Wike: I fired environment commissioner because he didn’t know his limit

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has explained why he sacked the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Igbiks Tamuno.

Dr Tamuno was relieved of his duty on Tuesday.

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Speaking at the signing of contracts for the Trans -Kalabari Road project phase one, and the Saakpenwa-Bori -Kono Road project phase two at Government House, on Wednesday, Wike said he sacked the Commissioner because he engaged in acts that amounted to sabotage.

He said the Commissioner wrote to Julius Berger to stop construction work without his approval.

“I don’t know how a commissioner can write to a company to stop work without my approval. And Julius Berger for that matter, to stop construction in the entire State. I have never heard of such thing before. I didn’t know that commissioners have so much power like that.

“I’m saying it because some of you don’t even know the limit of your power. These are contractors working for the state government. He (Tamuno) never interfaced with the Ministry of Works. We have paid Julius Berger and you ask them to stop work, so that they will come and ask for variation later?” he said.

The Governor said the signing of the contracts for the Trans -Kalabari Road project phase one, and the Saakpenwa-Bori -Kono Road project phase two is to demonstrate the importance his administration places on opening up more rural communities for development.

Wike said with a secured payment plan of N1 billion monthly to be paid into the accounts of the construction companies, the deadlines for the two projects will not be compromised.

“So many people have said that all these things are political statements. That is why we want to let you know that they are not political statements. We are serious about it.

“If there is one road that must be completed within time, it is that Trans-Kalabari Road. It is very key to us, to link up so many communities within the Kalabari area.

“So, we have tied our funds to these roads, by every month; you don’t need to come to us, or write to us to say you’ve done 50 metres, 100metres or 1kilometres, no.

“The money is paid to you directly every month by the banks. N1billion each. For the Trans-Kalabari road, which is about N13 billion. We believed that you have no excuse not to finish the road in 14 months.”

Wike urged the benefiting communities to owe the projects by ensuring that they cooperate with contractors and avoid bothering them with unnecessary demands.