Why I  Shut Down Mega Tools Petrol Station – Wike; Owner Apologises To  Rivers Over Wike

By Charles Igbo

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, literally, fighting on all fronts, has explained why he shut down Mega Tools Petrol Station, Porthacourt.

The Station is owned by the Representative of Porthacourt Federal Constituency, Honourable Chinyere Igwe.

Wike had shut down the business concern a couple of days ago alongside two hotels, all three located in Porthacourt.

A few days before he shut them down, Wike had threatened to shut down all hotels and Recreational Centers which Management  allow Politicians to use their premises for political meetings. He said such political gatherings are used to recruit thugs and cultists who, according to him, cause a breach of the peace in the State.

However, not a few people wondered why Wike closed down the Petrol Station since it was neither a hotel nor a recreational center, and not likely to host any political meetings.

The Governor, speaking during  the flag-off of Omagwa internal roads has explained why. He has, also, ordered Security Agencies to arrest Igwe. He said he shut down the business premises, and ordered for Igwe’s arrest because he was involved in oil bunkering. Wike said the petrol sold there is a product of oil bunkering.

But Hon Igwe has not only faulted Wike, he has apologized to the people of Rivers State for his role in Wike’s victory to become  Governor. He said his only crime is his support for the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

Wike has had a difficult relationship with Atiku and the PDP since after Atiku beat him to a second place during the Party’s Presidential Primary, and especially, since Atiku ignored him and picked Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.

Since then, every Atiku associate has invariably become Wike’s enemy. Such people in Rivers State, in particular, have come under Wike’s wrath. He accuses them of betrayal, and says he would crush them.

On his sealing of Igwe’s Petrol Station, Wike explained: “If I hear of any filling station involved in oil bunkering, I will close that filling station. Therefore, I have directed Security agencies to identify who has that filling station in Diobu, arrest that person, and we are going to prosecute the person. It doesn’t matter how highly that person is.

“Some of you should be used to teach a lesson. We cannot allow oil bunkering. We will reduce it to the barest minimum.  So, I have ordered Security Agencies to identify who owns that filling station that was sealed up two days ago and arrest the owner. Let him tell us why he is involved in oil bunkering.”

However, in an interview, Igwe who was a Commissioner for Urban Development, before he became an Honourable Member representing Porthacourt Constituency,  apologised to the people of Rivers State for his support for Wike to become the Governor.

He noted that Wike has caused the shutting down of all businesses in the State, and has not encouraged any to grow, or established one.

Igwe: “I apologise to Rivers people for supporting Governor Nyesom Wike to be Governor of Rivers State.

“Since Nyesom Wike became Governor, he has not established or encouraged any business. If you go to Trans-Amadi, the industrial hub of Rivers State, all businesses are dead.”

Many people insist that the sealing of Igwe’s business concern, as well as the hotels, is politically motivated. The owners are not only PDP members, but are in support of Atiku’s candidacy. Igwe is also said to be related to former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Rt. Honourable Austin Opara, a former ally of Wike, who has now become his political enemy, for daring to  visit Atiku.

In the same boat with Opara are Senator Lee Maeba, Dr Abiye Sekibo, a former Minister for Transportation, and Celestine Omehia, a former Governor of the State, amongst others.

Wike has sworn to crush them.