Fubara asked to probe outgoing LG chairpersons over ‘corruption allegations’

A group known as Rivers Development Foundation (RiDeF) has asked Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers, to probe the outgoing local government (LG) chairpersons in the state.

In a statement on Friday, Rejoice Okoli, the group’s president, claimed that there are allegations of mismanagement of the local governments’ internally generated revenues (IGR).

The group urged Fubara to set up a panel to probe the administration of the local government council chairpersons.

“The Rivers Development Foundation (RiDeF) wishes to call the attention of His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the serious allegations of corruption, misappropriation, and gross misconduct against some of the outgoing Local Government Chairmen in the state,” the statement reads.

The group said the allegations are “weighty and of utmost concern to the people of Rivers”.

“These allegations should be looked into, and His Excellency should set up a panel to probe the outgoing council bosses in order to get justice for the people of Rivers,” the group said.

In May, the Rivers chapter of the Association of Local Government Areas of Nigeria (ALGON) accused Fubara of withholding the funds meant for the LGAs since April.

Allwell Ihunda, chairman of ALGON in Rivers, said Fubara is “starving the third tier of government of the needed funds to discharge their functions”.

Most of the local government chairpersons are loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) and immediate past governor of Rivers.

Fubara and Wike are at loggerheads over the political control of the state.

The political crisis has lingered for months, factionalising the state house of assembly.

In April, the Rivers house of assembly passed the local government amendment bill into law despite the refusal of Fubara to give his assent.

The amendment empowers the lawmakers, via resolution, to extend the tenure of elected chairpersons of LGAs and councillors, where it is considered impracticable to hold elections before the expiration of their three-year term in office.

The Rivers assembly said the amendment was to ensure that LGA elections were conducted before the expiration of the outgoing administration.

Fubara declined his assent to the bill, but the assembly vetoed his decision.