Rivers Councillors Allege Plot to Sponsor Protest Against Governor Fubara

The Rivers Councillors’ Forum has raised the alarm over alleged plans by certain local government chairmen to instigate unrest in the state through orchestrated protests. According to the Forum, these protests are a reaction to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s recent disbursement of salaries.

In a statement issued following a meeting in Port Harcourt, the Councillors accused the local government area (LGA) chairmen of scheming to deploy “miscreants” to create disorder. They claim the chairmen, whose terms are about to end, are making “unwarranted and unguided statements” aimed at undermining Governor Fubara’s administration.

The Forum commended Governor Fubara’s dedication to service delivery and his peace-focused policies. They emphasized that the governor has been prompt in paying all civil servants and the political class, viewing any protest as a baseless nuisance orchestrated by the chairmen.

“Our attention has been drawn to a purported plot by the Local Government Chairmen to mobilize some miscreants in the guise of Councillors Forum to cause mayhem in the state,” the communique read.

The Councillors highlighted the contrast between the governor’s effective policies and the chairmen’s alleged neglect, stating, “His Excellency has paid salaries promptly, and his projects and programs are very visible and people-oriented. It can only take those that do not mean well for the State to oppose the proactive and people-driven policies of His Administration.”

They further criticized the chairmen for mismanaging funds and failing to provide basic amenities and benefits to the Councillors, such as wardrobe allowances, training, car loans, and conducive legislative complexes.

“These Chairmen receive timely huge amounts of allocations and IGRs, yet they have done little to show for it,” the statement continued. “Councillors under the dispensation of these LGA Chairmen have been nothing short of slaves. No wardrobe allowances, no training, no car loans, no constituency projects in our various Wards, no severance package, not even a conducive legislative complex for us to do our work, yet, they have the mind to sabotage the efforts of His Excellency.”

The Forum distanced itself from the chairmen’s actions, which they labeled as driven by greed and selfishness, and called on the public to recognize the positive strides made by Governor Fubara’s administration.