- Angry Youths Storm Secretariats, Demand Chairmen’s Exit
- Police Issue Warning To Troublemakers
A fresh bout of crisis is set to engulf oil-rich South-South state of Rivers following the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen expires today, June 17, at midnight.
However, the chairmen have refused to leave office despite Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s warnings.
The chairmen, under the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), are relying on a controversial law passed by the State House of Assembly, which extends their tenure by six months.
State ALGON Chairman, Allwell Ihunda, who is also the Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, insisted, “The law by the House of Assembly empowers us to remain in office.”
READ ALSO: Fubara has Achieved Nothing in One Year In Office – Rivers APC
Countering this, Fubara has maintained that the law is illegal and has warned the chairmen against taking any action that could disrupt the state’s peace.
To this effect, youths in Degema and Asari-Toru Local Government Areas have taken matters into their own hands, occupying council secretariats and demanding the chairmen’s exit.
The youths, who were seen singing war songs and chanting, “He is a failure. You must go!” have vowed to remain until Wednesday, daring the chairmen to return to the secretariat.
In Degema, the youths locked the entrance to the secretariat and mounted a barricade in front of the gate, while in Asari-Toru, hundreds of youths stormed the council headquarters, occupying the facility and blocking the road leading to the entrance.
The situation is tense, with a heavy security presence in Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor LGAs. Over six police patrol vans were stationed in front of the shut secretariat entrance, manned by fierce-looking security operatives. However, movements of people are not restricted.
Outgoing Eleme LGA Chairman, Obarilomate Ollor, has warned those trying to remove him from office, saying, “Let me tell you, the local government is not a community town hall or students union secretariat. That is a government facility. So stay away from there except the law permits you to go there.”
READ ALSO: Fubara has Achieved Nothing in One Year In Office – Rivers APC
The stalemate continues, with the potential for further unrest as the chairmen refuse to budge and the youths maintain their occupation of the secretariats. The situation remains volatile, with the state government and the chairmen locked in a power struggle that could have far-reaching consequences.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured the people of the state that he and his men won’t allow the crisis enveloping the Local Government Areas (LGAs) to lead to a breakdown of law and order.
CP Disu told journalists at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt on Monday that the police are aware of the situation at the different LGAs and expect the different political players to respect the appeal and cease hostilities pending the hearing and determination of their case.
CP Disu warned that his men are equal to the task of securing the different council headquarters and won’t tolerate any attempt to disturb the peace in the state.
