Emmanuel Aziken and Laide Akinboade
11 March 2008
Lagos — The Senate yesterday commended Governor Rotimi Amechi of Rivers State for what it described as his relentless war against militancy and cultism in the State and urged other Governors to emulate him.
At a press briefing yesterday following the visit of the Senate President, Senator David Mark to Rivers State, the Senate spokesman, Senator Ayogu Eze said that the case for the development of the Niger Delta area was not being helped by the activities of the militants.
"The Senate will like to commend the Governor of Rivers state for being very forthright in fighting the uprising within his domain. We believe that every Governor in the country should emulate what he is doing, he has shown beyond reasonable doubt that he is committed to fighting militancy," Senator Eze said yesterday.
"The fact that the Senate President was in Port Harcourt, what was shown in the television was very stunning and you know that since the governor was sworn in he has waged relentless war and urged the military and navy to rise up to the challenge that is posed by the militants," Eze added.
Appraising the condition of the oil producing Niger Delta region, the Senate spokesman said:
"I believe that the Niger Delta people have a case for their States to be developed, they have a case for more attention to be given to the area, they have a case for the environmental degradation that has taken place there to be replaced."
He was, nevertheless quick to assert that the situation did not warrant the resort to banditry.
"But that does not entitle them to hostage taking, it does not entitle them to bridge the freedom of others, it does not entitle them to stopping the flow of revenue in the country, it does not entitle them to appropriating to the pocket of few individuals the resources of the nation."
Continuing, he said:
"The Senate notes with satisfaction the effort made by the Joint Task Force and most especially by the Rivers State Government under Gov. Rotimi Ameachi he has done excellently well and we urge him to keep it up and also urge his neighbours and other Governors to emulate what he is doing."
"If we all play our roles then this country will be better for it. The cry for development is not a cry for the survival for the fittest, if we allow those who have assess to illegal arms to operate in the country none of us will be free to walk the street."
"What we saw in the camp of Tom Ateke is very, very embarrassing and it also shows what exists in the other camps, because they have their own private jetties, where they have private bunkering facility and they have enough ammunition to raise an army for the country and next, they will now have private refineries where they will suck our collective resource and use it for private use."
"I believe the country should take a very serious look at this," Senator Eze concluded.
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