How Wike Capitulated After ‘High Profile Calls’ To Release 22 ExxonMobil Staff

Governor Nyesom Wike of River state, on Sunday, capitulated on his decisions to charge 22 ExxonMobil workers arrested for allegedly violating Executive Order on Lockdown following high profile calls which reportedly swayed his decision.

This came barely 24 hours after Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) issued an ultimatum to Governor to release 22 of its members working for ExxonMobil.

PENGASSAN had threatened to cripple the oil and gas industry with shut down of all operations and activities at the nation’s oil rigs and export terminals.

The governor had on Thursday after the arrest of the oil workers by security agents, boasted that the “Exxon Mobil matter will be a test case in legal jurisprudence in the country”.

BIGPEN understands that Governor Wike got some high profile calls from Nigerians who waded into the issue and forced him to rescind his decision to charge the trio the way he did to the Caverton helicopters pilots.

“This is why Wike, on Sunday suddenly capitulated and announced the release of the oil workers as well as dropping charges against them”, a dependable source said.

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The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant (Electronic Media), Simeon Nwakaudu, quoted Rivers states, Attorney General, as saying, “They were released following interventions by well-meaning Nigerians.”

Adangor said that the Mobil staff were released without charges, saying that he monitored the release of the 22 Exxon Mobil at the State Isolation Centre at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

He noted that the Rivers State Government remains committed to implementing the Executive Order issued to check the spread of coronavirus. The order stipulates that Health Authorities ascertain the coronavirus status of those entering the State.