Fubara meets security heads over Rivers LG crisis, alleges plot to arrest his supporters

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, has met with heads of security agencies over the widespread protests in the state.

The meeting was held at the government house in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The political tension in Rivers escalated on Tuesday morning as residents protested at the LGA secretariats in the state.

Police operatives fired multiple shots into the air to disperse protesters at the various LGA headquarters, including the Port Harcourt council secretariat. 

The residents were protesting against the reported attempts by the former LGA chairpersons to return to office.

Earlier, Fubara asked the heads of local government administration to immediately assume control of the 23 council areas of the state.

The three-year tenure of the elected chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and councillors ended on Monday.

Despite the governor’s directive, Allwell Ihunda, former chairman of Port Harcourt City LGA, reportedly made his way to the council secretariat but was chased away by some protesting youths.

BACKGROUND

In April, the Rivers assembly passed the local government amendment bill into law despite Fubara’s refusal 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 administration.

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

However, a court judgment nullified the amendment to the local government law.

The judgment was appealed, and the appeal court is expected to deliver a ruling on June 20.

The 27 house of assembly members have said they will resist attempts by Fubara to install caretaker chairpersons in the 23 LGAs.

‘THERE’S A PLOT TO ARREST MY SUPPORTERS’

After meeting with the security heads, Fubara said the local government chairpersons whose tenure has ended must respect the law.

The governor alleged that there was a plot to arrest his supporters to cause unrest in the state.

“Let me say this. I am also aware that there is a grand plan to come and arrest some of our supporters,” he said.

“This time around, you have to pass through me to arrest them because I don’t think there is anything that any of those people following us have done. Rather, they are standing on the side of truth.

“If it will cost us our lives to stand on the part of truth, we will do that. And I will be the one that will lead the course.

“Let me assure everyone, more especially the great and peace-loving people of Rivers state — the law is the law. The law has said that there is no extension of tenure.

“The court said so, and whoever that is assuring anybody anywhere of whatever, I advise them to desist from it because peace is what we need in this state.

“I assure every one of you that whatever it takes to make sure that we maintain peace and order, we are not going back on that.

“It’s really unfortunate that we started hearing some disturbing news from some LGAs of invasion of the council secretariat, and it is really unfortunate. So, we have called the security council meeting so that the needful will be done.

“We are also aware that our enemy is also planning a lot of things. But we will not fall into that plot. We will not also allow him or them to destroy the peace that we are enjoying in the state.”