensure that Air France returns to Port Harcourt, adding that the state government is prepared to support the airline through relevant policies.
The governor said his administration would continue to work towards enhancing a fruitful relationship with the French Government.
Pasquier, in his remarks, said there’s a major French presence in Rivers State through the operations of Total and other professionals, adding that the Embassy would continue to work towards greater French presence in the state.
He assured that the Embassy would persuade more French investors to come to Nigeria, especially Rivers State to invest accordingly.
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