‘Oil bunkering allegations, a political witch-hunt’ – Hon Chinyere Igwe

Adebayo Obajemu

Honourable Chinyere Igwe, the lawmaker representing Port Harcourt Constituency II at the House of Reps, Hon Chinyere Igwe, has stated that the sealing of his filling station, Mega Tools Limited, by the Rivers State Government was spurred by political motivation.

Two days ago, Governor Nyesom Wike, following the closure of the station at the weekend, ordered security operatives to arrest the owner of Mega Tools filling station, accusing him of involving in illegal oil bunkering activities.

But the House of Reps member who is the owner of the sealed filling station in Diobu, has denied being involved in illegal oil bunkering activities, saying that his ordeal was connected to the meeting he and other prominent PDP members in the State had with the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

Igwe expressed displeasure that security operatives were sent to seize the businesses of people who had not offended the governor, saying that the affected people contributed their resources to make Wike the governor of Rivers state.

He stated that said the governor has also illegally ordered the seizure of party chieftains who are loyal to Atiku Abubakar, including an hotel and a bar belonging to former deputy speaker of the House of Reps, Austin Opara.

“Regarding my petrol station, the security personnel from the government house have not given any reason for sealing the three business places. There was no notification ahead of the incident.

“For example, the security officers arrived at my petrol station, and they were allowed to inspect the facility. Nothing incriminating was found in the facility. I have never been involved in illegal oil bunkering.

“He also sealed the properties of some party chieftains. Austin Opara is our leader, and he was Wike’s agent in the immediate PDP presidential primaries where Wike lost. We have been in the PDP since 1998 and we have held political offices in the PDP. Our offense is that we met with Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP. ”

The Chief of State to Rivers State governor, Chief Emeka Woke, averred that blackmail will not stop State government from prosecuting the lawmaker representing Port Harcourt federal constituency II, Hon. Chinyere Igwe, whose filling station had been sealed up for alleged illegal oil bunkering activities.