Wike Promises to Find Solution to Soku Oil Well Conflict

Chief Nyesom Wike

Amaechi wants PDP voted out for causing economic woes

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said he would find a political solution to the crisis surrounding the ceding of Soku oil wells to Bayelsa State.

This came as the state Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, urged the people of Kalabari to vote out the PDP in the forthcoming elections for plunging the nation into economic hardship.

Wike said he has already received a firm promise from President Goodluck Jonathan that a political solution would be reached on the lingering conflict between Rivers and Bayelsa States over the oil wells.

He spoke on Tuesday when he led Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo; his running mate, Mrs. Ipalibo Banigo; and top members of the Rivers State PDP campaign council to Soku to meet with traditional rulers and also address the Oceania communities in a grand governorship campaign rally.

He assured the people of Soku that he has the political will and capacity to resolve the oil wells conflict to the benefit of the people of Rivers State.

Wike also told the Oceania traditional rulers that he informed President Jonathan on Monday evening during the meeting the president held with PDP governorship candidates that he would be visiting Soku and the president gave him a message for the people of the area.

He said: “President Jonathan asked me to say directly to you that he is an Ijaw son, he is your brother and therefore you should not allow people to carry false propaganda to divide two brothers. He has asked me to tell you that it is not correct to say that he took Soku oil wells and gave them to Bayelsa State. President Jonathan asked me to tell you that the Soku Oil well conflict started earlier between Bayelsa and Rivers State, but that it will be sorted out politically.”

Speaking further, Wike said: “We have the political will and capacity to resolve this conflict. I will not be a party to ceding any part of Rivers State to another state.”

He berated the Amaechi administration for abandoning the oil bearing Oceania communities, leaving them with no projects while top Rivers government officials corruptly enrich themselves at the expense of the people.

The governorship candidate pledged to develop all Oceania communities, noting that they would be involved in the administration of the state in the interest of justice and fair play.

“I promised our people that I will not sit in Port Harcourt and pretend to know their challenges. That is why I am here today to visit Soku to see things for myself and know how the people feel about our programmes lined up for the revival of the state. Before the elections, I will extend my visit to other Oceania communities,” he said.

Tamunobere Oru Sah of Elem Sanganna, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers, announced the endorsement of Wike, Jonathan and other PDP candidates in the forthcoming general election.

Also speaking, Chief Telema Imoh announced that the Oceania communities were committed to a Wike-Banigo victory because the ticket has positive plans for the development of the state.

At the governorship campaign rally, the people of the area who turned out in their thousands, declared their support for Wike and the PDP.

The PDP leaders in the area assured Wike that the few opposition members in the community had defected to PDP.

Highlight of the grand governorship rally at Soku was the defection of hundreds of APC members to the PDP.

But Amaechi has urged the people to vote out the PDP for their failure to shore up the economy of the nation.

Amaechi spoke on Monday at Bakana in Degema Local Government Area of the state shortly after unknown gunmen temporarily disrupted the ward to ward campaign rally of the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

The attack by unknown gunmen, which was immediately brought under control by security operatives made up of Police, Navy, Army and the Department of State Security (DSS), came less than three days after similar attack was meted out on the campaign train of the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, Wike.
The governor, who predicted that the dollar will soar against the naira in the coming days, urged the people to vote out PDP and vote in APC for the economic survival and revival of the country.

He said: “Because, they have stolen all the money; no money to steal anywhere. So, they can’t even pay for fuel. The remaining money they have stolen for campaign, so your suffering has started.

“When we were meeting in Abuja, we were planning on what to do about the election. We said God will deliver this election for us. Now, how many of us know how much dollar cost now? It is N225; I am predicting that before March 28, it will be N265 per dollar.”

Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate, Peterside, said if elected into office on April 11, his administration would empower women, youths and also carry out reclamation in Abonnema to expand the city, adding that the APC-led government at the state and federal level would ensure speedy development of Kalabari.


The governorship candidate, earlier led the Greater Together Campaign Organisation (GTCO) team to wards in Bille, Bakana and Tombia communities, all in Degema local government area before going to Abonnema.