Security operatives, youth groups and others stakeholders have taken over the secretariat of local governments across Rivers State as the tenure of the chairpersons expired today, June 17.
Some of the local government chairpersons, who are mostly loyalists of former Governor Nyesom Wike, had earlier vowed not to vacate office at the end of their three-year tenure today.
They are relying on the extension of their tenure by six months by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
However, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has never hidden his determination to sweep the council chairpersons, some of who have been openly disrespected him, out of office.
Indeed, the youths and political leaders who are taking over the local government secretariats are obviously loyalists of Fubara.
For example, a Rep member, Miss Boma Goodhead who led some youths to take over the Asari-Toru local government secretariat in Buguma on Monday morning is a loyalist of the governor.
The youths are still occupying the secretariat as at the time of filing this report.
Some reports indicated that the Chairman of the Local Government Area, Hon. Onengiyeofori George, fled to safety as the youths stormed the council secretariat.
In the same vein, a group of youths also occupied the Secretariat of Degema Local government, insisting that the Chairman Michael John Williams and his councillors must go as their tenure had expired.
There was visible security beef up in Port Harcourt City and Obio-Akpor local government council Secretariat with Police vans deployed to prevent breakdown of law and order.
There were reports of similar deployment of police vans at Ogu-Bolo local government Secretariat
However, in an obviously defiant posture, the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, said his administration will begin the distribution of farming equipment such as machetes, files, etc, to farmers across the 14 wards in the council area from Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at the secretariat in Emohua.
His Chief Press Secretary, Bright Jossy-Elendu, said the gesture is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, to enhance agriculture and ensure food security.
He said the Tuesday distribution will be for farmers from wards 1 to 7, while wards 8 to 14 will have their turn on Wednesday, June 19, 2004.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Hon. Obarilomate Ollor, had warned those who have threatened and are ganging up to use force to take over the council secretariat on June 17, 2024 to stay off.
However, the chairmen of Opobo-Nkoro and Bonny local government areas have already held a valedictory thanksgiving service ahead of their vacation from office.
Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly, through the amended Rivers State Local Government Administration Law 2024, had extended the tenure of the LG chairmen by six months.
However, Rivers State High Court had nullified the extension of the tenure of local government chairmen.
Justice D.G Kio declared that Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which sought to extend the chairmen’s terms by six months, conflicts with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9, subsection one of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018. The court affirmed that the lawful tenure for local government chairmen and councilors remains three years, as stipulated by the 2018 law.
At the time of filing this report, there had not been any official statement from the Rivers State Government if caretaker committees will be appointed for the councils pending when local government elections will be conducted to fill the vacancies.
The Rivers State Police Command has also not given any explanation for the deployment of policeman to council secretariats.