Rivers State Governor Plans Alternative Secretariats Amid Police Blockade

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has announced that 23 local government councils will operate from alternative secretariats following the police sealing off council offices on Tuesday.

Governor Fubara made this statement after swearing in 23 local government caretaker committee chairmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt. He emphasized that the new chairmen could operate from any location due to the police barricading their official offices.

On Tuesday, the state police command took control of all local government council headquarters to prevent further bloodshed and maintain law and order. This followed a violent clash in Eberi-Omuma, Omuma Local Government Area, resulting in the deaths of a police officer and a local security member. The clash was between supporters of Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.

Fubara and Wike have been in conflict since late last year, with tensions escalating to the bombing of the state House of Assembly. The crisis peaked on Tuesday when Fubara’s supporters displaced some council chairmen loyal to Wike after their tenure ended.

The council chairmen’s three-year term expired on Monday, but they refused to leave office, citing a new law by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, extending their tenure by six months. This extension was due to the governor’s failure to conduct local government elections.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Governor Fubara urged the new caretaker chairmen to maintain peace and adhere to the Constitution. He also ordered the Auditor-General of Local Governments to audit the councils’ accounts immediately.

Governor Fubara defended the appointment of caretaker chairmen, stating it was to prevent the setting of a dangerous precedent. He argued that extending elected officials’ terms beyond their mandate was unconstitutional. He also promised that local government elections would be organized soon.

Meanwhile, local government secretariats across the state, including those in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ogu/Bolo, and Ikwerre, remain locked with police presence. Caretaker chairmen like Dr. Darlington Orji of Ikwerre LGA and Evans Bipi of Ogu/Bolo LGA have assumed duties despite being unable to access their offices.

In response to the unrest, the state APC has called for a state of emergency. They argue the governor and police are unable to handle the situation, describing the state as being in a “state of war.” However, the state Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, dismissed these calls, stating they were not worth responding to.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered a thorough investigation into the violence and the deaths of the police officer and the security operative. Enhanced security measures are being implemented to prevent further clashes.

The PDP has accused the APC of attempting to destabilize the state and overthrow the democratic order. They called on the Federal Government to intervene and prevent the APC’s alleged scheme from succeeding.