Don Waney: Imo’s Amnesty Doesn’t Cover Rivers, Wike Tells Okorocha

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the amnesty granted by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, to cultists who killed 23 persons in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state, will have no impact in Rivers.

Wike, who spoke yesterday, during the signing of a bill at the Government House, Port Harcourt, said the wanted cultists who are kingpins of the Don Waney’s gang, would be brought to justice.

He declared that the N20 million bounty on them still stands and added that the security agencies would be empowered to bring the criminals to account for their crimes.

He said Okorocha’s action was a proof of the intelligence available to Rivers government that the All Progressives Congress (APC) planned to grant amnesty to wanted cultists for political reasons.

The governor berated the APC and its officials for politicising security to the disadvantage of the rest of the country.

He said: “Just yesterday, Imo State governor granted amnesty to the cultists we declared wanted. These are cultists of the Waney’s gang, who killed 23 persons on New Year day.

“These are cultists, who have been killing security agents. That amnesty offered by Okorocha cannot cover Rivers State. These criminal cultists are still wanted for their crimes against Rivers State and its people.”

He said it was wrong to introduce politics into security affairs because nobody knows what the outcome would be in future.

“There is no need playing politics with the security of lives and property. Before Okorocha granted amnesty to those who killed our people, he did not deem it fit to call me.

“They should always weigh the implications of these actions to the security of the region. Whether you are in Peoples Democratic Party or APC, there is no need to politicise security,” Wike said.

The governor said despite the obvious political sabotage against the security infrastructure of the state, the Rivers government will continue to work towards improved security in the state.

Meanwhile, Wike has signed the N510 billion 2018 Appropriation Bill of the state into law.

Signing the bill yesterday, in the presence of members of the House of Assembly and the State Executive Council, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike said the budget would be implemented diligently.

He said the government will fast track the implementation of the budget, which would lead to greater development of the state.

“I commend the legislators for expediting the process that led to the passage of the 2018 budget.

“Your passage of this budget means that we will expedite action on several areas of development.

At present, we have already started work,” he said.

The governor also called on the lawmakers to work with relevant agencies to implement their respective constituency projects.