Against the backdrop of the current fuel scarcity in the country, a Niger Delta activist, Rev. Dr. Soberekon Sokari has appealed to the federal and state governments to allow the production of fuel through artisanal refineries, popularly called ‘Kpofire’.
He said the ban on the so-called illegal refineries is, to him, giving a dog a bad name to hang it, accusing the NNPC of being behind the ordeal of the artisanal refineries as according to him, ‘Kpofire is bad business for them’.
The poplar activist and retired professional wrestler during his hey days, stated this in a chat with newsmen in his office in Port Harcourt on Saturday, adding that people have been subjected to untold suffering because of fuel scarcity, which he attributed to the clampdown on Kpofire operators by the Rivers State government.
“The Kpofire fuel that are being refined by the people of the Niger Delta is very good. Kpofire fuel has been helping the people, and that’s why we’ve not been experiencing fuel scarcity during December periods as was the case in the past.
“Government should stop harassing, burning their boats and facilities. Government should rather regulate their activities and provide them with security.
“The best solution is the legalizing of the Kpofire and I’m calling on President Buhari and Governor Wike to ensure Kpofire is legalized, to provide jobs for the youths of the Niger Delta which will help in solving the fuel scarcity problem in a tremendous way.
“The Niger Delta area is a peaceful area, and should be treated peacefully. Military operatives should always abide by the code of conduct of the military and stop terrorizing the peaceful Niger Delta”, said the cleric who runs the Christ Jesus Link Gospel Ministry along Marine Base in Port Harcourt.
