Onyedi Igwe, Port Harcourt
The Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has declared its support for the war declared by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on illegal refineries.
The group said any sane person must be frightened by the activities of illegal refinery operators and support the efforts of Wike to stem the tide.
The advocacy group in a statement signed by its National Director of Mobilisation, Alhaji Bara Brown, said it was excited that Wike was leading the march to solve the soot pandemic by deescalating illegal bunkering.
Brown further expressed joy over the appointment of Marvin Kofi Thompson as Chairman, Task Force on Illegal Bunkering and Crude Oil Refining in Degema Local Government Area.
He described the appointment of Thompson, who was Acting Chairman of MOSIEND, Abuja Chapter, as timely.
Brown referred toThompson as a disciplined and focused youth leader with the capacity to mobilise community support to stem the tide of unwholesome practices in the area.
He said: “MOSIEND has already embarked on sensitisation campaign to see how such practices, which make the Niger Delta unsafe and unattractive to investors can be nipped in the bud.
“Any sane person in the society should be frightened over the growing rate of illegal bunkering, cultism, sea piracy, kidnapping, ritual killings for fast money and other environmental sharp practices, which are eating deep into the psyche and mindset of the average jobless youth.
“Such behaviour is foreign to the Niger Delta, and there is a need to consciously cut down these abnormalities before they destroy the people. We are excited that Governor Nyesom Wike is leading the march for the deescalation of the pandemic, and we are impressed with the caliber of youth leaders appointed into the committee”.
Brown commended the Executive Chairman of Degema Local Government Council, Michael John William, for his foresight and urged the council boss to properly equip the task force.
“MOSIEND expresses satisfaction with Governor Wike’s undaunted commitment to sustaining the fight against illegal oil refining. We will continue to support him to promote proactive, creative and pragmatic programmes that will speedily increase human capital development and entrepreneurial engagement which are necessary ingredients to win such a fight”, Brown said.
END.
