The Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has appealed to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) not to relocate its corporate headquarters from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Peterside’s appeal came as the Rivers State Government on Wednesday, through its Attorney-General, Mr. Emmanuel C. Aguma, petitioned the Senate over the “planned relocation” of SPDC headquarters from Port Harcourt to Lagos State.

Speaking on the issue, Dr Peterside stated that if the petition of Rivers State Government against Shell is true, then it portends grave consequences for the state that “has been embroiled in all manner of needless controversies due to the reckless statements and actions of a governor that seems not to know what governance is about.” He noted that “it took political brinksmanship to bring SPDC headquarters to Rivers State.”

The 2015 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state admonished the Anglo-Dutch oil giant to have a rethink about the planned relocation of its head office to Lagos, stating that the Federal Government was making concerted efforts to tame insecurity in the state.

He said: “For long, we warned Governor Nyesom Wike that his utterances and actions were drawing the state backward. We admonished him to rise to statesmanship and govern the state like a man ready for the job. His actions have fuelled unnecessary tension in the state, with many people killed.

“How can the governor of the state be raising false alarm everyday that there are plans to assassinate him, what kind of message is he sending out? Almost on weekly basis, Governor Wike is involved in one altercation or the other with security agencies. Can you now see what his actions are bringing to Rivers state?”

The NIMASA boss disclosed that he would join hands with relevant stakeholders within and outside Rivers State to put pressure on Shell not to move its headquarters to Lagos.

“While we condemn the utterances and actions of the governor that are driving companies away from the state, we will do everything we can to promote security and safe haven for investors.

“Already the federal government has signed an agreement with Italian firm, Eni to refurbish the Port Harcourt Refinery. The Lagos-Calabar rail line will soon come on stream. We need all the investments we can get so our state can develop.

“My appeal to the governor is that he should settle down to govern and behave responsibly. His actions and inactions can make or mar this State. Rivers State belongs to all of us and we won't watch her go down because of the desperation of one man,” he concluded.

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