The Rivers State Government has said no amount of blackmail would deter it from prosecuting the lawmaker representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency II, Hon. Chinyere Igwe, whose filling station was sealed for illegal oil bunkering activities.

The Chief of Staff to Rivers State Governor, Emeka Woke, disclosed this during a Permanent Voters Card sensitisation and mobilisation rally by a pro-PDP group, the Grassroots Development Initiative in Mogho, Gokana local government area of the state.

Woke insisted that the State government has constitutional obligation to decisively deal with anyone involved in acts inimical to the Nigerian economy.

Woke stated this in a statement issued by his media office and made available to newsmen on Monday.

He said, “Anybody who allows his business premises to be used for illegal oil bunkering, that premises will be shut down.

“Whoever allows his hotel to harbour criminals bent of destabilising the state, we will deal with you according to the law.”

While urging the federal lawmaker to submit himself to security agencies for interrogation, Woke warned him to desist from misleading the unsuspecting public with spurious claims that he was being politically victimised.

He further took a swipe at Igwe for making derogatory remarks about the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, saying but for the governor’s benevolence, the federal lawmaker would have gone into political extinction.

“I listen to Chinyere Igwe yesterday talking about ingratitude. A man who had been retired politically. This is the man who spent only one term in the House of Representatives and came back home.

“The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, chased him out of Port Harcourt and he ran to Abuja.

“He even contested on the platform of ACN then, and lost woefully. When we had mobilised GDI and had strengthened the party (Peoples Democratic Party), we brought him back and those of them whom he said he is speaking for now.

“None of them were foundation members of GDI. And His Excellency, the governor gave him platform, first as a Commissioner and then to the National Assembly, even though he didn’t win the primary. And today, he is talking about ingratitude,” he stated.

Woke also urged media organisations in the state to be objective and abide by the ethics of journalism and resist being used as purveyors of spurious fake news.

The Chief of Staff lauded the people of Gokana who turned out en-masse for the GDI rally, for their unwavering commitment and support to the Wike’s administration.

Woke said governor Wike’s decision to dualised the over 31 kilometre Saakpenwa-Kono Road, is a sheer evidence of his love and appreciation to the Ogoni people for their support over the years.

The PDP governor candidate in Rivers State, Siminalaye Fubara, urged the people to jealously safeguard their PVC ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Similarly, the PDP chairman in the State, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, commended GDI for sensitising the people of the state on the importance of the PVC. (The PUNCH)

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