Governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party for the 2023 election in Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Leyii Kwane, has called on traditional rulers and local government chairmen to monitor the transactions of illegal oil deals in their localities.
Kwanee, the immediate past deputy speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, said oil theft and illegal refineries thriving in oil bearing communities were because the immediate custodians of the law in the areas had abandoned their domains for the cities.
Kwanee made the call at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, while unveiling his running mate for next year’s poll.
He charged the monarchs, council chairmen and their counselors to enforce vigilance over oil facilities in their areas to forestall illegal oil bunkering and crude theft
Kwanee assured that if he won the election as governor next year, he would think beyond oil by diverting attention to other areas that would produce revenues for the running of the state.
He said, “We will think outside the box. We will think beyond oil. But one thing is clear, our traditional rulers, our council chairmen and the counselors have abandoned their domains and are now living in all the big hotels in the cities.
“Who will help to look over those oil facilities? Do we need to rely solely on the security agencies? We need the locals who are privileged to have these facilities located in their communities.”
While unveiling his running mate for the governorship race, Mrs. Brassba Jack, Kwanee said the recent Executive Order 21 signed by the state governor, Nyesom Wike, which restricts unapproved political rallies in the state was aimed at monopolising political power.
He said the restrictions might deprive political parties the opportunity to present good candidates to the electorates.
Kwanee further said the 2023 election in the state was a very important occasion that would provide opportunity to elect leaders with the capacity to proffer solutions to the myriad of identified problems confronting the state despite it’s abundant human and material resources.
The ex deputy speaker said the opposition appeared badly threatened by very recent restrictions and regulations issued by the state government regarding political gathering on private and public facilities and described it as a novel political development in recent times.
“Zenith Labour Party will not be distracted by the restriction occasioned by the Executive Order 21
“We cannot be discouraged on this rescue mission. Nevertheless, let us place it on record that the issue of Executive Order 21 by the outgoing Nyesom Wike administration and similar hardline postures in the past is inimical to the growth of business and employment opportunities in our dear state.
“As a party, we view Executive Order 21 as a quest to monopolise political power through monopolising political activities and space in the state.
“However, we are committed to obeying legitimate laws of the land as we cannot trade the security of the lives and property of people living and doing business in the state for anything.
“It also calls for self-examination by all citizens as our dear state joins the rest of the country on yet another democratic transition of power.
“Have we done well? If not, what and what are responsible for our failure where we did not do well?
“How do we march forward from the ashes of failure and build the present and future of our dreams? Who shall we partner with to drive our vision, dreams and mission?
“I have found a candidate for the office of deputy governor of Rivers State, in the person of my dear sister and co-worker in the vineyard, to deliver a Rivers State where the core values of human dignity, equality of persons and equal opportunities are priority.”
