Governor Fubara Directs Officials to Seize Control of Rivers LGAs

Governor Sim Fubara

Governor Fubara orders administrative leaders to assume control of Rivers LGAS

Governor Fubara orders administrative heads to take over Rivers LGAs as council chairmen's tenure ends, amidst calls for peaceful transition and legal battles.

The 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State's Heads of Administration have been directed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to take on the responsibilities of the departing council chairmen, whose three-year mandates came to an end on Monday, June 17 at midnight.

On Tuesday morning, June 18, Governor Fubara made this announcement via a public broadcast, claiming that it is essential to uphold peace and order in the state and is in line with constitutional laws.

The departing council chairmen's work and devotion to their public service were also acknowledged by the governor.

In the meantime, two of the state's Local Government Area (LGA) Chairmen have declared their intention to resign in compliance with the Local Government Law of 2018.

The chairmen are Enyiada Cookeygam of Opobo/Nkoro, the LGA of Governor Fubara, and Dame Anengi Barasua Claude-Wilcox, the first female council chairman of Bonny Local Government Area.

It should be noted that Cookeygam and Claude-Wilcox had both previously filed legal challenges against the Martin Amaewhule-led assembly's attempt to extend the terms of local government chairman.

The previous council chairs have advised their counterparts in other LGAs to abide by the law and step down amicably.

The Chairmen of the Akuku-Toru and Asari-Toru Local Government Councils, Rowland Sekibo and Onengiyeofori George, respectively, appealed on Monday for a calm and peaceful conclusion about the tenure extension, and this is what happened as a result.

Protesters blocked the council headquarters on Monday, calling for the chairmen to be removed. In Akuku-Toru and Asari-Toru, the issue over the LGAs' tenure took a new turn when demonstrators stopped the council chambers and demanded a handover by the chairmen, whose three-year terms are scheduled to expire on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

The two local government officials asked their followers to use restraint and abstain from violence, declaring that the Rivers State Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, had duly authorized their tenure extension.

Sekibo, speaking for them, urged composure and stressed that the case is presently pending before the court.

“Everyone should exercise restraint, no matter the provocation. The matter is already in court.

“Those who want to be caretaker chairmen, just endure; those who want to be council chairmen, just endure. We are already at the Court of Appeal. It won't take long again for judgment. Whichever way the case goes, it will go to the Supreme Court,” Sekibo appealed.

They emphasized that no one has a monopoly on violence and urged law enforcement officials to stop any collapse of law and order.