There have reported cases of protest in different Councils of Rivers State following the refusal of elected Chairmen of Local Government Areas whose tenure has just expired to vacate offices despite the Statewide broadcast announcing the appointment of Heads of Local Government Administration as the interim Heads by Governor Sim Fubara
According to reports, supporters alleged to be loyal to Governor Fubara have made it a point of duty to prevent any of the immediate past Chairmen from entering the secretariat destroyed the statue of former governor Nyesom Wike in Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Wike’s hometown
At the Port Harcourt Local Government Secretariat, one person was reported dead and several others injured following a clash on Tuesday morning when a group of youths stormed the secretariat, resisting attempts by the police to take over the building.
Gunshots were allegedly fired and the youths, who appeared to be unarmed, expressed outrage at the police’s use of force, questioning why they were being targeted.
However, the groups were not deterred as they prevented the chairman PortHarcourt city council and Rivers State ALGONwho was refused entry int his office despite the presence of his security Aides
In Obio Akpor LGA, another group destroyed the statue of former governor Nyesom Wike in Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Wike’s hometown and demanded that the chairman must vacate office in line with an earlier Court ruling.
On Monday, a similar incidents happened as youths took over secretariats in Degema and Asari-Toru councils, demanding the exit of the chairmen and officials.
However, in Ikwerre LGA, Samuel Nwanosike, the immediate past Executive Chairman, defied Fubara’s directive and stormed the council secretariat.
Nwanosike, a close ally of Wike, accused Fubara of sponsoring insecurity in the state, claiming that the governor has armed youths who have attacked local government chairmen and police across the 23 council areas.
Reacting to the reports of shooting by the Police in Port Harcourt City Council, the Rivers Command through its PPRO, Grace Iringe – Koko denied the video in circulation on the said incident, stressing that the Command is only out to ensure the maintenance of Law and Order.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has convened a closed doors security council meeting with heads of security agencies following these political developments.
Addressing Journalists after the meeting, Governor Fubara revealed that discussions centred on strategies to contain the invasion of local government secretariats and cautioned the immediate past council chairmen against harbouring false hopes of returning to their positions.
Governor Fubara, however, raised an alarm over an alleged plan by his opponents to arrest his supporters and vowed to protect them.
The crisis stems from a court ruling recognizing a three-man House of Assembly, which annulled the tenure extension granted by the 27-member Assembly loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike.
Despite the ruling, the chairmen had insisted on remaining in office for six more months, prompting Governor Fubara to declare their tenure expired on June 17.
