Lockdown: Wike announces arrest, quarantine of 22 EXXON Mobil staff
…Says Caverton Helicopters has apologised
Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike, has announced the arrest by security agencies of 22 staff of Exxon Mobil, who entered the state from Akwa Ibom state in violation of the restriction order.
Governor Wike also announced that Carveton Helicopters have apologised to the state government over the conduct that led to the arrest of their pilots and passengers who violated the restriction order of the state.
Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt on Friday, Governor Wike stated that the Exxon Mobil matter would be a test case in legal jurisprudence in the country.
He said: “Security agencies arrested 22 staff of Exxon Mobil who came into the state from neighbouring Akwa Ibom state in violation of the extant executive order restricting movement into the state. We do not know the coronavirus status of these individuals.
“Even though security agencies advised that they be allowed to go back to Akwa Ibom state, I insisted that the law must take its course. This is because nobody is above the law.
“As a responsive government, we have quarantined them in line with the relevant health protocols and they will be charged to court.”
The governor regretted that federal authorities were allegedly working dangerously to compromise the health protection system of the state and thereby make residents vulnerable to contracting the coronavirus.
He said: “Some people want the escalation of the virus in Rivers state. People were paid to canvass a negative narrative on Caverton pilots.
“We are doing what we can within available resources to fight coronavirus. You can fly, but as you fly and land, don’t enter our territory.
“We will fight this matter legally. Exxon Mobil does not operate in Rivers state. That they have a point at the Onne seaport does not mean that they operate in Rivers state.
“People in Abuja are not happy. They want Rivers state to be infected. They want to kill Rivers people and I will not allow it. I was elected to protect Rivers people. Rivers state is not a pariah state.
“Nigerians shake when they hear oil companies; they shake because they have compromised. Imagine an appointed minister issuing an order to an elected governor.”
Governor Wike said that the state could not be manipulated from any quarters, adding that “nobody will use Rivers state as a toy. This federal government does not like us, but a government will come that likes Rivers state.”
He insistted that the state government followed due process in its actions against Caverton Helicopters, noting that the state government was focused on implementing extant laws aimed at protecting Rivers people.
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The governor noted that his administration established the right legal framework to assist it effectively fight against the spread of coronavirus.
According to him, his administration chose to be proactive because it places premium on the lives of Rivers people, pointing out that the state was the first to close her borders to check the spread of coronavirus even though the step was greeted by criticisms at the time, several states have however, emulated the approach.
“Even though we have recorded two cases, the index case has been discharged while the second case is doing well at the treatment centre.
“It is obvious that our containment strategies; closure of borders, closure of schools, closure of markets, closure of night clubs, closure of cinemas, as well as the ban on public worship, ban on public burials and weddings have helped to check the spread of coronavirus.
“This is in addition to the conduct of our healthcare professionals who have demonstrated a high level of patriotism and sacrifice in contact tracing and case management,” he said.
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