By Emma Obe
A former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Celestine Omehia, has accused the federal government of playing politics with the United Nations recommended environmental cleanup of Ogoniland.

Omehia, spoke on Monday during the 2021 World water Day at the Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt, where he said the government owed the people a duty not only to provide potable water but also to make domestic water good enough for consumption. The theme of the celebration is Valuing water.

He said water has been declared a human right and that puts an obligation on the government to guarantee its supply and safety for use by the citizens.

He said it was disheartening that oil companies operating in Ogoniland had polluted the water in the area and it was taking them too long to remediate the pollution.

Chief Omehia said it was unacceptable for people to move cattle all the way from the north to the south for the single reason just for greener pastures, which can be provided if water was channeled to grazing lands in the north.

He suggested that rather than fritter away resources building railway lines to connect Niger Republic, the Federal Government should provide water for cattle in the north and restore peace and unity in the country. intermittent

The Rivers State Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Mr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, lamented that poorly processed water for domestic use was responsible for many deadly diseases and human development in the state.

Gogo-Jaja, who read the speech of Governor Nyesom Wike, said it has been established that contaminated water was responsible for a lot of stunted growth, mental retardation and eye problems afflicting people in the state.

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He said the state government was working hard to achieve the sixth Sustainable Development Goal. This he said will be greatly achieved by the Port Harcourt Water and sanitation Project, which will address the water and sanitation needs of residents of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.